Appalled at council’s deletion of volunteer’s photo

Next spies
We must find young people who do not comply with the social media ban and run away and include them in our national security services.
Andrew Alexander, Launceston

Ways to bypass the ban
Under the new social media bans, what is there to stop parents and others from passing the verification process and identity tests, logging into a particular site, and then giving their computer or phone to a person under 16? Am I missing something?
Rosemary Lithgow, Maryborough

community standards
The stories and spending of politicians are not new. But it is the double standards that bother us.
As someone who has worked for a publicly funded agency for many years and travels regularly, the idea of ​​my family accompanying me and having their expenses covered by the agency would be ludicrous. A colleague’s wife once told me that her husband was away more than 160 days a year and that they had three young children. There is no statement here that his family should accompany him occasionally.
Politicians may work hard, but so do many people. Politicians also earn huge salaries and have access to a retirement plan that would put most people to shame.
Maybe it’s time to review the rules for politicians and bring them into line with community standards.
Robert Campbell, Brighton East

Insincere claim
As a Bayside resident, I was horrified to read that youth volunteer Zaina Amro was “afraid to leave home” after complaints were made about a photo of her wearing a necklace depicting historic Palestine appearing in the Bayside Council magazine.
Although Zaina’s award-winning contribution ″⁣focused on the local library program and volunteer efforts″⁣, Bayside deleted her image and story, claiming this went against the council’s requirements to remain media neutral.
This claim of neutrality by Bayside is completely disingenuous given the council’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism in September; This definition can be used as a weapon to suppress criticism of Israel and silence Palestinian voices.
Kate Kennedy, Hampton East

Subtly inactive
Some letters sent to The Age these days suggest that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is largely neither loved nor hated and is too reluctant to use the power voters have given him.
This reflects his performance, which is neither reactionary nor progressive, with just the right amount of noble but ineffective gestures to get him noticed.
Perhaps he has adopted what the Yes Prime Minister’s Sir Humphrey Appleby would describe as “masterful inaction”.
Stephen Farrelly, Donvale

Alternative to VicHealth?
The article ″⁣VicHealth saving will be a future killer″⁣ (11/12) about the Victorian government’s plans to abolish VicHealth outlines the risk to our future medical care.
Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas responded: “It has a great legacy, but it’s time to do things differently.”
Can he please explain how this will be achieved so that we can have peace of mind should any future crisis come? Are there enough experts in their department to replace their expertise?
Christine BakerRosanna

Prevention is necessary
The planned closure of VicHealth raises serious concerns about the direction of public health policy in Victoria.
At a time when preventable chronic diseases, mental health issues, and health inequalities continue to put pressure on our healthcare system, the dismantling of one of the world’s most respected health promotion organizations is troubling.
VicHealth’s work has long focused on preventing harm by reducing it before it reaches hospitals and emergency departments. Its closure may provide short-term budget relief, but the long-term cost to public health, well-being and healthcare spending will likely be much higher.
In the past, I have seen health promotion subsumed by hospitals and medical institutions, completely lost and devalued because hospital-centered models of disease treatment rarely understood or valued preventive, health-promoting approaches.
The decision risks abandoning decades of evidence-based public health leadership for reasons that are poorly explained. Prevention is not an optional extra; This is the primary responsibility of the government.
Tony Peck, Bairnsdale

Maintain independence
As a former chief executive of sport and recreation in Victoria, I had to deal with some conflicts with the then-new VicHealth.
Still, I supported it then and I support it now because it required a proactive approach to public health through health promotion and disease prevention.
This contrasts with the Department of Health’s focus on funding and systems management and (as I learned during my five years on the hospital board, hospitals focus on dealing with the daily intake of acutely and chronically ill or accident injured patients).
Having served in both types of organizations, I am also aware of the tensions that can develop between independent legal authorities and government departments, but I think such tensions, if managed well, plus independence from day-to-day activities, can be productive enablers of innovation.
Be sure to review and update the VicHealth contract for emerging health issues, but please maintain it as an independent body.
Thomas Hogg, East Melbourne

unwanted centers
If the proposed expansion of data centers will use 11 per cent of the entire country’s power, thereby increasing our already high energy prices by up to 26 per cent, or perhaps only 6-7 per cent if conditions are right (″⁣AI energy demand will increase tenfold″⁣, 11/12), while also using enormous amounts of water, which is becoming increasingly scarce across almost all of Australia, is this really so desirable?
Jan Ratcliff, Forrest

