Arguments for AUKUS just don’t hold any water

Carmen Lawrence is right (“How AUKUS submerged the truth”, June 13). AUKUS binds us to buy (and possibly receive) a handful of submarines that could only plausibly be deployed to support American foreign policy. The idea that three submarines, never all at sea at the same time, could serve any useful purpose on their own is delusional. The government underestimates the extent to which its meek acceptance of this extortionate deal, struck in secret by Australia’s least popular prime minister, contributes to its current unpopularity. Ben Bridges, Maryville

I know Carmen Lawrence is an intelligent operative, and in her piece on AUKUS, she has raised all the right questions. There has been no transparency around AUKUS decisions by either Scott Morrison or by the current government. Anthony Albanese was ambushed by Morrison to support it but now the Albanese government is not doing any better either. Let us hope that the crowd-funded inquiry, led by Lawrence and others, may force the government to come out with some truth about it. Bipin Johri, Epping

The difference between a Furphy water cart and the AUKUS trilateral security agreement is that one holds water. Come to think of it, given the news of the delivery type, date and eventual relevance of AUKUS subs, it may well be expedient to refashion old Furphys into submersibles. I can see it now, the future submarines, the SSN-AUKUS Raw Prawn, Yarn, Bull and Pulltheotherone. With good old Aussie bush mechanics and know-how, I reckon we could whip up a defence gadget good enough to put under any Christmas tree. Steve Dillon, Thirroul

If, as Carmen Lawrence asserts, decisions on AUKUS were rushed to gain political advantage, the demise of the two-party system can’t come soon enough. Catherine Turner, Cremorne

Labor is in the middle of a struggle to defend the most progressive and important budget taxation agenda in 30 years and, lo and behold, Carmen Lawrence writes at length about AUKUS. At 73, I am prepared to let the next generation look after AUKUS. There is no rush, given the leisurely pace of that program. But I am not prepared to wait another day for the train wreck of taxation policies from the Howard era to go on wrecking my children’s and grandchildren’s generation’s prosperity, and let the obvious intergenerational unfairness continue. So my priority is to fight for this budget, now. This sudden resurgence of debate on AUKUS is drawing away from Labor’s unity on the budget struggle, which is a luxury that we cannot afford. Jim Pearce, Oak Flats

Hanson’s ignorance

I wonder whether Pauline Hanson might fly to the Northern Territory and surrounds to observe first-hand the consequences of inadequate vaccination (“Outsider? Or disguised insider”, June 13)? The current diphtheria outbreak demonstrates that vaccine-preventable and potentially fatal diseases are real and have not disappeared.
Hanson’s unforgettable advice to parents on vaccination to “do your own research” (interpreted as “ignore the scientific research”) remains very worrisome as her political party continues its “Steven Bradbury” dash. Her scepticism regarding vaccination echoes that of Robert Kennedy Jr, who is (unbelievably) now one of Donald Trump’s most influential health advisers. Public health policy should be guided by scientific evidence rather than the personal whims of amateur influencers. At a time when the Northern Territory and other communities are confronting a diphtheria outbreak, all Australians should take a pause and accept reality rather than fantasy. Bernie Bourke, Ourimbah

While I would not wish ill health (or ageing) on anyone, one day Pauline Hanson may find, even briefly, the need to have institutional care. She will quickly discover that such care could not function without the expert and professional assistance of so many people from other countries. Vicky Marquis, North Sydney

With no coherent policies to tackle the nation’s problems (housing, the NDIS, rising costs, the deficit) and a racist core, I can’t see how Pauline Hanson and One Nation can sustain their increased popularity. Come the election, voters will see through the One Nation smokescreen of lies and distortion. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

It’s a tough ask to spend a day without enduring another expose/critique or outright promotion of You-Know-Who. Turn on the TV, open the newspaper, listen to the radio, scroll through the socials and there she is resplendent in orange with a sneer that has become a trademark. With the amount of oxygen she has been given, no wonder she is soaring in the polls. I just hope somebody lights a match before the next election. Scott Warnes, Suffolk Park

If I may be permitted to submit another gripe about One Nation, it is regarding the flag, which seems to have been subsumed by that party to symbolise not Australia, but One Nation. Furthermore, its followers do not seem to know that it is a desecration of the national flag to drape it over oneself. The way things are going, the push for a new national flag will become more meaningful. Bill Forbes, Medowie

Surely now is the time for a Pauline Pantsdown comeback? I, for one, am very keen. Jeff Apter, Keiraville

The right is not right

The forces of the right, terrified that Labor actually will improve the lot of the less well-off (“Hanson hits back at PM, Paterson warns of One Nation talk”, June 13), have taken to throwing various non-sequiturs into the public arena: One Nation’s donation pool; whether Liberals will share electorates; Coalition preferencing. None of this is relevant two years out from an election. It’s a ploy to focus anger through misinformation and harness grievance in place of alternative solutions, all classic MAGA strategies. Electors see through it. Show us your policies not your smokescreens. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield

It seems amazing that the Liberal Party would rather get into bed with Pauline than with the teals. Why does it think the teals are getting so much more support than it is? As it is liberally inclined, wouldn’t it make sense to combine with and listen to the teals? Christine Stewart, Willoughby

