The last proposed overhaul of our system of taxation was 14 years ago, with the Future Tax System Review making 138 recommendations. Of these, just three were implemented (“We can’t afford to avoid tax reform”, November 27). Shane Wright is dead right in his assertion that we can no longer afford to keep putting it in the too-hard basket. Of the recommendations that were acted upon at the time, the major one was the introduction of a resources super-profits tax (PRRT); because the mining companies spent megabucks in advertising to oppose it, the version that was implemented was so poor that Australians are now paying more than twice as much in HECS than gas companies pay for the PRRT. It is no wonder that home ownership has declined, and the young are rightly disenchanted. A national debate on tax reform is well overdue. Peter Nash, Fairlight
Wentworth independent Allegra Spender says tax reform would be important in a hung parliament.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Congratulations, Allegra Spender, on tackling the subject of tax reform, establishing a round table to examine the detail and having the tenacity to see it through to issuing a green paper. It is one thing to see the need for change and quite another to do something about it. The major political parties do not have the courage to tackle meaningful tax reform for fear of the electoral consequences. I hope Allegra Spender’s green paper will lead to finding a way to overcome that obstacle. I note that among her objectives is the creation of a tax reform commission, which should look at establishing a permanent body of significant standing to monitor the economy and recommend changes required in the tax system to keep it running efficiently and fairly. This might help politicians make some tough decisions by being able to point to the conclusions of a non-partisan economic authority.
John Duff, Lavender Bay
Shane Wright is yet another to point out that our tax system is broken. Ken Henry did it in 2010, and nothing happened. Shorten tried minor changes and lost an election. What we need is a “Martyr Party”. One prepared to review tax options and make changes no government expecting to be re-elected would dare do. A party ready to review and potentially change everything from inheritance taxes to GST to capital gains and negative gearing. It would be a suicide mission as vested interests and those who lose anything would vote them out. The truth is everyone wins and loses something, but overall, we have a better foundation. Do you think it will happen? Not a chance. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea
Kudos to Allegra Spender for releasing a green paper on the current unfairness of the Australian tax system. With a federal election looming and the two major parties showing their hand in acknowledging that their primary vote is lower than it has ever been, I’m curious to see if either party will show some courage in tabling some policies to start addressing the demonstrated challenges. While the teals don’t necessarily vote as a bloc, Allegra is perhaps showing their intent when negotiating with either of the major parties in the case that this will help to form a minority government. With one of the consequences of current taxation inequity being a sharp fall in fertility rates, tax reform becomes just as urgent as climate change policy to build a better life for our kids. If the social media bans are designed to give our kids a better start in life, perhaps tax reform can be the next step to help them create a future for themselves? Bruce McKinnon, Mosman
A very timely article by Shane Wright, notably not his first attempt to bring the issue of tax reform forward. Interestingly, there is now a starting point, with a green paper by Allegra Spender. We perhaps could do worse than to read it. It would be refreshing if this country could host a rational discussion about tax reform. Combine that with a bipartisan approach from the major parties. Perhaps I’m dreaming. We could dare to dream. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Let’s give it up for the independent member for Wentworth. There is no small irony in the fact that Allegra Spender represents one of the nation’s wealthiest, oldest electorates. What does that say about those over 65 who voted her in, knowing full well her platform of action on climate change, economic reform, political integrity, and, let’s not forget, courage? She gets my vote (again) next time round! Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay
Genius or disingenuous
The University of Sydney’s decision to allow students to use AI tools marks a big change in academic rules, recognising that the AI genie is out of the bottle (“Uni students allowed to use AI”, November 27). With tools like ChatGPT now widely available, the university accepts that students will use them and wants to teach them how to do so effectively. In any event, there really is no choice, as it would be impossible to ban the use of AI even if it was possible to detect its use in assignments. By permitting AI in non-secure assignments but banning it in exams, the university strikes a fair balance. This approach embraces AI’s potential to help students learn while ensuring that exams, where students must work independently, remain the true test of their knowledge. The success of this change will ultimately be seen at exam time.
John Kempler, Rose Bay
I don’t get it. Students at Sydney Uni will be allowed to use AI to complete assignments from next year. I see an extreme where students may complete a degree using AI without doing any real study at all and without any subject knowledge. It’s time to bring back sit-down, pen-and-paper exams for all. That way, we can be reasonably sure the student has completed the degree by themselves and not by the use of a clever algorithm. This move will degrade the value of all degrees. Shane Nunan, Finley
When the pro vice-chancellor of a university doesn’t know the meaning of the word “untenable”, and students don’t know the difference between mathematics and arithmetic, I think we know the standard of education in some of our universities. If students bother to read the AI-generated response they submit as their own work, maybe they’ll learn something. Then again. Andrew Scott, Pymble
Hold on to heritage
I am surprised no one has raised an objection to the residential housing proposal for the Victoria Barracks (“The Paris-inspired proposal to transform an inner-Sydney barracks”, November 25). This is a very bad idea. We have few enough of our older heritage buildings left. We need the grounds around them kept as public open space which can continue to be used for formal ceremonies.
This is not France, where there are many more older buildings, so they can be more selective about their use. Here, we have a limited heritage and must preserve what we can along with the heritage of our Indigenous population. Augusta Monro, Dural
Troops on parade at Victoria Barracks.
