Noel Whittaker is usually a go-to man for financial expertise. But I’m afraid he’s dropped the ball this time (“Why would anyone want to stop negative gearing”, February 21). His argument that a bit of a tax break in the first few years leads to lots of tax later is at best rather silly and at worst misleading. According to economist Ken Henry, deductions in the rental property sector now exceed income, making it not a net taxpayer. And in any case, a tax should be based on equity and unless you’re talking through your pocket, everyone knows that negative gearing is a rort, one that seriously and unfairly impacts young people. Tony Mitchell, Hillsdale
Negative gearing is a problem for PM AlbaneseCredit: Andrew Dyson
I am surprised that Noel Whittaker has misunderstood the main issue with negative gearing. I have not heard of any party threatening to abolish it completely. Whittaker’s hypothetical couple Jack and Jill have always been safe. It is the excessive use of gearing multiple properties, combined with a very generous 50 per cent reduction in capital gains tax, which is the central issue here. This leaves less money for our government, already deeply in debt, to spend on the less fortunate Jacks and Jills in aged care who have been unable to afford property in the first place. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West
As a self-funded retiree with an investment property, I have a particular interest in negative gearing. It attracts so much negative press but today, Noel Whittaker gave easily understood reasons why negative gearing is important in the housing crisis, and that not all landlords are selfish fat cats living off the backs of struggling first home buyers. By funding ourselves, we are very obviously saving the taxpayers, which sadly doesn’t seem to get much press coverage. Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick
Why do writers who argue for and against negative gearing and capital gains tax as they relate to property usually lump the two together? Noel Whittaker argues for the long-term benefits to the country of keeping the current negative gearing benefits from owning one investment property, but what about those who own numerous properties? Only paying tax on 50% of capital gains is another matter. Is it fair or reasonable for one to sell an investment property, make a profit but only have to pay tax on half that profit? John Howard changed the law on these matters in 1999. Before that one paid tax on 100% of capital gains profits. Albanese could bring about a change in the law again and allow negative gearing on ownership of one property only, and get rid of the current law on capital gains tax altogether. Labor would have one over the Greens if he did this. Gillian Baldwin, Windradyne
Somewhat amusing juxtaposition of two esteemed gurus; the weekly Money lift-out with Noel Whittaker facing the Opinion pages with Ross Gittins. One prioritises the interests of the already well-off while the other sees benefits for struggling young would-be homeowners. Negative gearing’s not the only investment option open to Noel’s hypothetical Jack and Jill earning $100,000 each. If they had put the savings for their deposit into a good industry super fund, they’d have averaged nearly 8 per cent (compounding) for the last decade. Jeffrey Mellefont, Coogee
Noel, one extra property for someone with an existing roof over their head, is one less property opportunity for someone to acquire a home. Another article of boomer sentiment to continue to push up asset prices regardless of the well-being of future generations, and further dividing Australia into the haves and have-nots. Duncan Cameron, Lane Cove
After reading the article by Noel Whittaker, I have to ask, why did Labor take that policy to the election under Bill Shorten? Peter Nelson, Moss Vale
What’s best for students? Politicians have no idea
Wayne Duncombe accurately describes the thorough inspectorial system that existed until the Greiner government dismantled it and also destroyed the position of the district school inspector (Letters, February 21). These inspectors had a handful of schools to supervise, they usually knew all the staff by name, regularly visited their schools to conduct promotion list inspections and developed a professional rapport with principals and teachers that could deal with issues before they became a disaster. The role of inspectors changed repeatedly after 1988; always increasing the workload, the number of schools to supervise and complexity and nature of the role. This severed any close educational relationship or deep knowledge of their schools. Again proving that politicians have little understanding of what produces improvements in educational outcomes. Mark Berg, Caringbah South
Politicians should leave teaching to teachers Credit: iStock
The decline of all measured standards of our students can be fixed by improving the quality and number of our teachers. In 2022, Labor committed to addressing the shortage of teachers by reducing the ATAR requirements for entry into university programs. However, this strategy, coupled with financial incentives, may boost the number of teachers but does not necessarily guarantee an improvement in quality.
