‘Donald’ Dutton jumps on dog-whistle bandwagon

So desperate is Peter Dutton about his party’s substantive policy vacuum that he will jump on the nearest bandwagon likely to attract votes, or so he thinks (“Citizenship test on antisemitism”, March 19). We’ve had nuclear power replacing renewables, tax deductions for long business lunches, and now we have the suggestion to include an antisemitism question in our citizenship test. As if anyone with half a brain newly arrived to this country applying for citizenship, whether pro-Jewish or not, is likely to respond in the affirmative. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay

Perhaps what we require for Australian citizenship is a commitment to becoming Australian. As a second-generation Australian, I was brought up to accept Australia as my home – where all religions and all nationalities have equality and should have equal rights and respect. Questions for citizenship specifically addressing antisemitic sentiment will only fuel division and entrench the religious, ethnic and cultural wars that have never been considered an acceptable way of being Australian. Katriona Herborn, Blackheath

Peter Dutton is proposing to include a question regarding antisemitism in the citizenship test. What about other races that were vilified but not reported? Peng Ee, Castle Cove

A great idea, Peter Dutton, to consider improving Australian citizenship tests should you become our next PM. As well as anti- or pro-antisemitism, I expect any prospective Australian should have to list attitudes about Palestinians, Indigenous people and their Voice, unions, left-wing voters and whatever would appeal to the Clive Palmer Patriots of this world. Maybe you could also squeeze in a question about football codes and if New Zealand teams should be allowed in our comps. Nola Tucker, Kiama

I think opposition immigration spokesperson Dan Tehan must have come down in the last shower if he thinks that those applying for citizenship will admit to wanting to cause harm to Jewish people. People are smarter than to fall for that trick, Mr Tehan. Helen Russell, Leichhardt

Dan Tehan has taken Peter Dutton’s “proposed” citizenship test to a whole new level. A new section on antisemitism? What about one on Islamophobia, Dan? Or what are aspiring citizens’ views on “black people”? Seriously, it’s not new citizens who are going to be the major issue. It is the pre-existing prejudice and rusted-on racism that is the real issue, but, typical of the Coalition, it is far easier to target those who want to become Australian citizens than attempt to fix the root cause. Tim Overland, Castle Hill

Mr Dutton says it’s important to guard Australian values. Indigenous Australians and people of Palestinian background seem to have eluded his vision. Jill Stephenson, Woolwich

I never thought I’d agree with Peter Dutton, but it’s happened. I do not want Australian citizens who are antisemitic. And I’m sure Mr Dutton is well on the way to completing his policy to extend this to anyone with xenophobic views on racial/ethnic background, Islamophobia, skin colour or sexual orientation. Al Svirskis, Mount Druitt

Peter Dutton is beginning to sound desperate. Does he intend to also quiz migrants about their attitudes to Muslims, Christians, atheists, Indigenous Australians, same-sex relationships and assorted ethnic minorities, among other things? Alynn Pratt, Grenfell

What can you say about Mr Dutton’s proposal for migrants applying for passports to be quizzed about their attitudes towards Jewish people? It’s very Trumpian, but also not that much different to the dictation test in any random European language that we used in the first half of last century to keep out people considered “undesirable”. What’s next from Peter Dutton? A return to the White Australia policy? Ian Gordon, Newtown

Will the proposed questions on the citizenship test also include ones on Islamophobia as well as antisemitism? Ruth Ngaire Carter, Strathfield

I take it that under this new policy it is OK to be racist, as long as that racism is not directed at Jews? Brenton McGeachie, Hackett (ACT)

The addition to the citizenship test touted by Peter Dutton as essentially asking “are you antisemitic?” is unlikely to elicit a positive response, rendering the proposal invalid from the start. Further, the proposal to alter the Constitution to give ministers unfettered power to deport “undesirables” without judicial review is immoral, especially as this is an existing power available to judges. The idea of holding a referendum on this idea is quite daft and doomed to failure. Gosh, even George Brandis agrees (“Referendum talk is simply madness”, March 19). The prime minister described at least the latter as a “thought bubble” – an insult to a bubble. Neil Buchanan, Waitara

Noting that there has been a significant rise in Islamophobia within Australia and that Dutton’s proposal to include just a question on antisemitism in a new code for citizenship, it is hard not to conclude that the most generous judgment of Dutton is that this is a blatant dog-whistle. Brian Everingham, Engadine

Peter Dutton’s few policies appeal to our baser impulses and foment division. His latest thought bubble is no exception. Antisemitism is abhorrent, but so is Islamophobia and any other racist, bigoted or extreme fundamentalist ideology, and all should be monitored in our citizenship processes. If he wants to be a creditable prime minister alternative, it’s time for him to offer creditable alternative policies that will benefit all Australians. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle

