Jess Wilson’s words on booing Indigenous Welcome to Country need to be backed with support for Treaty
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TRADITION AND RESPECT
Like so many others, I was dismayed at hearing of the abuse handed out to Uncle Mark Brown at the Anzac Day dawn service (“Boos mar dawn service but Anzac spirit is still celebrated”, 26/4). I heard comments by Liberal leader Jess Wilson condemning the behaviour of those responsible for their disrespect for First Nations people. While the verbal abuse is not uncommon, what is really going to hurt First Nations people in Victoria is that if elected, the Liberals are going to revoke the hard-won Treaty. If Wilson really cares about Indigenous peoples and their rights, she will immediately announce that the Treaty will be honoured by any government she leads.
Randall Bradshaw, Fitzroy
Contrast with other ceremonies
At Gallipoli, the respectful service contribution by Maori was respected by the multinational congregation, moving and beautiful to watch. In France, a small but important First Nations contribution at the Western Front ceremony. Respected by the congregation. In Australia, the respectful and respected Welcome to Country ceremony was greeted with boos from a loud minority. What a sad contrast.
Margaret Moore, Thornbury
Heartwarming applause at MCG
Some people claim that AFL football is “just a game”, and perhaps they are correct. However, to be among more than 92,000 people on Saturday afternoon, Anzac Day, and experience total silence for a minute was spine-tingling. And the generous applause for Uncle Colin’s Welcome to Country was heartwarming. May this unique “game” long prosper.
Mark Roberts, Strathmore
Wedge driven into society
I took no part in booing at the dawn service but allow me to posit that this is in no way racist. Let me suggest this is a totally understandable response to inclusion of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country foisted upon us by Commonwealth and state governments. They have driven a wedge into an otherwise tolerant society as witnessed by failure of the Yes vote.
Robert McDowell, Albert Park
No remembrance of Frontier Wars
On Saturday, I attended the dawn service at the Aborigines Advancement League in Thornbury, reflecting on the thousands of First Australians who died defending their country in the Frontier Wars during colonisation. Historians have estimated upwards of 60,000 deaths, almost double the number of Australian soldiers who died in World War II. Our nation allows no moment of remembrance. I was moved by the service at the League, and struck by the graciousness of those leading. There was virtually no mention of the Frontier Wars but rather pride in the thousands of Indigenous Australians who served in both world wars. Meanwhile, the Welcome to Country at the Shrine was interrupted by booing.
Despite all they have suffered, the Aboriginal community remarkably continues to offer us a “welcome”. They deserve our deep respect and the truth to be told.
Digby Hannah, Thornbury
Abuse during march
While marching to the Shrine with the Scouts, a man abused a Cub Scout leader who was next to me, telling her that she should remove her niqab. This was not a display of the Australian values I thought our soldiers fought for.
John Paterson, Carlton North
The value of sharing our country
Perhaps we might reflect on these lines from our national anthem: “For those who’ve come across the seas we’ve boundless plains to share.” Is sharing our bountiful country the type of Australian value politicians want us to observe? If so, how does the victimisation of certain migrant groups (“We don’t allow people like you in here”, 25/4) or the disrespect shown to our Indigenous people fit with that?
Robyn Frost, Kenmore, Qld
THE FORUM
State boards concern
Re “Labor stacks state boards with mates” (26/4): This issue concerns me greatly, along with the appointment of former politicians in lobbying and consultancy roles, lax political donation laws, and the need for Freedom of Information reform, to name but a few. For me, this all boils down to access to decision-makers and how and why decisions are made.
I don’t think I am alone in wanting change at both the state and federal level. Transparency, accountability and integrity are crucial in all levels of government. It builds public trust and reduces opportunities for corruption.
Yvonne Bowyer, Surrey Hills
Talent is what matters
Reading the names of the people filling public board seats, they are a talented lot. Personally, I couldn’t care less if they were Labor or Liberal as long as they were doing their job well. We have to be careful not to “throw the baby out with the bath water” when considering these state boards.
You would have to be naive to think any party wouldn’t reward their stalwarts with positions like this. Maybe this is another reason for voting for independents.
Paul Chivers, Box Hill North
Salary reality
The Sunday Age reports that appointees to state government boards receive fees up to $160,000 a year. But the reality is board members on average receive substantially lower remuneration.
