It’s a real worry when the prime minister blames the supermarkets for shrinkflation when they don’t manufacture or package the shrinking products (“Albanese announces shrinkflation crackdown”, October 3). He’s got that wrong, just like his proposed plan to target undeveloped supermarket sites. Great planning means looking at infrastructure needs well into the future and that’s what the supermarkets are doing by buying up future sites, something governments are not good at doing – future hospitals, schools, and transport corridors left out of the equation.
Oh, and the “mark the prices up and then deduct the discount” tactic has been used by all retailers for at least the past 20 years so it’s a bit late to get all high and mighty now.
The contribution to price increases caused by the “fuel price cycles” is of greater concern. Those costs flow through to everything we touch. If Anthony Albanese had the guts, he would get the ACCC to do a proper review and call the fuel companies to account. Alan Brown, Mosman
Anthony Albanese will announce new plans to target shrinkflation and its impact on shoppers.Credit: iStock
With shrinkflation so rampant why is it that motor vehicles are going in the opposite direction – with the exception of the latest MX5? Tony Heathwood, Kiama Downs
Bravo to the PM for planning to put the supermarket duopoly on notice about their shrinkflation tactics. Just wondering, does it apply to Dutton’s policies? Alan Egan, Paddington (Qld)
Give peace a chance
The depressing cycles of retaliatory retribution in the Middle East are the nearest thing we have to perpetual motion (“‘Ring of fire’ plan fails Iran”, October 3). No one knows how it started, and we despair of how it might end. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” may be a much-honoured notion in some circles, but it has limits. As Tevye the Milkman put it in Fiddler on the Roof: “Very good, that way the whole world will be blind and toothless.”
Humans are the only species that thinks that by waging war we will bring peace to our world. The species that developed nuclear bombs before we developed solar power. Sadly, we show neither the wit nor the will to escape this self-destructive trait.
Perhaps artificial intelligence will save us. As AI races closer to the singularity when it overtakes us and we enter the looming transhuman era, one can only hope that it displays Tevye’s wisdom and leads us to finally becoming civilised. Brian Haisman, Winmalee
I seriously wonder if what is happening in the Middle East would happen if women were universally in power in those countries, and in the US too. I have reached the point where I have to fast forward through the news reports of the Middle East, which get worse by the day.
If it’s hard to watch, what must it be like to be on the ground? I think of all those people under falling bombs and crushed under rubble or displaced with their futures entirely gone. I also think of all the animals and yes, even the trees, and see awful wholesale destruction becoming bare, lifeless earth. This circular revenge is all utterly pointless and built entirely on ego, religion and a massive overdose of machismo. Could women do this? I know I couldn’t. Judy Hungerford, Kew (Vic)
Welfare, that’s a bit rich
The decision to evict battlers from their Paddington boarding houses to develop luxury homes echoes the eviction of public housing tenants from the Sirius building to develop luxury accommodation for the wealthy (“Battlers paying $200 a week rent in Paddington about to be evicted for luxury houses”, October 2). Is Sydney to become a soulless city where only the well-off can afford to live? Ray Morgan, Maroubra
It’s the same old story. Poor people don’t deserve a desirable location or a water view. In an echo of the Sirius building, long-term tenants will be turfed out of decrepit buildings and rich people will eventually be able to buy a smart address. That’s how things work where there’s a quid to be made. Joan Brown, Orange
Paddington boarding house residents are backed by their neighbours in a bid to save their homes.Credit: Nick Moir
Test for Aunty
That there is nothing new or unusual about institutional, business and community racism in Australia must not be seen to diminish the ABC’s responsibility for racism in its workplace (Letters, October 2). “Everybody else does it” has never been a valid reason for poor behaviour. I know many Australians who are far from racist, being inclusive and all-embracing of our multicultural society.
