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<\/p>\n <\/span>Credit: <\/span>Illustration: Matt Golding<\/cite><\/p>\n To submit a letter to The Age<\/em>, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.<\/strong><\/p>\n Poles apart<\/strong> Who bears the blame?<\/strong> Rather miffed<\/strong> Planes, trains and boats<\/strong> Repairing divisions<\/strong> Today, I noticed that all the Yes signs in a leafy inner suburb were lying in tatters. Where is this behaviour coming from? It is perplexing that such a modest proposal to simply listen to Australia\u2019s First Nations people is generating such anger, and I worry about how it will be resolved whatever the vote. Fear of change<\/strong> On the contrary, in my view, a clear message will have been sent to Indigenous Australians and the rest of the world that we are not generous enough to improve the lot of first Australians. As a consequence, we may face uncertainty and more direct action aimed at forcing change upon us. Careful approach<\/strong> The Coalition has never taken a lead role in campaigning for No \u2013 Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Warren Mundine have done a great job, without \u201chelp\u201d from Canberra\u2019s heavy hitters. Indeed, the Coalition are under no obligation constitutionally or morally to provide bipartisan support to the adventurism of the ALP. I am no fan of the Coalition, but their gradualist approach did not fail in Indigenous affairs. This is why Warren Mundine noted in his recent speech to the National Press Club that many Indigenous Australians are doing just fine. What do we know?<\/strong> If you don\u2019t No, or you know you don\u2019t No, there is an answer. Yes. A simple Yes. Yes we can. That is what I know. Proof is in the flooding<\/strong> Vivid message<\/strong> Quiet departure<\/strong>
What sort of culture have we developed when 57 per cent of consumers aged 18-34 suggest it is justifiable (\u201cHard times shift views\u201d, 7\/10) to take an item without paying for it? In my time that was deemed stealing.
Brian Marshall, Ashburton<\/strong><\/p>\n
Blaming then deputy premier Jacinta Allan for significant cost overruns on major infrastructure projects (Editorial, 7\/10) is a bit like blaming a home owner for a blowout in the cost of a home renovation or rebuild project. The project may be running over budget for a number of reasons, many of which have little or nothing to do with the home owner themselves.
Garry Meller, Bentleigh<\/strong><\/p>\n
Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton has referred to the Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O\u2019Neil, as \u201ca very angry person\u201d. He seems to think this is a bad thing. Minister O\u2019Neil can of course defend herself, but as far as I\u2019m concerned, if she is angry, her anger is absolutely justified, given the appalling state of the department when she took office. I\u2019m pretty angry about it, too, and I\u2019m just a voter.
Juliet Flesch, Kew<\/strong><\/p>\n
Planes and boats \u2013 obviously walking and chewing gum was a bit tricky for Peter Dutton.
Joan Segrave, Healesville<\/strong><\/p>\n
Dyson\u2019s cartoon (Saturday Age<\/em>, 7\/10) illustrates the awful division I see around the referendum. For example, a friend of mine in outer Melbourne had his Yes corflute overwritten with the word \u201cNo\u201d. After repairing it, his sign was stolen. He put up three new signs, and they all went. He tried again, with the same outcome.<\/p>\n
Ian Penrose, Kew<\/strong><\/p>\n
Thank you Peter Hartcher for outlining how our collective anxieties and biases are being manipulated into opposition to the Voice (\u201cA frightened nation? Yes or No\u201d, 7\/10). As Hartcher says, we are being asked to support an advisory body that will recognise Indigenous Australians in our Constitution. In opposition to this reasonable request, many No campaigners are using distortion, misinformation and exaggeration to tap into our collective timidity and fear of change. Those promoting opposition to the Voice seem to believe that, as with other defeated referendums, things will return to normal after October 14.<\/p>\n
James Young, Mt Eliza<\/strong><\/p>\n
Waleed Aly states that the leader of the opposition owes us an alternative on the Voice. This is an attempt at diverting attention away from the deficiencies of the Yes campaign.<\/p>\n
Alun Breward, Malvern East<\/strong><\/p>\n
There are things we No, there are things we don\u2019t No. There are also the known unNo\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Tim Goddard, Barwon Heads<\/strong><\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think modelling with the Maribyrnong flood wall (\u201cInquiry urges overhaul of Maribyrnong flood alerts\u201d, 7\/10) is required. Everyone has seen what happens with it. Some more closely than others.
Craig Tucker, Newport<\/strong><\/p>\n
Your correspondent (Letters, 6\/10) was eminently correct in his estimation of the magnetic effect of the 1970s series When the Boat Comes In<\/em> had in representing the working-class voice in its never-ending battle with capital. If ever there was a time it should be shown again it\u2019s now. It was one of the most memorable shows of the 1970s and its lead character Jack Ford is a name etched in the memory of people at that time. Restaurants were singularly empty on the nights it was on.
Tony Davidson, Glen Waverley<\/strong><\/p>\n
Wow, those three MCC members sanctioned for their behaviour at Lords (\u201cMCC expels member for Ashes fracas\u201d, 7\/10) certainly made such a cacophony of noise I would have sworn there were more than three people making it.
Alan Inchley, Frankston<\/strong><\/p>\n