The vast majority make significant time commitments and often deal with complex and high-risk issues, and accept sitting fees which are way below the hourly rates they could receive if doing such work in the private sector.
Brandon Mack, Deepdene
Where does it end?
Is there no end to the Victorian government’s pre-election bribery (“Allan’s latest cost-of-living handout: car rego rebates”, 26/4)? Do they think the electorate will forget the Big Build’s vast crippling overspend and the failure to deal with criminal activity because public transport is free, and car rego is cheaper?
Give voters some credit for their intelligence and memory.
Deborah Rogers, Brighton
Questions over rebate
What on earth is the Victorian government doing, providing a rebate to motorists it can ill afford? My observations indicate that people haven’t done much to rein in their driving habits, with nearby North Road choked with cars, the same as ever. The new century’s oil shock, now with the backdrop of global warming, seems to have done little to shake off Australians’ addiction to private transport.
And what about the designation of “light vehicles” – up to 4.5 tonnes – in the rebate? This only encourages all those wanna-be bush bros driving monster trucks.
Marish Mackowiak, Ormond
Land tax unfair
With reports of insufficient rental housing available in Victoria (“Blake had three salaries on his rental application. It wasn’t enough”, 25/4) and the blame put on “greedy landlords”, there is a serious anomaly in the land tax imposed by the Allan government.
Landlords have significant costs including rental management, insurance and compliance with the minimum housing standards, including the recent requirement to install air-conditioning.
Many parents are buying housing for family members who find it very difficult to save for purchase. In these circumstances, parents have to pay land tax on the other properties.
This is an unfair and deplorable tax which the Allan government should immediately remove. The government is burdened with so much debt, it will take many years for them to be able to build public housing, and they are fully reliant on the private sector.
Barry Gilbert, Caulfield
Fair solution
Reductions to NDIS and aged care support? Surely, the answer is means testing.
Those who find themselves excluded from NDIS and aged care support could have access if they are wealthy and can pay.
For those who are not wealthy but have a real need, the government pays. What could be fairer than that?
Yvonne Davidson, Williamstown
Proportionate penalties
The AFL is right to treat racist and homophobic abuse with seriousness. There should be no retreat from that. Such language damages players, clubs, supporters and the game’s wider culture. But seriousness also requires proportionality.
When a homophobic slur attracts a penalty in the same range as, or even above, some of the most serious physical acts in recent football history — deliberate strikes, broken jaws, severe concussion, spitting or umpire contact — the AFL needs to explain its sentencing scale.
This is not an argument for leniency towards vilification. It is an argument for coherence. A code cannot credibly say it values player welfare while allowing its punishment ladder to suggest that words, however ugly, may be more serious than deliberate violence causing physical harm.
The AFL should publish a clearer framework: first offence, repeat offence, intent, remorse, harm caused, education requirements and suspended penalties. Repeat vilification may well deserve escalation. But that should be measured against other grave misconduct, not simply driven by public outrage. The game needs moral seriousness, but it also needs consistency.
Graham Haupt, Glen Waverley
Frustration for fans
The AFL didn’t like the appeals board chairman’s decision, so sacked him (“AFL sacks appeal board boss days after Collard decision”, 26/4). A pity the fans don’t get the same power with the almost weekly unpopular decisions by some in the AFL management.
Lindsay Donahoo, Wattle Glen
Not good enough
I am a returned serviceman, deeply troubled and ashamed by the statements made by politicians, of both stripes, regarding their attitudes to the return of so-called “ISIS brides” to their home country (“IS brides in Syria make another bid for freedom”, 26/4).
One expects ranting from the LNP, but to have similar issue from the ALP is disappointing.
That the adult women concerned should face court if there is a case for them to do so is beyond dispute, but that politicians are prepared to ignore the plight of their children should be a warning to all Australians that they could well be abandoned overseas. That this occurs when politicians are talking about so-called “Australian values” is doubly sickening.
Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale, NSW
Flying the flag query
The apparently erroneous flying of the Australian flag among British flags for King Charles’ visit to Washington (“Australian flag flown in DC to welcome Charles”, 26/4) raises an important issue. When he travels overseas on official business, does our Head of State ever represent Australia – or does he (bizarrely) represent Australia only when he comes to Australia?
