The decision of the Reserve Bank not to now decrease interest rates is to be applauded (“RBA split decision a punch for millions”, July 9). As outlined by the governor, the RBA board took a conservative approach, preferring to act when certainty had been demonstrated rather than pleasing the markets, economists, and the government. Surely, this is a very prudent plan, recognising the economic uncertainty that exists internationally and the fact that the Australian economy, especially regarding the rate of unemployment, is not operating in accordance with accepted modelling. Everyone wants our respected RBA, its board and governor to be truly independent and to always act in the best interests of the country as a whole, irrespective of whether, at times, decisions may cause some pain in certain sectors. Yesterday’s decision was an affirmation of that independence, and for that, we all should be thankful. Ross Butler, Rodd Point
The ones who make the decisionsCredit: Dominic Lorrimer
Australia’s inflation, currently and in the recent past, is mainly a function of cost factors such as insurance and petrol price hikes. Much of the inflation is associated with the concentration of ownership here. The type of inflation that the blunt instrument of monetary policy is more appropriate for is demand inflation, and there is little evidence of that in Australia. A major reason is that the millions of mortgage holders are hard-pressed to service their mortgages, as opposed to other spending, hence the reluctance of the Reserve to lower official interest rates is puzzling. The decision to again not cut rates almost smacks of vindictiveness. Maybe we should take consolation in that three of the nine board members know the difference between cost inflation and excess demand inflation. James Tulloch, Westleigh
The best thing about the latest RBA decision is that it will make banks, economists and politicians very cautious about making predictions before RBA rate meetings. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell
The big four banks and, according to Forbes, 31 of 37 economists predicted an interest rate cut this week. What would we do without the financial experts? Ross Duncan, Potts Point
Keeping the cash rate on hold affects those with mortgages (“Only certainty is the wait for relief is longer”, July 9). The problem is that, on the other hand, it benefits retirees who rely on a reasonable interest rate on accounts, including term deposits, for their income. The main problem is that house prices have been allowed to increase to unrealistic prices. Further supply is not the answer as new stock will be sold at current prices. It is necessary for the federal government to cancel negative gearing and capital gains discounts. This would level the playing field. They also need to limit investors to one investment property and allow existing investors to reduce their holdings over three years. Barry O’Connell, Old Toongabbie
“The inflation monster has largely been tamed,” says Elizabeth Knight (“No rate relief – but the lucky country we remain”, July 9). So we should hear no more of the cost of living crisis, thank goodness. John Flint, St Leonards
Productivity isn’t everything
It’s always good to hear from the sensible Danielle Wood, chair of the Productivity Commission (“Mojo the secret to reform success”, July 9). However, her suggestion that “robots that clear dishes and push around laundry” are a great opportunity to make productivity gains in the sectors such as aged care, while it is true, seems troubling when you consider the loss of employment this would entail for people who perform these essential roles, and who desperately need work to survive. When productivity becomes everything in a society, it seems a certain level of heartlessness must come with it. That is so very sad. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown
To Ley off or not
I’ll give Sussan Ley “a break” (Letters, July 9) when she and the remnants of the Liberal Party do for our mostly competent, if unadventurous, Labor government. Let’s hear her propose a unified national approach to energy, defence, climate change, or pretty much anything. Andrew Taubman, Queens Park
Should Sussan Ley get a break?Credit: The Age
Your correspondent asks us to give Ley a break. On my obsessive reading of the letters page, it is not Ley who is being lambasted but that wing of her party (Taylor et al) which is so far out of touch with the world as to be out of the game. Paul Fergus, Croydon
I agree that Ley should be given a break. She is to be commended for saving us from the likes of Angus Taylor as opposition leader, at least for now. Martin Frohlich, Adamstown Heights
A prized something
Let’s give Donald Trump the Nobel Peace Prize (“Netanyahu nominates Trump for peace prize”, July 9) and the Pulitzer Prize for Historical Fiction and the Germund Dahlquist Prize for updating the science of tariff statistics and an Oscar for playing the role of a modern-day Nero and a gold star for being the bestest US president ever. Then maybe he will take all his prizes and go back to the nursery and polish them all with what remains of the US Constitution while the adults get on with running the planet. Barry Ffrench, Cronulla
Putting aside the irony of a man being nominated for a peace prize by a man wanted for war crimes, may I suggest that if any prizes are to be awarded arising from the catastrophe in Gaza, any one of the medical workers in Gaza would be a worthy recipient? Terence Golding, Bolwarra
Credit: Megan Herbert
There are some scenes which are so grotesque as to be unable to be captured by language. One is Benjamin Netanyahu about to force Palestinians into a camp and ultimate expulsion from their territory, handing his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump who, if he were not president, could find himself in jail on many criminal counts. Bernard Moylan, Bronte
If Trump received this award, we must wonder how many of the prestigious winners over the long history of this worthy prize would return their own prize, considering it now to be worthless. Christine Miller, Robertson
Netanyahu has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. If that’s the standard, can someone please nominate me for the Nobel Prize for Literature for writing this letter? Marie Del Monte, Ashfield
Safety first
Although there may be problems with some practitioners prescribing cannabis (‴Profits over patient safety’: Medicinal cannabis crackdown”, July 9), the mere fact that it is being prescribed is better than supporting every criminal group in the illicit trade. The danger to cannabis users buying on the street has recently become fraught, with cannabis being contaminated with nitazenes or fentanyl, which can both be fatal for the user. The government may see some problems with cannabis prescribing, but everyone working in the clinics pays tax on their income, as do the companies who profit. Otherwise, all the money goes to criminals who couldn’t care less about people’s well-being and pay zero tax. Robert Franzos, Bundaberg West (Qld)
