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VICTORIA
Ben Carroll’s first sit-down interview as premier is revealing (″Big Ben strikes″, 2/8). We learn that although he considers ″integrity is non-negotiable″, he, at the same time, maintains that ″when cabinet arrives at a decision you need to support that position″.
We also learn that although he has ″been wanting transparency and accountability for a long time″, we should simply accept his private estimation that ″the SRL [project] does have merit and does need to continue″.
But he cannot have it both ways: either integrity trumps cabinet solidarity or it does not; and the value of the SRL should be made public or remain a government secret.
What is revealed by Chip Le Grand’s interview, then, is that Carroll is just another platitudinous politician.Peter Drum, Coburg
Tell Dan and Jacinta where to go
In November 1917, Leon Trotsky informed his main opponents, the Mensheviks: “Your role is played out. Go where you belong from now on – into the dustbin of history.”
It would appear that Ben Carroll is telling his erstwhile colleagues, Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan, to do the same, (″Big Ben strikes″, 2/8).Ivan Glynn, Vermont
Boring machines, start your engines
Thank you, Premier Carroll for your commitment to build the SRL. While I agree with him that the SRL was initially badly planned, it is nonetheless a great project.
Yes, there are problems, but I note that recent large contracts have come under budget and the project is broadly on time. Also, it comes under considerable ongoing management particularly with the addition of federal government financial oversight.
It is far too late to consider any other course but to get on with it, as the premier said ″that era is over″. I look forward to the tunnel-boring machines starting their march forward in the next few weeks with the future promise of a world-class, integrated train system and service.Timothy Hoffmann, Brunswick
SRL will be obsolete in 2050
″Why didn’t we build the SRL, like every other major world city which has one?″ asks a correspondent (Letters, ″City needs the SRL″, 2/8) imagining a question asked in 2050.
Because, like Los Angeles and other 21st century cities, we will have implemented driverless taxis to minimise congestion, lower emissions, reduce travel time and improve general mobility.
A fleet of autonomous on-demand taxis or mini buses offering almost door-to-door transport will render the SRL a very expensive tunnel for a tiny herd of white elephants.
And dare I say it? Melbourne should maintain a stable and almost sustainable population through regionalisation and fast country rail – just like ″every other major world city″.James Richardson, Langwarrin
Evidence-based decisions need explaining
It is understandable that Ben Carroll aims to distance himself from his immediate predecessors (″Carroll’s long run: Can the boy from Airport West outrun Andrews’ ghost?″ 1/8).
However, I hope he doesn’t throw out policies that are based on evidence, which he believes is so important. The article suggested that Carroll has questioned the current Labor policy of phasing out gas connections in Victoria.
The evidence is clear that burning fossil fuels contributes to dangerous climate change.
If this policy is reversed, the premier would need to clearly explain the evidence on which this action was taken.Judy Williams, Beaumaris
THE FORUM
The long view
Peter Hartcher reminds us of the importance of reducing the national deficit (“One bold, fiscal move would ease our economic anxiety. Does the PM have the nerve?“, 1/8) while Caitlin Fitzsimmons (“Rewarding companies to do nothing is undermining Australia’s climate cuts”, 1/8) makes the argument for a massive cut in fuel rebates for mining and resource companies. So. there is part of the solution to the budget challenge Peter refers to.
And, if we also bring in the proposed 25 per cent tax for gas exports, a move that is widely supported across the community, then the task of reducing the national deficit will become significantly easier.
If we are to have a country that can survive and thrive through the coming years of climate disasters and international uncertainties, we must have governments that take the long view, and are prepared to stand up to some of the corporate interests.Catherine Rossiter, Fadden, ACT
Great visionary
Alfred Deakin came into the world on this day 170 years ago (August 3, 1856), and lived a life worthy of admiration and emulation, eventually serving three times as prime minister.
Elected as a young man to the Victorian parliament, Deakin astonished colleagues in his first speech by resigning – owing to electoral irregularities that weighed on his conscience.
