It seems to me that the one particular person being distracted by a breastfeeding mother was the decide himself. As considered one of many people who has accomplished jury responsibility, I can attest that none of us took any discover of the basic public gallery, especially after we have been being addressed by the choose. We have been concentrating on doing a great job – not wanting around aimlessly for something else to occupy our minds.
David Jeffery, East Geelong
A task that required our complete concentration
I discovered being on a jury an intense time that required important consideration to the proceedings. I support the judge who took cheap steps to help the function of the courtroom.
Murray Bowes, Koroit
The focus must be on the needs of the infant
Some persons are somewhat old-fashioned in phrases of a baby’s proper to feed in public. Since 1984, each mother has been able to feed her baby wherever they’re, that right being protected by the Sex Discrimination Act. It isn’t about someone’s sensitivity to a normal human function but, somewhat a baby’s have to survive and grow.
Marianne Dalton, Balnarring
Breastfeeding, essentially the most natural thing on the planet
How ironic that it was through the week after we celebrated International Women’s Day that a breastfeeding mother was ejected from the County Court. It exhibits we now have a protracted method to go earlier than girls can enjoy the full measure of equality as they reside their lives and go about their enterprise, including breastfeeding their babies every time and wherever the necessity arises. What member of the jury would have been distracted from the enterprise of the court? It is probably the most natural thing on the earth.
Nick Toovey, Alice Springs
THE FORUM
Pay us what we’re worth
Re “Schools brief by 1000 teachers” (Sunday Age, 12/3). I am a passionate instructor within the government system and have been since 1991. Perhaps we ought to be addressing why academics are leaving the system – $111,000 on the high of the wage range, and little help for a variety of scholar points in the classroom, plus the ever-changing curriculum demands. Pay the top-of-the salary-range academics $130,000 to $140,000 and I am positive that fewer lecturers will depart the system.
Allan Barnes, Kew East
Why didn’t they know?
It was clear throughout the first 12 months of the robo-debt scheme’s operation that horrible tales have been rising of its adverse influence. Anyone with the most minimal interest knew by 2015 that this was a depressing assault on those who looked to government for his or her proper to a security web and to be treated with compassion.
Were former ministers Scott Morrison, Alan Tudge and Stuart Robert – who met regularly to wish after they had been working the nation – stuck so far into their Canberra bubble that they didn’t hear from their constituents? They have to be given gold stars for hypocrisy. Are they now praying for forgiveness?
Cathy Humphreys, professor of social work, University of Melbourne
Keep them of their place
Noting the bipartisan strategy of both main parties to maintaining unemployment payments depressingly low, Waleed Aly says “there’s no actual dignity in forcing folks below the poverty line” (Comment, 10/3).
Unfortunately for the unemployed, their dignity just isn’t the difficulty. In a 1790 touch upon British “workhouses”, Arthur Young wrote: “Everyone but an fool is aware of that the decrease class should be saved poor or they’ll never be industrious.” That archaic angle is the true driver, and additionally it is why employer organisations oppose pay rises for “lower class” workers.
Dennis Dodd, Wangaratta
Embrace all humankind
Your correspondent (Letters, 11/3) may not be conscious that Welcome to Country just isn’t a “religious ritual” but an acknowledgment that before white settlement, Indigenous Australians occupied these lands for 1000’s of years. Does his God not embrace all of humankind and not rejoice the wealthy variety of his personal creation?
Sandra Bennett, Hawthorn East
Call for action, not words
I agree with your correspondent relating to the fervent “religious” use of Welcome to Country by varied organisations. At instances it seems like an indoctrination into a faith. Aside from advertising an organisation’s theoretical help of Indigenous issues, how does this truly provide sensible assistance to Indigenous communities who face problems like accessing fundamental healthcare, or who are forced to reside in below-par housing, or who endure home violence?
Monica Clarke, Port Melbourne
Winner isn’t for everyone
I even have been silently applauding the rise of the small SUV, only to be blindsided by the choice of a large ute as “Drive Car of the Year” (The Age, 9/3), promoted by the maker on its website as a “bigger, harder, smarter truck”.
Who is the demographic for this choice? The height of the doorways makes climbing into it troublesome for older individuals, youngsters, those with any kind of disability or anybody sporting shoes other than trainers or work boots. Accessing the “cargo area” for shopping or college baggage is hard, even via the built-in box-step on the rear bumper bar. And don’t get me started on trying to see round them on the highway or the quantity of space they should park in.
Heather Barker, Albert Park
Albanese’s massive mistake
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done fairly properly so far however following Scott Morrison/Peter Dutton down the AUKUS rabbit hole is his first main mistake. It is a $200billion journey to buy eight submarines when China has 80 of them. We want the cash, we’d like the independence from the United States’ wars and we need to be free from the United Kingdom’s colonialism. Albanese needs to suppose once more.
Bill Clark, Melbourne
So frightened of Australia
The Chinese should be quaking in their boots: their nuclear-armed submarines up towards our non-nuclear armed submarines.
Michael McNeill, Bendigo
Very costly ’toys’
Australia has had submarines since the Gallipoli campaign, and in 108 years they’ve by no means fired a shot in anger. Have they ever deterred any “enemy” from doing anything it wants to against us? Can any defence expert clarify why our taxes ought to be wasted in such a sluggish, cryptic and expensive (in dollars and manpower) weapon? It appears to me that for the billions of dollars we’re going to spend, we could have 1000’s of sensible drones within the air and water protecting us way more cheaply. But I suppose the closely medalled generals and admirals will must have their toys.
Mick Webster, Chiltern
Why would youth fight?
The Age and its Red Alert professional panel should recognise that there will be no winners in any battle between the United States and China. Why would young Australians want to get involved?
