Don’t speak of support for war in my name

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ATTACK ON IRAN

You do not speak in my name, Prime Minister, when you declare Australia’s support for the United States-Israel attack on Iran (“What we know so far about the ‘massive and ongoing’ attack on Iran”, 1/3). They have no right to interfere in the affairs of other countries. We should immediately exit AUKUS and advocate for peaceful solutions. We should not have any part in crazy Donald Trump’s aggressive, imperialist ambitions.
Julie Stafford, Ivanhoe East

America’s 51st state?
America’s attack on Iran (in conjunction with Israel) is surely a violation of international law. It could threaten the stability of the entire Middle East. And what do Australia’s principal leaders do? They give the US 100 per cent support in a manner that is entirely unquestioning. Surely, this makes Australia America’s 51st state.
All the way with Donald J.
Greg Bailey, St Andrews

Removing regime ‘a just war’
One’s understandable reservations about Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu should not get in the way of acknowledging that removing the Iranian regime, specifically the mullahs and Revolutionary Guard members, constitutes a “just war”.
Since 1979, successive Tehran rulers have waged a war against their own predominantly youthful citizenry. They have employed international terrorist networks, and completely betrayed their historic raison d’être which was the overthrow of a despotic shah.
A world without bad actors of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini type is surely to be welcomed.
Jon McMillan, Mornington

Trump’s reasons for strike
Thank you to correspondents David Crowe and Michael Koziol (The Age, 1/3) for their excellent insights into the incursion into Iran. Achieving regime change, preventing nuclear weapons and the protection of Israel are all worthy objectives. But using these goals to justify the attack is contentious and again demonstrates Donald Trump’s willingness to ignore international law, NATO allies and geopolitical stability. Historically, there is another reason for the attack on Iran: the potential for a rise in the president’s popularity. An improvement in Trump’s approval would allow him to complete the remainder of his presidency without a Democrat-controlled Congress.
James Young, Mt Eliza

A matter of trust
The preemptive strikes by Israel and the US on Iran is a frightening scenario as negotiations were reportedly proceeding and scheduled for next week. How can any country trust diplomacy with these two powers when they act in such diabolical manner? Millions of Iranian civilians will be devastated at this result, even though they wish for regime change.
Ron Reynolds, Templestowe

Looking at Israel
In 2025, Israel attacked Gaza, Occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Yemen and Qatar, plus deployed strikes on humanitarian ships in international waters. And now, Israel has attacked Iran. If there is one country that needs a regime change, it is Israel.
Bill Hisheh, Macleod

The last resort
Whether it be regime change, nuclear arms control or sheer bellicosity, one thing is clear: neither the US nor Israel hold the moral high ground in attacking Iran. There is no divine right which legitimises attacks on other nations simply because of unrealised potential. Whatever anyone may think of Iran’s cruel, despotic regime, it remains a sovereign country. No one wants nuclear weapons, and neither do we condone Iran’s treatment of its people, but there is no legitimate pathway to changing that by force. A president who has long campaigned to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize has a curious way of demonstrating his worthiness. War should always be a last resort. Bob Thomas, Blackburn South

THE FORUM

Where has the UN been?
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres predictably says the attack on Iran is against international law, and the United States and Israel should let the UN deal with Iran.
Iran’s regime has been breaching international law since it came to power in 1979. It’s established, funded, armed and directed terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis and Iraqi militia to commit mass murder and destabilisation across the Middle East. It has directly attacked its neighbours.
It has carried out terror attacks across the world, including recently in Australia. It has illegally pursued nuclear weapons.
It recently killed more than 30,000 Iranian people and horrifically maimed many thousands more for protesting.
It was also massively increasing ballistic missile production.
What has the UN done about it?
George Greenberg, Malvern

US the real aggressor
Here we go again: The United States attempting to enforce change in a sovereign nation by use of violence. Donald Trump is unhinged, Benjamin Netanyahu is off the leash.
No doubt there is oppression in Iran, but how conveniently we forget the actions of ICE and their oppression and violence. History tells us time and time again that meaningful change can only come from within. Remember Iraq? Afghanistan? The kidnapping of Venezuela’s leader and his wife? The support of tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza?
Who is the aggressor here, the common denominator? Where is our vehement opposition and protest? Wake up Australia!
Peter Leonard, Mount Eliza

