Kevin Rudd would be better as China envoy

1 month ago 4

It is past time that Kevin Rudd was removed from his position as ambassador to the United States (“Kevin Rudd stepping down as ambassador to the US”, smh.com.au, January 13). This is no reflection on Mr Rudd, who has demonstrated over many years his ability to be an effective and respected voice for Australia on the international stage. However, given Donald Trump’s progress in the presidency and his infamously unpredictable nature, we must better utilise Mr Rudd’s genuine diplomatic skills elsewhere – probably best in Beijing. By his actions, President Trump is effectively casting the Pacific and Australia into the Chinese sphere of influence. He appears to consider the “Western hemisphere” of American interest to begin at the East Coast and end at the West Coast of the USA, leaving traditional allies to fend for themselves. In this new reality, Washington does not require a skilled and effective diplomat; it requires a (golf playing) sycophant. It is becoming increasingly impossible to maintain sensible diplomatic relations or make genuine progress with a leader like Trump. The sooner we acknowledge this shift and pivot our best resources towards our own region, the better we can navigate our future with a nation that is becoming truly errant. Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has stepped down as ambassador to the United States.

Mr Rudd has been outstanding as our representative in the US. His added linguistic abilities have made him unique in world diplomacy. Thank you, Mr Rudd. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

I’m sorry to read that Kevin Rudd is stepping down from being our ambassador in Washington (“Frontrunner to replace Rudd called Trump ‘moronically stupid’” , smh.com.au, January 13); he has served us well. Albanese shouldn’t be looking at some party hack to replace him, rather harking back in time when a prestigious posting was given to a senior public servant. My pick to replace Kevin 007 would be the mandarin in charge of DFAT. He or she would be the logical replacement, with years of experience in diplomacy and wouldn’t need the training some past third rate premier or MP would need. Robert Pallister, Punchbowl

News that Kevin Rudd’s likely replacement has called Trump “moronically stupid” is good news. I think, in so doing, he is representing the view of the vast majority of Australians. The alternative is sycophantic capitulation or, worse, collaboration with fascists. Peter Hull, Katoomba

My nomination for next ambassador to the US is Steve Irwin’s son, Robert Irwin. He’s a reality TV star, like Trump, and also used to handling untamed animals. John Shumack, Saratoga

I’d like to nominate Bozo the Clown to be the new ambassador. He’d fit in perfectly with the circus that is the US administration. Michael Deeth, Como West

On the beaten track

One aspect of Sydney’s Metro projects where the government will need to spend more in coming years is that of additional rolling stock to meet surging passenger demand (“Wheels of transport turn swift then slow”, January 13). The existing Metro is bursting at the seams in peak hour and the planned 16 trains for the new Metro West (“Alarm as cost of Metro stop in CBD set to rise further”, January 12) are unlikely to be enough to provide the level of service required when the line opens in six years. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Development lacks ambition

Reading the article that Landcom is abandoning sites in western Sydney (“Plans to build 1500 homes scrapped”, January 13), I had a look to see how many houses they are actually building. Including cancelled projects, there are 26 developments on their website. Not all listed the number of new dwellings, but most were for 100 or so new houses, and two will house just over 1000 people. The only substantial one, at Edmondson Park, will provide housing for 20,000 people, but take 17 years to complete. This is better than nothing, but it’s barely a drop in the ocean against Sydney’s population growth of 100,000 people a year. Some new housing will be built by private developers, but Landcom should be aiming to house half and have a strategy to achieve that. They need multiple new suburbs of 20,000 people in progress at a time. If building houses for that many requires too much labour, time or land, build high-rise apartments instead, and build parks, schools and railway stations to make them attractive to prospective residents. The housing crisis requires big, ambitious developments, which Landcom isn’t providing at present. Fraser Rew, Ashfield

An artist’s impression of the housing development Landcom planned for Austral, which it abandoned in December 2025.

It is scandalous that Landcom has abandoned three housing projects planned for western Sydney. These locations have good rail connections and relatively good infrastructure. At the same time, approval has been given to private developers for very remote Wilton and Appin, which have no public transport and little infrastructure. Tony Simons, Balmain

It is interesting to note that one day after the Herald runs a story about young people getting a foothold in the inner Sydney property market by purchasing smaller dwellings, such as studio and one-bedroom apartments (“Cassandra grew up in a large family home. Then she found something better”, January 12), you report that the NSW government has approved a proposal to demolish 80 studio apartments in Potts Point and replace them with about 34 larger, luxury pads (“Sydney units face the wrecking ball for $91m luxury apartment block”, January 13). Equally questionable is the fact that, while the government ratified a City of Sydney reform to ensure new developments don’t result in more than 15 per cent net dwelling loss, this rule apparently doesn’t apply to proposals under the government’s own state significant development process. How any of this effectively addresses the housing crisis is anyone’s guess. Ross Duncan, Potts Point

Libs’ co-operation is brief

The opposition’s promise to co-operate fully with Labor on the royal commission didn’t last long (“Backlash to bid for change on hate laws”, January 13). It wasn’t surprising, since their default response to Labor policies is to oppose. They are fundamentally negative and obstructive by nature, to their detriment. Opposition based on political point-scoring won’t win elections. Constructive criticism is necessary, but mean-spiritedness is self-destructive. We expect our elected representatives to be builders, not demolitionists. Most policies need fine-tuning, but that should be done without rancour. It seems the Coalition has decided to make the opposition bench its permanent home. Graham Lum, North Rocks

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley at a press conference last week.