It could be much more prudent for journalists to provoke a nationwide dialog about how keen Australians ought to be to go to struggle, than to blindly settle for the assumptions made by the Red Alert panel a few future conflict. A diplomatic or non-Australian involvement answer must at all times be the only option available to us in any army conflict between the United States and China.
Ewan Bezzobs, Yarraville
Our double standards
It is good to know Australia is aligning itself carefully with India against China, and that Anthony Albanese has deemed that country our “top-tier security partner”.
Does that mean we are going to conduct joint military workout routines with India? And additionally that we’ll give additional training to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party about tips on how to inflame mobs with extremist Hindu nationalism and attack Muslims?
It is strange how our “commitment to human rights” allows us to piously condemn China but to overlook abuses by our companions like Modi’s get together in India, the brand new Marcos regime in the Philippines and the instigator of so many invasions, the United States.
Lyle Stebbing, Brunswick East
The crucial cricket problem
I suspect Anthony Albanese won’t demand from his counterpart in India an inquiry into the pitch situation for the primary two Tests. Where’s Scott Morrison once we want him?
Neville Lyngcoln, Brighton
A good country, almost
We Brits love Australia and Australians. Australia is a stunningly beautiful nation, has great natural world, beautiful climate, great food and wine, and fabulous friendliness. But what enduring picture have I introduced house with me after this, my fourth go to to Melbourne?
Graffiti, graffiti, graffiti. I am not speaking concerning the vibrant, usually spectacular, murals that liven much of town however the paint splurges that desecrate just about something. Nothing appears sacrosanct – not even sculptures in a sculpture park or the beautiful bluestone of certainly one of Melbourne’s oldest houses. Does anyone care?
Susan Codrington, London, England
Repose and reflection
Thank you, Dave the Grave Hunter (The Age, 11/3) for the work you do. As a society, we do not speak about grief and dying, looking askance at cemeteries. They are places of repose for the deceased and reflection for the dwelling. Our personal and societal histories lie there and we might do well to be taught from the teachings they train us.
Jane Ross, co-ordinator, Friends of San Remo Cemetery
Target massive wrongdoers
When financial regulatory bodies like ASIC are restrained by a scarcity of funding, and so they get to choose who to analyze, this creates an setting extra amenable to wrongdoing (Editorial, 8/3). When those bodies have KPIs to meet, then they go after the small fry and low-hanging fruit – which I am positive affects the willingness of the wealthy and highly effective (and mega churches) to do the mistaken factor. What is mistaken with Australian culture? It is seemingly not an election-winning coverage to go after those who are documented to have broken guidelines or laws.
Rob Skelton, Ballarat
Why NIMBYs care
Re “To save our city, we must ignore NIMBYs” by Tone Wheeler (Comment, 10/3). Altona North is being completely “transformed”. The existing houses – circa Fifties – are, generally talking, previous their use-by date however they are on giant blocks with fascinating gardens and bushes. Once these houses are bought the block is levelled, all of the vegetation are trashed and two or three two-storey, poorly designed residences are built fence-to-fence with little or no space for a backyard or thought for the setting.
When expressing my disappointment to a council officer about two large airplane timber removed on the lot next door, prior to redevelopment, revealing extremely ugly flats, I was informed that the house owners need to plant alternative timber which should be an analogous height in 10 to 20 years. I stated, “I’ll be useless by then”. One can solely be grateful to Hobsons Bay Council for the beautiful road timber which offer a a lot wanted cover.
Susan Barrack, Altona North
Camilla, admirably herself
Unlike your correspondent (Sunday Age, 12/3), I do not contemplate the front-page portrait of Camilla, the Queen Consort (Good Weekend, 11/3), to be confronting. The photograph portrays a girl who unashamedly appears her age. It is refreshing to see such a high-profile one that doesn’t have to resort to anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, chemical peels or surgical enhancement, before she shall be able to face the world.
Charlotte Chidell, Eltham North
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
When I saw the pic of Albanese in a chariot (10/3), I thought he’d been made King of Moomba.
Belinda Dale, Surrey Hills
Can The Age please cease giving voice to Lidia Thorpe.
Graham Cadd, Dromana
It’s good to read that China has brokered the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia (12/3).
Christine Weatherhead, Glen Waverley
Red alert
Nuclear subs/the Maginot Line. Extremely expensive and each redundant at time of delivery.
Brian Powell, Middle Park
Will our new American subs be built in right-hand drive?
Jim Picot, Altona
Is the bomb shelter enterprise about to go boom?
Bill Trestrail, St Kilda
How reassuring that the government and Coalition will spend billions to protect our shipping of minerals and agricultural merchandise – to China.
Dick Noble, Lucknow
Beware of propaganda.
Dennis Richards, Cockatoo
Breastfeeding
It’s very “self-explanatory”, Judge Mark Gamble (10/3). Just not what you suppose.
Graham Fetherstonhaugh, Carlton North
What an absurd order to provide to a breastfeeding mother.
Carol Stephens, Mount Waverley
It would seem dinosaurs aren’t extinct.
Viviane King, Milawa
Royalty
What good are brothers in the occasion that they can’t provide you with a dukedom (11/3)?
Peter Neuhold, Elsternwick
I agree, Susie Holt (12/3), re the front-page photograph of Camilla (GW, 11/3). Very disappointing. Not nice.
Tricia Sloan, Eltham
An excellent image of Camilla. No airbrushing or botox, only a heat, clever lady who has lived.
Anna Summerfield, Bendigo
Patrick Elligett sends an unique newsletter to subscribers every week. Sign as much as receive his Note from the Editor.