To attract high-calibre individuals to the profession, a more effective approach would be to elevate teachers’ salaries. Rather than relying on short-term incentives, a sustainable solution involves demonstrating that teaching can offer comparable long-term financial rewards to other professional careers. One viable method is to link compensation to performance, measured through outcomes in both NAPLAN and ATAR. Establishing a fund that rewards teachers based not only on overall results but also on the year-over-year improvement in test scores could foster a sense of teamwork and inclusivity. This approach would benefit staff in economically-disadvantaged communities. With approximately 250,000 teachers in public primary and secondary schools, a 15 per cent bonus pool distributed proportionally among their salaries would amount to around $4 billion annually, a reasonable cost to enhance the overall quality of our nation’s education. John Kempler, Rose Bay
Wayne Duncombe must live in a different universe from me. When I started teaching at 18, no one came near me for three years until the Inspector turned up to review me for my certificate, in a brief hour of set lessons. I think you would have had to have the kids climbing the walls not to pass. Assistant principal jobs in primary schools came from interviews where the applicant’s principal would give a glowing report if they wanted to get rid of them or a poor report if they wanted to keep them. Principals would get reviewed yearly by the inspector, who never asked to meet even the executive of the school to get their opinion of the principal’s performance. Every interview seemed to go well. Hopefully all this has changed. Rosslyn Jeffery, Castle Hill
Propping up property industry
The usual selfish calls from the lobbyists in the property industry illustrates all that is wrong with housing in Australia; the exploitation of housing as a money-making scam devoid of social planning (“Pledge to build 1.2 million homes needs a major renovation: Property Council”, February 21). They want massive handouts to developers for kneejerk projects with a nod to affordability. They want imported workers to build housing, rather than training our kids by improving apprenticeship systems. The Perth project is an example of the incredible waste when using public money to pay developers to build so-called affordable housing; $89 million for 216 apartments, half of which would be social or affordable. We need planned, government built and owned affordable housing, not a scam to prop up a rapacious property industry with taxpayers’ money. Barry Laing, Castle Cove
It’s pleasing to read that the NSW government isn’t rushing the sale of land needed for essential public infrastructure such as open space, hospitals and schools (“Land audit yet to reveal new sites”, February 21). Those of us with long memories well remember the then NSW government push in the 1990s to sell off inner west public schools; those schools are now full to overflowing. All this points to the need for good long-term planning, including for essential public infrastructure, among which should be included public housing, which is the real absent level of housing in our city. As for vacant land or sites with unused potential, a dozen buildings in my suburb have been empty for years and the whole of the Marrickville Road shopping strip has been re-zoned for up to eight stories since 2011 with only one housing development completed in that time. I can only presume developers are either banking on a further lift in height allowances from the NSW government, or they don’t believe their rate of profit is sufficient. Colin Hesse, Marrickville
Big gap
So, after all these years, “Mind the Gap” doesn’t work (“Mind the gap: fillers fitted for safety of rail commuters”, February 21). Tim Schroder, Gordon
Speak loud
Advocates of reform, Julian Assange and Alexei Navalny, have both felt the heartless cruelty of the governments they sought to expose and change (“Assange ‘unlikely to take plea deal’”, February 21). Vladimir Putin, along with his government, murders those who oppose them. Australia’s Assange is our nation’s Navalny, yet we hear only muted, softly worded, diplomatic mumblings from the Albanese government and the Australian media. When will the Australian government speak loud and forceful truth to power and demand Assange’s release from the Americans? Michael Davis, Balmain East
On ABC news this morning, in reference to Julian Assange, Richard Marles said that “Julian has been in detention a long time and you can’t keep people in detention indefinitely” - that is, unless you come to Australia on a boat. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)
Let’s share the rage with Yulia Navalnaya. Jane Armitage, Mosman
Yulia NavalnayaCredit: Reuters Pool
Job inopportunities
The Suncorp chair’s statement that “our people will have a broader range of banking career opportunities under ANZ” is highly questionable given ANZ’s track record of 253 branch closures in the years 2018-21 alone (“ANZ clears key hurdle for Suncorp takeover bid”, February 21). The treasurer should carefully consider whether any further concentration in banking is desirable.