Uni treatment devalues education
Jenna Price, in urging potential tertiary students to declare a moratorium on beginning university next year (“Universities are now places of cost-cutting and cruelty”, July 9), draws our attention to the fact that we have here a war, a culture war, a war of concepts: a university as a business, with the focus on bureaucracy and profit, where students are simply consumers, and academics a skeleton “canteen” staff serving pre-cooked courses, versus a university as a community of thinkers who extend the frontiers of knowledge through research and share this knowledge and experience with students, thus enhancing the quality of society. Traditionally, universities have been the bedrock of civilisation and progress, a reflection of the quality of a nation, and so cannot be conceptualised and treated as being like a McDonald’s, a Bunnings or an IKEA. Paul Casey, Callala Bay
Universities have competing and conflicting priorities. The federal government doesn’t want more international students because of the apparent housing crisis, and at the same time doesn’t want to compensate universities with extra funding. With the killing of the golden goose of the international students – and education is a major export earner for Australia – universities have no choice but to sack academics, which has a domino effect in other areas such as IT and admin. It is a lose-lose situation all around. If academics are shaky about their jobs, how are they going to give their best to students? Australia is facing a precious brain drain – a shame and a waste. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill
Cheating epidemic
As universities chase high-fee paying students to keep their heads above water, a relaxation of entry standards is inevitable, no doubt contributing to the numbers of students cheating (“Uni students falsify doctors’ notes”, July 9). It is possible that the students who see no ethical problem with cheating falsified their entry qualifications, further compromising their ability to cope without assistance. An additional problem may be the need for many students to work part-time due to the high cost of fees, rent and sustenance. Cheating may provide the only way out for time-poor students. The universities must tighten their entry standards but at the same time an investigation of the motivation for cheating is essential. Geoff Harding, Chatswood
Lower the limit
How many more lives are to be put at risk until the 70km/h speed limit is lowered on the Harbour Bridge (“Traffic chaos after head-on collision on Sydney Harbour Bridge”, smh.com.au, July 9)? After two people died last year, and this head-on crash, it is unthinkable that the present speed and lane situation on the bridge continues without safety mechanisms such as bollards or lower speed limits. Two masses of metal hurling towards each other at a speed of 70km/h with little separation allows for no margin of error. Elizabeth Maher, Gordon
No angels
Good on your correspondent (Letters, July 9) for giving the positive side of rugby league. There’s often more than a hint of snobbery in the condemnation of league, as if other codes of football don’t occasionally have their own on- and off-field problems. Covering magistrates’ courts in England a lifetime ago, I remember how off-field bad behaviour by rugby union players was sometimes forgiven by magistrates as “youthful high jinks”, whereas football (soccer) players and fans were condemned for committing sins often no different to the antisocial behaviour rugger players were getting away with. Nick Franklin, Katoomba
Australian made
A more significant date for a national day (Letters, July 9) is July 31, 1900, when the last referendum (in WA) endorsed the people’s will to form the Commonwealth – the first time a nation had been created by the free will of its people. Let the second Monday in July be Constitution Day or Democracy Day to replace the King’s Birthday holiday. It could assume the official events now on January 26. John Woodward, Ashfield
Which is the best day to celebrate?Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Your correspondents suggesting alternative dates for Australia Day falter on a critical issue. The commemoration of an act by a far-away foreign monarch is not a suitable date for a national celebration in this country. A new Australia Day needs to mark an event that can be celebrated by all of us, including the folk whose ancestors owned, nurtured and governed the country for more than 65,000 years. Treaty now. Russ Couch, Woonona
Australia is not yet independent. Section 59 of our Constitution gives our absent, part-time, foreign monarch the power to disallow any Australian law within 12 months of assent. It doesn’t matter that this power has never been exercised – its presence is an affront to our sovereignty. I doubt we’d consider ourselves independent if the king of Saudi Arabia or the president of the US had the power to veto an Australian law. No, we’d consider it demeaning and insulting and demand its removal. Brendan Jones, Annandale
Lost history
To add to the list of the destruction of heritage buildings (Letters, July 9), I remember the Castlereagh Hotel in the CBD – marble staircase, beautiful circular bar, leadlights – an escape oasis on a hot Sydney day for a cold beer or squash. Knocked down, gone forever, now a fast-food joint. Robyn Hansen, Pennant Hills
Your correspondent’s experience with heritage church buildings is not unique. After a group of pall-bearers slipped and nearly lost the coffin they were carrying down the steep entrance to one church, a new accessible entrance path from the side car park was drawn up, including a disabled car space. The town council heritage adviser directed the contractor to put up cattle yard-style fencing, realigned the car parking slab so that one corner sat high above the ground slope, and removed the wheelchair set-down. When stage one, the car access path, was started, the concreter reshaped the rounded corner (for wheelchairs) into sharp corners, ignored the instruction for a coarse broom finish, and coated the surface with a glossy substance. The first person to use it was injured when they slid over on their back, so the surface had to be ground away. The congregation gave up and refused to allow more work, so that the original steep entrance still survives. Donald Hawes, Peel
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