Its still an organisation charting its own course

November 16, 2021 â€" 12.03am

Illustration: Cathy WilcoxCredit:

To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number.THE ABC

It’s still an organisation charting its own course
Ita Buttrose has been a huge disappointment in her role at the ABC: it’s still an organisation that charts its own course despite a charter that defines the responsibilities and directs the organisation. Journalists at the ABC approach their reporting task from a preconceived position, not from open-minded inquiry. The Four Corners and Q+A programs, for example, exist to gratify their staff.

Ms Buttrose has condoned the organisation’s arrogance and contempt for mainstream Australia, which is the captive source of its funding. She has permitted a public complaints system which essentially ignores complaints or finds in favour of the ABC. Former senator Cory Bernardi and the member for Boothby in the House of Representatives, Nicolle Flint, both noted on television that their complaints to the ABC had gone unanswered.

Ms Buttrose says an inquiry is under way into the complaints system and has asked the government to not go ahead with a proposed Senate inquiry, but a government inquiry into the complaints system would be preferable to keep those conducting the inquiry at arm’s length from the ABC. She has lost sight of the fact that the audience should be the primary consideration, not ABC management.
Brendan Donnelly, Macquarie, ACT

There’s a world of difference ...
I am certainly no fan of Murdoch, Sky or Fox Media but can we please stop comparing them to the ABC when it comes to bias (Furthermore, Letters, 10/11).

The ABC is funded by the government through our taxes and therefore should provide balanced reporting. Fox News is privately funded and can say whatever it likes.
David Parker, Geelong West

Listen to your audience
ABC chair Ita Buttrose is doing a fine job defending the national broadcaster over its complaints-handling procedures (“ABC chair slams Senate inquiry as ‘political interference’”, The Age, 15/11). It’s her role and she’s paid very well to do it.

The only snag is that we the audience â€" who do some of the complaining (and all of the paying) â€" are of the view our voices aren’t being heard at ABC’s Ultimo HQ.

Complaining, even making a suggestion to the ABC, has long been an exercise in futility. This very real problem is another example of just how poorly the ABC has transitioned from the pre-internet age into the online, data-driven revolution we’re living in now. Even a veneer of concern for the views of the audience would be better than the complete disregard currently on show by the national broadcaster.
John Simpson, Melbourne

The complaints process hasn’t worked for me
Ita Buttrose may well dispute the need for a Senate inquiry into the organisation’s complaints mechanisms. However, in my experience these mechanisms have not worked.

After registering a complaint about blatant political bias expressed by a radio presenter last year, I had the complaint acknowledged and registered. Nevertheless, even after two attempts to follow up, I have not had any response. Maybe, when the complaint appears valid, dear Aunty thinks it best just to lie low.
Barrie Dempster, Balwyn

It does a pretty good job most of the time
The ABC’s role is to present the news in as equitable a way as possible. This isn’t always easy. From time to time it has to hold the federal and state governments to account. This is its obligation to the public and whether the governments are Liberal or Labor is irrelevant.

The ABC mustn’t and shouldn’t show bias and I think it does a pretty good job most of the time, but it seems Andrew Bragg doesn’t think so and he has the organisation in his sights.

Sadly, I think the day will come when a Coalition government in Canberra will sell off the ABC and then we will have another outlet controlled by a powerful newspaper magnate.

I hope I will have reached my “use-by date” before that happens.
John Cummings, Anglesea

THE FORUM

No respect for the process
As someone who grew up in a country where democracy was eroded under authoritarian governments, I am with the 60 senior barristers and the Law Institute of Victoria, which represents about 20,000 legal practitioners, who have highlighted the oppressive potential of the state government’s pandemic bill and urged that its passage should be slowed down so due consideration can be given to amendments that need to be made to ensure democratic checks and balances.

Some protesters seem to have taken matters too far (“Protesters target MP’s home as government moves to alter bill”, The Sunday Age, 14/11), but I do not believe the opposition can be legitimately described as giving fringe groups mainstream legitimacy and fanning the flames of division, as Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick claimed.