In these serious times, we all need a laugh, and Sussan Ley has given us one. On proposed legislation she says, “As is so often the case with this prime minister, he is squarely focused on what he perceives to be in his political interests, not the national interest”. Sussan, please look in the mirror! Raymond Mills, North Epping

Isn’t the fact that the announcement of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke that “red flags will be raised under new gun control reforms if anyone applying for a licence or in their networks raises security concerns” is reported as being something new, something that wasn’t done before, extremely concerning (“Security agencies set to swap notes on gun licences”, January 13)? I’m glad we’re having a royal commission, but in this case, I think a simple pub test would suffice. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

DV victims also need compensation

Now the tragedy of Bondi turns to criticism of the state and federal governments over compensation for victims (“Victim families want change to ‘ridiculous’ compensation”, January 13). While not doubting the obvious trauma emanating from that heinous attack, I find the pressure exerted on politicians in the immediate aftermath concerning. Last year in Australia, more than 50 women were killed by their partners, with thousands of others continuing to experience domestic violence. There has been no federally initiated royal commission and an inadequate ad hoc approach by state governments to implement measures, financial or service industries, to address this national shame. We see a plethora of political, media and sporting voices for those victims of Bondi and fair enough, but where are those same voices when it comes to the scourge of domestic violence? Craig Jory, Albury

The support and compensation being offered to relatives of the Bondi attacks by the state and federal governments appear generous compared with payments offered to victims of crime. Those demanding more should realise that no amount is ever enough to compensate for the loss of a loved one. Richard Tainsh, Potts Point

Trump hypocritical on Greenland

How can Australia continue its allegiance with a country and president that shoots its citizens and then lies about the visual evidence? (“Dramatic scenes as ICE makes arrests in city still on edge”, January 13.) Fiona Fletcher, Paddington

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters while in flight on Air Force One on Sunday.

Donald Trump says that just because the Danes landed a boat on Greenland 500 years ago that doesn’t make it theirs. I imagine the Native American Indians and First Nations people here would tend to agree. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)

For the sake of world peace, I suggest we pamper Trump’s ego and give him the Nobel Peace Prize – on three conditions. One, that he leave the office of president immediately and take all of his boot-licking, criminally incompetent sidekicks with him. Two, that he refrain from making any comments of any sort publicly, either in print, in speeches or on social media platforms. And three, that he donate all the money he has unethically accumulated during his second term to charity. If he does these things, perhaps the world can have a bit of peace. Richard Keyes, Enfield

A place for dissent

Louise Adler, in resigning her role as director of the Adelaide Festival’s Writers’ Week, hit the nail on the head, stating: “In the aftermath of the Bondi atrocity, state and federal governments have rushed to mollify the ‘we told you so’ posse. With alarming insouciance, protests are being outlawed, free speech is being constrained and politicians are rushing through processes to ban phrases and slogans.” (“‘Cannot be party to silencing writers’: Louise Adler resigns from Adelaide Writers’ Week”, smh.com.au, January 13) What Adler didn’t state was the role of the media highlighted by the response to the Cathy Wilcox cartoon. On January 7, 2015, the massacre in the office of Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine, united the free world in protecting free speech. Earlier, the free world rallied against the threats against Salman Rushdie. Freedom to potentially offend was justified by the same media, community leaders and politicians (the “we told you so posse”) that now are significantly limiting any narrative by dissenting voices. This will not end well. Bernie de Vries, Bolwarra

Louise Adler is right, as well as principled. Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah has a right to be a Palestinian and to speak and write as one. What a pity the Adelaide Festival Writers’ Week will not hear first-hand about her witty and insightful book. It is an irony that the festival board has proven the book’s point. Scott Poynting, Newtown

Living in my bubble world, I had been wondering about the fuss at the Adelaide Writers’ Week, which I read about with interest. It prompted me to read Discipline by Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah: I haven’t read such a beautifully written, powerful book in a long time. Thank you, Dr Abdel-Fattah. Cathy Merchant, Hunters Hill

Cartoon reaction

I was relieved to see Cathy Wilcox’s cartoon in Tuesday’s Herald. After Monday’s “apology” editorial, I feared she may have been sacked, or perhaps so hurt and offended by the reaction to “that” cartoon that she may have decided to stop sending her cartoons to the Herald. But, thankfully, it seems we’ll still be able to enjoy her wonderful, thoughtful cartoons. Ken Butler, Mount Colah

I’m upset, too, because we have been here before, haven’t we? You know, learning to check our rage and outrage over a sketch with a different viewpoint. Seemingly not. “Je suis Cathy.” Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi

Surefire threat

Rosemary Embery is right to say that fire is an integral part of Australia’s ecology (Letters, January 13), but wrong not to distinguish between carefully managed fire lit with intent and a clear purpose, as against the massively damaging wildfires we are seeing with ever-increasing frequency. Until Australia’s land mass is managed in ways that closely reflect ancient locally tailored fire practices, we will continue to see shorter cycles of fire as regrowth forest favours fire, with more loss of human and animal life, buildings and infrastructure. Dick Clarke, Elanora Heights

Robert F. Kennedy Jr (centre) during the dietary guidelines presentation.

RFK Jr sending US back

As the columnist says, too many people are unwell and overweight because of what they eat (“Beware RFK’s new food pyramid: It’s all sizzle and no steak”, January 13). About 74 per cent of Americans and about 66 per cent of Australians are overweight or obese. Processed food – cheap, widely available, and heavily marketed – is disproportionately consumed by people on lower incomes, while fresh food and fruit are often too expensive to support healthy habits. The result is an enormous and growing burden on public health systems. For decades, nutrition experts such as Rosemary Stanton and Michael Greger have promoted evidence-based healthy eating, yet RFK’s actions have effectively pushed the United States back by 50 years in terms of progress on healthy food and nutrition policy. Shame! Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

Gifted a big break

A friend of mine gave his son, when he finished school, money for a suit (Letters, January 13). He went out and bought a wetsuit. Michael Payne, West Pymble

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