Copyright theage
LNP must act on reforming nature lawsThe federal opposition would do well to heed the advice of Liberal Senator Andrew McLachlan, who’s convinced that a ’“true conservative" would support strong action to protect the environment and lower emissions.Graeme Samuel presented his report on reforming our environment laws to the Morrison government five years ago. He briefed then environment minister Sussan Ley and said that she fully supported his report.Now he says he’s "angry, frustrated" and "bitterly" disappointed" that the federal Liberal Party seems to be rejecting urgently-needed reform.If the Coalition continues to prolong the decade-long climate wars, it will condemn itself to the political wilderness.Kevin Burke, Sandringham States alone decide on crown land timber fellingThe Greens cannot expect the proposed National Environment Protection Agency to be able to rule out native forest logging Australia-wide because state governments decide whether or not timber harvesting takes place on crown land in their states.Peter Fagg, Blackburn Call out annexationDr Anas Iqtait offers a remarkably dispassionate account of Israel’s de facto annexation of the West Bank ("Israel’s takeover of the West Bank has been long running", 27/10).The writ of evidence is long and conclusive. Land expropriation, home demolitions, exclusive roads, myriad checkpoints, rogue settler assaults, olive grove destruction, financial strangulation – the list of oppressive measures is endless. What is not remarkable but scandalous is the international community’s silent complicity with Israel’s iron grip on Palestinian life in the West Bank.The fragile temporary ceasefire in Gaza, far from being an excuse for remaining silent about this relentless despotism, gives Australia – and the world – a fresh chance to redeem itself by calling out this annexation for what it is and imposing the severest possible sanctions on Israel. "The question is," Iqtait concludes, "how the world intends to respond."Tom Knowles, Parkville Reforms firstIt is true, as Anas Iqtait writes (27/10), that Israel opposes a Palestinian state. Israel offered a Palestinian state in 2000, 2001 and 2008. So, what’s changed?After Israel withdrew completely from Gaza in 2005, hoping to advance peace, Hamas took over, turned Gaza into a terror stronghold, started several wars, and ultimately perpetrated the October 7 atrocities.Israel can’t risk the same happening in the West Bank, as experts agree it probably would if Israel withdrew now, with the Palestinian Authority so weak and corrupt. The PA are no saints either.As Matthew Knott noted ("Palestinian Authority calls for Australian troops to help secure Gaza peace", 27/10), a European Parliament resolution said PA textbooks are full of antisemitism and incitement to violence.Israel can’t reasonably be expected to accept a Palestinian state without significant reform first.Robbie Gore, Brighton East
