LETTERS
Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
MPs should vote for what Indigenous people want Both Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie and Mornington MP Chris Crewther have suggested the Voice referendum should be on the question of recognition alone. However, there is a simple reason not to do this: it is not what Indigenous people have asked for. Indigenous people have told us that symbolic recognition in the constitution is not enough. To ignore their request for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament would be insisting – once again – that white Australia knows best. I hope both MPs reconsider their position on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament with an open mind and kind heart. Sarah Russell, Mount Martha
Don’t copy US I suggest some letters writers should calm down with their parroting of unsubstantiated comments from the hatchet men and women of some right wing American news outlets (“Voice misinformation” and “‘Yes’ deception”, Letters 8/8/23). It feels like Australia is fast becoming beholden to the American madness of alternative truth that has divided that country so badly. Stop and think for yourselves instead of mindlessly repeating obvious lies and misinformation. And, by the way, I really was gob smacked by the statement about the straight lie the Uluru statement is 26 pages long. Rupert Steiner, Balnarring Beach
Federal treaty With the Yes vote losing in the polls, the Labor states are now started negotiations for treaties and the Western Australian government has withdrawn legislation on which treaties will be
based, which shows that the people of WA did not support the broad powers given to Aboriginals. With states having their own treaties there will be different terms of treaties which will not be in states’ constitutions but legislation. Under section 51 and 52 of the Australian Constitution (Exclusive Powers of the Commonwealth) this gives the areas of government where only the Commonwealth can make laws and legislate. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he will be implementing the full Uluru statement, which includes a treaty, even if the Voice is not approved by the Australian people in the coming referendum. We have hundreds of state and federal Aboriginal and Torres Strait legislation and organisations with different Aboriginal benefits for Aboriginals where billions of dollars are being spent. Would it be better to have all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legislation and benefits and organisations come under the one federal government that can also take action to make Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders inclusive and safe and stop discrimination and stop layers of bureaucracy which will save billions of dollars? If there will be a treaty, surely the federal government should be the government that brings it into being with legislation and a senate committee to oversee that it is implemented, and organisations be scrutinised for implementing the legislation and to cut out corruption. There will be need for a referendum to include it into Section 52 which the states will oppose, but the Australian people will support. Russell Morse, Karingal
Illogical concern Concern that the Indigenous Voice proposal is a secret backdoor pathway to treaty is not logical (“‘Yes’ deception” Letters 8/8/23). The government could initiate treaty negotiations anytime it wishes, so why would it connive a sly entry through the Voice? The proposed constitutional change is to establish an advisory body, not a treaty body. This is abundantly clear from the referendum question. Can the Voice force the government to negotiate a treaty as inferred in the letter? No, the Voice is to be advisory only, with no power of veto. First Nations people could, of course, point out to parliament that Australia is one of the only colonial-settler countries of the Commonwealth to not have a treaty with its First Peoples. Parliament would simply be required to listen. It is hard to see why this is, as suggested, the frightening prospect we need to protect ourselves and our children from. The supposed hard evidence for the alleged government sleight of hand in regard to treaty is that the Uluru Statement from the Heart has 25 pages of hidden documentation. In fact, the statement is one page as confirmed by the CEO of the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Jody Broun, the further material being background reading to the final statement. I do wonder what motivates attempts like this to discredit the straightforward request that is the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Maureen Donelly, Mornington
Pleasing performances Since its inception in the 1960s, the Peninsula Light Opera Society has entertained lovers of the theatre. While the venues have varied from Karingal High School to Frankston Teachers College to its current base at Frankston Arts Centre, one thing has never changed: its performances have always been excellent. I recently attended the latest PLOS production - Strictly Ballroom - and it was wonderful entertainment. How fortunate we are on the
Mornington Peninsula to have such talented performers in our midst. Peter McCullough. Tyabb
Sign nuclear treaty The film Oppenheimer provides an opportunity to reflect on history and look to the future. However, an important Australian aspect was omitted. A year before the Manhattan Project was established two physicists, Otto Frisch and Rudolf Peierls, revealed to the eminent Australian physicist Mark Oliphant in London that an airborne atomic bomb, previously thought too heavy, was in fact possible. It was not until Oliphant flew to America and met with Oppenheimer that the London work was taken seriously, and bomb construction was undertaken. From 1946 to 1996, the US, UK and France detonated 318 nuclear devices in the Pacific region including at Maralinga in South Australia. The Maralinga tests failed to adequately consider the presence of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara people. A delegation of Maralinga survivors and relatives recently visited Canberra urging the government to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The treaty was adopted in 2017 with the backing of 122 countries. Six years later, the treaty has been signed by 95 state parties and ratified by 68. While Australia is not one of these, in 2018, the Australian Labor Party adopted a resolution committing it to ratify the TPNW in government. It was moved by Anthony Albanese. For the sake of young Australians already concerned about climate change, ratifying the treaty is one way the government can send a signal of hope for the future. It must be done. Ray Peck, Hawthorn
100 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK...
