The government must talk to church leaders

Freedom of belief including religion and its practice are fundamental rights enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This legislation could erode this, intentionally or otherwise, especially regarding Christianity. Former Attorney-General Jill Hennessy’s refusal to meet affected parties such as church leaders to discuss these issues is disappointing. The bill must not be rushed. While well-intended, it needs further consideration to address concerns.
William Frilay, Doreen

A bill designed to protect all Victorian citizens

Barney Zwartz, I am afraid that after denying, then covering up, and then fighting hard to not take any responsibility for continued sexual abuse for decades, religious organisations have lost any right to be given the benefit of the doubt or to have any leeway in the way they treat people in the name of so-called religious freedoms.

Indeed one could argue that they have forfeited the right to even be consulted or considered on their past record. I applaud the government’s moves to legislate for the protection of its citizens, particularly the vulnerable.
Graeme Gardner, Reservoir

How many have suffered in ‘shamed silence’?

Barney Zwartz says ‘‘so far as I am aware, the number of coercive conversion therapy cases historically in Victoria is tiny’’. How does he know? Coercion can be covert and implied, as well as thundered from a pulpit or transmitted by a psychologist. It is surely much more likely that, over decades, thousands of people have suffered in shamed silence and/or felt forced to marry to pretend ‘‘straightness’’ to hard-line, fundamentalist church authorities and families. The true number and extent will never be known.
Bronwen Bryant, St Kilda West

Wide consultation will result in better legislation

As Barney Zwartz so rightly says, if the state government rushes this bill through Parliament without due consultation with church representatives and the wider community, it could have grave implications for freedom of speech, beliefs and religion. One can only hope the government will consult further and form a more appropriate bill that can then be put to Parliament. It is more likely the merits of that bill will be recognised and accepted by most sectors of society.
Glenise Michaelson, Montmorency

A new understanding of people’s diversity

The proposed law banning conversion practices for homosexual people aims to prevent, mainly faith communities, from harming people. The catechism of the Catholic Church states that ‘‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered’’. This statement represents a serious lack of comprehension of the current understanding of the human person and has been the cause of great distress and harm to many gay people and their families.

Society has always been aware of the existence of homosexual persons and is now becoming aware of greater diversity in human sexuality, hence the mnemonic LGBTQA.
Instead of concentrating on the morality of various expressions of sexuality, it would seem more appropriate for the faith communities to focus on helping people to develop and preserve relationships. They need to be open to embracing the new understandings of the human person. Failure to do so will make them a laughing stock and render them irrelevant.
Vin Underwood, Brighton

THE FORUM

Let the financiers decide

So the federal Treasurer has thrown his support behind a proposed inquiry that would grill financial regulators and banks over plans to pull back on lending or insuring mining projects because of climate change (The Age, 16/12). Why is it that when market forces and government policy do not coincide, the latter feels obliged to interfere? Surely financiers decide where to invest. After all, they have their own best, longer-term interests in mind.
Andrew Moloney, Frankston

Such misplaced priorities

Josh Frydenberg does not need an inquiry into the decisions by banks and financial institutions to withdraw investments in mining projects. The recent UN report on the global climate emergency provides all the rationale needed.

Rather, he should set up an inquiry into the investment by the Future Fund of millions of taxpayers’ dollars in Adani Ports, a company criticised by the UN for its links to the Myanmar military and the devastating global warming impact of the coal mining industry. We expect government leaders to prioritise environmental and human rights considerations above powerful corporate interests.
David Crawford, Balwyn

Investment and risk

If our banks were not assessing risk in terms of where they invest our money, we, and our Treasurer would be outraged. Government interference in this judgment will bite back, hard.
Carolyn Ingvarson, Canterbury

The move away from coal

Coal is on the nose but it seems Josh Frydenberg will not have any of it. Even big banks are walking away from the hellish substance. Thank you, banks. It seems we are forced to rely on your coercion rather than government pressure to force Australia’s hand for climate justice. Please, Treasurer, use the public purse to secure a healthy and optimistic future for now and future generations.
Annie Mullarvey, North Fitzroy

