Why are MPs exempt from rules we follow?

Credit:Illustration: Andrew Dyson

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PARLIAMENT’S CULTURE

Why are MPs exempt from rules we follow?

Why, as taxpayers, are we employing MPs who allow harassment, bullying or worse (The Age, 1/12) to occur in their offices? Why are they not dismissed for sexual, harassing or bullying misbehaviour, misbehaviour that no company or business would get away with? Perhaps the answer is numbers. Each party when in power ignores appalling behaviour because it needs the offending member’s vote.

Decent behaviour in organisations is top down. If the top does not care or only gives it lip service, others are free to misbehave. Should we require a statuary declaration from political candidates stating that if they are elected, they will not practise or tolerate these inappropriate behaviours? If it were not so serious and so life destroying it would be pathetic: the Canberra naughty club.
Judith Paphazy, Cape Schanck

If Morrison knew, why didn’t he act earlier?

The review, by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner (pictured), into Parliament’s workplace culture has been released. Our Prime Minister said the findings of bullying, sexual harassment and assault were “appalling” and “disturbing”. He then went on to say, “I wish I found them more surprising”. So, Scott Morrison, you knew all along how bad the culture was, but did nothing about it? What a morally bereft government you lead.
Ashley Ryan, Heathmont

We need to be respectful examples for our children

The reports about Parliament House and Ambulance Victoria (The Age, 1/12) were very similar, with over half of respondents saying they had been subjected to bullying, sexual harassment or even sexual assault in the workplace. It is high time these practices are highlighted, acknowledged, and called out with appropriate punishment and shaming. This behaviour has been tolerated and accepted for far too long and is probably endemic in countless other companies and organisations, unfortunately. Those few brave victims who have spoken out deserve to be listened to and we, as a society, need to be responsible for our own actions as well as being respectful examples to our children.
Wendy Poulier, Ferntree Gully

Workplaces where all are treated with respect

In an interview with Radio National’s Fran Kelly (ABC, 1/12) about the poor parliamentary workplace culture, Tanya Plibersek said it was “a widespread problem in every workplace”. I can only stand up for my many male colleagues in intensive care units who have excellent work ethics. They also treat us females as respected equals – as we do them. If we were to posture and shout at others in the workplace – as do our parliamentarians – we would be terminated. The Speaker should expel any MPs who behave in such an appalling manner. This might change parliament’s toxic culture.
Joan Logan, South Melbourne

Time for another MP to be corralled into PM’s office

A male Coalition senator makes growling noises while a female senator is speaking during Question Time (The Age, 1/12) on the same day the Sex Discrimination Commissioner hands down a report into the workplace culture within Parliament. Unbelievable and crass. Will he be corralled into the Prime Minister’s office for a dressing down, sorry, some pastoral care, a la Bridget Archer? I will not be holding my breath.
Doug Shaw, Sunbury

Calling for a ‘full flush out’ at the federal election

I am appalled at the working conditions and culture of the “men’s club”. As a teacher in the Victorian Education Department for 36years, I have only ever worked under conditions of equality and respect for all my colleagues and bosses.

I worked under women and men in positions of leadership and I never experienced sexual harassment, bullying or the delinquency of power anywhere near the legion of examples that spring from the house on the hill. We, the owners of that workplace, are alarmed and dumfounded, and we demand change. Perhaps a full flush out at the next election might help.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson

THE FORUM

Patients before doctors

Why has the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency taken so long to crack down on cosmetic cowboys (The Age, 1/12)? After my own experience with AHPRA back in 2011 after reporting a cosmetic surgeon, l will take a guess. It would not have acted if the brave patients, and talented journalists, had not blown the whistle.

