Labor is offering very modest tax cuts, the Liberals are offering temporary fuel excise cuts (“Dutton’s $6b plan to slash fuel excise”, March 27). Both major parties are simply spending to win votes, with no real policy or future fixes. People expect government help in many areas like education, health, housing and welfare. What this country needs is real tax reform. Major corporations and large mining companies make enormous profits and pay very little tax. Tax evasion is rife in the small business world with the old “less for cash” lure from trades and small retail. Our major parties are dull and lazy and have no meaningful policy fixes for our future. We deserve better. Mark Nugent, Lugarno
Peter Dutton has come up with a winner with the fuel excise cut – an immediate benefit for all those struggling with the cost of living. What is needed now is a rethink of the nuclear power pledge. There is no need for nuclear plants to be taxpayer-funded and owned. There are expert builders and operators across the world who could give Australia nuclear power, for a cleaner and cheaper energy future. Just invite them in based on a tender model. The Coalition needs to look at this urgently as they are very exposed to a Labor scare campaign based on costs under the Coalition’s government-developed and owned model. Ian Morison, Forrest (ACT)
Credit: Joe Benke
Dutton’s proposal to cut the cost of fuel excise will just be another step to encourage more dangerous and generally unnecessarily oversized monster car-trucks on our already congested roads. It seems rather warped at a time when we should be aiming to reduce emissions. Martin Frohlich, Adamstown Heights
There’s one way to get cheaper petrol without waiting for Dutton to lower the fuel excise. In Katoomba, all you have to do is head west on the Great Western Highway and by the time you reach Bathurst petrol is 20¢ to 30¢ a litre cheaper. In the other direction heading into Sydney, the train beats the car for price every time. Nick Franklin, Katoomba
Any fuel policy that gives the biggest benefit to those who use the most fuel per kilometre travelled, namely owners of dual cab utes and American pick-up trucks, deserves contempt. A lump sum subsidy would give everyone the same level of financial relief and they could spend it as they saw fit. However, in the case of petrol society has been trying for decades, and legislating, to reduce vehicle fuel use per kilometre, not encourage it by lowering prices. Peter Campbell, Corlette
How can people be so childlike in their excitement over fuel discounts and taxes, rather than overall government plans? The fuel excise pays for roads, among other important things. As for tax cuts, what about putting that money towards including dental care in Medicare? A bag of sweets lasts a few moments, leaving you with a stomach ache. Remember that when voting, regardless of who offers you the biggest bag. Rosslyn Jeffery, Castle Hill
It’s clear that Dutton has an integrated set of policies: the cost of petrol will fall, so those people no longer permitted to work from home will be very happy. Peter Hill, East Ballina
At last, a tax cut that means something. A cut to fuel excise isn’t just about what the individual pays at the pump. It should mean lower transport costs, providing an indirect benefit of lower prices. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill
Policy deficit
Peter Dutton, lacking originality, seems to be borrowing from the Trump-Musk playbook – throw out a headline-grabbing number, in this case 40,000 public service jobs, and hope it lands (“Dutton targets public servant jobs”, March 27). That’s roughly half the Canberra workforce. Has he done the work to find where those so-called inefficiencies are? Or was 40,000 just plucked out of the air, a round number that sounded tough? Instead of offering a detailed plan, he goes for shock value. The government’s increase in staff number was made to reduce spending on expensive consultants – a sensible move. Dutton’s approach unsurprisingly looks more like performance politics than policy. Marina Cardillo, Beecroft
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.Credit: Oscar Colman
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has really outdone himself. First, he states the Coalition will repeal the government’s proposed tax cuts, so does he really care about fixing the cost of living “crisis”? Second, he claims that attrition will play a very significant role in the loss of 40,000 Canberra-based public service jobs. Is he serious? It’s half the Canberra public service workforce. This is the man Dutton is proposing as his treasurer. Given the lack of substance to anything Dutton and Taylor say, I suggest you follow the well-known Coalition mantra: “If you don’t know, vote no.” Tim Overland, Castle Hill