He failed at the ensuing byelection, but eventually regained a seat, enabling him to secure occupational health and safety in factories, compensation for injuries, and limiting exorbitant hours.
But his greatest achievement was helping to found the nation through his writings, exertions and spoken remarks, including this at the 1897 Adelaide Federation Convention: “We are trustees for posterity, for the unborn millions, unknown and unnumbered, whose aspirations we may help to fulfil and whose destinies we may assist to determine.“David D’Lima, Sturt, SA
Modern party politics
The alleged shenanigans of Christian Ellis and the Reformers as revealed by ICAC last week are enough to give political parties a bad name! (“The 11-hour drive and profane putdown: Inside the meeting that killed a Liberal Party takeover”, 2/8).
A covert factional meeting up in ‘Them Thar Hills’, suggestions of money nonchalantly passed under the table and furtive turnings of heads, an eleven-hour car race against time and a heroic female protagonist saving the day, albeit temporarily.
Yes, throw in the potential involvement of Carmelite nuns, unbeknown to them. Not to forget loyal elderly acolytes, past their use-by date, being thrown under the bus.
Slapstick comedy? No party politics at work. No wonder Australians are fed up.**Jennifer Quigley, Balwyn **
Europe on fire
The wildfires ravaging Europe are a tragedy, and as in Australia and California, are an annual occurrence in the summer. There has been some commentary relating these fires to climate change, however the main causes seem to be more easily explained.
For example, more than 300 people have been arrested in France during this fire season for either arson or not following fire safety regulations. These reasons account for nine out of 10 wildfires.
Climate change may be the cause of some of these fires ,however in the vast majority of cases, it’s attributable to the negligence of humans.
These reckless acts are not specific to France or any other country, they are prevalent in most jurisdictions, just like any other crime.Christo Krousoratis, Templestowe
Blazes offer clue
The unfortunate and unusual wildfires in Europe, to me, are a sure sign that the planet is struggling, but strangely, not a word from our resident climate denier Tony Abbott telling us it’s a hoax.Greg Bardin, Altona North
DYI medicine
As a retired dental surgeon, I was appalled, but hardly surprised, by the report on Byte dental aligners (″No oversight: Dental aligners leave a trail of woe″, 2/8).
I was just as appalled by the use of do-it-yourself mouthguards, which were readily available during my years of practice – and probably still are – and were much cheaper than getting a mouthguard professionally constructed.
Social media has much to answer for, making dangerous appliances attractive and cheap and too many people go for the cheaper option ignorant of the dangers and risks.
Professional services are certainly not cheap, but with them comes professional qualifications and experience and oversight by professional associations and legal requirements.
Inherent risks are always present to some extent in procedures, but these are explained by practitioners in order to get patients’ informed consent to treatment.
This does not occur with internet or over the counter remedies.
What next? Do it yourself appendectomies.
Can’t be all that difficult and certainly cheaper that paying a surgeon the gap after Medicare.Les Aisen, Elsternwick
Stardust memories
We all know the past is another country. Tony Wright’s “Claret at 11am and Nescaf in the rearview: coming of age in a Carlton wonderland”, 1/8) has conjured up a time long ago.
As a Melbourne University student in the early 1960s, I remember so clearly the joys of remaking the world over coffee in the caf.
University was not just sitting in lectures or the library, trying to catch the eye of that cute boy but a lesson in finding one’s way in that world.
And oh, the joy of deciding yes, lunch at Jimmy Watson’s, throwing the steak on his barbecue and delighting in the glass of wine to go with it. These were indeed the days.Miriam Gould, Malvern
Victim blaming
Whether intended or not, former Tourism Victoria CEO Lois Appleby’s plea to “clean the city up” (Letters, ″Melbourne, wake up″, 30/7) because she had to navigate around homeless people in the CBD, makes it sound like they are the problem, rather than a symptom of the growing inequity in this country.
The only way to improve this situation is for our society to decide we want to reverse this trend, which is leaving more and more people behind.Tanya Matheson, Ascot Vale
Visceral reaction
I shook with fury after reading Andrew Furhmann’s review of Stephanie Lake Company’s Vista – “Energy and chaos can’t mask drab material”, 31/7.