Even after this, l have little faith in AHPRA and feel there should be an independent inquiry into the agency. I suggest transparency when a doctor has had a complaint filed against them, so the public can make informed decisions about who they want to perform the treatment they seek. Who is AHPRA protecting? The patient or the doctor?
Sharon Hendon, Glen Iris

Business before patients

Although the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s probe will need to define the issues of accreditation and the safety of health practices among those calling themselves cosmetic surgeons, the issue for specialist surgeons in general is wider and deeper. Surgery, like evolution, can be survival of the fittest in a system in our country which is designed to support business development as much if not more than patient care.
Andrew Zbar, retired general surgeon, Caulfield North

A great actor and man

David Dalaithngu AM who has died – “Celebrating a leader, lark, legend” (The Age, 1/12) – was a much admired and pioneering actor. Is there an appropriate award that can be named in his honour to recognise new and aspiring actors?
Ange Kenos, Niddrie

The gap is still too wide

Spanning five decades, David Dalaithngu has brought his First Nations culture to us through acting, dancing, painting and singing. His artistry and on-screen presence has shone a bright light on Aboriginal representation in Australian film.

As a proud Yolngu man, it cannot have been easy managing his desire to live a traditional life with a very public profile. Yet despite his talents, David Dalaithngu still experienced racism and discrimination, and as an Indigenous male. Closing the Gap has a long way to go, and sadly we are all the poorer for it.
Linda Grace, Mitcham

The older people’s crisis

Ross Gittins is right to point out that one third of Australians facing rental poverty have been let down by successive Labor and Liberal governments disinvesting in public housing (Opinion, 1/12). Because this lack of funding has occurred since the 1980s, we are now seeing a massive wave of retiree renters paying up to 70 to 80per cent of their income in rent.

This older people’s housing crisis also exposes further government policy failures as the age pension is inadequate to afford high rents and aged care support is impossible if you are at risk of homelessness.

A safe, secure and affordable home is the foundation for a good life in older age. It is time governments realised they can solve many policy problems by investing in public housing.
Jeff Fiedler, Preston

Our front line heroes

The death of emergency nurse Gillian Dempsey, from COVID-19 (The Age, 1/12), reminds us how vulnerable are the frontline health workers. She, along with all other health care professionals, risk contracting the disease every time they go to work. Thank you, Gillian, and all your co-workers, for your tireless efforts to keep the public safe.
Margaret Collings, Anglesea

Vaccine pass, please

Travelling on a plane is a high-risk situation for the transmission of COVID-19. There is no ability to socially distance on a full flight and air ventilation is limited (Best not to open the window!).
In the past few days I flew to and from NSW and on neither flight was the vaccination status of passengers checked. Yes, there was a declaration when booking the tickets but is that really enough? If restaurants can check our vaccination status, so should airlines.
Allison Christians, Footscray

Vaccinate the whole world

We should be taking immediate advantage of the current Omicron scare to ensure that poorer countries are properly vaccinated against COVID-19. That should at least be an equal, if not a higher, priority than delivering booster shots in wealthy countries.

Western leaders have had plenty to say about directly protecting their own people but very little about improving vaccine coverage in poorer countries. This is a self-defeating exercise in short-term selfishness.

If we are lucky, Omicron may turn out to be mild. If that is right, then wealthy countries must treat this as a fortuitous wake-up call on the importance of vaccinating the whole world. The next vaccine of concern may well be even more destructive than Delta.
Denny Meadows, Hawthorn

Giving other players a go

We can do without Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. We do not want another Adria Tour, when several players tested positive to COVID-19. Besides, it will give other deserving players are chance. Maybe even an Australian. Go Alex “Demon” de Minaur.
Melanie Bennetts, Lower Templestowe

Protect ‘special’ Fitzroy

I hope the Andrews government’s appointee to monitor Yarra City Council governance (The Age, 1/12) makes a difference. But I suspect the problem lies deep within the planning department and has little to do with councillors.

I have found our elected councillors are prepared to listen and genuinely consider local issues. However, the planning officers appear to be a law unto themselves and it is all about throughput. They do not seem to be interested in the unique qualities of individual neighbourhoods which make Yarra special. I suspect they do not get it.
Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North

Negatives of ’can-do’

Once again we see the farcical situation of a large bank, this time Westpac, being fined – “King vows overhaul in wakes of fines” (Business, 1/12). But who pays the fines? Ultimately the shareholders foot the bill, and that includes just about everyone in Australia who has a superannuation account.

