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Malcolm Turnbull, before his ascendancy to the prime ministership, was an advocate of progress on several fronts. Among other progressive standpoints, he was the Coalition's climate change conscience.
Vintage Dyson
However, in seeking the top job, Turnbull made a Faustian pact with the ultra-right of the Coalition, trading his personal values for their support to topple Abbott. Once prime minister, Turnbull was no longer able to act or behave in accordance with his own ideologies and his progressive climate change stance publicly crumbled, with wishy-washy platitudes such as the one after the 2018 Tathra fires.
Turnbull's recent criticism of the Morrison government's stance on climate change that "If a country like Australia is not prepared to grapple with this issue seriously – itself being in the front line of the consequences, and being an advanced, prosperous, technologically sophisticated country with the means to do so – why would other countries take the issue as seriously as they should?" ("Turnbull slams PM's response to climate change and bushfires", online, 22/1) clearly confirms Turnbull's principles, which he was hamstrung from pursing by his commitment to the ultra-right of the Coalition.
George Greenberg, Malvern
A touching display of faith
It's touching that Moray Byrne has faith in Malcolm Turnbull ("Can Turnbull lead us out of this political mess?", Letters, 25/1) and hopes he can lead us out of the political mess on climate change. But he is not the Messiah; he's just a timid boy.
The knuckle-draggers in the Coalition overwhelmed him when he was prime minister. He may come out swinging after the release of his book in April and provide leadership on the issue, but he'd need steel in his backbone and be politically savvy.
He was outsmarted by "the man of steel" on the Australian republican campaign and by "the marketing man" in hoping to remain as prime minister. However, he may rise from the ashes, as someone has to, as a result of the catastrophic bushfires, and it isn't going to be the lacklustre Anthony Albanese with a 2050 "target" of reaching zero emissions.
Des Files, Brunswick
Whatever he is, he's no statesman
It could be argued that the only statesman Australia has had was the late, great Gough Whitlam.
If Malcolm Turnbull hadn't caved into the climate-change deniers such as Tony Abbott, Scott Morrison, Craig Kelly and Barnaby Joyce, he might have been accorded statesman status. But Turnbull failed at that, and many other things, and the chance of him assuming statesman status from the wilderness is zero.
Chris Burgess, Port Melbourne
He could come back as a NSW senator
When Malcolm Turnbull was first "knifed" from the Liberal leadership, I sent him a proposal for leadership of a new political force in our too-barren landscape – he indicated it had been read and considered, but declined.
When he was cast out again, resigning from Wentworth, I felt he might retire. But then before Christmas he appeared on Q&A showing passionate commitment to pursuing our national interests in many directions with an informed and persuasive capacity showing he is still the finest Australian leadership available.
Turnbull could easily return to a significant position in the national Parliament as a senator for NSW, but might consider beginning a new party to have the greatest impact on our Australian prospects.
I have many particular preferences for how such a party could be structured and what processes would maintain its essentially democratic nature, enabling it to pursue the policies and practice endorsed by the members.
The next federal election is still far enough away for such an ambitious beginning to commence, and I assume Turnbull's "team" would have all the talents required.
Ken Taylor, Brunswick West
THE FORUM
It's not a good day
As a non-Aboriginal Australian whose ancestors came to this country in the 1840s-50s, may I say I feel the 26/1/1788 is a date that lives in infamy.
Racking my brain, I cannot come up with one comparable example from anywhere in the world where a day or event that marked what became such misery to so many is celebrated, especially going to the lengths of making it one's national day. That's really rubbing the victims' faces in it.
I frankly find it quite perverse, considering what the day signifies to our Indigenous people, and I cannot comprehend political leaders today that strongly advocate for its retention.
Solemn, respectful reflection, acknowledgement and ceremony is the appropriate course of action to treat such anniversaries.
So would not an appropriate date to celebrate this day be after the successful passing of a referendum on Indigenous recognition, accompanied with a treaty that finally ratifies terms between the two groups to herald an authentic unified nation?