From the memory bank
I once played for the Tumbarumba Methodists in a comp, which included teams from the two afforestation prison camps at Laurel Hill and Mannus, the latter housing Darcy Dugan (Letters, November 27). As I recall, neither Darcy (a convicted bank robber), or I (a young bank officer) demonstrated performances likely to justify inclusion in the Australian XI. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook
Not for the likes of view
It was never about the money (“Iconic Sydney building’s land valuation slashed by almost 45 per cent”, November 26). It was always about Sydney’s plutocrats sleeping soundly in the knowledge that poor people no longer had harbour views. Alan Watterson, Hastings Point
Brutal migration bills expose lack of humanity
Once again the Albanese government, with the enthusiastic help of the Coalition, is attempting to rush through parliament three of the most brutal migration bills seen in decades (“Australia will pay countries to take our ‘undeportables’ in latest High Court fix”, November 27). If the bills pass, this government will be able to expand Australia’s offshore regime, deport people to danger, separate families, ban entire communities from entering Australia, confiscate mobile phones and isolate individuals from family, health professionals and legal aid.
Such draconian measures could affect up to 80,000 people living and working in Australia and must be condemned. Where is our humanity? This is just another opportunity to escalate attacks on multicultural communities, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Shame on us all. Robyn Thomas, Wahroonga
In light of the proposed bill to give the government sweeping powers to deport asylum seekers (as well as a tightening budget), here’s a modest cost-cutting idea for Anthony Albanese – just cancel the next election and declare Peter Dutton PM. The money saved can be used to pay poorer countries to relieve us of our human rights responsibilities.
George Baumann, Balmain
Dementia training needed
The conviction of a police officer, Kristian White, for manslaughter should be a wake-up call to our police services as well as legislators and society in general (“Police officer who Tasered 95-year-old Clare Nowland guilty of manslaughter”, smh.com.au, November 27). While we know there are large numbers of older people in Australia we are less aware of increased rates of neurodegenerative diseases, frailty and dementia.
Dementia is present in more than one third of those over 85 years of age and impairment in cognition and decision-making in even larger numbers and at younger ages.
We should not assume that those providing services to older people are aware of their special needs or trained in how to best manage problems and behaviours associated with their illness. The police (and other services) need training. Tuly Rosenfeld, Randwick
Clare Nowland; Senior Constable Kristian White leaves the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney.
Opposition in name only
An opposition and its leader’s job is not to merely “oppose” the government (Letters, November 27). It needs to hold a government to account if its policies are unsound and provide meaningful alternative policies that it believes are better. Peter Dutton and the Coalition do none of this and have proven an ineffective, irrelevant opposition so far. Robert Hickey, Green Point
In her defence of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, your correspondent claims his job is to “oppose”. With a federal election due within the next six months, the time for just saying “no” is well past. We deserve to hear more of the actual policies a Dutton-led government have to offer. Jo Bond, South Melbourne (Vic)
I had to chuckle reading your correspondent’s letter detailing her wish list for a possible change of government next election. Among these was “an energy policy that keeps us warm and cool depending on the season”. The previous Coalition regime produced 13 (or 15?) separate energy policies during its nine years of indolence, but never got around to actually delivering one, as each successive plan was scuttled by the National Party core of climate change deniers.
I suppose the current nuclear power smokescreen may count as an energy policy but good luck surviving the 20 or so years in comfort before these magically appear. Denis Minehan, Cooma
Your correspondent rushes to defend Peter Dutton but fails to recognise the opposition’s main role is to provide an alternative vision to that of the elected government. Dutton, in focusing on just opposing everything, has failed dismally in that regard, so it is only appropriate that he is being held to account. Tim Overland, Castle Hill
While Anthony Albanese might not be the most dynamic reformer as PM, the politics of opposition for the sake of it was never part of his kitbag, for which I commend him. The so-called “job” of opposing government is the very thing that puts our democracy under threat and does little to advance our society. Bruce Hall, Avalon
Oh dear, it sounds like your correspondent has swallowed Tony Abbott’s bitter onion pill whole. No, the job of the opposition is surely not to just indiscriminately oppose, it is to assist the government to serve the people. Whatever happens to the great cry for “mandate!” that the opposition is so quick to claim when in government? Charmain Brinks, Newcastle
Hot stuff
Not the beef curry at the Malaya, it was the chicken laksa (Letters, November 27). Taking one’s companion there for their first taste of not Keen’s curry, recommending the laksa and watching the steam coming out of their ears was great fun. And led me to years of chasing the Malaya, first to George Street and then to its upmarket final resting place and a chicken laksa to clear the head of annoying virus. Robert Hosking, Paddington
Chicken laksaCredit: Jennifer Soo
Splash the cash
Now if they would only throw the same largesse towards pensioners and low-income families who are struggling with inflated food prices, higher
electricity and gas prices plus rent increases, to name but a few (“Labor splashes out $6b on state workers”, November 27). Dream on. Llieda Wild, Eastwood
Keep kids safe from harm
As the mother of a 12-year-old girl, I plead with parliamentarians to pass the teen social media ban bill (“The Liberal MPs threatening to vote against Dutton on teen ban”, smh.com.au, November 27). I applaud both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton for taking a strong stance to protect our children from the insidious harm of social media. Every parent is crying out for help and this legislation will allow families to guide children to relative safety. Susie Roberts, Mosman
Flush that word
In the ’60s, when swear words had not yet become sentence fillers, I recall a family chat about the word “shit” (Letters, November 27). We kids tiptoed around the edges and it was Dad, a non-swearer, who actually said it out aloud. We kids giggled but Mum said she was “shattered” at hearing Dad use the word. Dad’s response? “Glad to see you know the past tense.” Judith Fleming, Sawtell
Since that word was coined in 2022, we have actually arrived at a terminal state of enshattification. It is up to the government to encourage disenshittification. John Flint, St Leonards
Enshittification! With Sarah Macdonald in mind, this is a perfect word to describe the actions of the children who have taken over the ABC we know and once loved. Rosemary Russell, Neutral Bay
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