In rushing this bill through the lower house, without time for due scrutiny, after behind-the-scenes negotiations with three key independents in the drafting stage, a process from which the opposition was excluded, the Andrews government has shown a lack of respect for the conventions of democratic process.
Sidra de Zoysa, Glen Iris

We are part of that world
Much has been said and written about the outcomes of the COP26 meeting. Perhaps most penetrating are the words of the Indian Environment and Climate Minister (“COP-out at the last chance saloon”, The Age, 15/11): “The world needs to awaken to this reality. Fossil fuels and their use have enabled parts of the world to attain high levels of wealth and wellbeing.”

Australia is part of that world of high levels of wealth and wellbeing, yet we have a government intent on further destruction of the earth by its minimalist proposals, no clear plan, no leadership, unable to manage the complexity of what is required to fulfil our responsibilities and endeavours to make Australia a leading entity on the world stage, instead of being recalcitrant.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading

Sad and sobering
The sentiments expressed by Stuart Rollo in his recent column (“Lest we forget, China hawks”, Comment, 11/11) and applauded by your correspondent (“A refreshing read”, Letters, 14/11) cannot be faulted in terms of the need for all of us and our elected leaders to recognise the horrors of war.

However, it is both very sad and sobering to reflect on pre-World War II history and appreciate that Dr Rollo’s article could have been written in 1937 by people of like mind. With some minor changes and by replacing “China” with “Japan” (or “Germany”) it would make perfect sense to those many readers in Australia and the UK who decried the “warmongering” of, for example, Winston Churchill.
Bruce Stillman, Fitzroy North

Selective outrage
Were the protesters in Melbourne over the weekend simply objecting to the planned pandemic laws?
If so, where have they been in recent years when the federal government has implemented more than 40 laws relating to counter-terrorism. Laws that allow a person to be detained without charge for many days and allow “secret” evidence for such detention to be kept from the detainee and from his/her lawyer.

Many of these laws contravene basic human rights, which one would hope would be enshrined in a human rights act, if we were fortunate enough to have one.

I would have thought that these draconian laws would warrant more protest than the current pandemic bill, which gives power to a premier and a health minister but ensures that the evidence on which their decisions are made is tabled in Parliament with two weeks of such powers being used â€" so not “secret”.
Judy Kevill, Ringwood

Hiding under the doona
In “PM digs in on ‘fixed’ 2030 goal” (The Age, 15/11) you say “Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target will be a live issue in next year’s federal election”, as the government has no plan for such a goal.

Presumably it is the Greens and some independents who will make the issue live, as Labor is still hiding under the doona.

When will the ALP admit it lost a very tight election in 2019 not because it had a raft of policies, but because a significant number of voters could not accept Bill Shorten? Labor does best when it campaigns with banners flying and trumpets sounding. At present, the ALP is an embarrassment.
Mike Puleston, Brunswick

Classic conflation
When Scott Morrison says Australians are over being told what to do by government he is presumably referring (by inference) to the COVID-19 restrictions imposed by state governments over the past two years. His government showed an obvious disinclination to get involved in such measures, preferring to play the role of financial and (belatedly) vaccine saviour.

Significantly he made the comment in the context of a climate change strategy (electric cars), where he obviously plans to attack Labor as being the party of socialist prescription versus his undefined capitalist, innovation, enterprise, market-led, freedom approach.

This is classic electioneering conflation of one issue, population weariness from pandemic-induced (state) government controls, with another, government action on climate change. Is it possible Morrison could benefit electorally from his neglect in both areas?

Such blatant and cynical exploitation of two worldwide catastrophes, one already here and bad enough, but the other worse and growing, is wedge politics at its most reprehensible.
Bill King, Camberwell

Vote with our wallets
With all the concern about China’s human rights abuses, territorial claims, banning of Australia’s exports and extensive use of coal there is one simple thing we can do to make our feelings known loud and clear and that is stop buying products labelled “Made in China”.

Once the Chinese international markets start to subside, China might realise the importance of being a responsible world citizen.
James Gordon, Glen Huntly

This is encouraging
Much as I miss Michael Leunig’s offerings on Mondays, I wholeheartedly support The Age’s initiative in providing opportunities for new cartoonists.

It’s particularly encouraging to see so many women featured: in itself, this is an interesting comment on the way our world is going. More power to their pens.
Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale

Not a good look
Jon Faine (“The Andrews Achilles heel”, Opinion, 14/11) mentions shadow treasurer David Davis addressing a group of protesters on the steps of Parliament House last week. This was a rag-tag group of anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists and professional malcontents, some of whom threatened violence and whose demonstration on the day was, as Faine suggests, unhelpful and provided no constructive input into the narrative.

