Truth out the window
In September 2012, Malcolm Turnbull stated that honesty is the best policy when commenting on the “deficit of trust” in government. Yet we have his recent “captain’s call” to promote Minister Peter Dutton to head a super ministry.
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This is despite the minister being deceitful about the shooting on Manus and deceiving the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the resettlement of “Compelling humanitarian cases with strong family links in Australia”.
It seems our PM has abandoned honesty to the Australian people whilst also allowing the destruction of trust the UN would normally expect of Australia.
Is there no end to what the PM will do, or breaches in ministerial conduct he will allow to protect his fragile position?
No wonder there is a continuing “deficit of trust” constantly revealed in polling about his government.
Gregory Clark, Woodend
The pressure builds up
Moments which sear into the brain: the look in the eyes of your beloved at the altar and the birth of each child.
Then there is the moment when the new principal at your school blocks your path as you walk to your next class and asks how old you are.
His over-powering after-shave is disorienting but you realise he has this information, so why is he asking? Ah, I'm being targeted and he is letting me know.
Thirty-three years of teaching, which I desperately miss, fade away into a bureaucratic fog. To this day, I do not wear after-shave.
Michael McNeill, Bendigo
Time to pull our weight
Living within multicultural Australia is an exciting feast upon all our senses.
It is easy to fall in love with our diversity of people, culture and food while enjoying the safe atmosphere our tolerance and acceptance of each other's differences contribute to the nation.
In Australia, our way of life facilitates the ability of people to be able to commit to place, have families, work hard and grow our food.
It is easy to forget that it is our safety which has ensured we have an adequate food supply, rather than our investment and toil.
However, not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy a feast upon their senses.
In an environment characterised by constant conflict and violence, the people of the Eastern African countries South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia do not feel safe enough to maintain residence in the one location.
Feeling unsafe and vulnerable has motivated the mass movement of people and resulted in a severe food shortage throughout East Africa.
Lack of stability has meant people do not stay in the one place long enough to ensure crops are harvested and replanted each year, resulting in a famine crisis.
The recent 303 million dollar cut from Australia's foreign aid budget, coupled with a decision to focus Australia's funding attention exclusively within the Asia Pacific region has cast a dark shadow over the 20 million people enduring a famine crisis in South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia.
During this famine crisis, Australia could show leadership by offering greater levels of financial aid as well as increasing our diplomatic efforts to facilitate peace.
When will the Turnbull government do the right thing?
When will the Turnbull government ensure Australia pays our fair share in foreign aid again?
When will the Turnbull government help the people of East Africa enjoy a feast upon their senses?