Sweating on Andrew
Perhaps there is a gleam of light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps Andrew, formerly known as Prince, might provide convincing information to interested ears.
What could be more ironic than a British (ex) royal liberating the United States from a dictator on its 250th birthday?
Sing like a canary, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor. You know it is the right thing to do.
Ken Richards, Elwood

Brunton shortchanged
Changing Brunton Avenue to Barassi Way (“Ron Barassi immortalised as road outside MCG renamed in his honour”, 27/2) seems logical to all football fans, and I understand the reasons why. However, spare a thought for the descendants of Thomas Brunton, and I am one, who have lost the only memorial to a man who provided thousands of people in Victoria and NSW with that most basic ingredient of their daily bread – flour.
Brunton arrived in Melbourne from Scotland in 1853, failed to find his fortune on the gold diggings, bought a bakery in Melbourne, and later built his first flour mill on the corner of Spencer Street and Flinders Lane. In 1882, he was responsible for importing revolutionary rollers to grind the wheat. Brunton was a member of the Legislative Council from 1890-1904, and held other leadership roles.
Now that Melbourne City Council has removed the only memorial to this solid citizen who made a significant contribution to the city, I hope the councillors might think of another way to remember Brunton while they eat their daily bread.
Anne Bittner, Wangaratta

Rock Academy rocks
Michael Lallo’s piece on the Rock Academy captured something profoundly important about young people that we too often miss (“Many were called ‘weird’ at school, but at Rock Academy, these kids have found their tribe”, 1/3).
As a psychologist who has spent decades working with adolescents, I see daily the quiet loneliness experienced by teenagers who feel out of step with their peers. Many young people described as “weird” are not troubled or antisocial; they are simply waiting for an environment where difference is not tolerated but valued. Rock Academy appears to provide exactly that.
What struck me most was the absence of phones. No ban. No policing. Just teenagers choosing connection over screens because they are deeply engaged, purposeful and seen. That is what happens when young people experience belonging.
We spend enormous energy worrying about what is wrong with young people. Rock Academy reminds us to ask a different question: what happens when we get the environment right? The answer is that young people rise to it.
Michael Carr-Gregg, Hawthorn East

Jackson’s pointed question
Addressing an audience of teachers a couple of decades ago, Daryl Jackson (“The man who built modern Melbourne”, 27/2) posed a question about the purpose of education as follows: Should education be like supermarket shopping where everything is laid out neatly grouped in aisles and stacked on shelves? Or should education be like browsing in an op shop where surprises lie somewhat randomly to catch one’s attention and prompt further inquiry?
It’s a metaphor for the choice between direct instruction and discovery learning.
Jim Spithill, Glen Waverley

Field of champions
It is important to acknowledge the remarkable and unusual achievements of Makybe Diva (“Three Cups, one Diva: Remembering the horse who rewrote the record books”, 28/2) and to recognise her superior staying ability. Overall, her record shows she had 15 wins from 36 starts, a win ratio of 42 per cent, and eight group 1 wins. However, there are many Australian champions from the past with better records.
For example, the undefeated Black Caviar won all of her 25 starts including an awesome victory in a high-class English sprint race. She won 15 group 1 races. Then, Winx and Phar Lap won 37 races. Winx had a win ratio of 86 per cent and won 25 group 1 races. Phar Lap had a win ratio of 73 per cent as well as a grand victory in the Agua Caliente in Mexico, which was the richest race in North America at the time.
While Makybe Diva was good, she was not really anywhere near that class.
Ken Nailon, Carnegie

Light as air
The article, “Australian hypersonic aircraft hits Mach 5” (1/3), was fascinating but a little confusing. The chief of the Australian firm was reported as saying: “When people fly, they expect air and champagne and movies.”
I must say, I was surprised that “air” made the list of niceties!
Martin Hunt, East Malvern