A prominent parliamentarian such as Mr Davis appearing before this group of fringe dwellers and seeking their support â€" and appearing to give them his, really is cheap politics.

This stunt does not put him in good light and only serves to give quasi legitimacy to the protesters’ agenda(s). He should know better.
George Greenberg, Malvern

I am not impressed
I am a 75-year-old women experiencing COVID symptoms. I am currently without a car. Today I dragged myself two kilometres to the nearest testing facility only to be told, at 2.30pm “no more walk-ins today”. There was a queue of about 30 cars, all of whom would presumably be tested.
Am I a second-class citizen if I don’t have a car? Should I risk infecting a taxi driver? I am not impressed.
Mary Rogers, Fairfield

Labor’s path to credibility
Future economic prosperity and health outcomes will certainly be determined by the current course adopted by our government, on our behalf, in tackling climate change. The Australian public know this all too well and expect that our nation takes a leadership role.

This will be, and indeed should be, the defining issue for the next election, not those associated with ideologies or political point scoring.

The Coalition has clearly demonstrated that it has lost its grip and in so doing jeopardises our futures and the respect of other nations. Federal election success is now with the party that firmly and without delay grabs hold of progressive and effective policies and action on climate change.

If Labor steps up to the task it will cement its credibility to govern in the eyes of the voting public and enhance its present and future election prospects.

On the other hand should it let the opportunity slip through its own fingers then it will find itself in the wilderness, at least what is left of it, for many years to come, and deservedly so.
Edward Combes, Wheelers Hill

Tread carefully here
While the opinion article on COVID jabs in children is welcome (“As kids await their jab, protections still matter”, Comment, 15/11) it raises an interesting point in regard to the reasons for vaccinating children.

If, as the authors say, part of the reason for vaccinating children is they can amplify risk to the community and their households, then we need to be clear as to whose COVID risk we are addressing.

If in the end we are vaccinating children primarily to protect ourselves as adults, then vaccinating children, who have no agency or autonomy of their own, raises some interesting ethical and moral questions that will require careful consideration.
Joanna Wriedt, Eaglemont

This is the real problem
It’s not the lie that is the problem. It’s not the liar that is the problem. It’s when a liar can stand up in public and lie about lying knowing that they can get away with it that is the problem.
We are much closer to Donald Trump’s America than we think.
Tony Newport, Hillwood

Faithful to itself
Neither “phase out” nor “phase down” interest the planet we call “Earth”, since, unfortunately for us all, Earth neither reads nor speaks.

It does, however, remain rigorously faithful to its own inexorable additive, soon to become exponential, equations.
Malcolm Morgan, Brunswick

AND ANOTHER THING

Climate change
The government’s climate action “plan” is just an acronym for Probably Late and Nothing.
Ian Sandiford, Foster

Credit:

It’s “can-do capitalism” that is devouring this planet and its clearly the main contributor to climate change.
David Eames-Mayer, Balwyn

The Prime Minister’s inaction on climate change is the antithesis of “God helps those who help themselves”.
James Young, Mount Eliza

New pandemic laws
The new pandemic laws do not give Daniel Andrews more power, they give a premier and the Parliament power to act. The Victorian government has got this right.
John Harris, Williamstown

It’s very rare that I don’t support a protest but I am definitely against these one against the proposed pandemic laws in Victoria.
Susan Munday, Bentleigh East

Relations with China
I suspect that the current tension between China and Australia would be better served by greater input from diplomats and less from sabre-rattling politicians.
Susan Nisbet, Caulfield North

Politics
Would Senator Andrew Bragg support holding “a run-of- the-mill” Senate inquiry into how the Department of Finance handles investigations referred to it by the government?
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick

Furthermore
Nooses, death threats and abusing an MP’s family at their own home. Is it any wonder it’s hard to attract good people into politics? Shame on the lot of you.
Mark Freeman, Macleod

Finally
It would be much more worthwhile, if protesters against the proposed pandemic legislation, showed the same zeal and protested against the actual human rights abuses inflicted on the men incarcerated in the Park Hotel in Melbourne.
Virginia Schneiders, Mount Dandenong

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