Let’s not pretend Donald Dutton had his own thought bubble on holding a referendum to deport criminals. However, at least he’s looking for permission. Dutton watched that slick White House-produced video of over 130 men, allegedly members of a Venezuelan gang, deported to El Salvador. The one where they were stripped, heads shaved, and put in white boxers and T-shirts and forcibly pushed forward with their heads nearly touching the floor. With the accompanying music of rattling chains and doors locking. The law enforcement officers had no identification and wore balaclavas. He obviously was excited watching appalling and performative cruelty. America has really hit rock bottom here. It is not, in any shape or form, the behaviour of a country that has any regard or respect for its legal system, let alone the human rights of some of its citizens. Those 90million Americans who did not vote must be having nightmares about that decision. Over here, in compulsory-voting Australia, Dutton’s colleagues must be starting to feel very afraid. Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill

If Peter Dutton were to be elected, would we see those persons who have had their Australian citizenship removed dressed in white, manacled hand and foot and marched, bent over, onto planes? Ray Hood, Illawong

I am devastated about the mounting death toll in Gaza. Would I fail Peter Dutton’s citizenship test on antisemitism? Sally Shepard, Nelson Bay

What next from Peter Dutton with additional citizenship tests? Dictation in obscure languages such as Manx or Cornish, as with the White Australia Policy? Even those on his own side are turning on him. Trevor La Macchia, Eastwood

Here are some more questions for Dutton to consider for citizenship. (a) Do you support AFL or NRL? (b) Do you support NSW or Queensland in the State of Origin? *Please note, this will also determine which state you are allowed to live in. Ken Pares, Forster

School swimming now for the few

In the mid-20th century, as this country was becoming aware of its worldwide sport success, the notion was that swimming carnivals, like interschool sport, would discover and foster budding talent (“School swimming slump affects our ′outdoor way of life‴⁣⁣ , March 19). Interschool sport died out when children became better rewarded. Any child showing a modicum of swimming talent is now at a coaching school at 6am, even in primary school. By high school all the championship material has already been sorted so at the school carnival, 90 per cent of those attending are there to watch the 10 per cent winning. It is no longer a whole school-engaging activity. What to do – stay away or sit there and be bored? Brian Collins, Cronulla

When my children were young, NSW Sport and Recreation offered two weeks of free lessons every January for school-aged children. Even 4-year-olds who were starting kindergarten that year were eligible. All my children then went on to do swimming club. Two of them who are teachers have said they are still faster and better swimmers than almost every kid in the high schools where they teach, so obviously kids are missing out because parents just can’t afford $20 every week for a half-hour lesson, especially if they have more than one child. Colleen Northam, Taree

I was at teachers college in Armidale in 1963-64 and it was imperative that to graduate as a teacher you needed the swimming bronze medallion. I grew up in a small town in the Central West, so this was a doddle – we swam in the river, mucked about in the local pool and could swim forever. I will never forgive the college staff who arranged the medallion test during an Armidale winter, but during my career of more than 50 years, I always volunteered for swimming carnivals. My last participation was in the year I retired as a principal. Apart from me, only one other staff member had the qualifications to teach swimming. Brian McKeown, Long Jetty

Although I was not a participant in any school sport event (except the obstacle race), I did enjoy the swimming carnivals at North Sydney Olympic Pool. As my high school was at the top of the tree in swimming and many sports, as it is today in the HSC, I had frequent opportunities to demonstrate my impeccable command of the school war cry in a very loud voice. This left me hoarse for days but I felt I had played a part and, as a recent correspondent wrote on this subject, we had fun. John Flint, St Leonards

For me, the annual school sport and swimming carnivals were an abject lesson at an early age that “sport” was for the elite and the well prepared and that sport’s purpose for most of us was just to attend, witness and cheer on our “betters”. It was racism and colonialism in school house colours. There was no room on the awards podium for improvers or triers; it was just winners and the rest of us. It was an early education and preparation for the fact that in our “equal” society, the winners and losers roles were predestined, based on heredity and what your parents were prepared to spend money on. I was left with a sense of injustice that there were these days of attention and reward on what the sporty kids’ interests were, but no equivalent days focusing on my interests – astronomy, history, museums, reading or developing a deeper understanding of the human condition. It was just prizes for the “medalled” and the role of audience for the rest of us. Garry Dalrymple, Earlwood

It’s hard to disagree with schools dropping swimming carnivals from a busy schedule as, for the vast majority, they are wasting valuable learning time. Carnivals, if needed, could be organised for the competitive few during out of school hours. However, the lack of “learn to swim” in primary is another matter altogether. Swimming lessons are essential for all of our children and should be funded by government. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach