While voters might support the Coalition’s proposed policy of stopping foreign investment in real estate, it is indeed symbolic, as Labor says (The Herald’s View, January 29). Let’s remember, foreign investors have bypassed the additional tax imposed by the Abbott government back in 2015 by gaming the system, using local permanent residents and citizens to buy for them with some financial re-engineering. The opposition policy sounds good on paper, but I’d be surprised if it’d make any difference in the short term. No policy or talk fest is going to replace building a large number of affordable homes, pronto. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill
Given that foreign purchases of property only account for 1 per cent of transactions and the announcement covers only a percentage of those, your editorial about Peter Dutton’s latest anti-foreigner, dog-whistle act, which will do virtually nothing for housing availability, must have delighted him. This is a tactic, not a functional policy. Graeme Finn, Earlwood
The Coalition’s has proposed to stop foreign investment in real estate.Credit: Rhett Wyman
No one will have been surprised by the results of the latest Resolve poll (“Dutton’s foreign buyer promise cuts through”, January 29). A question about “a policy to temporarily stop foreign investment in residential property” with the assumed outcome of taking pressure off the housing market was almost certain to gain majority support, even from Labor voters who might otherwise have been put off by associating the proposal with Peter Dutton. The fact that foreign buyers make up only 1 per cent of all property purchases in Australia lends particular weight to the government’s dismissal of the Coalition idea as “too small to make a difference”. No doubt the results of the poll would have been different if respondents had been given that piece of information as well. Professor Murray Goot, Macquarie University
And so the Coalition pulls its MAGA hat on even more firmly with nationalistic, populist politics of wanting to restrict foreign property purchases – a policy that will not solve the problem at all. Here’s a challenge – ban AirBnB if you want to do something substantial. Putting that 2 per cent or so of the rental market back in the pool will both improve rental supply and force some landlords to sell their properties because they can’t get the overly generous yield they do with AirBnB. But this won’t happen because, just like really tackling the housing crisis by restricting negative gearing and capital gains concessions, it’s too hard for either side. What a mess. Paul Bugeja, Woolloongabba (Qld)
Power to Gittins’ pen
Ross Gittins reminds us that by far the most important problem we face, the one that does most to threaten our future, is climate change, but that the problem we think about most is cost of living (“A protest vote will not ease the pain”, January 29). The close links between the two are flagged in Bianca Hall’s report that the cost of living can be cut by $3000 a year by moving off coal and gas (“How you could save $3000 power bills by making simple changes”, January 29). With four million Australian homes using solar panels already, there’s clearly passion and commitment. But the big push relies on government support to make the switch affordable for all. As the chief executive of the Smart Energy Council notes: “If you give someone a handout with an energy bill rebate, it helps them for a quarter. If you help them set up the house with renewables, it helps them for a generation.” This seems to echo Gittins’ point that when we vote this year, we must play the environmental long game and support “the pollies who do get the urgency of climate action: the Greens and the teal independents”. We must support our children’s futures. Karen Campbell, Geelong
Ross Gittins is spot on. Dutton and the Coalition appear to be gaining ground with their small-target policies, such as limiting overseas investment in housing and their continued negativity about the economy. Neither side of politics has had the courage to tackle the hard choices on tax reform. Indeed, it has been a teal independent, Zali Steggall, who has raised that recently and suggested changes that could lead to a fairer society. A minority Labor government, with the support of independents such as the teals, could lead to some major reforms, which neither major party is willing to tackle. Mary Lawson, Marrickville
Ross Gittins states the most important issue we face is climate change and voters have a responsibility to the generations that follow. Electing a Dutton government to punish the current government will put back the expansion of renewable energy for decades. As for the cost of living, the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side. John Cotterill, Kingsford
Four million Australian homes already have solar panels installed.Credit: Bloomberg
