The militarisation of our society gathers pace with the Prime Minister's announcement of a new mega Home Affairs security department, flanked by armed soldiers.
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This super portfolio is to be headed by Peter Dutton. It apparently doesn't worry the PM that the head of the Border Force and another officer are on leave and under investigation. What has been going on in Peter Dutton's current department?
Even the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a conservative body, has been less than fulsome in its comments. John Coyne ("Army no magic bullet", July 18, p16) said, "Turnbull's latest policy may unintentionally create more uncertainty around counter terrorism roles and responsibilities". ANU Professor John Blaxland, experienced in the intelligence and security fields, reportedly indicated power should not be concentrated so heavily with one minister and department. He said, "There are compelling reasons why the separation of powers on an enduring basis is a good thing. Concentrating such power can generate concerns about how that power might be used perhaps inappropriately" ("Supersized Security", July 18, p5).
The PM might not have concerns, but others have. Australia's main threats are not terrorism, but issues such as climate change, being dragged into wars, and domestic violence. Our counter terrorism agencies seem to be doing a good job and structural changes are worrying. The Labor Party should assist in providing analysis of these actions, not give the PM's present to Dutton a big tick.
Kathryn Kelly, Chifley
Not good enough
I wrote a couple of weeks ago expressing disappointment at only two players being selected for the Australian Schoolboys team after the ACT team won the recent championships. Now only seven Brumbies have been selected for the training squad (numbering 46) of the Wallatahs/Wallareds, or whatever they're called, despite finishing top of the Australian pool. A friend of mine years ago said selection for the national team is not that hard – pick the players of the top provincial team and put the best of the rest on the bench. And the ARU wonders why the fans have walked!
Andrew Gordon, Tuross Head
No Emerald Isle
I will remind John Doherty of Dweebdore, Ireland (Letters, July 23) that although the Irish helped build this nation just as they did the US, this ain't the Emerald Isle. Section 44 was added to ensure no undue influence from foreign interests marred legislative measures in the australis antipodes.
Gerry Murphy, Braddon
Costs escalating
The ACT minister responsible for the light rail has been promoting the fact there was increasing support for the service from the people. But best indications in the real world – the ratepaying people of the ACT – is that this is not the case, a fact that will be amplified by the ever-increasing costs of living in this territory with petrol prices out of control, no salary increases in the public service, cost of housing at outrageous levels and goods and services increasing almost monthly. Canberra is not a proposition for family living any more and getting worse with each rip-off budget. It is called government by amateurs for the benefit of unions.
Rex Williams, Ainslie
Our spiritual life
Ian Warden ("We are spiritual but not religious", CT, July 26) endorses the view that "the religious mind persists even when we lose faith in traditional beliefs and institutions". That is not the view of the Australian Taxation Office.
In 1997 it ruled the Raelians, who believe life on Earth was created by sentient beings who now live in another galaxy, were not entitled to tax-exempt status as a religion. This was because in the 1983 Scientology case, the High Court defined religion in Australia as requiring a supernatural belief as a ground for tax-exempt status.
As the Raelians believe in sentient beings, the Tax Office distinguished their beliefs from the equally esoteric beliefs of Scientologists, who the High Court determined, had supernatural beliefs. It follows, I suggest, that not all beliefs in UFOs and aliens are religious. It also follows that to achieve tax-exempt status as a religion one has to believe in something that cannot be proven to exist. Hence the multiplicity of religions in Australia taxpayers are subsidising.
Max Wallace, Rationalist Association of NSW, Sydney
Outdated idea
Isn't it about time the powers to be, if they're constitutionally eligible, did a complete overhaul of our outdated constitution?
Drafted at a series of conventions in the 1890s and taking effect from the beginning of 1901, this constitution must surely contain aspects that bear little relevance to this day and age – the dual citizenship saga being a prime example.
How on earth should someone's competency and legitimacy to represent us in Parliament be compromised by the holding of dual citizenship? We're not at war with anyone! Are we to go back in time and rule null and void any legislation passed by a government whose majority at the time relied on members holding dual citizenship?
Tony May, Pearce
Plant concern
Dick Varley of Braidwood (Letters, July 25) might think the waste plant ("$200m waste plant bid", July 21, p1) should be applauded — but what if it was 600-800 metres from his home?
The developers want it less than 1kilometre from a caravan park, homes, Fyshwick markets, Jerrabombera wetlands and the lake with no guarantee of its effect on those areas or possible effect on the airport. The ACT government didn't want a recycling plant (producing diesel) in Hume (further from homes than this new proposal), banned burning leaves in the Woden Valley to save air quality but may consider a waste plant near Narrabundah?
The original article referred to four focus groups in February in affected areas but no one I've spoken to in those areas ever heard of them. There's now a flyer in the area extolling the plan's virtues saying it'll scrap a high proportion of rubbish going to the tip which will in turn reduce greenhouse gas emissions, etc.
No mention of proposed emissions or whether all the ACT waste collection trucks are proposed to now go to Fyshwick.
The area proposed is (in part) adjacent to the East Lake Urban Renewal Area designed to bring businesses, apartments, etc to the area. They'd love to be next to a waste recycling plant.
The fact that no other such plant exists in Australia yet should cast doubt on its success. Incidences such as recent fires in recycling plants in Sydney and Melbourne also mean those living nearby have good reason to be nervous of this proposal.
E. Campbell, Florey
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