Law needs clear lanes to stop meddling politicians
Politicians need to stay out of the justice system. They appoint judges and determine when they should retire. Many judges are former politicians, and their political leanings often influence their judgments. Politicians have a history of overruling judges, passing laws that contradict general application principles, and meddling in criminal cases. An independent criminal cases review commission is necessary to keep judges and politicians in their respective lanes. This is a common practice in other common law jurisdictions, but Australian politicians are reluctant to let go of their power.
Are you unserious?
Angus Taylor's criticism of the Liberal Party and One Nation is accurate. The Liberals' actions, such as preferring Pauline Hanson's party in the Farrer byelection, have not matched their words. This hypocrisy and lack of integrity have led to voters abandoning the Coalition parties. The decision to preference One Nation in the Farrer byelection, despite the Liberals' lack of chance of winning, resulted in One Nation gaining credibility and the seat.
Telstra’s been told
The federal government's role as a telecommunications regulator is questionable. The government should mandate domestic roaming to ensure fair competition. Telstra has fought against roaming to maintain its competitive edge, and the outage highlights the need for a more robust network. Compensation should be automatically available to customers, and the new charges should be deferred for six months.
Telstra boss Vicki Brady admits responsibility for the outage, and businesses and individuals face complicated processes for compensation. The public reaction to the outage emphasizes the reliance on technology and the need for resilient networks. Telcos should build more resilient networks, and individuals should have basic contingencies like landlines, cash, and self-reliance.
All telephone providers interconnected? What next? All railways using the same gauge?
Profit for private eyes
Alison Pennington highlights the link between profit-driven services and inflation. The profit motive often leads to reduced quality and lower costs, with many shareholders being offshore. The government's abdication of responsibility for social welfare is a political issue. The author suggests giving the government a no-cost percentage equity in shares for AI development and data center services, but this is not explored further.
Thank you, Alison Pennington, for your insight. Privatization of key sectors benefits private entities and widens the wealth gap. It's time to change the narrative, especially in education, health, childcare, aged care, employment, and disability services.
Balancing act at ABC
Jillian Segal's claim that ABC reporting of Israel lacks balance assumes a homogeneous Jewish community in Australia. However, perceptions are not facts, and there are diverse views within the Jewish community. The ABC's coverage of the tragedy in Gaza is independent reporting, and comparing it to anti-Christian sentiment is inaccurate.
The ABC's coverage of the event in Gaza, where Palestinians watched a World Cup match on a big screen, was overlooked. This highlights the limited attention given to conflicts and the ABC's over-representation of Gaza.
Next red card
Waleed Aly exposes corruption in the football World Cup, where FIFA was influenced by Donald Trump to overturn a ban. Trump's America-first agenda is advanced through such rule-bending. However, his approach to Iran is different, as he describes the leadership as 'scum' and 'sick people'.
Nuclear test fails
Dale Bailey argues for a national debate on nuclear power, but Australia has a history of public debates on the issue. The Howard government's moratorium and the Gorton government's proposal at Jervis Bay triggered intense debate. Nuclear power stations depend on reliable water supplies, and the environment is not suited to hot climates like Australia's.
Lessons from war
Andrew Forrest's commitment to sustainability is praised, but the article focuses on the rearrangement of resources at Minderoo. The author suggests using Forrest's resources for a satellite network to monitor natural disasters, powered by Minderoo's solar and wind arrays.
Reading: the right act
Encouraging reading at home has benefits, but it's not necessarily a good thing to be two years ahead of peers. Good teachers should identify and address such situations. Reading makes the world more exciting and diverse, and good readers become more compassionate and wiser.
Long live picture palace
Roseville Cinemas is a much-loved heritage cinema, and its closure is a concern. The government should preserve it as a cultural icon, and the community should support it. The cinema offers a variety of films and is a cultural hub on the north shore.
Lost in France
A personal story of getting lost in Cambrai, Northern France, without mobile phones or French language skills. The author reflects on the song 'Lost in France' by Bonnie Tyler, who recently passed away.