Thank goodness for Ross Gittins’ healthy dose of reality from an economic perspective. His sensible commentary makes essential reading for anyone struggling against the tide of misinformation that threatens to overwhelm national pre-election political discourse. Informed analysis beats selfish ignorance any day: more power to Gittins’ pen. Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor (Vic)
Ross Gittins’ article should be sent to everyone who is going to vote in the upcoming federal election. Patrick Dodd, Narrabeen
Amazing Grace
Jane Caro is so right. Grace Tame’s pugnacious determination to speak truth to power, in whatever way, has grabbed everyone’s attention (“Tame Grace – good luck with that. I delight in her brave belligerence”, January 29). Her refusal to back down in the face of blowback is an inspiration to those of us from a different generation who share her views but were conditioned to shrink back into our corners the moment we were criticised. And many of those “pearl-clutchers” who are loudly criticising Grace’s unquenchable fire are the same conservatives who delighted in the re-election of Donald Trump, which happened largely thanks to the machinations of the very person Grace’s T-shirt so rightfully denounced. Ambrosia Baume, Annandale
I share Tame’s revulsion of the Murdoch media. However, Jane Caro’s encouragement of young girls to flaunt themselves is misguided. While I just laugh at all the bare bums and flesh at Bondi, my partner and her sister (both social-justice warrior types) are mortified by current trends in beach attire. They consider it demeaning to all women, let alone the near-naked 12 and 13-year-olds. And what drives these trends? The need to impress males, of course. Hardly the stuff of equality. As for Caro’s observation that the current generation is less easily cowed than previous ones, there are a few notable exceptions, Germaine Greer being one. Sadly, she has been silenced and shouted down by the younger generation over her unfashionable views on transgenderism. They dismiss Greer’s entire body of work on just one issue. Just as anyone’s choice of clothing belongs between the extremes, women don’t need to go from the silenced to silencers to gain equality. Paul Davies, Crows Nest
Jane Caro’s article was spot on! Thank you Jane, and thank you Grace. It was exactly the right time and place for Grace’s T-shirt to garner attention. I applaud her courage, and thank goodness she is brave enough to stand there for all of us. Lindy Lou Rigg, Milsons Point
Caro’s defence of Grace Tame’s appalling behaviour at such a serious event speaks for itself. Even the prime minister called her out for it. This had nothing to do with Murdoch’s behaviour, which I also don’t approve of. But Grace, this event wasn’t about you, it was about the worthy recipients at the Australian of the Year awards – men and women. Does Caro really believe that such grandstanding promotes women’s causes? Let’s face it, in Caro’s world women can do no wrong. David Jackson, Artarmon
What a brilliant article from Jane Caro. Grace Tame is the voice we need for these times and I marvel at her intelligence, bravery and resilience. I also laugh at the faux outrage that resulted from her actions – she plays them like puppets. Well done Jane, your opinion pieces are gold. Andrew Moody, Forster
Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame in her controversial T-shirt.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Jane Caro is quite wrong to think the recent criticism of Grace Tame has something to do with policing women’s choice of clothing. It is fundamentally about Tame’s disrespect for others and her willingness to use others for her own purposes. The wording boldly printed on Tame’s T-shirt was obscene and distracting, in anyone’s language. Ross Drynan, Lindfield
Trump’s fossil fuel frenzy will backfire
The article by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard offers a somewhat encouraging view of future energy markets and the consequences for global warming (“When it comes to the energy race, Trump is China’s useful idiot”, January 29). Now that the world is assessing the realities of Trump’s fossil fuel frenzy and the dismantling of massive renewable energy projects, it appears his vision is becoming increasingly blurred. Major US oil producers, faced with the exhaustion of prime oil and gas fields and uncertain financial returns, are unlikely to respond to the president’s expectations. Interestingly, with the plummeting costs of solar panels and batteries leading to their rapid installation in regions of “good sun”, US electricity prices have fallen, weakening the anticipated future demand for gas generators. China, with its incredibly speedy transition to renewable energy and accelerated production of electric vehicles, will greatly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and increase its ascendancy over the US in EV manufacture. Elon Musk’s attention must be focused on a Space-X journey to Mars. Roger Epps, Armidale