The bank’s board members and senior executives, who are the real culprits, make a heartfelt apology but continue to receive eye-watering salaries, despite their demonstrated inadequacies. It happens again and again. It is called “can-do capitalism” and the current government loves it.
Darby Higgs, Williamstown

Very little customer care

“Corporate speak” at its finest: Regarding the bank’s fees, Westpac chief executive Peter King admits “we didn’t meet our promise to customers in that case”. How true. The said customers were dead.
Richard Pentony, Hawthorn

Moving forward together

Bella d’Abrera, representing the conservative Institute of Public Affairs (Opinion, 30/11), attempts to defend the racist origins of the name of Moreland City Council, which commemorates both local dispossession and global slavery. Renaming this community’s principal civic body will not erase its history, but provide a landmark declaration that acknowledges past injustice, raises awareness of catastrophic impacts, and provides a platform for respectfully moving forward together.
Rod Duncan, Brunswick East

Let’s be purer than pure

Moreland City Council has not gone far enough. The Sumerians and Babylonians were noted for sending their vanquished opponents into slavery. And as we have inherited their sexagesimal system of units for time, geography, and angles, I would expect that a new standard of units and nomenclature based on purity of thought and history be pronounced at their next council meeting. Ten seconds to a minute, and 10 minutes to the hour, and perhaps 10 hours in the day would ensure that no offence is implied when I am asked the time by one of Moreland’s residents.
Mike Pantzopoulos, Ashburton

The council’s request

Following Labor Mayor Jim Magee incorrectly alleging at a council meeting that the City of Glen Eira did not apply to the federal government for funding to upgrade commuter car parking at Bentleigh and Elsternwick railway stations (The Age, 12/8), it is understandable that your correspondent – “Levers of power” (Letters 1/12) – believes this to be the case (about Bentleigh station).
Council’s 11-page submission to the federal government before the last election shows otherwise, and Glen Eira subsequently welcomed the investment in this “priority project”. I am proud to be associated with delivering a nearly $20million infrastructure investment in our community – the largest in Glen Eira’s history – and look forward to the project being delivered consistent with council’s application.
Tim Wilson, Federal MP for Goldstein, Brighton East

Logging encroachment

It is devastating to seek out hidden treasures only to find that VicForests has logged extensively to within metres of Seven Acre Rock (a large rocky outcrop) in the Bunyip State Park. The commitment to meet Indigenous and tourist interests has been abused.
Cherie Forrester, Gembrook

Motor racing and EVs

In response to your contributor (Letters, 1/12) regarding no noise, no pollution Grand Prix motor racing. This already exists in Formula E. A single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars similar to the existing Formula 1 cars. There is also an all-electric, off-road motorsport called Extreme E. Motor racing in general has certainly embraced all electric vehicles.
Nigel Beresford, Drouin

AND ANOTHER THING

Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding

Harassment

I’d have thought MPs who sexually harass should be sacked. It happens in the real world.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South

The PM isn’t surprised by the review into sexual harassment, indicating he was aware of it. Why didn’t he do something about it?
Noel Turnbull, Port Melbourne

Morrison is disappointed a Liberal made growling noises while Lambie was talking. No action or consequences for the offender equals tacit approval.
Damian Meade, Leopold

Dog whistling, dog noises, what’s next? Ankle nips? Ask Archer.
George Reed, Wheelers Hill

How many MPs who are guilty of sexual harassment or bullying are standing in the election?
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood

Politics

Labor dumps a fuel standard plan (1/12). One again the environment and our health are sacrificed on the altar of politics.
David Robertson, Wheatsheaf

Mirabella advises her husband, a new Senator, ″⁣not to trust journalists″⁣ (1/12). I hope she’s advised him on ethics and integrity too.
Belinda Burke, Hawthorn

Liberal MPs should be very wary if Frydenberg claims to be concerned about their welfare.
Garry Meller, Bentleigh

Parliament to sit for 10 days in eight months. Surely it’s a joke. Nice work if you can get it.
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor

Tony Ward (1/12), this current crew make the Sopranos look like monks.
Damon Ross, St Kilda East

Furthermore

Congratulations, Barbados, on your independence (1/12). May Australia follow suit.
Christine Hammett, Richmond

Barbados becomes a republic. Wow, let’s hurry up before we’re the last one to do the same.
George Fernandez, Eltham North

How much lower would COVID case numbers be without anti-vaxx protests?
Gloria Meltzer, Chewton

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