Daniel in the Murdoch lions’ den
Joseph Quigley writes: Living in NSW I’m not aware of the standard set for Victorian MPs to gain a start in The Egregious Stakes of Misdemeanours (“Exclusive! Dirty Dan’s dastardly deeds that News Corp’s not yet nailed”). But to be honest, the alleged offences committed by Dan the Man would not register as worthy for inclusion in the sordid racing form guide of Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
Sexual dalliances, bribery and corruption, crooked land deals, etc: these are the detritus of NSW politics. Did I mention car crashes while DUI? And licence suspended? Top-shelf misdemeanours here in NSW make Victorian MPs look like innocents abroad.
Marlene Hall writes: I have it on good authority that when Dan Andrews was in fifth grade his teacher, Mr O’Grady, arranged for each boy to write to a pen pal in Derbyshire, where Mr O’Grady’s sister-in-law taught a fifth grade class. Dan wrote to his assigned pen pal, Thomas Merton, twice, and received correspondence from Thomas in return. Dan failed to follow up Thomas’s second letter with a third letter, however, leaving young Thomas wondering why he had been rebuffed by his antipodean friend with whom he had every right to think he had formed a lifetime bond. Thomas Merton has never visited Australia from that time onwards and his friends say that nowadays he prefers to holiday in Majorca.
Dr Deb Campbell writes: While Crikey is right to point out that some journalists employed at News Corp do not involve themselves in its mainline BS, it is also true to say that those good fair accurate journalists who write for the brand are actively giving the Murdochs cover for the appearance of balance — a thin veil of legitimacy (“How do you spot a News Corp campaign? When a grown-up calls for calm”). This sort of cover does, in a way, even more damage to Australia and the world than the actual BS. It allows everyone who believes or wants to promote the BS to say: “But there’s also good journalism in Murdoch rags.” But that sampling of good reporting merely provides cover for the mainlining misinformation and malice which is the Murdochs’ main game: hate, lies and fear.
In my book, all decent people including good writers (I mean for example you, Phillip Adams), real policy experts, and all ALP, Green and community independent politicians should simply not take Murdoch’s money or space. Let’s leave the mad and bad to their own company; let’s stop pretending there is anything balanced about the Murdoch empire.
Roebourne prison: a dangerously hot property
Alison Bussell writes: How sad to see such blatant cruelty and lack of care as demonstrated by Western Australia’s prison system (“The local dog pound will soon have what Australia’s hottest prison doesn’t: air-con”). A crowded prison with temperatures in that Pilbara region reaching 50 degrees and night temperatures in cells at 33 degrees with no air-conditioning. Western Australia is a wealthy state so why is the state government unprepared to resolve the long overdue problems that would cost comparatively little at this mainly Indigenous prison?
The way law and order is carried out in WA with rampant police brutality and little complaint from white citizens is a shameful blot on Australia’s reputation. In fact, the complete lack of rehabilitation in all national prisons is a sign of uneducated and immoral citizenship. We should all feel great shame and a desire for change.
Gary Gibbon writes: It’s ludicrous that the WA government doesn’t spend some money to upgrade Roebourne prison and provide air-conditioning throughout the facility. It is just leaving itself wide open to accusations of human rights abuses, especially if there was another death in custody. The Crikey report wasn’t exaggerating the temperature statistics. It is one of the hottest places in WA over the summer.
Working hard for a living
John Savidis writes: I’m with the workers who have made Australia (“Industrial relations debate reveals class war, the Australian way”). The time for tax-free incentives and free subsidies for foreign corporations is over. When privatisation and globalisation began in the ’80s, Australian values and standards of living began to decline. No jobs for our kids unless they chose to work at McDonald’s where their pay was not what it should be. Many Australians are being fed bullshit from media barons and our unions are demonised so that membership has fallen to record lows. The old divide and conquer works so well. It’s time Australians became more informed and aware.
You can bank on the wails
John Ferris writes: The recent inflation figures show that rent and new dwellings, along with food and veggies and household items, are causing most of the so-called pain of inflation. Yet the biggest pain I can feel is the pain of interest rates (“The RBA knows so much about us — but what do we actually know about it?”). When buying a house I had no option (except to not buy) at market rates. The then average Sydney price was $1 million. I was lucky to borrow $500k and now, thanks to the RBA and not inflation, I’m paying well over 60% of my income on my mortgage — up from 50%. That’s a $600 a month increase this year thanks to the RBA. That’s $1200 a year extra in interest to the bank. I’d be much happier to pay the farmer or the Chinese furniture maker an extra 10% on the goods they are selling than the extra 30% on my interest.
Does the RBA actually consider the causes of the inflation and think about how to combat them in specific areas rather than tackling the overall bogeyman inflation. I can’t not buy veggies, despite the price rises due to floods. And I can’t not buy petrol as I have no other option living away from easy rail transport. So why increase rates so quickly when it’s a double whammy? It’s OK if you’re on $200k or $300k a year — you’ll get an extra $9k tax break soon!
Card sharps
Ray Eirth writes: If it’s a good idea from a pollie it is doomed to failure (“With updated taglines, will gambling face the same fate as befell big tobacco?”). They are lousy with money — billions wasted on underestimated infrastructure quotes, they sell off state assets to bolster their bottom line and mask their wasting. And all this is done with no apology. How do you get the cards and how do they work? What’s to stop the alleged washers of money getting someone else to get cards for them? Maybe they will just shift their activities over to the TAB. Meanwhile hundreds of venues have to go to the wall to satisfy a premier’s whim. More people out of work. Just what we need. The bloody pollies are the ones who allowed this state to have more machines than Vegas. Just another useless government waste of time, money and people’s lives. But hey, we voted ’em in!
Mort White writes: I am a boomer, a Labor lifer. The poisonous detritus of the gambling industry shall be my turning point to vote Liberal for the first time. I applaud Premier Dominic Perrottet (“Perrottet promises cashless gaming card for clubs and pubs”).
If you’re feeling pleased, annoyed or inspired, write to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