Dierk Mohr, Turramurra
Light touch
The business model for casinos of the magnitude of those in Sydney and Melbourne depend upon a very light touch from regulators (“Star shares crash after shock call for new inquiry”, February 21). That light touch has allowed casinos in Sydney and Melbourne to become giant edifices producing substantial profits for shareholders but with substantial operating costs that leave little room for profit without the benefit of money laundering and the patronage of problem gamblers. A regulatory and enforcement environment no longer conducive to the long-standing business model will need to be resisted and circumvented by executives whose remuneration is incentive-based. Good luck to anybody trying to change this “culture”. Ross Hannah, Bowral
Car pollution
Your correspondent (Letters, February 21) said following the analysis of air quality in underground train stations that we don’t need more commuters to “travel by car”. And yet vehicle tailpipe pollution is a long known and much bigger killer. The Herald reported last year that it causes up to 11,000 premature deaths every single year in Australia. Nearly ten times the annual road toll!
Despite the magnitude and pervasiveness of that health risk, people mostly shrug their shoulders and meekly accept it. Where’s the outrage? Brendan Jones, Annandale
Self-checkout
Looks like Woolies has added another self-checkout (“Woolies boss Brad Banducci’s retirement wasn’t expedited, says chair”, smh.com.au, February 21). Laurie Fraser, Blaxlands Ridge
Not so long ago it was Alan Joyce, the CEO of Qantas who stepped down; now it is Brad Banducci, the CEO of Woolies. The important question is: will the corporate culture now actually change? Are prices now actually going to come down? Let’s see how Coles reacts. Or doesn’t. Shaun Davies, St Peters
Great films
Trying to name the greatest rock movie is as impossible as naming the most laudable album ever recorded. A lot of it has to do with hype; as a fan of every artist that appears on The Last Waltz I’m afraid to say there are other movies that are better and more exciting to see such as Summer of Soul about a music festival held in Harlem during 1969 at the same time of Woodstock. It attracted hundreds of thousands as well but went largely unreported due to probably being attended by mostly African Americans. Although it was filmed to be released later, no one seemed interested and stored away to be rediscovered 50 years later. Nina Simone and Sly and the Family Stone are some of the sensational artists featured. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
Joni Mitchell and Neil Young performing with The Band.
Rolling stone
How appropriate that your excellent article (“The greatest rock movie ever?”, February 21) should be written by Bill Wyman. No not that one, the other one. Clare Raffan, Campsie
Just the tonic
I am working in Paediatric Emergency 2pm until midnight (Letters, February 21). A gin and tonic at 7pm would be lovely for me but not so great for my patients, whom I am paid to look after. Why do the same standards not apply to politicians? Jo Rainbow, Orange
Taylor’s example
Your correspondent asks how TayTay’s “wearing skimpy costumes empowers women and girls” (Letters, February 21). It’s not the costumes. It is the music, the philanthropy, the positive lifestyle choices. Nick Andrews, Bellevue Hill
Police report on the Taylor Swift concerts in Melbourne with around 300,000 fans: no drunken fights, no trashing anything, not a single arrest. Majority of TayTay fans? - young women.
Maggie Ramsay, Woolloomooloo
Total control
The letter on gloved traffic control reminds me of the traffic constable positioned at the intersection of Macquarie and Bridge Streets years ago, who was so appreciated by drivers that there was some sort of public farewell when he retired (Letters, February 21). Doug Crawford, Cheltenham
Barista boy
The Aqua Girls at Annette Kellerman’s Aquatic Centre are spoiled by their barista (“My favourite coffee shop hates me. Why do I go back?”, February 21). He knows all of our names, likes and dislikes and boy oh boy is he hot.
Chrissie Whitlock, Earlwood
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