Stop telling migrants to prove their loyalty to Australia

Here we go again, creating a tick-box exercise to test migrants’ adherence to Australian values (“Liberals talk migrants and values as Ley unites MPs”, November 29). Wasn’t the introduction of the citizenship test years ago supposed to ensure new migrants understood Australian values and laws? How’s that going? It is nearly impossible to test anyone’s adherence to the ephemeral description of “values” in any society. It is easier to enforce adherence to the law than social and cultural values. Just saying “I do” doesn’t ensure compliance. If we are serious about getting people to adhere to our social values of a fair go and religious and social equality, we need to make sure we stop “othering” migrants and constantly asking them to prove their loyalty. I have been in Australia for decades and, like new NSW Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh, am constantly labelled an Indian-Australian (“NSW Nationals elect Gurmesh Singh as leader”, November 19). If we want people to integrate and adhere to our values, we first need to open our homes and hearts to them. Yelling “outsider” or “intruder” only shows them our values of selfishness, racism and mean-spiritedness. Following others’ behaviour, not what’s written on a piece of paper, is what will help society become more cohesive. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy

The Liberals are flailing about trying to find themselves and now want to apply some nebulous and vaguely defined set of “Australian values” to migrants. I’m not sure if the Tongan, Samoan and Syrian who were up at 3.30am collecting furniture in Sydney and delivering it to Newcastle knew about these particular values, but if hard work and customer satisfaction were a part of them, I say bring in more. After the Liberals figure out what these Aussie values might be, they might find they need to deport some people who were born here and lack these values. We do seem to have quite a few who have no values at all, and others who see racism and intolerance as a key Aussie value, which will make it hard to figure out who stays and who goes. Sussan Ley, you can do better than this. Tony Sullivan, Islington

Who better to explain Australian values to potential newcomers than our former leaders (“Coalition immigration values push”, November 20)? Tony Abbott can lecture potential migrants on the requirement to pledge allegiance to our foreign monarch and not to think too hard about what that says about Australia. Barnaby Joyce can emphasise the values of fidelity and sobriety, reminding newcomers that anyone can rise from the gutter to be given yet another chance. John Howard will describe how the Australian private/public education system fits with the notion of the fair go. Scott Morrison can warn about the implications for anyone suspected of rorting the system. And for a bit of balance, Paul Keating can explain to new arrivals how an autodidact can run the joint and stick it up anyone who disagrees with them. G’day and welcome to Australia. Tim Clark, Lane Cove

As a sop to the Liberal Party right wing, Sussan Ley is using divisive rhetoric indicating hostility to migrants and unstated racial prejudice. With 50 per cent of our residents first- and second-generation migrants, this is politically risky. Tony Simons, Balmain

Trying to make migrants adhere to “Australian values” is an insult, as it presumes true Aussies have better values than they do. Perhaps the Coalition is just trying to win back the voters who deserted them for One Nation. Mary Lawson, Marrickville

When the Coalition start talking about Australian values we can be sure they have nothing useful to say about anything else. Colin Stokes Camperdown

System out of step

I am no fan of John Howard, but let’s be fair – he is generally acknowledged as the leader who opened the immigration valves that no prime minister since him has dared dial back. So correspondent Jock Webb’s accusation of racism is a bit inappropriate (Letters, November 19). And Con Vaitsas, I usually agree with your sentiments but to equate the questioning of immigration intakes with racism is just wrong. I think the level of concern expressed by a wide range of people shows that those in control of the current system are completely out of step with many Australians. Grant Heaton, Port Macquarie

Well said, Jock Webb. John Howard was the most willing of the Coalition of the Willing, which also stole Iraq from its people. He was up to his eyeballs in the Tampa Affair and “children overboard”. He decided who he’d turn his back on and send off to Manus, Nauru and Christmas Island. Before him, Malcolm Fraser stole our natural gas and oil reserves to give them away to multinationals. The domestic gas shortages so impacting our cost of living today started and continued with the Coalition. Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison opposed every national wage case hearing to give our lowest-paid workers a meagre increase – and still they have the gall to talk about Australians doing it tough. People debate who was the greatest Labor prime minister. After Gough, there are plenty of close seconds. In contrast, we only debate the worst Liberal prime ministers. Howard Charles, Annandale

Not only has John Howard stolen your country from you, Jock Webb, think of the countless Iraqi lives forever stolen by our illegal invasion under the guise of a sheer lie. John Boutagy, Mosman

Coalition must grow up

On the subject of climate change, Shaun Carney writes that the only thing that matters to the Coalition is cheaper energy prices, a position “focused exclusively on the here and now” (“The Coalition has done Australia a favour – now we have to decide who we really are”, November 20). He draws attention to the Coalition’s ignorance of a basic psychological requirement for obtaining successful long-term outcomes – namely, the capacity to postpone immediate gratification for the sake of greater, long-term rewards. Acquiring this capability is a sign of moving from childhood to adulthood. For the sake of the environment and all of us, it’s time for the Coalition to grow up. Paul Casey, Callala Bay

Why is there so much focus on the cost of energy for consumers when, in truth, the energy spend for a household is significantly lower than other everyday household costs? A simple internet query shows that mortgage repayments average more than $40,000 a year, rent is about 10 per cent less than that, food bills are more than $8000 a year and yet energy costs at under $1900 a year are held as so important that the Coalition has torn itself apart over it. Am I missing something? Rurik MacKenzie, Congo