He is consistently disrespectful of many dance works and I believe that readers deserve more informed commentary on this art form.Susan Bendall, Elwood
Overheard
I loved Roby D’Ottavi’s article ″I love eavesdropping but there are things I shouldn’t have to hear in public″ (2/8). I recently lost a dear friend who had made eavesdropping into an art form. She especially loved restaurants where the tables are so close together you can’t help but become involved in the minutae of others’ private lives.
Some years ago we were lunching in a pub in Adelaide and two young women came in, with no pause in their conversation when they sat down near us.
″Well!″ said one, ″I woke up in his flat and he had, like, nothing!″
″Oh my god!″ her friend replied.
″I know! Thank god I’d taken my own hair-straightener!″Gabrielle Gardner, Montmorency
Sterling stuff
Re Justin Hurwitz, inviting our newest maestro, Sterling Nasa, (the hero that saved the night in Sydney two months ago) – to play piano again – this time at the La La Land concert in Los Angeles (″Audience member Sterling Nasa performs in Justin Hurwitz’s La La Land In Concert″, 2/8).
What a Sterling idea, Mr Hurwitz.Jason Apostolou, St Kilda
How to lose your mind
The anger and frustration Waleed Aly writes about “Forgot Password?” (31/7) is very real. Recently, my husband was admitted to hospital multiple times, and each time pathology tests were performed. Nine separate invoices, delivered via SMS text, ask us to pay the gap fees for these tests.
Concerned about scams, we rang the number provided on the invoice. A message said ″we are experiencing slightly longer waiting times than usual” and “please continue to hold”.
No matter what time of the day I ring, nobody ever answers.
The text on the phone is minute, payment requires toggling between screens and transcribing reference and invoice numbers and my bank details. Potential for errors in the process is huge. This must be done separately for all nine invoices. The help line continues to be experiencing “longer than usual wait times”. An email request for hard copies to be sent is fruitless.
Yesterday, a tenth invoice arrived, again via SMS text, but this time from a debt collection agency. In order to check it is legitimate, I go to the “Need More Information” which asks I provide my personal details, not something I’m prepared to do when I’m trying to check the authenticity of the company.
The total for all bills is less than $150. When the pathology company can provide me with invoices which I can cross-check and pay the outstanding amount in one transaction, not ten, I will happily pay.Heather Saunders, Warrnambool
AND ANOTHER THING
Commonwealth Games
Australians all let us rejoice by celebrating the achievements of our athletes at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with glee.Eric Palm, Gympie, Qld
If King Charles were Donald Trump, he would declare these Commonwealth Games null and void, and deem subsequent games not include Australia.Ian Whitehead, Traralgon
Trump
US President Donald Trump has claimed he should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. Well, he has announced the ending of a war on over 40 occasions. Only trouble is, it’s the same war.Gerry Lonergan, Reservoir
I can’t see Benjamin Netanyahu agreeing to Donald Trump’s peace deal with Hamas and the two-state solution. The Israeli PM doesn’t want a two-state solution.John Cain, McCrae
Never has the reflecting pool given more cause to the American people to reflect on what
their president is doing to their country, and the world.Bernd Rieve, Brighton
How does ″Donald Trump’s Peace Plan″ sit with ″Donald Trump’s War Plan″, or was that last month?Bryan Lewis, St Helena
Victoria
Re Letters 2/8: My prediction for Melbourne 2050 is driverless flying cars dodging high-rise buildings and negotiating Suburban Rail Loop tunnels.Jan Storey, Beaumaris
If his ability is anywhere near as good as his coiffeur/quiff, Ben Carroll will have Victoria turned around in double quick time.John Sheldrick, Peppermint Grove, WA
Memo to Ben Carroll and Harriet Shing: re-purpose the derelict Shangri-La building for public housing The work is half done already.Rosemary Kelleher, Camberwell
In response to your correspondent (Letters 2/8) who asks how are bees faring: They are not buzzing along so sweetly.Meg Biggs, Yarraville
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