Letters
Letters to
the editor
Looking for a plan B
Hugh White is correct (“Can Albanese fix Australia’s defence?”, June 14-20) that Australia needs to bring defence policy and spending into line with our strategic circumstances. The cornerstone of the 2024 National Defence Strategy is not a standalone capability to defend against an adversary but a strategy of denial that “involves working with the US and key partners to ensure no country attempts to achieve its regional objectives through military action”. Australia, like the NATO countries, has been reliant on the US security guarantee for the past 80 years and its defence capability is predicated on that assumption. There is no plan B. The US is now requesting that its partners make a greater contribution to their defence. Should the US withdraw strategically from our region, Australia would not be able to project a credible strategy of denial without a significant and rapid increase in spending and capability.
– Paul Wales, Woolooware, NSW
Community at heart
Holly Rankin’s account of the Taree floods echoes the experiences of others who have faced climate emergencies firsthand (“The reality underwater”, June 14-20). As these events become more frequent, it’s clear that systems designed for one-off disasters are no longer fit for purpose. We cannot continue to rely on outdated models that leave communities underprepared and unsupported. There is growing international evidence that community-based approaches significantly improve the effectiveness, equity and sustainability of disaster responses – they improve response times, build trust and save lives. If we are to survive the climate future we now face, we must redesign our systems with community at their heart.
– Julia Paxino, Beaumaris, Vic
Creative highlights
Tim Wilson’s heroically Napoleonic opinion of himself is evident in his foot-stamping criticism of John Hewson (Letters, “My record holds up”, June 14-20). Wilson insists he’s the very model of a socially progressive, pro-renewables activist. But according to the website They Vote for You, Wilson voted consistently against the following: increasing legal protections for LGBTQIA+ people, increasing investment in renewable energy, reproductive bodily autonomy, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, transgender rights, increasing consumer protections, a royal commission into violence and abuse against people with disability – the list goes on and on. He’s also firmly pro-nuclear. Give us the full picture, Tim, not just your edited highlights.
– Alison Stewart, Riverview, NSW
Coal and climate
I admire Tim Wilson for his public stand during the same-sex marriage debate. However, as a volunteer for Zoe Daniel, I take exception to his protestations about integrity in politics. Wilson mentioned a “gotcha” against Daniel, who voted for a bill that included $2 billion of fossil fuel subsidies, but the bill was about overall cost-of-living relief on energy prices. Tim Wilson must know this was a compromise vote that does not negate Daniel’s policy on fossil fuels. Wilson used fake and selective information about Daniel’s record in parliament, implying she voted mainly with the Greens. Daniel accepted money from Climate 200, whose aim is clear, while Wilson was supported by Australians for Prosperity, a coal lobby front. I hope Tim Wilson helps the Liberal National Party to take a robust climate policy to the next election. It will dilute my indignation at the methods that he and his side of politics used against Zoe Daniel this time around.
– John Hughes, Mentone, Vic
Waiting on answers
Rather than indulging in the spread of alternative facts or resorting to personal attacks on Zoe Daniel, the people of Goldstein deserve accountability and substance from our member of parliament. We are still waiting for concrete answers on how our MP plans to deliver on critical promises made during the election campaign. How will they address the pressing issues of inflation, affordable housing and community safety? What steps will be taken to ensure the grants promised to our community are actually delivered? The residents of Goldstein are tired of vague rhetoric and political games. We demand a clear, actionable plan, not more empty promises. It’s time for our MP to stop deflecting and start focusing on results that directly impact our lives.
– Carolyn Brydon, Brighton East, Vic
Letters are welcome: [email protected]
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This article was first published in the print edition of The Saturday Paper on June 21, 2025.
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