Australia Day
I WRITE concerning the article, "Respectful conversation the key to progress", (The Sunday Examiner, February 2).
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The article by Brian Wightman is hopeful, yet nave in the real politics and circumstances concerning not only Change The Date/Australia Day issue, but a maze of related issues rarely mentioned.
First and foremost is the Australia Day issue and its effect on reaching any positive outcomes through the reconciliation program, which is loosely coupled with the federal government's recognition program.
It seems that the government providing funds to Aboriginal communities to exhibit cultural arts productions, and perform dances for reconciliation will achieve a conciliation, of sorts. But why should Aborigines dance to reconcile the sins of our colonising governments? What did Aborigines do to justify our dancing for reconciliation? We must ask, "How can we reconcile anything if the governments continue to tell the world that they don't respect Aborigines?" "We do not respect Aboriginal people" is what governments are saying every time they say the date will not be changed, no matter the insult, the disrespect and arrogant dismissals, Aborigines are supposed to forego all of it and be loyal Australians. But how can we be loyal Australians if we are not citizens?
There have never been any agreements made between our Aboriginal First Nations and any government that formerly made our people citizens, and what conditions Aborigines would accept. Wightman mentions the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948, agreed by the government without any agreement with our First Nations. Moreover, Aborigines were not Australian citizens then, nor now, so how any legislation to grant citizenship without firstly having non-citizens agree to accept obviously makes his claim invalid.
It was thought the assumption of citizenship from the 1967 referendum would suffice, yet there are no documents or ceremonies to confirm it because it never happened. Reconciliation is not about white-Australia reconciling with Aborigines, but rather a responsibility being placed on Aboriginal people to do the reconciling.
The Recognise idea is another covert way to assume agreement by Aborigines to accept Australian citizenship, mainly because Aborigines have never been citizens by agreement. And finally, how can we be one nation when governments refuse to change the date and continue telling the world Aborigines are not respected, and it's OK for everyone else to disrespect us? I fear these issues will be around for a long time, and for my grandchildren who will have to continue the struggle for justice and respect.
Jim Everett-Puralia Meenamatta, Cape Barren Island.
National Service Idea
I AGREE with a letter from Mr Robbins (The Examiner, February 6) regarding 18 years old's National Service stint.
However, do you think it would get off the ground today after all the 'do-gooders', bleeding hearts, lefties and civil rights mobs got their two bob's worth in?
The need for such readiness will come, there is no doubt about that.
If compulsory NS did eventuate, I would certainly not like to be one of those responsible for instilling any degree of discipline into the bigger percentage of today's youth, except if it was done through an app on their phone.
I began work at the age of 14 and did National Service at 18, having to get absence from my employment for three months.
Those who did Airforce and Navy did six months. Good times.
Jake Cole, Shearwater.
Time for an election?
GIVEN that Auditor-General found that 330 of the 684 sports awards, or 73 per cent, had not been recommended by Sport Australia, and wrongly given to marginal seats in the Coalition's favour, it seems that the Coalition cheated to win the 2019 election.
And given the Coalition won by only two seats, isn't it possible that if the sports awards been made on the merit assessments of Sport Australia, that Labor could have won the last election?
It is a possibility that should be investigated either by the foreshadowed Senate enquiry or by a Royal Commission.
And if the numbers suggest that a Labor win is indeed possible, should not a fresh election be called?
John Biggs, Sandy Bay.
Aged Care Services
THE royal commission into aged care requested ideas to improve the broken system. Doctors at local medical consulting surgeries know their local patients' health better than most others.
We consider they are the ideal established base to do the necessary document assessment for aged care services. Doctors have the qualifications and experience to know the level of services their patients need.
It is vitally important the federal government do away with the complicated time delays.
There are far too many costly entities come about by not including the wider community views.
Satisfaction could prevail if Aged Care and Senior Australians Minister Richard Colbeck had the disposition to mediate an agreement with the medical profession.
We are confident that including the trusted Australian Nursing Federation in a new structure would improve the frontline services because they have an excellent moral discipline towards aged people.
William Ovenell, Grindelwald.
Renewable Energy
SURELY enough time has been given to sun and wind advocates to explain how and at what cost base-load power could be provided.
We know its provision is absolutely necessary and also that pumped hydro together with batteries for 100 per cent renewables would be prohibitively expensive.
We will not be fobbed off with dreams these costs are about to fall.