It is possible to swim against the tide. Aunty has done an excellent job in making our public broadcaster a welcoming and safe place for LGBTIQ+ workers. It is hoped that progress can be made with regard to ethnic, cultural and racial diversity. We can and should expect better from our national broadcaster. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills
Did anyone else comment on the four letters published confirming racism at the ABC were all from people with non-Anglo surnames? Probably they are the ones who know. Megwenya Matthews, North Turramurra
Fountain of youth
Oh, the energy and optimism of youth! Good luck to the new Gen X councillors as they will need both of the above (“Gen Z leaders march into politics”, October 3). Having first been elected to Ryde Council at the age of 46 and having a family and full-time job, I know the demands and the steep learning curve. Done conscientiously the role takes much time and effort. It is to be hoped these younger councillors embrace it fully, engage with their community, and make the difference they desire. Lyn Langtry, East Ryde
Cameron Last, 20, was elected to Ryde Council.Credit: Steven Siewert
I was stunned to read that a private, for-profit company conducted the local government elections for Fairfield and Liverpool councils. Since when did we decide that even the election of governments should be outsourced from the NSW Electoral Commission, whose stated role is to run “independent, fair and accessible elections”? What is more, to give this costly job to what is virtually a monopoly company? A glance at its website, which is full of over-the-top reassurances about the integrity of its process, should ring warning bells that this is not the way to go with our democracy. The expert government service doing this job which is central to democracy, should not be traded off, as the Liberals did with the Land Titles Office central to land dealings. Barry Laing, Castle Cove
Commodity market
Mike Keene (Letters, October 3) notes that negative gearing and affordable housing have happily coexisted since WWII, pointing the finger instead at Peter Costello’s 1999 CGT concessions. Firstly, there was no concession, merely a change to the manner of calculation from complex CPI indexation to a simpler flat rate. But fundamentally, this argument ignores that until 1985 there was no CGT at all. Like all commodities, price increases are a function of an imbalance between supply and demand in the case of housing, generated by demographic shifts and population increase. Bruce Watson, Kirribilli
Down Down with convenience
Regardless of articles by Shane Wright and letters from others about Colesworth and evidence of “gouging” from Allan Fels, a large majority of us continue to shop at these supermarkets (“Face it, we’re addicted to Coles and Woolies”, October 3.)
Why is this so? The answers are obvious. In regional areas, there is often no alternative, and where we live, it’s logistically simpler to do so despite having other choices. Convenience wins every time. It also helps to keep within a strict budget and sometimes avoid temptation. John Flint, St Leonards
Many years ago during a mid-morning tea break at work, I offered colleagues some biscuits, saying they were top-of-the-range Aldi. To which one colleague cried: “Oh no Nick, not Aldi – that’s where the poor people go!” Maybe, but survey after survey has shown that by shopping at the German supermarket you’ll be richer by reducing your annual grocery bill somewhere between 20 and 30 per cent. As your economics correspondent so charmingly puts it, you only have to be arsed. Nick Franklin, Katoomba
PM needs to be a better salesman
Thanks for an interesting article from Niki Savva (“Albanese forgets a golden rule”, October 3). One issue that Niki needs to be taken to task on is her call to Dutton to tell us his energy plans. We do not know what policies Labor is taking to the next election, nor do we know the true costs of renewables. So how is it fair that only Dutton is asked to provide answers? Both parties have no obligation to unveil anything until an election is called. Pamela Shepherd, Balgowlah
The golden rulesCredit: Dionne Gain
You are right Niki Savva, it is definitely time the prime minister reacquainted himself with the concept that less is more. Albanese’s ramblings have become painful to watch and listen to. It’s plain that either his advisers are totally incompetent or, more likely, the man just doesn’t listen. A whiff of arrogance has developed around him of late, and as Einstein once said, “the only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance.” If he continues thus he will do himself, the Labor Party and all Australians a great disservice. Sadly, only Peter Dutton and his ilk will benefit. Donna Wiemann, Balmain
I do not believe for a moment that Anthony Albanese has “treated voters like mugs”, as claimed by Niki Savva. Essentially, the PM has proven himself to be a genuine, compassionate and thoughtful individual who sees his role to look after the wellbeing of all through progressiveness and social equity. However, as the leader of the ALP, Albanese has been exposed as not possessing the vocabulary and powers of expression to clearly articulate his good intentions, which probably leads many to concur with Savva’s assessment.