Their photos face each other on either side of a page of today’s Herald – same posture, same blue suit, white shirt and conservative tie, almost identical spectacles and most worrying of all, both with their hands out and palms upward (“Albanese and Dutton bidding for your vote, and hang the price”, March 27). Is this the agreed new presentation for prime ministerial candidates? Tweedledee and Tweedledum? I guess it makes a change from the well-worn hard hats and fluoro vests that we’ve become so used to. Nedra Orme, Neutral Bay
People before power
It’s abundantly clear that Donald Trump and his team are morally bankrupt dunces (“Stupidity undermines our security”, March 27). Those who voted for Trump should hang their heads in shame. The question now is whether Aussie voters will be more discerning. Morality and integrity are under attack worldwide as never before. The challenge is to look beyond the pre-election sweeteners of the major parties and focus on what kind of world we want for our children and grandchildren. I’ll be voting for the party that values people more than power and self-interest. Graham Lum, North Rocks
Credit: Cathy Wilcox
The debacle of the security failure in Washington was astounding. Trump’s response was far worse (“Trump dismisses group chat glitch”, March 27). He played it down, saying merely that the bombing was successful. Any other president would have closed the press conference and taken drastic action against those responsible. Heads would have rolled. It shows how little he cares about important matters. Douglas Irvin, Artarmon
To unsubscribe from this war plan email list press “unsubscribe”, or press “ignore” to continue receiving our daily top-secret classified war plan updates (“ Full text of US military group chat scandal revealed”, March 27). Patrick McGrath, Potts Point
It is heartbreaking to read about the latest wrecking ball Trump has wielded against global health. With no regard for the lessons of the world’s connectedness evident during COVID, his action to cut back on vaccine funding for poor countries will also have repercussions in America. The concurrent proposed $12 billion cuts to state health services, which include infection tracking, make the outlook very grim in the event of another pandemic. Louise Dolan, Birchgrove
Let’s fix the NDIS
Unrealistic promises were made in relation to the NDIS, and now any withdrawal of its benefits is political poison (“Senator’s teary speech for son on NDIS”, March 27). Putting delivery in the hands of private profit-seekers is certainly part of the problem. There was never the money to pay for all that could be done for disabled people in an era when billions of dollars of tobacco excise were lost as smokers gave up. Who will be the first to admit that new guidelines for what can realistically be offered need to be drawn up? Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay
Old-school teaching
Congratulations to those comprehensive public high schools who have significantly improved their standing over the past decade (“Revealed: most improved schools”, 26 March). In all cases, the common denominator for this improvement has been the adoption of explicit teaching practices. This is not revolutionary, simply a return to the tried and true methods where the teacher directs the narrative, rather than the student. Those “experts” who presided over the student-centred approach will hopefully now disappear and let the practising teachers get on with the job of being instructors, rather than learning companions. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne
Old-fashioned teaching methods have helped some schools achieve better results.Credit: iStock
Gillard made a difference
In accusing Julia Gillard of “being more about office than ideas”, correspondent Colin Hesse makes the common mistake of ignoring or even erasing female achievements (Letters, March 27). As prime minister of a fractious hung parliament, Gillard had a highly productive term in which 570 bills were passed by the Senate. Her major policy initiatives included the much-maligned Clean Energy Bill, the Mineral Resources Rent Tax, funding for schools in response to the Gonski Review, and the life-changing NDIS. I think it’s appropriate to give credit where it is due and to also give her a big pat on the back for not popping up, like the demon in a pantomime, to comment, criticise or excoriate those who’ve followed her as prime minister – not even the treacherous Kevin Rudd. Merona Martin, Meroo Meadow
