Climate visa won't turn tide on environmental damage
Anne Ammann, Dargan
Parenting priorities
I don't often agree with Parnell Palme McGuinness, but I do on this one (' Women's revolution will benefit all', July 20). Fifth-wave feminism, which will make it possible for parents to prioritise looking after their child themselves, particularly in the early years, has been highlighted by the current childcare scandals. Economic changes to make that possible make long-term sense for society and the economy, even if there is a short-term hit to government coffers. It was crazy to think that someone called an educator was a reasonable substitute for parents, particularly in the first two years of a child's life.
Gary Barnes, Mosman
Parnell is correct to spell out the obvious that babies need parents and parents need babies. This is an evolved genetic imperative we ignore to our peril with dire consequences for individuals and society. Business will also be a winner with happy, fulfilled and productive employees. Win-win all round. Mother and freelance writer Virginia Tapscott must be applauded for her enlightened manifesto, which we desperately need. The elephant we've been ignoring is the fundamental flaw of allowing the care of our young and their parents to be at the mercy of a profit-driven industry.
Richard Hambly, Potts Point
Investing in the future
Many years ago, in the late 1970s, the old Marrickville Council decided to invest in multiple child care centres (' More must be done to attract quality childcare staff ', July 20). It was the best decision those long-departed councillors ever made. My children (and later grandchildren) have all benefited from a system where the staff has professional development and support, while parents have a ready avenue to express concerns. There is no good reason why child care cannot be provided by local government in the same way as libraries and other community services.
Joanna Mendelssohn, Dulwich Hill
Dollars not sense
Richer by the day, thanks substantially to tax-free wealth gains on a property that houses a gymnasium, a guests' retreat, half a dozen bathrooms and serves as a domestic dwelling for two (' Rich lister sells house for $40m, doubles his money in five years ', July 20). Meanwhile, poorly paid workers struggling to find the money to enable their families to survive from day to day have to pay tax on their paltry earnings, and people think it's OK. Unbelievable. If those who make the rules were poor, lowly paid workers rather than overly well-to-do, things might be different, more reasonable, and society less unjust and not so sick.
Ross Drynan, Lindfield
Trump's hubris
When Donald Trump's delicate sensitivities are offended, his default response is to sue, baby, sue (' Angry Trump sues Murdoch for $15b ', July 20). This is designed to cause the offender to surrender and has proved effective at times. However, he has underestimated Murdoch. Murdoch is far more savvy than Trump and would not have allowed The Wall Street Journal to publish the Epstein birthday letter without doing all the checks and balances. I suspect Trump will be forced to eat humble pie this time to avoid a court case that could open a very nasty can of worms.
Graham Lum, North Rocks
Live and learn
Correspondent Trevor Somerville mentions that he is still a curious learner who owns a computer (Letters, July 20). May I suggest the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) may be of interest and help him fill his time. In a nutshell, universities from around the world make short courses available to the public on a wide range of subjects. These courses are open to all, with no prerequisites, and free options are available. Australian providers, including RMIT, Deakin and Melbourne Universities, offer courses on the UK's FutureLearn platform. A bonus of the MOOC experience is the variety of perspectives brought by learners from across the globe.
Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic)
Best of them mall
I grew up not far from Roselands shopping centre and it offered more than mere shops. (' Concerts, weddings: The history of western Sydney's shopping centres ' July 20). The 1960s were a different time. The Battle of the Bands held heats at the Raindrop Fountain, Johnny Farnham offered Sadie and Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head, and the beautiful pool offered summer joy in the 'burbs and allowed many of us to meet up. Special events like the film America the Beautiful in 360-surround merely added the icing. Shops were rarely even considered. Roselands was a destination in itself and simply the place to be in what appeared to be far simpler times.
Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
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Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Climate visa won't turn tide on environmental damage
The new visa pathway for Tuvaluans indicates a significant and welcome shift in government policy in that it recognises for the first time that climate change can force people to leave their homes (' Four in five Tuvaluans apply to move to Australia. Frayzel is among them ', July 20). But while it offers a way out, it does not address the cause of their displacement. When Pacific nations ask Australia to cut emissions to help slow sea-level rise, the government is unwilling to act. Offering resettlement while enabling massive fossil fuel expansion ignores both our climate obligations and the human rights of those already bearing the consequences. Wouldn't the right approach be to match humanitarian support with a meaningful effort to reduce emissions driving the rising sea levels and climate warming? Anne Ammann, Dargan Parenting priorities I don't often agree with Parnell Palme McGuinness, but I do on this one (' Women's revolution will benefit all', July 20). Fifth-wave feminism, which will make it possible for parents to prioritise looking after their child themselves, particularly in the early years, has been highlighted by the current childcare scandals. Economic changes to make that possible make long-term sense for society and the economy, even if there is a short-term hit to government coffers. It was crazy to think that someone called an educator was a reasonable substitute for parents, particularly in the first two years of a child's life. Gary Barnes, Mosman Parnell is correct to spell out the obvious that babies need parents and parents need babies. This is an evolved genetic imperative we ignore to our peril with dire consequences for individuals and society. Business will also be a winner with happy, fulfilled and productive employees. Win-win all round. Mother and freelance writer Virginia Tapscott must be applauded for her enlightened manifesto, which we desperately need. The elephant we've been ignoring is the fundamental flaw of allowing the care of our young and their parents to be at the mercy of a profit-driven industry. Richard Hambly, Potts Point Investing in the future Many years ago, in the late 1970s, the old Marrickville Council decided to invest in multiple child care centres (' More must be done to attract quality childcare staff ', July 20). It was the best decision those long-departed councillors ever made. My children (and later grandchildren) have all benefited from a system where the staff has professional development and support, while parents have a ready avenue to express concerns. There is no good reason why child care cannot be provided by local government in the same way as libraries and other community services. Joanna Mendelssohn, Dulwich Hill Dollars not sense Richer by the day, thanks substantially to tax-free wealth gains on a property that houses a gymnasium, a guests' retreat, half a dozen bathrooms and serves as a domestic dwelling for two (' Rich lister sells house for $40m, doubles his money in five years ', July 20). Meanwhile, poorly paid workers struggling to find the money to enable their families to survive from day to day have to pay tax on their paltry earnings, and people think it's OK. Unbelievable. If those who make the rules were poor, lowly paid workers rather than overly well-to-do, things might be different, more reasonable, and society less unjust and not so sick. Ross Drynan, Lindfield Trump's hubris When Donald Trump's delicate sensitivities are offended, his default response is to sue, baby, sue (' Angry Trump sues Murdoch for $15b ', July 20). This is designed to cause the offender to surrender and has proved effective at times. However, he has underestimated Murdoch. Murdoch is far more savvy than Trump and would not have allowed The Wall Street Journal to publish the Epstein birthday letter without doing all the checks and balances. I suspect Trump will be forced to eat humble pie this time to avoid a court case that could open a very nasty can of worms. Graham Lum, North Rocks Live and learn Correspondent Trevor Somerville mentions that he is still a curious learner who owns a computer (Letters, July 20). May I suggest the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) may be of interest and help him fill his time. In a nutshell, universities from around the world make short courses available to the public on a wide range of subjects. These courses are open to all, with no prerequisites, and free options are available. Australian providers, including RMIT, Deakin and Melbourne Universities, offer courses on the UK's FutureLearn platform. A bonus of the MOOC experience is the variety of perspectives brought by learners from across the globe. Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic) Best of them mall I grew up not far from Roselands shopping centre and it offered more than mere shops. (' Concerts, weddings: The history of western Sydney's shopping centres ' July 20). The 1960s were a different time. The Battle of the Bands held heats at the Raindrop Fountain, Johnny Farnham offered Sadie and Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head, and the beautiful pool offered summer joy in the 'burbs and allowed many of us to meet up. Special events like the film America the Beautiful in 360-surround merely added the icing. Shops were rarely even considered. Roselands was a destination in itself and simply the place to be in what appeared to be far simpler times. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- News.com.au