Our path to destruction

The elephant in the room is consumption. The more we consume, the greater the destruction of the planet’s resources and the greater the amount of greenhouse gases that are generated.
David Eames-Mayer, Balwyn

In praise of languages

I was part of a federal government initiative in the ’90s where teachers returned to university to study an Asian language. I did Indonesian and taught it. Like Melissa Crouch – ‘‘Language cuts disable our future’’ (Comment, 15/12) – I have joined exchange programs and studied for short times in Indonesia. As a result, I also have deep relations with Indonesia and have been playing Indonesian music for 20 years.

The skills acquired in language study set one up for life. I believe universities should be more proactive in encouraging young people to study Indonesian.

As Melissa says, language study is a big investment of time and the government needs to recognise this and provide for it, not just short-term study abroad. My life has been so enriched by my relationship with Indonesians and the language is such a vital part of that experience. I am always thrilled to see the astonished look on someone’s face in Indonesia when I speak their language. How sad it would be if this disappeared from our universities.
Irene Ritchie, Balaclava

Promises, promises

Donald Trump, you said you were going to make America great again. It seems you have failed what with all that fraud you claim went on in your electoral system, which is the backbone of any great democratic country.
Gerry Lonergan, Reservoir

Let’s set some conditions

Isn’t it time we took China on at its own game? Representations to the World Trade Organisation will achieve little as we know China will completely ignore any directives. Why don’t we make exports of our high quality iron ore that China desperately needs conditional on its removing embargoes on Australian exports? Failing that, perhaps try the United States’ tactic of placing a tariff on Chinese imports. Unpopular, yes, but desperate times demand desperate measures.
Barry Barton, Bandiana

Ministers’ hearts of stone

Expecting the federal government to work for the release of the Indian mariners stranded on vessels which were transporting Australian coal to China is pointless. A government that is prepared to hold ill refugees for more than a year in a Melbourne motel is unlikely to be moved to pity by the sailors’ plight.
Juliet Flesch, Kew

Feeling some of the pain

A few months of relative isolation at home during the pandemic have left many people mentally affected. Hopefully this will focus our attention on refugees and asylum seekers who, following up to seven years’ detention on Manus Island, have been locked up in a motel for 16 months. We cannot imagine the state of their mental health.
Linda Driscoll, Armadale

The forgotten job seekers

In this pandemic year, did the National Disability Insurance Scheme really do one of the things it was set up for? Funding employment supports for disabled people to achieve their job goals. As was the case for most people, additional job support was needed like never before. However, I fear that NDIS participants were not looked after to the same extent. While Scott Morrison showered the general populace with JobSeeker and JobKeeper sweeteners, he neglected many of the marginalised when they needed job support the most.
Anthony Bartl, Kensington

Seeking more answers

The Victorian government commissioned a report to capture ‘‘lessons learnt’’ from the Colac outbreaks (The Age, 16/12). Around 145 residents were infected with COVID-19 and there were no deaths. When will the federal and state spotlight be turned on the management of the tragic outbreaks in Victoria’s aged care facilities?

According to the Department of Health and Human Services Department’s website, in my mother’s facility (Mercy Place Parkville), 58 residents, 39 staff and eight close contacts tested positive during an outbreak that lasted for months and took the lives of 22 residents.

