Same old rhetoric and laws are not enough to combat extremism

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This was published 5 years ago

Same old rhetoric and laws are not enough to combat extremism

Illustration: David Pope

Illustration: David PopeCredit: David Pope

Politicians would do well to read Dr Anne Aly’s article (‘‘More laws won’t stop terrorism, community-based initiatives can’’, November 12). The same old rhetoric and legislative response does not work. Extremism of a sort can also be seen in the response of some churches to marriage equality. If ever there was a breeding ground for resentment, and possibly violence, it is the treatment of genuine asylum seekers by successive governments. There is a starting point for future avoidance. - Robin Humphrey, Springwood

The use of the politically loaded language of ‘‘terrorism’’ by the Prime Minister to describe events in Melbourne causes great concern. Mentally unwell people are no doubt soft targets for radicalisation but being radicalised doesn’t make someone a terrorist. It makes them dangerously unstable, infected by concepts they don’t understand. But are they motivated by terrorist ideology or even distracted by it? Terrorists, on the other hand, are organised political and social zealots with a clear objective. - Julien Castaldi, Hamilton

Dear Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton, it is unacceptable that violence against women continues unabated in this country. As leaders of this country you and your community are responsible for the actions of these perpetrators. You need to be doing more to stop it. As a woman and citizen of this country, I demand your co-operation. - Amanda Lyons, Lennox Head

Hassan Khalif Shire Ali had his passport cancelled in 2015 following an attempt to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS. Can I suggest that the government allow these radicalised people, who have proven to be a real threat to the community, to leave Australia and then cancel their passports, thus locking them out rather than locking them in. - Peter Glass, Potts Point

It may have been more helpful and honest if Messrs Morrison, Dutton, Shorten and Andrews had compared the number of Australians who have lost their lives to terrorists with the number of women who have been killed in Australia as a result of domestic violence. Putting matters in perspective is always useful. - Terence Golding, Bolwarra

I have no sympathy for the Bourke Street killer but did police have to shoot him in the chest? He was not carrying a gun and was surrounded by police. Surely a shot to his shoulder or leg would have slowed him enough?
Killing the offender compounded the violence and removed an opportunity to find out what drove the man. I don’t blame the police; they are trained to shoot to kill. But too often they have killed innocent, disturbed individuals. Their training needs to be reviewed. Obviously police safety is paramount but there must be better ways for them to handle their guns. - Andrew Greig, Avalon Beach

Do we have to accept capital punishment as a response to a mental breakdown? A friend said at the weekend her child, under drug treatment for schizophrenia, hears voices telling him to do bad things, but he says no. It is not just ‘‘them’’ – we are all potentially subject to mental collapse. - John Synnott, Enmore

Sack Elliott for his role in grubby game of politics

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Thank you, Greg Piper; the behaviour in Parliament is not only ‘‘a disgrace and an embarrassment’’ but an undignified waste of time and money (‘‘A disgrace and an embarrassment’’, November 12). Whatever happened to a code of conduct and ethical behaviour? Whatever happened to meaningful and informed debate? - Elizabeth Starr, Chiswick

How many state Liberals knew that David Elliott was going to raise the Ashleigh Raper issue in Parliament? Did Premier Gladys Berejiklian know? Yes or no? - Victor Bivell, Abbotsford

Piper writes ‘‘Ms Raper had her right to determine how she wanted the matter handled stripped from her’’. How did Elliott obtain details of the alleged behaviour? Assuming the allegations to be true, Raper obviously had the right to an apology from Luke Foley, but why was she entitled to demand his resignation? - Harry Polley, Dural

Elliott made reference to his long-held concerns regarding Foley’s character. Voters should hold concerns regarding Elliott’s own character. Raising Raper’s story without her knowledge or consent was bad enough. But to go to ground once the story broke on Thursday and then release a terse statement late on Friday where he refers to Raper not by name but as ‘‘the journalist’’, and use it as an attempt to justify his actions, says much about his character. The fact he remains in cabinet, without censure, says much about the Premier too. - Garret Jackson, Penshurst

It is tad late for Elliott to apologise. If he was so concerned about Foley’s behaviour, surely he should have raised the matter  in 2016. - Jan Wilson, Glebe

Premier, grow some decency. Show that you stand for something other than political expediency: sack Elliott. Demonstrate that using women as pawns in grubby little games will not be tolerated. - Michael McMullan, Five Dock

I struggle to understand why we are pointing fingers at Elliott. The manner in which he exposed Foley is controversial; however the result is the right one. Men do not touch woman without their consent. - Aaron Ashpole, Petersham

Much has been made of actions taken under parliamentary privilege and politicians covering up for colleagues. A more serious indictment is victims of assault are unwilling to call out perpetrators for fear the repercussions will ruin their careers. - Jack Munro, North Strathfield

Could someone please explain why we need parliamentary privilege? - Mark Tietjen, Redfern

Remembering tragic waste of life

It is not just the silence of the graves that clutches the heart so tightly (‘‘The silence of the graves: Remembering the sacrifice of WWI’’, November 12).
Earlier this year, we walked the blood-soaked fields of Flanders, with their scattering of red poppies, and saw the two lines, marked respectively in blue and red, showing how close – sometimes just a metre or two – the opposing forces of boys and young men were when they waited to face each other and almost certain death from each other’s bullets. And what we felt was not so much the spirit of these poor young folk but the tragic waste and destruction of their lives (both those who died, and those who returned home, permanently damaged from their devastating experiences).
Scott Morrison summed up those feelings when he said that ‘‘war is always a failure of our humanity’’. This year, with our deeper understanding of how it must have been, for the first time we went to a Remembrance Day ceremony, and wore a red poppy in memory of all that suffering 100 and more years ago. - Anne Ring, Coogee