ALP members and supporters are losing faith in the PM due to lack of action in numerous policy and program areas, while others hear only confusing explanations, not compelling solutions. Albanese has persisted with attempting to be a small target, clearly an ill-advised and failed strategy. The way forward to secure success is not to shy away from controversy, to demonstrate the government is in control and to enliven the electorate with inventive, perhaps risky, plans, that provide hope and enthusiasm about our future. Ross Butler, Rodd Point
Hold fire on EVs
Julia Batch of NRMA Insurance makes the claim that “we see a very similar sort of frequency of fires in EVs as we do in internal combustion engine vehicles” would seem to be at odds with reports from both overseas and Australia (“Call for roadworthy test to include EV batteries”, October 3).
A May 2023 report by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency found vehicles powered by internal combustion engines were 20 times more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles in Sweden. Tesla’s fire data states: “From 2012-2021, there has been approximately one Tesla vehicle fire for every 210 million miles travelled. By comparison, data from the National Fire Protection Association and US Department of Transportation shows that … ICE fires are 11 times more common per million miles driven.” Australian firm EV FIRESAFE reported: “Australia recorded only four electric vehicle battery fires over the period 2010 to June 2023. One was linked to arson. The other three vehicles were parked in structures that burned down and destroyed the vehicles. So it appears these fires didn’t start in the batteries.”
And from an insurer’s point of view, the fact that EVs, especially Model 3 and Y Tesla EVs, are the least stolen of all vehicles should count in their favour, premium-wise. What the Australian consumer needs to boost confidence in EVs are simply the facts. They worked for me. James Walsh, Woronora
Ferry fears
Reading about ongoing steering failures/problems on ferries is a real worry (“Sydney ferry veers off course near Shark Island”, October 3). The Sydney-to-Manly route, passing the heads, can be an exhilarating trip, one that the ferry captain needs to be 100 per cent sure of the steering of his craft. Would it not be better to keep the big, trusted ferries out of retirement for the summer period until the steering problems are all checked, remedied and tested? Marjie Williamson, Blaxland
The Pemulwuy ferry (foreground) is tied up at Balmain shipyard on Wednesday after suffering a serious steering failure.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Go slow zones
Reducing speed limits or extending the duration of 40km/h zones (Letters, October 3) is appealing but not without cost. Increasing transport times measurably reduces GDP and incomes. The current blunt axe of 40km/h zones past all schools for three hours every weekday, even on roads too big for school pick-up or drop-off (eg Pacific Highway, Wahroonga) does significant, unrecognised economic harm – which perhaps Ross Gittins could usefully quantify.
Michael Britt, Macmasters Beach
Airport blues
As well as flying a small plane out of the new western Sydney airport to test the landing lights, officials should schedule some practice flights by large-bodied jets between midnight and 5am to give residents under the new flight paths a foretaste of the enhanced aviation experience arriving for them in 2026 (“First plane to touch down at Sydney’s new international airport”, October 3). Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills
How exciting! New international airport works – small plane lands. Soon the A380s will arrive. And then I’m not sure how it will work. Join a queue to get an old bus to somewhere. Wait on a bleak station platform for a train to somewhere. Take train to Bankstown (line closed here). Get bus to Sydenham. Take a train to Central. Change for train to destination. All buses and trains without provision for your 23kg suitcase. I can’t wait. Jonathan Hornibrook , Newtown
Surprisingly civil
Trump was shown up by his running mate’s surprisingly civil performance in the vice presidential debate and could be excused for wondering whether JD was campaigning for Trump 24 or Vance 28 (“Waltz with the enemy will rile Trump”, October 3)? Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn
At least this debate between vice presidential hopefuls was an actual debate on opposing policies honoured with respect for an opposing view, rather than personal effrontery or character demonisation. There may be hope for the US yet.
Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
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