Surely these numbers warrant serious investigation. Families and residents were constantly told everything possible was being done while the infection counts rose daily. Without lessons learnt from the tragedy in aged care this year, residents and families can have no confidence that another outbreak will not result in the same terrible loss of life.
Meg Mappin, Anglesea

Take a national approach

Why doesn’t the federal government provide a universal QR code reader to all businesses that require them to comply with COVID-19 guidelines? Currently there are myriad with some requiring more information than the guidelines require – for example, email addresses – that creates a disincentive to complete them. Surely a universal QR code reader one that meets the guidelines, and does not try to harvest other information, would improve compliance rates and assist contact tracing across the states.
Dave Robson, Port Melbourne

A true man of the AFL

As a fan of another team, I find Eddie McGuire irritating, in your face and prone to sticking his foot in his mouth. But he is 100per cent passionate about Collingwood and committed to the game, and for that I respect him.
Danny Hampel, South Yarra

Meat and moral relativism

Despite his squeamishness about the morality of eating meat (Comment, 15/12), Doug Hendrie defends his decision to do so, and the futility of advocating for a meat-free diet, because ‘‘Food is culture. Food is tradition. Food is memory’’ and meat is ‘‘tasty, nutritious and everywhere’’.

If we follow the logic of this appeal to moral relativism, I wonder what other practices we consider permissible, just part of a culture or tradition – whaling, child slave labour, female genital mutilation, discrimination (or worse) against certain minorities? I suspect not. It seems it is only OK when it is your own cultural practice, but then culture or tradition is not actually the standard by which we are judging actions, so we can hardly appeal to it ourselves. While we can understand why many people fail to question certain conduct because of its conventional acceptance, this is a long way from justifying it.
Andrew Melville, Clifton Hill

A true blue, Aussie EV

Surely Australia, creator of the black box and WiFi, could become the designer and manufacturer of one electric car that competed with Tesla. Sweden, a nation one third the population of Australia, once developed a car that became a household word: Volvo. South Korea, with twice our population, is producing at least two major vehicles which are seen everywhere. We have the designers and the historically skilled manpower to achieve that dream. Do we have the politicians and billionaires who will wake up and launch that historic national endeavour?
Christopher Mayor, Kennington

Dangerous suggestions

There have been rumours of a federal cabinet reshuffle, including replacing Education Minister Dan Tehan with Michaelia Cash. Her current answer to many questions is that the best form of welfare is a job. As Education Minister, would she keep repeating a new mantra that the best schools are those that require no federal funding?
Ron Noonan, Lake Wendouree

Just more one puff

If Mathias Cormann gets the top job at the OECD, we should all ‘‘put in’’ to buy him a box of the finest Cuban cigars. And take a photo of him smoking one, just for old times sake.
Myra Fisher, Brighton East

AND ANOTHER THING

China

For Scott Morrison, China’s ban on our coal is a lose-lose situation. For the climate, it’s a win-win.
Rosemary Clerehan, Armadale

How to heal our rift with China? Tanya Plibersek for PM and Penny Wong for foreign minister.
Fiona Moore, Ivanhoe

To borrow a line from Keating, China is going to do us slowly.
Lindsay Zoch, East Melbourne

To show loyalty, I’m drinking as much Australian wine as I can.
Greg Keogh, Cheltenham

Eddie McGuire

You mean we have to put up with Eddie Everywhere for another season?
Geof Carne, Moonee Ponds

Will he be out by late August or the first week in September next year?
Graeme Spooner, Mount Martha

Well done, Eddie, but why not leave now? My credentials for the job are hot because I barrack for Essendon.
Graeme Lee, Fitzroy

Trump

Donald, I’m sad you’ll no longer be in the White House. Perhaps we could do tea at the Kremlin one day. Vlad.
Pete Sands, Monbulk

Trump has been formally recognised as a loser although I’m sure most people knew that.
Nigel Beresford, Drouin

Donald Trump, you’re fired.
John Morris, Lorne

Furthermore

Some farmers will lose half their crops because they can’t get pickers. Send in the ADF.
Eric Kopp, Flinders

Why aren’t the unemployed picking crops? They’d be earning money on top of the dole.
Cathy Belcher, Nowa Nowa

A beautiful floral tribute thanking our amazing health care workers is in Linlithgow Garden, near the walkway leading up to the Shrine.
Elizabeth Smart, Southbank

Thank goodness for Ita Buttrose.
Patricia Rivett Ferntree Gully

Will Tony Mokbel get his wig back?
Paul Custance, Highett