Deakin’s legacy
The federal government has declined to contribute a relatively small sum of money – a few million dollars – to preserve the historic Ballara, home of Australia’s second prime minister Alfred Deakin (“Former PM’s seaside residence passed in at auction after promised federal funding falls over”, 1/3).
Alfred Deakin was instrumental in drafting the federal Constitution as well as establishing the High Court, the Bureau of Census and Statistics, the Bureau of Meteorology and many democratic institutions that define Australia.
Deakin was also an architect of the White Australia immigration policy and damaging racist policies towards Indigenous Australians.
We should not try to obliterate or ignore those parts of our history we don’t like, but rather see them in the context of time and learn from them. Australia should preserve what heritage it has, whether Indigenous or colonial, and impartially.
Leigh Ackland, Deepdene

Family could give to nation
If the extended Deakin family feel the former PM’s holiday house should stay in public hands, then make a gift of it. I’m not sure why the taxpayer should have to pay the family for this to happen.
Peter Baddeley, Portland

Securing a safe climate
Reporting on the escalation of extreme weather surely calls for reporting on the extreme responses needed to reduce climate change (“Fires and floods: Australia’s summer of extreme weather”, 1/3). Coal and gas undoubtedly escalate the warming of our planet, and in turn the fires, floods, heatwaves and algal blooms that make us anxious.
Coal and gas must be rapidly and comprehensively replaced with renewable sources of energy. Moving off fossil fuels with haste is the key to influencing the weather events our children will endure.
Is the Albanese government on track to secure a safer climate future for our kids?
Karen Campbell, Geelong

Energy vampires
If data centres are going to continue to grow at lightning speed (“The energy vampire next door: Life next to an AI mega-factory”, 1/3), the government will have to invest vast amounts of money in solar power and water desalination plants to service them. How will this benefit the people of Victoria?
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn

Inevitable obsolescence
Another reason for not rushing into data centres is inevitable obsolescence. Newer chips usually bring both better performance and reduced power consumption.
History strongly suggests today’s power-hungry AI chips will be museum pieces in 10 years or less.
In the meantime, regulators must insist power distribution companies, which are no doubt well aware of this risk, can’t recoup losses from subsequent reduced turnover to households.
Mark Freeman, Macleod

Consumers copping it
I recently bought two 425-gram cans – beetroot and tuna – in a supermarket, and was shocked by the amounts of both air and liquid inside the cans. The solid, edible contents were 297 grams and 285 grams respectively, i.e. 70 per cent and 67 per cent of the marked weights on the labels.
So, instead of paying $6.59 and $13.41 per kilogram, the real price was $9.41 and $20.01 per kilogram – about 50 per cent higher than the price marked on the shelf.
This is misleading behaviour by both producer and supermarket. Why hasn’t this been brought up in the investigations into supermarket pricing?
Don Jordan, Mount Waverley

AND ANOTHER THING ...

Iran
It was very inconsiderate of Donald Trump to start a war in the Middle East that could have a serious impact on the running of Melbourne’s F1 grand prix by preventing personnel and cars arriving in time for next weekend’s race due to cancelled flights.
Tony O’Brien, South Melbourne

Instead of condemning unequivocally the totally illegal and immoral attack on Iran by Israel and the United States, Anthony Albanese gave his weak-kneed approval. So much for the World Order.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris

Oh the irony! Russia condemns “the unprovoked attack on Iran”!
Rosie Elsass, Brighton

Donald will now have to give back his (borrowed) Nobel Peace Prize.
Alan Williams, Port Melbourne

Trump attacks Iran: I gather we must be getting “warmer” with the Epstein files.
Peter Myers, St Kilda

Global warming
When will our government stop with the “soft denial” of global heating that allows the fuels that drive it?
Lesley Walker, Northcote

Whoever’s approving these water and power-hungry data centres needs to take a cold shower.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill

Politics
Any interview with a politician on capital gains tax and negative gearing should conclude with: “And how many investment properties do you and your partner have?”
Miranda Jones, Drummond

Furthermore
Much attention has been given lately to the retention of mental acuity into one’s 80s or even 90s through diet, exercise and socialising. But most experts fail to acknowledge what I consider to be of paramount importance: making a very careful selection when it comes to choice of parents.
John Sheldrick, Peppermint Grove, WA

Finally
Tony Wright’s respectful and insightful appraisal of the lasting legacy of Daryl Jackson (“The man who built modern Melbourne”, 27/2) reinforced that he was, among other things, one of Australia’s most brilliant architects.
Mark Hulls, Sandringham

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To submit a letter to The Age, 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.