Re “Off-leash stoush over Carlton’s room to roam” (The Age, 7/6). If our dog park experience in the City of Port Phillip is anything to go by, a heads up for those unfortunate enough to be living near this park. Welcome to loud barking 24/7, the council not enforcing times, verbal and physical abuse of residents when they ask owners to stop their dog barking continuously, dog fight club, destruction of the grass and dog poo. Welcome to the world where dog enjoyment sits above residents’ right to quiet enjoyment and access to green space.
Sarah Phillipson, South Melbourne
Learning about flood risk from past experience
The best warning system for flooding of the Maribyrnong River would be painting previous flood heights and years on poles and bridges. As far as I know, there is only one standpipe in Essendon that shows residents how high floods were in the past. This system would make it clear which houses have a flood risk.
Robert Irvine, Sunbury
Locals have to fight for space in a cramped pool
Towns are lobbying for $80 million to prepare for the 2026 Commonwealth Games (The Age, 9/6). In Bass Coast, we have one very old, 25 metre pool and a population bursting at the seams. There is nowhere near enough space for people to enjoy the pool, kids to learn to swim and the swim squad to train. It seems the only time the government gives out funding for swimmers down here is if you are a penguin.
Donna Lancaster, Inverloch
THE FORUM
Marginalising neo-Nazis
From a free speech point of view, I sympathise with Malcolm Knox’s article questioning the utility of banning Nazi symbols (Comment, 9/6). However, we have many laws designed to protect us from anti-social, dehumanising, sexist, racist and offensive comments and actions. And it is hard to think of any group the community needs and deserves protection from more than neo-Nazis.
People should not have to be exposed to the symbols of a genocidal death cult, particularly when the far-right – which is enjoying a resurgence – has a long history of using violence to further its twisted ideological agenda. These laws may not stop neo-Nazis from being neo-Nazis, but they should play a valuable role in further marginalising them, and minimising the harm they cause.
George Greenberg, Malvern
Going back to the future
Two Geelong schools will trial a plan to give VCE students one day a week of “independent work” (The Age, 9/6). However, this is not a new experiment. Shepparton High School had this in place when I did HSC (year 12) more than 50years ago. Unlike the proposed Geelong trial, we stayed at home (on Wednesdays) without teacher access. The idea was uncontroversial, and I do not recall that the school’s HSC results suffered.
Dennis Dodd, Wangaratta
MPs must come clean
Any politician who sends, or has sent, their children to private schools should declare a conflict of interest and abstain from voting on the issue of payroll tax exemption or any other unfair advantages given to private schools.
Miranda Jones, Drummond
Time for a new campaign
The private school system has a well-oiled machine that leaps into action any time their perks are under review. Where is the same action from the thousands of families that use public schools which keep getting their funds eroded? How can they band together to mount a cohesive response that emulates what the private schools do?
Fiona Parker, Flinders
Wrong holiday focus
Who changed the name for Monday’s public holiday to the King’s Birthday? The last time I checked, Charles’ big day was in November. If the name is to be changed, we may as well call it Potato Day or the Day of the Big Banana as these suggestions are just as relevant. Seriously, if we are to change the day’s name we should honour our First Peoples over an overseas resident.
Michael Carroll, Kensington
Protect precious site
We were recently camping in Ningaloo National Park, adjacent to the marine park, in Western Australia. There are 49 camping sites along the beachfront, just above the high-tide line in some cases.
This is a precious, pristine World Heritage area. Why would the government allow campers to: bring dogs (we never saw any of the dozens of them on a leash as they were supposed to be); bring in small boats (and there were dozens of them) for fishing on the reef despite the regulation that says only shore fishing allowed; and allow jet skis that were roaring around the beach and reef at excessive speed?
The irony was that the music we heard on the beach, blaring from the four jet skis way out at sea, was Born to be Wild. For all the creatures in this unique area that were indeed born to be wild, we implore Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to review the management of Ningaloo and preserve it for future generations.
Heather Hanstein, Black Rock
A job very well done
Brett Sutton, thank you for your work during the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Victorians would have had a much worse experience of this deadly virus without your sensible advice.
Gaell Hildebrand, Cohuna
Reality of holiday homes
David Hayward says the states should lift land taxes on non-first homes and use that cash to pay for public and community-delivered homes for those who don’t have one (Comment, 8/6). Since when is it reasonable to suggest that owning a holiday home, whether inherited or paid for, makes one responsible for funding part of public housing?