Andrew Lee, Narre Warren
Made to feel like criminals
Why do we go through this thing on Australia Day – every year – where as non-First Nations people we are made to feel like criminals?
I would like to think that over the years we have made progress in regard to reconciliation, but such positivity seems never to be the focus of conversation around this time of the year. It should be a time of reflection and open-mindedness for all of us.
I may have had ancestors who were invaders of this country, but I am not an invader. I was born here and this is my country – it lives in my heart and soul. Let's talk, come to know each other as human beings and put our differences aside for a moment.
Life can be better.
Judy Stocco, Vermont
Make it January 1
I agree with Rachel Griffiths (26/1) that the only appropriate date for Australia Day is January 1. I do not accept the designation "Invasion Day" for January 26, but I acknowledge that many Australians feel uncomfortable celebrating our country on that date.
January 1, 1901 was the date Australia became a country, as the Commonwealth of Australia, by the federation of six self-governing British colonies. The anniversary of that date is the date on which we should celebrate Australia (if we have to), and if we lose a public holiday as a result, so be it.
John Christiansen, St Kilda
A disappointing choice
The choice of Ash Barty, a fine young woman, as Young Australian of the Year is disappointing in that she has gained tremendous personal success, but not necessarily one that has furthered the causes of young Australians.
Personal gain should not be a criteria for this award. State winners, who focused on science, environment and Aboriginal language and health, have again run second.
Sports people and other popular folk have a head start. It's time for Australia to think a little more deeply.
Ron Reynolds, Templestowe
Cut the royal ties
Perhaps the answer to "Invasion Day" is also to step back from British royalty and become a republic.
This day could then be our new Australia Day, one we can all celebrate: a cutting of ties for Aboriginal Australia from their invaders and an independence day for the rest of us.
Cupalika Cugadasan, Warrnambool
Against national interests
The National Party is acting not in the nation's interest; instead they are behaving in their own interest.
They advocate north Queensland coal-powered power stations in their own electorates where they are definitely not needed, either nationally or locally; they call on "higher powers" to end the drought; they demolish international endeavours to mitigate climate change, and they allocate sports funding against expert advice. They are behaving this way because they can. Scott Morrison cannot govern without them.
It is time the Liberals ditched them and tried the electorate alone. Then we can see who really deserves to govern Australia.
Martin Shaw, Mirboo North
West Gate Tunnel woes
As Phil Bodel correctly notes (Letters, 25/1), "contaminated soil is virtually a certainty in any major urban tunnel project". However, it's only the tunnel builder's responsibility to cover removal of the contaminated material if that was a requirement of the tender conditions.
Public infrastructure contracts are all about identification and allocation of risk, and the extent of contamination can be impossible to predetermine. Problems arise when the parties try to ignore or play down the likely costs.
Contractors cannot be expected to take on such unspecified, unlimited risks without compensation. Either the risks should be quantified up front, if they are to be priced as part of the tender, or an alternative arrangement must be clarified, such as work to be done by others, or some form of cost sharing. It's as inconceivable that government contracts would be silent on the issue of contamination for tunnel projects as it is unreasonable to expect the tunnel builder to bear the total cost, unless that was a known condition of their contract.
Responsibility for the West Gate Tunnel stand-off is unlikely to be solely with the builder; let's hope it can be quickly and sensibly resolved.
Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale
A waste of our money
What is the purpose of granting millions of taxpayers' dollars to sporting clubs? Presumably to allow them to improve their facilities to encourage the public to join the clubs and become more physically active.
The increased activity could help reduce the obesity epidemic and the associated healthcare costs.
If this is the intention, then grants to tiddlywinks clubs would be as effective as those to shooting clubs. Another gross waste of taxpayers' money.
John Edwards, Mount Waverley
If we can do that ...
It's interesting that Australia has strict processes in place to prohibit harmless refugees from entering our country, but the government didn't plan to restrict access to Australia by people travelling here from Wuhan in China.
