It’s amazing how people are lining up to criticise Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for buying a $4 million house (“MPs baffled by PM’s clifftop buy”, October 16). Other people buy houses for vastly more without attracting any negative comment. A senior NSW Labor politician, Daniel Mookhey, recently bought a house in Albo’s electorate at a similar price and attracted almost no attention. Albo bought the house on the open market, is not using public funds, and sold off other assets to fund his purchase. He has done nothing wrong and should be left alone. Lindsay Foyle, Stanmore
There’s no doubt that Anthony Albanese’s home purchase doesn’t look good, but Peter Dutton’s silence is telling. Were he to offer any criticism, it would invite exposure of his own real estate interests. I’m not criticising either of them but why is one being pilloried but not the other? Gary Stowe, Springwood
Jodie Haydon and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese: proud new home ownersCredit: James Brickwood.
Good to see our champion of the working class has been able to secure a nice home when families are struggling to pay rent or find a house they can afford to buy. At least he has not had to downsize, as retirees are expected to, so that young families can move in and have a backyard. Perhaps Albo can rent out one of his spare bedrooms to help cover his mortgage – if he even has one. He might also choose to rent it out so that he can benefit from negative gearing while we let him live rent-free in our Lodge. Brian O’Donnell, Burradoo
Congratulations, Albo, a clifftop home for under $5 million. Wow, the sensible end of the property market has slowed down. Don’t let Mike Cannon-Brookes know about these sorts of properties, he’ll buy them by the dozen. Peter Willis, Orange
OMG! Albo paid $4.3 million for a house! With his own money! And he previously splurged on Jodie’s engagement ring! And was that a new bag of fruit he was wearing recently? Will this spending never end? Seriously, it’s unfortunate that he feels the need to explain how he’s disposing of his income. None of our business. Wendy Crew, Lane Cove North
So our prime minister is selling one property and buying another. Already the critics are on the case. People buy and sell every day. I have yet to see criticism of any of the others who are doing the same on properties worth much more. Give him a break. Geoff Kervin, Shellharbour
I’ll leave it to the pundits and politicians as to whether Albo’s decision to buy what amounts to a middle-class house a long way from town but with a nice view was a good idea at present. But let’s be honest – it’s hardly in the same class as the harbourside properties bought by the Atlassian men, is it? Regardless of my personal politics, I find the Australian habit of carping and whining about our leaders of whatever hue staying in decent hotels or travelling at the pointy end, or any other perks, to be quite nauseating. Even Chairman Mao had a different tailor to the masses. Peter Thornton, Killara
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is elated about the purchase of his dream home on the Central Coast at the cost of $4.3 million, I wonder if he has truly considered the plight of those struggling in the housing crisis who are unable to rent or buy a basic no-frills home. No doubt the purchase of this property was assisted by the recent sale of his investment property, which would have benefited by negative gearing and the generous capital gains tax arrangements. I would have been equally elated if the Albanese government had curtailed negative gearing and reduced the discount on capital gains tax and directed this revenue to create schemes to help those struggling with the housing crisis. Leo Sorbello, West Ryde
I’m no great fan of the PM, but surely his private life is just that – private. Give him a break, and mind your own business. Brian Richardson, MacMasters Beach
Welcome, Albo. Michael Britt, MacMasters Beach
Voice silenced
Several correspondents (Letters, October 16) writing about the 1967 referendum require a response. That referendum did not “give Aboriginal people constitutional recognition”. In addition to including them in the census, it removed a ban on the Commonwealth government making laws about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as it was and is entitled to do for everyone else. “Fair-go reform” is a good idea. The Voice would have provided input to governments, national, state and local as to how best to meet the needs of Indigenous people, who uniquely continue to suffer the impact of the illegal dispossession and suppression of their lands, wealth and culture. The Voice would have been a constitutionally enshrined “lobby group” about legislation affecting them. The Voice would not have been a magic wand, but it was based on the well-founded belief that considered Indigenous input would have benefits for us all. Around 60 per cent of voters voted “no”, which is their right, but it is still difficult to understand why they did so. David Hind, Neutral Bay
Another batch of letters analysing the outcome, and laying blame, with regard to the Voice referendum. Unfortunately, most suffer from the usual bias based on the writer’s own political persuasion. If you would like an unbiased view, I can direct readers to a comprehensive review of the referendum result published by the Australian National University. Importantly, it arrives at the conclusion that “the data suggests that Australians think Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australians continue to suffer levels of disadvantage ... [but] they did not see the Voice model put to them as the right approach to remedy that disadvantage.” It’s worth thinking about. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth
Climate costs
It is most certainly understandable that concerns about the cost of living rank increasingly higher than those relating to climate change (“We can’t afford costliest threat”, October 16). To some extent, due to the fact that additional coal and gas projects are continuing to be approved, it is unsurprising that many would believe that combating global warming is not a major concern for the government. And, at a personal level, unless a major event such as flooding, drought, wild storms or catastrophic bushfires directly inflicts an impact, the problem belongs to someone else, especially if it occurs in foreign countries. Yet climate change is unequivocally affecting our cost of living. Insurance premiums and the cost of fruit and vegetables have been directly affected by weather extremes. Additionally, for example, the flow-on effects of transport disruption, uncertainty over water security and even a disappointing ski season will all raise the cost of living. Roger Epps, Armidale
Able seamen