It is pertinent to question whose purposes this commemoration of World War I serves. When I conducted a basic internet search on my grandfather, who was traumatised by war service and would have nothing to do with Anzac Day, I landed upon a government-funded site entitled Honouring Anzacs. A listing on my grandfather took me to a link to the National Archives and my grandfather’s war records, which contain his medical records from this time.
I can see no way in which publishing the medical records online of a man whose direct descendants are still alive honours their memory. I have no doubt that, if asked, my grandfather would have ‘‘opted out’’ of such a process. At which point in the future will the government decide that the information contained in the MyHealth Record is of general historical interest and no longer confidential? - Louise Sorbello, Leichhardt

My paternal grandfather enlisted at 36, leaving a wife and five boys (youngest a few months) and returned with wounds and had another boy, but died aged 49. His brother-in-law, a transport driver, was killed aged 23. On the maternal side three were killed, aged 23 to 35. The French are to be congratulated on the way they maintain the graves.  - Ron Field, Bermagui

Since we have so many physical and figurative reminders of the soldiers and military personnel who died fighting in various military conflicts or peacekeeping missions to defend Australia, why don’t we extend the courtesy of commemoration to the Australian women who similarly sacrificed their lives to the benefit of their country, those who died in childbirth? Their families also confronted hardship and ongoing mental suffering because of the loss of their loved one. - Jane Bellemore, Newcastle

I don’t think young people know the significance of Remembrance Day. I was in a coffee shop at the 11th hour and nobody acknowledged it. - Maggie Churchward, Bowral

To the Balmain residents who thought it OK to walk through Loyalty Square to reach Woolworths and drive down Darling Street during the Remembrance Day Service, were you thinking? - Cecilia Hannon, Leichhardt 

Lame excuse

I cannot imagine what would happen to an Australian PM who squibbed attending a memorial service at Gallipoli because it was raining (‘‘Trump takes a raincheck’’, November 12). Would their flight home even be allowed to land? I wonder what else it will take to shift the solidarity of Trump supporters. - Kristina Vingis, Church Point

Illustration: John Shakespeare

Illustration: John ShakespeareCredit: smh

Let’s not be too harsh on President Trump about the rain preventing him from getting to the battle ground cemetery in France to commemorate US war dead. I understand bone spurs can really play up in wet weather. - Paul McShane, Burradoo

Part of the solution

Your article, (‘‘We’re still making the same recycling mistakes’’, November 12), indicates that well-intentioned consumers need some timely education or re-education. Some short, clear and clever ads could make a lot of difference, enabling us all to feel that we can be part of the environmental solution. Help us to think globally and act locally. - Lorraine Hickey, Green Point

Rich man, poor man

Your article (‘‘The ex, the mansion and $14m in tax’’, November 12) made interesting reading. Once again, mention was made of a so-called family trust account. Seems they are nothing more than a means of avoiding tax for the wealthy.
The impoverished certainly don’t have them. It’s time both sides of politics sought to abolish the establishment and rights to have a family trust. This may assist in generating income for the Commonwealth. What’s wrong with a bank account? Sadly, I couldn’t see politicians pushing for such a reform as it may well affect on their own fortunes, both financial and political. - Andrew Sipos, Woolooware

Name and shame

I read with dismay that one in 40 ‘‘gluten-free’’ manufactured foods contain detectable and harmful levels of gluten for those with coeliac disease (‘‘One in 40 gluten-free foods are not’’, November 12). I read the paper published online in the Medical Journal of Australia and noted that the manufacturers have been protected by not being named. As someone who has coeliac disease, this is alarming to say the least. It leads me to question the purpose of the study and the publishing of the findings as it in no way assists us to protect ourselves. - Di Evans, Hazelbrook

A win, any road you take

The proposal to provide free Opal transport to under-16s is a good idea, but should not be (just) seen as a cost of living initiative (‘‘Labor promises to extend free public transport to all children’’, smh.com.au, November 12). It’s an excellent way to normalise public transport and drive a huge behavioural change for an entire generation. The positive environmental impact of fewer teens defaulting to cars at the earliest opportunity could far outweigh the short term cost. Not to mention the reduction of stress in learner-driver households. - Tim Parker, Balmain

Tipping point

I am a waitress in a Chinese restaurant and like nothing better than to compliment parents on the good manners of their children; an occasion that occurs frequently (Letters, November 12). On the other end of the scale are the parents who come in groups and let their kids run amok. As the kids have thoroughly annoyed the other diners, I just kiss all my tips goodbye on those nights. - Justine Fischer, Moss Vale

O’Keefe made his mark

As did Ted Mack and Lionel Bowen, Frank O’Keefe served at all levels of government (Letters, November 12). He was mayor of Gunnedah; MP for Liverpool Plains and Upper Hunter and federal MP for Paterson. He did an excellent job representing the people of Gunnedah and district. - Peter Mirow, Tamworth

PM who came back

There was a PM before Menzies who returned to the top job from opposition (‘‘PM should forget about winning’’, November 12). Labor’s Andrew Fisher did it twice. - Carolyn Skinner, Hawker (ACT)

‘Spanish’ flu was fake

The Spanish flu that swept the world in 1918-19 may have originated in the US (Letters, November 12). If so, Spanish influenza is actually ‘‘fake flu’’. - John Bailey, Canterbury

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