What we should value
The ″⁣Australian values″⁣ trope has been introduced again. This time by Susan Ley. Have we ever had a serious discussion about what these values ​​are beyond the chauvinism of “friendship”? and “fair fair”? Maybe not.
May I suggest that we all agree that affordable housing is just the beginning of a long list of scars in our story?
Perhaps by first examining who we are from a moral perspective,
Instead of a compelling business necessity, it is now long overdue.
Andy Tester, Seaford

This is hard work
It’s hard work to be a police officer who sees a woman being severely beaten, a tow truck driver who attends high-speed car crashes, a paramedic who arrives at an accident where a person is injured so badly that a spinal cord is needed, a firefighter who knows a charred body will be found when the fire is extinguished.
There are plenty of other fields of study that eclipse the subtle notion that being a politician is a tough job.
Many jobs carry great responsibilities along with physical and emotional demands on a daily basis.
But politicians have a tendency to exaggerate their social value over others to rationalize what is their right.
Des Files, Brunswick

Reining in privileges.
The outrage over Anika Wells’ and now other politicians’ travel arrangements unfortunately surprises few of us.
While it is understandable to travel for government or political engagements, many of us are fed up with the right to travel for ″⁣family reunification″⁣ (“⁣Albanians investigate MPs’ powers saga″⁣, 11/12).
Who else in society gets this nice little winner? Many workers (e.g., FIFO, long-haul truck drivers) spend significant amounts of time away from their families but fail to take advantage.
We cannot help but notice that the opposition and the stands are quite reserved in their criticism because they know they have a lot of skeletons to hide.
If the family travel benefit is to continue and give taxpayers any semblance of confidence, it needs to be limited to just a few trips a year and economy class only.
If the politician wants business class for their family, they can pay the extra cost, not the taxpayer.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha

Ways to win
During the 1978-79 Ashes series in Australia, England played many regional matches and golf.
I remember following the British stars on the golf course at Leongatha when I was a kid and they were having a great time.
And they won the series 5-1.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon

AND SOMETHING ELSE

Embers
With my social media history, including letters to The Age, it looks like I will never be going to the US again. I was very disappointed.
Graham Fetherstonhaugh, Carlton North

If requested, I would be happy to provide American officials with my social media posts, including letters to The Age criticizing the worst president in the nation’s history. Like many others, I have no intention of visiting the United States while the indecisive ″⁣wannabe king″⁣ is in office.
James Young, Mt Eliza

Will Donald Trump’s social media history serve as a basis for determining whether it is acceptable to enter the United States?
Joan Segrave, Healesville

It’s interesting that Donald Trump believes European leaders are weak while their actions against Vladimir Putin are insipid.
Peter Baddeley, Portland

Will FIFA enforce the offside rule and revoke the peace prize it awarded to Donald Trump? There are currently at least two wars that have restarted under his watch (Cambodia-Thailand and Rwanda-Congo).
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick

There has been a 50 percent increase in bankruptcies for American farmers. They lost $44 billion due to Trump’s tariffs and will receive a $12 billion aid package. Somehow Trump doesn’t understand arithmetic. George Djoneff, Mitcham

Besides
Seat belts in the early 70s, now media bans for young people. It’s not perfect, but it’s priceless. Australia is leading the world again.
John Crossley, Oakleigh

Unlike artificial intelligence (″⁣AI energy demand will increase tenfold″⁣, 11/12), human intelligence does not require huge amounts of energy. Just food, shelter, companionship and an interesting job.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn

For all the hype that the new Victorian Liberal leader is young and fresh, the refusal to support the apology shows old wine in a new bottle.
Chris de Silva, Ashburton