Pull the funding plug on extremist churches

In a breathtaking display of antisemitic hatred, the leader of the Exclusive Brethren church, Bruce Hales, described Jews as evil, malicious infidels who murdered Jesus (“Brethren leader calls Jews ‘wicked’,” September 26). Having received millions of dollars from both federal and state funding bodies, as well as their beguiled followers, they then ingratiate themselves with conservative politicians, hiding their hateful ideology when it suits them. Government funding for these extremist organisations for any purpose, including their so-called education activities, should be promptly withdrawn. Bill Johnstone, Blackheath

As a committed Christian, active in church life, I totally reject the absurd comments about Jews attributed to Bruce Hales. Christians believe that Jesus was the most important person who has ever lived – God come to Earth as a man – and guess what? He was a Jew, raised in the Jewish faith by Mary and Joseph, his devout Jewish parents. Throughout his life, Jesus faithfully attended the synagogue and observed the practices of the faith. He proclaimed that he had come to fulfil Jewish law, not reject it. Many of the early converts to Christianity were themselves Jews, and without them the Christian church would never have been established. So, Mr Hales, I suggest you thank the Lord for the Jews! Keith Dalleywater, Nelson Bay

It’s time for all governments, political parties, members of parliament and candidates in Australia to unequivocally condemn the insidious views articulated by the Exclusive Brethren church. Common decency also demands any financial donations received from this “church” should be returned in the public interest. Charlie Phillips, Civic (ACT)

A simple question: why isn’t Bruce Hales prosecuted for hate speech? John Ure, Mount Hutton

One donation

The news is out that One Nation used $56,000 of donations to build a shed for party director James Ashby’s post-election retirement plan (“One Nation defends $56k party spent on Ashby shed as ‘unconventional’ fundraiser”, September 26). I wonder how many of the party’s supporters scraped together $50 or $100 to donate, only to find their pension or savings had been spent on a pie-in-the-sky gin palace? Has One Nation handed in its lost audit details yet (“One Nation got a ‘sexy’ new plane this year. What happened to the old one?” September 23)? One has to wonder what else has been funded with donations. Doug Steley, Heyfield

Stupidity you can forgive; ugly nastiness, no (Letters, September 26). Your correspondents raise excellent points about why disturbing numbers of Australians, having witnessed the awfulness of Donald Trump, have still turned to an equally awful Pauline Hanson. Blind ignorance of how misinformation and propaganda is used to manipulate people is one answer, but my question is this: How is it that the people who support One Nation seem so angry and lacking in empathy? It’s all about blaming others: women, Indigenous Australians, migrants, refugees, “the left”, the LGBTQI community and so on. What was it about the Voice that so infuriated them? Their preferred position is simply to rage about a perceived unfairness that is either non-existent or grossly exaggerated, with no solution. Perhaps these permanently aggressive One Nation acolytes could stop and ask themselves “how did I get so vengeful”? Shouldn’t they strive to, in the words of the great Otis Redding, “try a little tenderness?” Alison Stewart, Riverview

The reason Pauline Hanson has excluded several news outlets from her press conferences is because she is unable to convincingly answer difficult questions (Letters, September 26). She is able to parrot One Nation slogans but is unable to explain, for example, why her party’s immigration policy can change so dramatically over a course of a few days. The person that aspires to be our prime minister should be able to survive the highest degree of forensic examination. As One Nation is now the de facto opposition party, Pauline would be expected to participate in the leaders’ debate before the 2028 election. Will she boycott that as well? While Hanson won’t turn up for extended interviews (on the ABC, for example) she is happy to send the more media-savvy Barnaby Joyce in her stead. Rather than play Hanson’s game, I would prefer media outlets to use the “empty chair” approach. Every time Hanson declined to be interviewed, rather than accept her stand-in the interviewer would say: “If Pauline Hanson had accepted our invitation, these are the questions we would have put to her and to which we believe the voters deserve an answer.” Mike Reddy, Vincentia

Stop the treadmill

At last, recognition that migrants age too, and that humans do more environmental damage than can be repaired (“Why relying on population growth indefinitely is an unrealistic solution”, September 26). Our rapid population growth over the past two decades has not solved the skills shortage, so more of the same will not work. Instead, it has worsened our environmental indicators and generated social problems resulting from overcrowding. We need to invest in education for our current population to solve the skills shortages, and to pay people enough to work in those areas that need them. With so many existential issues facing humans, we need an ecologically and socially sustainable population policy. Karen Joynes, Bermagui

Joseph Ting’s letter about population growth was a masterful description of the self-defeating treadmill successive federal governments have been forcing us on for decades (Letters, September 26). I, too, have described it as a Ponzi scheme, but “demographical Ponzi scheme” nails it. Unless we solve the underlying problem of understaffed hospitals, nursing homes, schools, etc., by restructuring workplaces, introducing financial and lifestyle incentives and more, the situation will continue to grow and eventually collapse under its own weight. Carol Duval, Mona Vale

Rein in AI

The AI Medicare hack is bigger than we first thought. Don’t worry, says Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume: “I’m a little bit worried that the government’s using this as an opportunity to finger-wag at the big tech companies, or try and gazump Donald Trump on the world stage” (“Australian senators invite OpenAI boss as hack expands beyond Medicare”, September 27). Adopting that attitude will numb the reaction to AI hacks. A creeping acceptance that “AI will be AI”, like “boys will be boys”. We know where that leads. We don’t have to accept AI at any cost. We can seize control, but we must do it now. The world has to stop chasing the dollars and force the US and China to regulate the technology’s development. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea

I don’t know about the risks of rogue AI agents, but the banks certainly seem to be kept alarmingly busy these days with cybercrime. On Saturday, I called my bank to query an unusual transaction I suspected to be fraudulent. An automated message told me that I was number 75 in the queue and the wait time would be about 45 minutes. I opted for a call back but missed it when it finally came through almost two hours later. When I called again, I was told I was this time number 60 in the queue and the wait time would be 45 minutes to one hour. That’s more than 130 calls to just one bank’s fraud line in the space of a couple of hours. Ross Duncan, Potts Point

Culture of violence

Any case of domestic violence is horrendous. There are now calls for “an ironclad statewide DV system built to save lives”. But perhaps we could start at a more basic grassroots level by banning officially sanctioned violence, such as the so-called “sports” of boxing, the barbaric UFC (a favourite of Premier Chris Minns), the moronic Run it Straight, and so on, in which the stated aim is to knock one’s opponent senseless. And then we might look at the disrespect to women in the archaic notions of exclusive male leadership and the sexist refusal of a number of churches to accept female clerics. The normalisation of these activities and attitudes is a deep-seated cause of aggression and misogyny. Rob Phillips, North Epping

Interest rate myths

Jenny Greenwood, who claims interest rates always rise under Labor, needs to check her figures or her memory (Letters, September 26). Interest rates were lower at the end of the Hawke/Keating era than at its start (while being very high in the middle, it is true). They were higher at the end of the Howard era than at its start. And they declined again in the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd era. The bottom line is that interest rates are as much influenced by international factors (e.g. the GFC) as local policies. The present rise is largely due to Donald Trump’s insane and unnecessary war in the Middle East. Andrew Taubman, Queens Park

Happy at home

We are blessed that our son, who is approaching 30, has “failed to launch” (“Priced out and staying put: Gen Z Australians are living with their parents in record numbers”, September 24). Between him and the sleepover girlfriend (also with her parents), they allow us to live vicariously and appreciate the younger generation. Our capable, highly skilled and responsible “youngster” has performed countless thousands of dollars’ worth of home repairs and maintenance, not to mention fixing our cars. We have always refused accommodation contributions, which translate into a respectable home deposit for him. My dread (should they make a home of their own) is confirmation of my laziness in failing to maintain my (once) significant computer/electronics skills – we just yell out “Hey, the internet’s down!” Plus, we’d have to share the dog. Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic)

Unlike reader John Rome, I see no reason to be mortified that many young adults are still living at the family home (Letters, September 26). It was very common in generations past for children to stay at home until marriage, or if work meant leaving the area. Many Boomers stayed at home during tertiary education years. It was convenient and certainly saved a fortune for their parents. The parents of Boomers were also known to live at home for many years if they could work in the area. This was more common in the cities, where work and tertiary institutions were concentrated. Living in rural areas more often meant leaving home earlier to study or find work. Living at home in the past was never a problem, and I feel sure those who did so appreciated the generosity of their parents. Robyn Lewis, Raglan

At US’ beck and call

The general consensus holds that when the current US president is called to meet his maker or his prison guards, normal diplomatic services will be restored. Donald Trump is seen as an aberration, a loose cannon who will not conform to American values and accepted conventions. Trump’s orbit is held to be unusual. The US is viewed as a peace-loving defender of liberty. I beg to differ. In the USA’s 250-year history, only 17 years have been free of conflict. Just five conflicts have been approved by Congress. All the other conflicts, incursions, invasions and regime change hostilities have, with the notable exception of the Korean War, been driven by executive (presidential) authority. Many of those conflicts have been illegal or unethical, and generally ended catastrophically for all concerned. Trump’s actions are driven by overt financial opportunism – a continuation of standard American procedure – but unlike his predecessors, he does not hide his motives. We are being drawn into an ever-deepening military relationship with the US. Our deluded pursuit of nuclear subs, construction of military facilities (at our expense) and our alignment with US strategy are turning us from an independent middle power into a quiescent minion. Are we really comfortable with this loss of independence? George Williams, North Balgowlah

Fruits of our folly

It’s reassuring to read so many correspondents’ concerns about the lack of radical action to counter climate change (Letters, September 26). What compounds the worry is the constant reference to the grim future for “our children and grandchildren”, a sad indictment on humankind’s self-obsession. What about all the other living things, plants and animals, at peril through no fault of their own making? We are supposed to be the caretakers of all the wonderful but increasingly fragile living systems and cycles on Earth, but our selfishness and greed has turned us into the apex predator. Homo sapiens – the only species that wilfully goes to war with itself and with the planet as well. Kent Mayo, Uralla

Single sunny side

Katherine Danks raises valid points about being a single parent and the logistical and financial matters that arise (“I am a single mother by choice. Why am I hit with a ‘solo parent’ penalty?” September 25). I raised a child as a single parent and faced the same issues. But they are not a penalty; they are the parts of life that everyone faces, single or not. It does take up a lot of your time, but that is the whole point of having a child – to be there for them and to do things with them. And in some ways, it’s easier being a single parent – there are no arguments about how to do things and you get all the fun and enjoyment, too. Mark Anderson, Clovelly

Secure future

In view of Australia’s important role in the creation of the UN, it is fitting that we should play an active part in efforts to reinvigorate the organisation (“Australia is seeking a seat at the UN’s big table – but the global agency is struggling”, September 26). It is therefore entirely appropriate for the PM to seek a non-permanent spot for Australia on the Security Council. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

Happy union

With all those dockers on the field for the AFL Grand Final, it was appropriate that the National Anthem was sung by a Paynter. Geoff Lyons, Lane Cove

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