If we can afford to build and maintain offshore facilities to incarcerate genuine refugees and keep them from entering our great country, surely we can afford to build quarantine facilities to restrict entry by people travelling here from regions affected by outbreaks of novel and potentially deadly viruses.
Graham Williams, Glen Waverley
Square the ledger
The forthcoming state memorial service for John Cain prompts me to propose a potential lasting memorial.
If VicRoads is looking for a name for the now-completed Chandler Highway bridge across the Yarra River, they should consider naming it the John Cain Bridge.
This would honour two former premiers from Northcote, both of whom served Victoria with distinction, grace and humility. After all, we already have a Bolte Bridge.
Time to square the ledger?
Ciaran Crehan, Balwyn North
Count these emissions
I repeatedly hear the argument that Australia's emissions are small and that China should be pressured to reduce its emissions before we do.
Consider this: everything from the steel in your house to the shirt on your back, from the sports shoes on your feet to the tyres on your car, from the phone in your pocket to the stationery on your desk are probably wholly or partly made in China.
The worker who produces these goods goes home to a house that consumes a fraction of the energy ours do, but you want this person to bear the responsibility for the emissions produced and cut back. Surely these emissions are ours, not those of the Chinese.
A true count of our per capita emissions, which are already among the highest in the world, should also take into account what we import from developing countries and be deducted from their emissions and added to ours.
Helene Bradshaw, Mitta Mitta
Silver lining department
There is one positive thing that comes out of the Coalition's sports grants affair. Scott Morrison will no longer be able to trot out his inane slogan, "If you have a go, you'll get ago".
No doubt those sporting clubs in non-marginal seats thought that they were having a go by submitting their applications for funding, and what did they get for their pains? Interference by a minister driven by blatant self-interest.
Scott Morrison will be an absolute laughing stock if he dares to utter his simplistic mantra again.
Jacqui Holston, Balwyn North
He had his chance
I'm sorry, Moray Byrne (Letters 25/1), Malcolm Turnbull had his chance to do something about climate change and he failed dismally.
It is all very well to try and come out as the big man now. He came with promise but let everyone down.
Judith Dunn, Bentleigh East
Time-worn jingoism
Once more Scott Morrison has failed the nation, with his Australia Day message full of time-worn jingoism.
What we need is a leader with the intelligence and empathy to read the shift in the national mood and distil it into an honest, meaningful narrative. We need a leader who can give us the words to help us comprehend the magnitude of the crisis we face, and the will to act.
Scott Morrison is simply not up to the task.
Jenny Herbert, Metung
AND ANOTHER THING
The new normal?
Essential dress for January: a P2 mask, dusty, brown overalls and a hard hat for hail protection.
Jenny Smithers, Ashburton
I've cashed out my super and have invested the lot in face-mask suppliers.
Roger Mendelson, Toorak
Politics
Peter Thomas suggested (And Another Thing, 25/1) that "honourable member" should only be applied to former MPs who served with integrity and selflessness. The shortlist might be a short list.
David Allen, Bayswater North
Climate change
As I understand Scott Morrison, we can be assured of the science behind the coronavirus. Unfortunately, though, we can't seem to rely on the science behind climate change.
Les Aisen, Elsternwick
If politicians are so concerned about young people being troubled by the state of the planet, does this mean we should avoid teaching children to beware of moving vehicles or other dangers they may have to face?
Suzanne Palmer-Holton, Seaford
Australia Day honours
Amanda Vanstone, who didn't exactly set the world on fire as immigration minister in the Howard government, has been made an AO. Which proves it obviously isn't what you know but who you know.
John Cain, McCrae
Let's hope that this time next year some of the many modest, unsung heroes of this bushfire season are given the official recognition they so richly deserve.
Joe Wilder, Caulfield North
If the Prime Minister was fair dinkum about Australia Day, the Australian of the Year awards would've been presented at Parliament House.
Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills
Finally
January 26 should be called First Fleet Day. Australia became a nation on January 1, 1901
Les Cooper, Anglesea
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