In 1995, I purchased a 45-year-old house on the Bellarine Peninsula with a building society loan and the retrenchment package I got when the firm I worked for was sold. It is used exclusively and extensively by family, as my wife and I could never afford to pay for a seaside holiday for them. Some say that if you own a second house, a “holiday home”, you are from the top end of town. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Peter Sparkes, Templestowe Lower
The retirees can’t win
Retirees are routinely condemned for living in homes that are “larger than they need”. Even worse, they have actually paid off the mortgage on those homes. Now they are to be condemned for selling those homes and being “wealthy” enough to be able to use the proceeds to pay cash for smaller homes. Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
Kristen Hurley, Seaholme
A strange about-face
As a government minister Peter Dutton was certainly not a proponent for a federal anti-corruption commission. Now, with unbridled enthusiasm and a dash of hypocrisy, he seeks to refer the circumstances of Brittany Higgins’ payout to it (The Age, 9/6).
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
The liberation of women
Re Ross Gittins’ article (Comment, 7/6). While I agree with most of why working mums are the norm, a number of aspects have been overlooked. Yes, education of women increased in the 1960s but so did advancement in safe contraception. Women could plan to have children at their convenience and therefore take time to complete their education.
Secondly, lending institutions such as banks and building societies often require enough income to repay the loans taken out to buy homes. As regards to private schooling, this comes about because of Melburnians’ prejudice about schooling which permeates into the job market.
Maria Liew, Woodend
A little assistance, please
Can airport staff be provided to help elderly or disabled people collect their luggage from the baggage reclaim area. This lack of assistance prevents many older Australians from travelling. It is not always easy to stand next to a strong person who, you hope, will take pity on you and help you with this arduous task.
Rosemary Johnston, Clarinda
Importance of history
The Victorian Premier’s History Awards (The Age, 7/6) have been an important annual recognition of the place of history in our society and of the quality of the writing being produced here. As Royal Historical Society of Victoria president Richard Broome notes, the funding for the awards goes directly to the winners. Now the awards are no longer to be funded.
The awards, and a range of other community grants for public history from the state government, have been modestly funded programs whose impact far outweighs the cost. They help sustain the widespread activities of Victorians who reflect on the deep, rich and often contested history of this special part of the continent. The History Council of Victoria urges the government to reverse its decision.
Emeritus Professor Peter McPhee, the History Council of Victoria
Too close for comfort
Forget dog-friendly restaurants. While travelling in Germany, we left our room in a moderately expensive hotel only to run into a dog in the corridor some metres ahead of its owners. A dog at the table beside you at a restaurant is bad enough, but a dog previously staying in your room is a bit shaggy.
Peter Neuhold, Elsternwick
A man fighting alone
Prince Harry has my greatest sympathy. He is facing off against the might of the British tabloids and their highly paid legal team. It also seems that he is getting no support at all from the other royals.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Economic matters
Surely time’s up for Lowe after 12 penalties in one season.
Cindy O’Connor, Brunswick
Philip Lowe must consider us a nation of bludgers.
Ian Anderson, Ascot Vale
Paul Keating talked about “the recession we had to have”. I hope Jim Chalmers won’t have to emulate his hero’s words.
Sally Davis, Malvern East
Politics
Maybe the Victorian Greens can form a coalition with the Liberals. They’re both equally dysfunctional.
Barry Kranz, Mount Clear
If Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin took polygraph tests, the machines would explode.
Hank Dikkenberg, Glenorchy, Tas
Payroll tax should be for all schools, or none.
Wendy Knight, Little River
I admire the writing, performance and editing of the television series Utopia. Regrettably, it depresses me deeply. I know it’s not fiction.
Vincent O’Donnell, Ascot Vale
Furthermore
The LIV/PGA golf tie-up follows the commercially driven World Series cricket (9/6). Money talks.
Francis Bainbridge, Fitzroy North
News of war crimes, corruption and interest rates continue, but the delightful photo of two young members of the Afghan women’s soccer team (9/6) offered hope.
Mary Cole, Richmond
Talk about irony. KPMG boss Andrew Yates apologises for its failings, “which include 1000 staff cheating on an exam about integrity in their work” (8/6).
Allan Havelock, Surrey Hills
Prince Harry, more power to you for your future happiness.
Dorothy Galloway, Mentone
Dogs are rarely more obnoxious than their owners, in or out of restaurants.
Lindsay Zoch, Mildura
The Qantas salary loophole (The Age, 9/6). Yes, that’s the spirit of Australia.
Paul Custance, Highett