As the owner of a house that is energy self-sufficient, I can fully attest to China’s dominance of the clean energy market. My solar panels, battery, heat pump and EV were all made in China. Given how much money I am saving by going down the sustainability path, it’s hard to understand what President Trump must be thinking by keeping America dependent on fossil fuels. The rest of the world will certainly not follow his lead, although energy dinosaurs like Russia and Saudi Arabia might be privately cheering. And what of Australia? Will we board the Trump train, with Peter Dutton as driver, and hurtle recklessly back to the 20th century? I certainly hope not. Ken Enderby, Concord
Really, Gladys
Appearing alongside Scott Morrison, Tony Abbott, John Howard, Dominic Perrottet, Peter Dutton and others, the former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian stated “we believe in a just and humane society” (“Is Gladys back? Berejiklian dips her toe back into Liberal politics”, January 29). After recovering from choking on my cereal, I recalled Morrison and robo-debt, Abbott and his promise of no cuts to education and health, Howard and children overboard, Dutton’s denigration of Fraser’s immigration policies and the Voice. The list goes on. Whatever credibility Gladys may have had, even after the ICAC findings, has now left the building. Rob Siebert, Skennars Head
Council cruelty
Apparently, according to the arrogant Northern Beaches Council, anyone who can afford to live in the area can afford, essentially, unlimited rate increases. Since amalgamation, residents of the Manly ward have been hit with an extraordinary increase of 26 per cent in the name of harmonisation and will now cop another 39.6 per cent rise over the next three years. There has been no sign of the promised amalgamation savings. As a long-term resident, almost 50 years, living on a fixed income, I find the council’s attitude cruel and offensive. I suspect I’m not the only long-term resident who feels betrayed by our representatives. It would be excellent if the council listened to its constituents and revoked the increase in favour of the much smaller increase supported by the community. Bruce Barry, Balgowlah
Wong was right
It was a strange call for the Australian Monarchist League to suggest the governor-general should have represented Australia at the Auschwitz memorial ceremony, rather than politicians, in this case our foreign affairs minister and the attorney-general (Letters, January 29). It would also have been inappropriate, as King Charles III was present and there would have been no need for his Australian representative. Philip Benwell can take comfort in the fact that apart from representing Britain, the King could also be seen as representing Australia and his 14 other domains. Maurice Critchley, Mangrove Mountain
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong attended the Auschwitz memorial in Poland.Credit: Rob Harris
I am 100 per cent happy that Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong represented me in Poland. All of our politicians, in particular Wong, represent Australia rather than their party. I am, we are, you are Australian, including you Philip. Rurik MacKenzie, Summer Hill Creek
Public schools deserve better
I refer to Christopher Harris’ article (“The schools that have asked parents to pay for paper, tissues and markers”, January 28). The real story is not that public school principals are asking parents to pay for everyday items despite being told not to by the NSW Education Department, it’s that the department isn’t funding those items itself. Kids have noses that need blowing, kids and teachers have things that need writing – that’s what happens in classrooms. Public schools need better resourcing and shouldn’t be the poor cousins in our education system. This article shows it so clearly. If kids really are our future, we adults need to do better, and vote accordingly. This should be an election issue but sadly, it rarely is. Carrie Bengston, Clovelly
Advertising arrogance
I totally support Bob Scott’s call for the removal of advertisements that are plastered onto public transport windows (Letters, January 29). This shows the arrogance of money. The ads obscure the view of the outside, and this can be a serious matter when one is searching for a particular bus stop.
David Rose, Nollamara (WA)
Life imitates art
Mickey Pragnell, it’s time, for another neologism (“In a word”, January 28). Gore Vidal coined such an epithet in his historical fiction novel, Burr (think Hamilton). He dismissed a despised US politician as “his fraudulency.” Life imitates art? Mike Fogarty, Weston (ACT)
Big brother is watching
Don Easter, after I read your letter I did try and post Yothu Yindi singing Treaty (Letters, January 29). I was blocked twice by Facebook for the video, and then again for the screenshot. I am afraid ... very afraid. Sally Shepard, Nelson Bay
Random act of kindness
After stopping to buy something at a 7-11 petrol station on Parramatta Road in Camperdown, my credit card was declined. A young woman behind me named Kirsty said: “I’ll pay – it’s my good deed for the day.” Thank you, Kirsty, it’s so good to know that there are still kind people out there. Vicky Marquis, Glebe
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