Letters to the Editor
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Population – an insidious problem
The housing crisis in Australia is multifaceted and can only be addressed by tackling all aspects of the problem in a manner that won't exacerbate the envronment while benefitting Australians
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Shameful oil and gas realities
Despite the International Energy Agency clearly stating back in 2021 that there is no need for any new investment in fossil fuels, gas and oil production is still expanding.
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Deaths in Gaza and Ukraine
Comparisons between the figures given by the Palestinian Health Authority for deaths in the Gaza War and the UN’s verified number of civilians killed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, grossly underestimate the deaths in Ukraine, which don’t cover Russian controlled territories and could exceed 100,000.
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Unity of Life
‘If we are God’s creation, how could God allow it? If God is omnipotent, how could God be so impotent?"
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Wow!
Wow!
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Can Tanya Plibersek give us a sustainable future?
Colonialism brought the exploitation and depletion of our natural resources. We need to return to a lifestyle where we nurture our environment as it nurtures us.
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Security Council needs to back up its resolution
The UN Security Council needs to use its powers to back up the resolution on Gaza if Israel and Hamas do not promptly comply.
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Tony Abbott and news corp
Tony Abbott works for News Corp/ Fox Corp.
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So Ashamed
I'm so ashamed to be Australian.
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U.S. ENTRAPMENT OF AUSTRALIA
We still see ourselves as an appendage of the Anglosphere entrapped in South East Asia with Asians, especially the Chinese, coveting our Continent. We are still obsessed with the fear of encroaching YellowPeril-itis. The response to this irrational view of ourselves and of our neighbours has led our leaders to hysterically cling to; initially Great Britain, which as the fall of Singapore exposed was not Great anymore, then equally hysterically, to the apron strings of the U.S.
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Why does my tax fund discrimination?
If religious schools want to discriminate against some pupils and staff, the least we can do is stop subsidising them with public money, money I have contributed to.
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We can see the future, and it’s bleak.
Our struggle to maintain a healthy, sustainable environment is forever undermined by those in power who convince the majority that all is well.
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The Australian threat analysis may be faulty
What is the security threat that Australia is perceiving for itself?
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Please, please, please …
Let us exit from AUKUS as soon as possible.
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Understanding (some/most) Jewish people
This could apply to any letter about Palestine/Israel - a film that gives an insight into Jewish thinking.
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Is Susan Abulhawa’s story a fair assessment?
While there are multiple opinions about the terrible war in Gaza, I come to Pearls and Irritations because the commentators here are trusted to be fair, as well as quite properly opinionated. I read the article by Susan Abulhawa with horror and sadness, but as I read, I began to wonder how fair this assessment really was an to learn a little more about Ms Abulhawa. I found an article on 'Fresh Air', from the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council which makes some very strong criticisms of Ms Abulhawa.
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Fear and Wrongdoing
Years ago, a few days before my Mother died, I was fortunate to spend a lucid hour with her. I asked her for her thoughts on why people do unexplainable things.
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Old economist wakes up – better late than never
Economics Nobel Prize winner Angus Deaton has finally woken up to the importance of power, social justice and community. Marx got there 150 years ago.
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Reflections on P&I
P&I is without doubt the standout Public Policy publication in Australia and arguably the world. The articles are very informative, current, at times provocative (nothing wrong with that) succinct and meaningful.
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Albanese Must Lead Boldly
Ian Dunlop commends the two big ideas for Australia from Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims - a green economy and a carbon price. He then challenges the PM to lead boldly with them.
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HEU: ANCIENT WISDOM, MODERN LESSONS
… and ah! Future experience…?
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We must pay for pollution
Given the long-standing support for a price on carbon as a solution to climate pollution, it is deeply troubling that the overall reduction in emissions after a carbon pricing scheme has been introduced averages around 0-2 per cent per year. When we acknowledge that the global north now needs to reduce emissions by 11 per cent per year between now and 2030 this fact becomes even more alarming.
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MH370 – ex airline pilot agrees with your story
As an ex airline pilot, this incident immediately raised suspicion of deliberate action by a pilot.
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Alcohol banned in parliaments
ALCOHOL SERVED IN PARLIAMENT HOUSES - no longer necessary. A hangover from colonial days of a century ago.
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Danger using Pine Gap in Negotiations with the US
Labour has already been punished for posing a threat to the continued existence of Pine Gap.
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The Power of the Dog
Thank you to Peter Henning for breaking the (self-imposed) Australian media ban on criticising Albanese and his do-nothing government.
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Will AUKUS Outlast Trump
Aukus was always a Local Politics Issue
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Australia responsible for the bleaching of its own reef
The burning of fossil fuels contributes three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions which have led to record ocean temperatures and coral reef bleaching around the world. The Australian government continues to approve new coal and gas projects and has even watered down the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority climate change position statement. It cannot be denied - the Australian government is partly responsible for the bleaching of its own reef.
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Hear me Roar
I was at the Women's Politics Conference in 1976. It was organised by a male consultancy firm. Needless to say, this caused a lot of anger from many women involved in paid and unpaid positions of advocacy who were, according to Gough Whitlam not able to organise a National Conference for Women on the same scale that men were.
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The Teals Have Revived Representative Parliament
Community-based independent MPs are rebuilding the connection between their constituents and government. The major parties must evolve to survive.