Watch and learn

ABC’s Landline should be compulsory viewing for Barnaby Joyce, David Littleproud and all climate-change deniers and anti-immigrationists. Given the attitude and policies of the National Party, it’s amazing to see the techniques and adaptations that country Australia is actually using to prepare for climate change and the positive, progressive attitude of our so-called “conservative” rural population. They are well aware of the need to satisfy our decarbonising export markets. Renewables are all over the place – pumped hydro, wind and solar farms (the latter aiding better pastures and animal welfare) at last providing a steady income stream to farmers. And all those once-struggling country towns that have welcomed immigrants with open arms now look forward to a prosperous and multicultural future. Lindy Ross, Pialligo (ACT)

CSIRO cost cuts

There was never a truer statement than “when Australia loses talent and research programs, we lose the opportunity to make life-changing discoveries” (“Teacher put CSIRO tragedy in nutshell”, November 20). More than 10 years ago, my son left Australia to pursue an academic career in science in America. Australian taxpayers paid for his PhD, but there was no career pathway available for a keen post-doctoral student, despite his months of searching. He is now a professor running his own lab in an American university and all his groundbreaking research has been lost to this country. The undervaluing of science has been a long-standing problem in this country, over successive governments. I had high hopes for the Albanese government and Tim Ayres as the minister for science, but this latest catastrophe at the CSIRO is nothing short of heartbreaking. Josie McSkimming, Coogee

Of all this week’s disturbing news stories, the decision to cut staff at the CSIRO was the worst. Over the past 20 years or more the constant cry has been for Australia to better value science and research. How many times do we need to learn that vital services need to be publicly funded and managed? I would be interested in knowing what fields of research are no longer a priority, and where the scientists engaged in these areas will go after leaving the CSIRO. Jill Napier, Phegans Bay

We encourage our brightest to study the rigours of STEM, undertake a PhD, win those competitive grants and forgo the rewards of private enterprise to work for the public good. Then we treat them like disposable towels. Just when the world needs them most. What a waste. Catherine Doherty, Long Beach

Stand up against Putin

Congratulations on the Herald’s revelations about the extent to which Russian oil and refined petroleum products continue to be imported into Australia via third countries (“Stop paying Putin”, November 20). In this way, Australia is unwittingly providing revenue to Putin’s regime. If the government cannot close the loophole, the trade union movement must act to do so. I recall the principled efforts of the waterside workers and seamen against America’s war in Vietnam, and the bans on handling cargo boats from South Africa during apartheid. Ukraine is just as deserving of our solidarity as both those past struggles. Barry York, O’Connor (ACT)

Never say never

It’s reassuring that electoral law expert Professor Graeme Orr doubts the Australian neo-Nazi group would have anywhere near the 1500 members required for federal registration as a political party and, even if it did, would never garner 4 per cent of first-preference votes entitling public funding (“Not post-war Nazi Germany: Is banning political parties the answer”, November 20). Nevertheless, a quick look at German election results before World War II is interesting. In 1928, the Nazi Party secured less than 3 per cent of the vote. By 1930, it was more than 18 per cent, by March 1933, it was 44 per cent, and by November that year, it was 92 per cent. By 1938, it was 99 per cent. More recently, almost nobody would entertain the notion that Donald Trump could ever become the US president. And who would believe that Pauline Hanson would today be polling at 18 per cent? Trevor Wootten, Petersham

Fowler treatment

Vince Rugari’s article about Matildas star Mary Fowler’s racist treatment at a French football club says as much about football’s pathetic governance as about society as a whole (“Mary Fowler claims she was given bananas instead of flowers on leaving French club”, November 20). The club should have both educated its players and sanctioned the people involved. On top of this, the governing bodies, French and European, should also have taken action over Fowler’s unacceptable treatment. Tim Field, Red Hill (ACT)

Mary Fowler is one of the best players in the world but that wasn’t enough to prevent her becoming a victim of racism. Fowler has an audience, but so many others have to silently endure racism daily at work, in shopping centres or on the streets. What can they do? Many choose to stay in so-called ghettos and find some protection in numbers. Thank you, Mary Fowler, for being so open and frank about your treatment in France, but it’s no different in Australia. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

Moral medical duty

As a retired doctor, I agree with correspondent Ken McNamara, that medicine is best left to doctors (Letters, November 19). Cost-cutting in our rapidly decaying public health system in the face of inflation and the increasingly expensive new drugs and technology is, to say the least, counterintuitive. Payments to hospital staff need to increase and working conditions need to improve. Investigations are expensive but essential in a rigorously science-based profession. Public hospitals are systemically underfunded – a problem exacerbated by legislated limits on Medicare payments for in-hospital services. The people of Australia pay the taxes that fund government spending. Governments, both state and federal, have a moral responsibility to safeguard the health of those by whose grace they are presently in power. Peter Craig, Dulwich Hill

Makes no cents

Your correspondent says that “American consumers will answer at the ballot box” for Trump’s economic idiocy (Letters, November 19). No, they won’t, as most of his supporters do not understand economic principles, and, in any case, he will blame everyone but himself, and his rusted-on supporters will believe him. Ann Clydsdale, Bathurst

Scientific need

Now that Australia has missed out on hosting COP31, perhaps the prime minister might consider redirecting some of the millions of dollars saved into funding the CSIRO properly (“Turkey to host next COP UN climate conference”, November 19). Nicholas Fisher, North Sydney

Brushes with destiny

Perhaps if Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had played jazz drums rather than heavy metal, she might have given a more nuanced response when questioned about a potential crisis over Taiwan (“Japan’s PM incurs wrath of China”, November 20). After all, as Miles Davis once famously said, “It’s not what you put in, it’s what you leave out”. Craig Forbes, Lewisham

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