Au revoir and goodbye to retiring councillors Compiled by Cameron McCullough AT the council meeting on Friday last the president (Cr. Armstrong) took the opportunity of making complimentary references to the good work done at the council table by retiring councillors. Referring to Cr. May, he expressed the hope that he would be successful in his election, and wished him the best of good luck. He felt sure that Cr. May had done his best for the ratepayers during his term of office, and, if returned, he could be relied on to give the same excellent service. (Hear, hear). Cr. May, in responding, said the president had known him for many years and should be competent to pass an opinion. It had been a pleasure to work with councillors and he trusted the experience would be extended. (Laughter and hear, hear). He thanked his colleagues and the officers for the support extended to him at all times. The president said that every councillor was sorry that Cr. Gerrand was not seeking re-election. His colleagues had learned to admire him, and he had at all times proved himself a gentleman and a credit to the ratepayers. Cr. Gerrand was a busy man, but it was hoped that at some future date he would again take his seat at the council table. (Hear, hear). Cr. Gerrand thanked the president for his kindly words and his colleagues for the way in which they had received them. It was true that his business kept him busy. He could spare the time for general council work, and
deemed it an honor, but when it came to contesting an election he counted the cost and found that he could not devote a full two weeks to an election campaign. He believed that his successor, Mr. Hutchinson, would serve the ratepayers just as faithfully as he. He had heard very good reports of Mr. Hutchinson and believed he would make a good councillor and a capable representative. Cr. Gerrand said he had enjoyed the council meetings and the experience gained had been valuable. His colleagues had proved fairminded and he thanked them for the way they had received him. One thing he wished to say and that was that he was of opinion that the council could not carry on successfully unless they got more money. In the Centre Riding greater development was necessary, but very little could be done with the money at present available. People would willingly pay an extra rate if they got good roads in return. The president, referring to Cr. Alden, said he sincerely hoped to hear that on the 23rd August he had been returned at the head of the poll by a big majority. (Hear, hear). Cr. Alden was a capable councillor and had done excellent work not only for his riding, but for the shire generally. It would give great pleasure to all his colleagues to see Cr. Alden returned once more. (Cheers). Cr. Alden thanked the president for his kind words. He had found his
colleagues very good fellows, and judging by the lateness of the hour (nearly midnight) they were acting like good fellows. (Laughter). If re-elected, he hoped the council would make some arrangement whereby meetings would be finished earlier. (Laughter and hear, hear). *** A SERIOUS accident was averted yesterday at the Chelsea crossing by the prompt action of the motorman on a train travelling from Edithvale. A girl with a baby in a pram was passing over the crossing, and evidently had not noticed the oncoming train, and but for the praiseworthy promptitude of the motorman a serious accident would undoubtedly have occurred. This must have been the case had the crossing been at Thames Promenade, as the train would have been travelling at a much greater speed. *** AT Friday’s council meeting the Health Officer reported another case of diphtheria at Hastings. Cr. Jones: Can’t we do something to stamp out the disease? It breaks out every season, and it is time we found the cause. It was resolved on the motion of Crs. Jones and Longmuir, that the health officer be instructed to take swabs of the children attending the Hastings school. *** WE are asked by Mrs. Male, senr., of Frankston, to acknowledge the receipt of 10/6 from the shire president (Cr. W. Armstrong, J.P.) towards the Queen of Fruit (Miss Marjorie Male) in connection with the Baxter hall
queen carnival.
*** MRS. Dion Boucicault, who is best known under the stage name of Miss Irene Vanbrugh, was the guest of Sir George and Lady Tallis at “Beleura,” Mornington, on Saturday last. *** THE Essendon Football Club will visit Frankston on Saturday, September 15, when they will be entertained at “Rubra,” the residence of Mr. Henry Masterton, who is keenly interested in the famous club. *** THE valuable trophy presented by Mr. W. S. Keast to the Peninsula Football Association, is now on view at The Tangerine Cafe in Playne Street. Carrum and Frankston have won it for the past two years, but a club must win it three times running before it becomes the actual possession of any one club. *** MR. W. Macafee, tailor, of Wells Street, Frankston, desires to intimate that his sensational reduction in prices for suits, with extra trousers free, will continue for a further limited period. Materials may be inspected at his Wells Street shop and early application is advised to save disappointment. *** THE first semi-final of the Second Association took place at Somerville on Saturday last, when Seaford met Balnarring. As fully expected, the game was a good one, in which brilliant flashes of football were witnessed.
In every sense, the game was evenly contested, and great vigor was shown by the respective players. At the interval Balnarring were leading by 7 points, but in the third quarter Seaford wiped out the deficit and started the final quarter with 2 points to spare. Splendid play was then witnessed. Balnarring had crept up, and, with two minutes to go, they were leading by 3 points. But Gray, on time almost, kicked a goal for Seaford, thereby giving them a win by 10.12 to 10.9 – 3 points victory. There was not a weak man on the field, and all played excellent football. *** THE Scotch College footballers visit Frankston on Saturday next, where they will play the Frankston team. In the Peninsula Association the principal contest will be between Mornington and Somerville, whilst the Naval Base goes to Dromana. The Second Association semi-final between Tyabb and Moorooduc takes place at Somerville. *** THE Chums Social Party, of the Flinders Naval Depot, are holding a social and dance in the Bittern hall on Friday, August 24. The party consists of Petty Officers Dodman, Mabbs, Rutherford, Gloster, Hardiman, Harris, Toms, Geraves, Frith and Connor. *** From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 15 & 17 Aug 1923
Frankston Times
15 August 2023
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