Kiama MP Gareth Ward's criminal trial told of ‘unreliability' in closing address
A jury who have sat through the lengthy criminal trial of Kiama MP Gareth Ward have been told a man who alleges the MP sexually abused him has a 'certain unreliability'. Mr Ward, a NSW independent MP, was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. Since his arrest three years ago, the 43-year-old has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all counts. In the Darlinghurst District Court on Monday, defence barrister David Campbell SC continued his closing address, telling the court that the first complainant, a parliamentary staffer who was 24 at the time of the alleged incident, has a 'certain unreliability' when it comes to his memory. In evidence, the man was earlier asked about which particular event he was attending at Parliament House on the night in question, to which he said he couldn't recall 'exactly' but gave details as to which event he believed it was. 'I believed it was that event,' the man said. 'Do you think it, do you believe it or do you know it … what's the position?' Mr Campbell replied, to which the man stated he 'believes it'. Mr Campbell told the jury that what the man couldn't do was say he 'knows it'. 'He (the complainant) said that sometimes memories can meld together, particularly given the amount of time that has passed,' he said. 'Due to that corrosive effect on the memory, there must be a certain unreliability of what (name redacted) is now suggesting to you the jury.' Mr Campbell went on to thank the jury for their patience over the past eight weeks. 'This is the last chance we have to say anything to you on behalf of Mr Ward … and there may well be bits we haven't covered,' he said. 'Our submission to you is clearly this: The Crown has simply not discharged the burden it has in either of those two complainants' cases.' The barrister urged the jury to find the MP not guilty on all counts. Mr Ward is alleged to have assaulted a man, who had just turned 18 at the time, at the MP's South Coast home in February 2013. It's also alleged Mr Ward sexually assaulted another man – who was 24 years old at the time – at his Potts Point apartment in September 2015. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since.
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- Perth Now
Half this country desperate to live in Aus
More than half of the citizens of Tuvalu have applied for a visa to permanently migrate to Australia. Just more than a month ago, Australia opened the The Falepili Mobility Pathway ballot, a program to provide citizens of the tiny island nation of Tuvalu a permanent migration pathway to Australia. The country has a population of just 10,643, while at least 5157 of them entered the lottery, more than half of the nation's people. This was through 1466 registrations, with many of the people being included as family members on applications. The ballot, which closed on Friday, randomly selected up to 280 people each year to apply for the visa. It is open to all Tuvalu citizens, regardless of age, and visa holders do not need to gain employment in Australia before applying. Tuvalu's population is particularly exposed to the effects of climate change. Credit: Supplied If the pace of applications keeps up, it could mean the entire population of Tuvalu could live in Australia within 40 years. Selections for the ballot will take place between July 25, 2025 and January 25, 2026. The scheme allows successful applicants to live, work and study anywhere in Australia indefinitely, sponsor relatives to also migrate to Australia, and apply for citizenship once eligible. The population of the island nation is one of the world's most exposed to the effects of climate change, with this program providing a path to flee as the impacts worsen. The visa program is part of an agreement between Australia and the Pacific nation. Credit: Supplied The pathway is part of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union that both countries signed on August 28, 2024, part of which is to build climate resilience. Also included in the union is a commitment of $38m to invest in climate adaptation measures on the island. Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said the ballot's opening was a 'landmark moment'. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia When the ballot opened last month, Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy called it the 'most significant agreement' between Australia and a Pacific country since Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975. 'The opening of the mobility pathway ballot is a landmark moment for Australia and Tuvalu,' Mr Conroy said. 'Alongside the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme and the Pacific Engagement Visa, the Falepili migration pathway will strengthen relationships with our Pacific neighbours. 'It demonstrates how we are working in partnership with the Pacific to ensure our region remains peaceful, stable and prosperous.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the program provided a pathway 'as climate impacts worsen'. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said 'as climate impacts worsen' the program allowed Tuvaluans to live, study and work in Australia. 'The pathway reflects the deep trust between our two countries, and we look forward to the contributions Tuvaluans will make to Australian society,' Senator Wong said.