Perhaps someone in the District of Columbia Transport Department wasn’t acting erroneously in hanging the flags, but thoughtfully and logically.
Dennis Dodd, Shepparton
Idea for supermarkets
Coles and Woolworths are busy defending accusations of illegitimately claiming some items priced as discounted (“Down For the Count”, 26/4). The whole issue could easily be overcome by showing today’s price and the price three months ago, and perhaps also one year ago. The price shown would need to be per unit of measure, which would also expose shrinkflation.
No doubt supermarkets would claim it would be too costly, but it is just a matter of computer programming. And they could still advertise specials.
David Lamb, Kew East.
Give us less plastic
Our major supermarkets are not just allegedly trying to mislead us on discounts, they are a big part of why Australians are “responsible” for 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, equivalent to
100 kilograms per person, about half of which is single-use plastic (“Tooth powder and blocked drains: My week without plastic”, 26/4).
We are pleased the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has acted on the alleged discount scam. We are disappointed the overhaul of packaging legislation promised in 2023 is presumably still sitting on some shelf, and plastic production appears to be gathering speed.
Why is it so hard for big companies to simply do the right thing and
give us less plastic?
Lesley Walker, Northcote
Fiji plan atrocious
Regarding the report on a plan for a 900,000 tonne per annum waste incinerator in Fiji (“The island paradise where Australia may burn its rubbish”, 25/4): The only thing that needs to burn is that atrocious plan. We in Lara stand in resolute solidarity with the people of Fiji.
Chaz Street, secretary of No Waste Incinerators in Lara & Greater Geelong
Complex discussion
In Andrew Denton’s article (Opinion, 24/4), he cleverly labels those who are opposed to voluntary assisted dying as being opposed to discussing death with their loved ones who have a terminal illness.
I think death is openly discussed daily with those who have terminal illness in healthcare settings.
The issue of the silence around voluntary assisted dying is a complex one, and a terminally ill person’s view of life may be broader than just personal choice. There are many in our community who hold the view that all life needs to be respected and sanctified – meaning we are not the masters of our lives nor are our lives ours to dispose of.
Philip Ryan, Burwood East
Resist Trump’s rhetoric
Warwick McFadyen’s “Faith” column (26/4) again offers reflection. The ugliness and brutality of Donald Trump’s rhetoric surpasses any rhetoric of other US presidents.
It would seem he is indeed driven by an impervious faith in his own power, which is ably assisted by the military power of the United States. He appears to have no self-restraint which is profoundly dangerous.
We live in deeply disturbing times. We must collectively resist not only Trump’s rhetoric, but the profound human suffering it breeds.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
AND ANOTHER THING …
Shooting
Donald Trump, after the scare of a gunman, has explained percentages. He told reporters that the chance of being shot was 10 per cent of 1 per cent, adding it was much less than 1 per cent. Perhaps we can teach our kids that!
Alan Inchley, Frankston
How long it will take before Trump claims that divine intervention saved him from the gunman’s bullet? God knows he needs help.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
In the United States, there were 425 mass shootings in 2025, and 148 so far this year. Will Angus Taylor add the US to his immigration list of banned countries that are home to bad people? Or at least give definition to what he means by “bad people”?
Jenny Herbert, Metung
Flags
What’s wrong with Australian flags being flown in DC to welcome Charles? He’s the king of Australia as well.
Jules Klok, Noble Park
The flag we fly is derivative. The flag we need would feature the kangaroo. Genuinely unique.
Tony Haydon, Springvale
Victoria
Can Premier Jacinta Allan explain how Victoria has the toughest bail laws in Australia when “10 repeat shoplifters are responsible for almost 30 per cent of all thefts” (26/4)?
John Guy, Elsternwick
Obviously, DEI policies do not apply when appointing personnel to run government boards.
Martin Newington, Aspendale
Furthermore
The IS brides may be a problem, but they are our problem. How can we expect to have other nations warehouse those citizens whom Australia chooses to reject?
Peter Bennett, Clifton Hill
Finally
The Anzac Day game at the MCG: What a relief … no loud music after a goal, just sustained cheering. The atmosphere was that of a proper footy match and not that of a pokies venue.
Tim Rogers, Glen Iris
On Anzac Day it was General Pendles in charge at the ’G.
Glenda Johnston, Queenscliff
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