The Australian Navy never will bow down to a domineering frown, or the tang of a tyrant tongue.Credit: AP
Welcome to all foreign warships, and your sturdy crews, who join with the RAN in participating in the international Naval Review in Sydney next week. The presence of King Charles III, on his first visit as Australia’s sovereign, will grant all of you the distinction that your sea service, supporting your own national security, has merited. “It is upon the navy, under the good providence of God, that the safety, honour and welfare of this realm do chiefly depend. This is very true: for my words are my own, and my actions are my ministers” (Charles II). This injunction was from another king, at an earlier time. You have your own faith and leaders, yet all are a band of seafarers to be saluted. Mike Fogarty, Weston (ACT)
GP shortage needs urgent cure
Your correspondents (Letters, October 16) make similar comments on fast-tracking foreign-trained doctors to practise, bypassing regular AHPRA requirements. However, they omit that our GP workforce deficits are due to lazy political short-termism, lack of genuine innovation in medical education, and professional elitism. It’s well known that medical student interest in general practice has plummeted, with preference for postgraduate training in other, more prestigious and highly paid specialities, but what has been done to address this, and the sustained unrealistic suppression of GP Medicare rebates? Australia should address this more intelligently. Selected medical schools could be incentivised to offer a new fast-tracked stream of specific primary care medical training, with graduates limited to serve exclusively as GPs. The elitist culling entry exam mechanisms utilised by medical schools should be eliminated for creative solutions such as this and significant scholarships offered. Why hasn’t the GP college pushed for something innovative like this? Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville
Regarding the shortage of doctors, GPs in particular, I seem to recall that John Howard slashed the number of Commonwealth-funded, or at least supported, places at universities. He reckoned that we had too many doctors and needed to reduce that number. What could possibly go wrong with that idea? Ron Wessel, Mount St Thomas
I am an overseas trained doctor who has lived longer in Australia than I did in the UK. The main language difficulties were “feeling doughy”, which I thought was pertaining to a deer, and that vomiting was the preferred term for “having been sick”. UK doctors are well attuned to multicultural differences and the necessity to adapt approaches to a consultation. Most importantly, the CCST means the standards for a clinical assessment are met. Plus we use similar medications. My final reminder is that in 2009, Kevin Rudd increased the number of training places at medical schools to meet the demand for GPs. The current situation reflects how federal government needs to make general practice far more appealing. Jo Rainbow, Orange
Duopoly duty to deter
Your correspondent’s (Letters, October 16) wish or “to do” list for strengthening our political and governing system is filled with honourable suggestions that both members of the duopoly of woe would fight and oppose to the very core of their existence. History tells us so. Leopards and spots and talking through the back of their heads come to mind when dealing with the ALP and the Coalition. Call me cynical. John Kingsmill, Fairlight
It seems few people know that we already have a home-grown republic here, in the form of the Australian Capital Territory. The ACT does not have a vice-regal representative or head of state. The chief minister, as head of government, performs ceremonial functions. Any constitutional issues that affect the formation or continuation of a government are exercised by the ACT assembly itself. ACT legislation is not signed into law by anyone, but becomes effective upon gazettal. The ACT does not have a Union Jack on its flag. While it is not necessarily the model we should follow at a federal level, it might surprise monarchists that the world has not ended in Canberra, nor has the ACT become a dictatorship. Brendan Jones, Annandale
The best, by George
George Negus (‴A giant of Australian journalism‴ , October 16) was a humble journalist who presented his programs with simplicity. He was straight to the point and always managed to deliver the right answers for viewers. He will be sadly missed. Peng Ee, Castle Cove
George Negus will be missedCredit: David Porter/Fairfax Media
I didn’t personally know George Negus, except for a chance meeting on a plane. A year or so before his sabbatical in Italy, my wife and I had stayed for two weeks at Radda in Chianti. His later book on his time in Italy mentioned the village in very fond terms. When I noticed he had shuffled up behind me disembarking that plane, I said hello and remarked on Radda. He engaged immediately – calmly, confidently, happily and inquisitively. The few minutes were a fascinating study of a celebrity. Fascinating in its ease and normality. RIP George, fellow Radda-phile. Brian Jones, Leura
On my migrant arrival in Australia in 1982, and after being subjected to 17 years of South African government propaganda on SATV, I quickly became deeply enamoured of quite a significant number of TV programs in this country, including one of my personal favourites – 60 Minutes. The passing this week of stalwart George Negus brought vividly to mind his no-holds-barred interviewing style, complemented very much by those of fellow presenters Jana Wendt, Ray Martin and Ian Leslie. Vale George Negus. Eric Palm, Gympie (Qld)
Regarding the sad passing of George Negus, three words sum him up beautifully to me – “what a giant.” Rose Lysnar, Orange
Playing wrong card
With all due respect to the letter writers concerning additional debit card charges (Letters, October 16), I found Elizabeth Knight’s article (“There is no free lunch with government’s proposal”, October 16) enlightening. It provided a worthwhile counter-punch to those people calling for an instant write-off of the debit card charge. If you think paying an extra $0.05 for a cup of coffee should be stopped, how about the bank charge of $195 I recently paid just for having a credit card? Peter Nelson, Moss Vale
Needs musk
Don’t send Elon Musk’s Tesla robots to Mars (Letters, October 16) – send Elon himself. He says he wants to go. It will be so good for him and his ego. Sort out in his head what is fact and reality as opposed to fantasy and conspiracy. And for the rest of us: relief. Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill
English flexibility
When I read about the student responses to the difficult questions in the English HSC paper I was like, “that’s awesome.” John Flint, St Leonards
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