Super-ager a super read

After reading about the problem of Pauline and the tantrums of Trump it was a delight to read about lunch with Peter Clemenger (‴⁣⁣Super-ager’ legend saves best for last”, June 13). Well done Stephen Brook for an excellent article about an engaging personality and his interesting life. So glad you asked Peter about golf. Patty Bruniges, Hurlstone Park

Heed the warning

David Crowe (“Reading the riots: Belfast reveals the UK at boiling point”, June 13) is careful not to make the connection between the conditions in the UK that are fomenting the anger and violence seen in Belfast and those in Australia. However, his closing statement provides an ominous warning: if voters feel unheard, some will be willing to riot. If it does happen here, I hope that the majority of Australians will follow the example of the hundreds of volunteers in Belfast who chose to support, shelter and feed the victims of the hate and violence. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

Leaving home is getting harder

Suggestions that adult children moving back home will somehow produce more grandchildren reflect a misunderstanding of why younger Australians are delaying or forgoing parenthood (“Past childbearing? There are ways we can help our kids have their own”, June 13). The issue is not a shortage of spare bedrooms. It’s sustained economic insecurity. Many younger adults face unaffordable housing, stagnant wages, insecure employment, rising student debt, expensive childcare and growing concerns about the future. Moving back into the family home may provide temporary financial relief but it does not address the structural barriers that make raising children feel financially risky. Sadly, many young adults cannot afford independent lives. Starting a family is about establishing a stable household, building a sense of autonomy and feeling confident about the future. These conditions are increasingly hard to achieve. Reducing a complex demographic challenge to simplistic assumptions risks trivialising the harsh realities facing younger generations. If governments genuinely want higher birth rates, they need a long-term, visionary focus on affordable housing, secure work, accessible childcare and policies that give young people confidence that they can build sustainable futures of their own. Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville

I am so glad other people think as I do. Three of my adult children and their partners have lived with us at some stage while saving for a deposit, and the other two have lived with their future in-laws. A couple have moved back in, with their children, while waiting for a house to be built. We now live in a small house on one daughter’s property. We are always on call to do school drop-off and pick-up and are available when the kids need to have a sick day. Families are meant to help each other. Colleen Northam, Taree

Education bullies

Your correspondent (Letters, June 13) refers to bullying and other inappropriate behaviour in the police force, especially against women, as symptomatic of the culture of traditionally male professions. However, those professions, including the military, fire-fighting, surgeons and policing, have had action taken into workplace abuse. Meanwhile, the highest rates of workplace bullying in Australia are in teaching and nursing, where there are mainly female workforces under mainly male upper management. Australian university studies have found staffroom bullying rates in teaching exceed 90 per cent yet there has never been any inquiry into bullying in teaching workplaces. Why, when bullying is internationally recognised as damaging to the people directly affected as well as to families, students/clients and workplaces? Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic)

More data required

The government may well be congratulated for trying to rein in data centre development (Letters, June 13), but asking them to cut energy use in peak periods shows how little Dr Andrew Charlton, the assistant minister for science and technology, understands these behemoths. They cannot cut power as they need to run day and night. Any loss of power needs to be augmented by large onsite diesel generators, emitting unfiltered diesel particulate. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

Let’s not get too excited about this apparently new and scary behemoth: the data centre. IBM and others sold access to them 50 years ago. They were called bureaus at that time. Massive water and power users. The mainframes and super-computers have got smaller and demand is greater, but we lived with them for years, handling your pay and pensions without a twitter from the masses. Mark Latchford, Seaforth

Australia is once again poised to be exploited, this time by 21st- century miners of a different ilk. The proliferation of data centres, being hailed as an economic boon, will produce little or nothing of advantage to our economy. Once completed, the facility runs with virtually no employment. The entire content of computers and high-powered chips is imported. Unless you are a shareholder in Meta or OpenAI, the profits from using our water and energy resources will be returned to offshore owners. And in a worse-case scenario, the means of the destruction of millions of Australian jobs will be celebrated upon opening. It is a familiar pattern in a modern context. John Richards, Turramurra

Round and round again

Thank you, Malcolm Knox (“Toot-toot: all aboard the Aussie bandwagon, diehards and all”, June 13). What’s not to love about this summation of some World Cup soccer teams? I loved the annexation ideas and vowel numbers, but hopefully Malcolm is not right about the Netherlands. Yes, the team I secretly, though not now, barrack for. Hup, Holland, hup! Enid Murphy-Zandvliet, Manly

At the FIFA World Cup 2026, footballers from 48 nations across the world are on show. Every move they make, every breath they take, is ample proof enough that their undeniable talents are something no one can fake. Eric Palm, Gympie (Qld)

Why is it that the world can come together for the Olympics or the football World Cup, behave like adults, play by the rules and no matter the result, respectfully shake hands at the end … yet outside the sporting arena, some of those same countries will act like genocidal lunatics on crack? How about certain world leaders watch your national team model the behaviour necessary for a productive, exciting co-existence? Or keep blowing stuff up and be the last dictator standing? Your choice. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

Musk on the nose

Elon Musk has said in the past that AI will make money irrelevant (“SpaceX’s odyssey begins with $106b for biggest market debut on record”, June 13). It’s puzzling then that he seems to feel the need to grab as much as he can. Steve Bright, North Avoca

Amazing to read that Elon Musk’s SpaceX includes a mission to “understanding the true nature of the universe, and to extend the light of consciousness to the stars”. I thought the answer to these complex questions was 42. It could have saved him billions. Bill Johnstone, Blackheath

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