Colin Hesse suggests Julia Gillard’s reluctance to speak out as an ex-prime minister may be due to a paucity of policy ideas compared with Hawke and Keating. When assessing her legacy as PM, establishing the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse rates as a significant social and legal achievement. The commission has been an important vehicle for truth-telling for survivors, has led to law reform, delivered a body of research, and forced accountability on institutions with deep pockets which had hitherto blocked it. Under Gillard’s watch, the Gonski funding reforms to education, the NDIS and initial rollout of the NBN were introduced. All this while combating the most vile misogyny from the likes of Alan Jones and Tony Abbott. Kate Lumley, Hurlstone Park
Enjoy responsibly
The Greens senator’s tipping the scales of parliamentary behaviour by smuggling a dead salmon concealed under newspaper copies of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age gives new meaning to the expression “today’s news is tomorrow’s fish (and chips) wrapper” (“Angry senator pulls ‘extinction’s salmon’ stunt”, March 27). Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook
Correspondent Coral Button can maintain her weight loss and improved health by substituting Tasmanian farmed salmon for Australian barramundi and a couple of fish-oil pills (Letters, March 27). It’s a far better option than supporting those foreign-owned companies that are wrecking the environment, murdering Maugean skates and paying little or no tax. Jeffrey Mellefont, Coogee
Coral Button can have her salmon and eat it, too. She just needs to make sure it’s not from Tasmania. Trevor Sheridan, Charmhaven
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young hands the fish to Peter Whish-Wilson during question time at Parliament House.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Dumb and dumber
It seems that these days we don’t learn about things any more, we simply learn where to find the answers (“We’re getting dumber and dumber. Welcome to the idiocracy”, March 27). We are no longer specialists and thinkers, just amateur librarians. When you lose the ability to think deeply, to analyse and to examine alternatives, you become a black-and-white person. If you want to know what that looks like, just look at America. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea
Independent thinkers
Correspondent Grahame Marks overlooks an important and timely point when he attributes the introduction of the four-year fixed term for the Parliament of NSW to the “foresight” of Nick Greiner (Letters, March 27). That important change actually came about as part of an extensive series of measures, known as a “Charter of Reform”, which had been drawn up by a group of independent members (namely John Hatton, Clover Moore and Peter Macdonald) and presented to the Greiner government to address what those independents correctly believed had become an imbalance of power between parliament and the executive government. It is hard to imagine a more compelling argument in favour of more independents in parliament. And it probably explains why diehards like George Brandis are so opposed to the so-called teals, and the extent to which they are gaining traction and popularity. Harvey Sanders, Annandale
Joe’s law
The decision to introduce legislation banning private and public partnerships in hospital services is a welcome move, but it will require an iron will from politicians to push it through (“Joe’s law: Hospital partnerships banned after child’s death”, March 27). As for the political parties that will be opposing this move, we should keep a close watch and come voting time, bear in mind they do not have our best interests at heart. Cristina Corleto, Stanmore
Premier Chris Minns, pictured with Elouise and Danny Massa, announces a ban on public/private partnerships for acute hospitals in New South Wales.Credit: Steven Siewert
Is it ethical to make a profit from health care (or even prisons)? The premise of privatisation is based on the idea of providing services cheaper and more efficiently than the government can. But at what cost? Libby Stock, Cumbalum
Creative feedback
I feel it’s time to stop pretending feedback surveys actually change anything (Letters, March 27) and start using them as a means of quiet and hilarious revolution. Freed from the burden of being unpaid consultants to companies exploiting our largesse, feedback surveys become an opportunity for us to unleash our inner subversive – “19-25-year-old on $500,000 a year who’d prefer not to say” and every “other” option is just begging for some creative writing. And who knows, maybe a feedback survey completed with whimsy and caprice suggesting an organisation could do better by “doing the dishes after completing my delivery” might just spark some joy and playfulness in the hearts of complaints managers, who so clearly need it. Peter Fyfe, Enmore
Wine decline
Your business report on wine retailing is further evidence of the savage way in which the Australian wine industry is being treated by the big players (“Coles axes Vintage Cellars and First Choice Brands”, March 27). Coles’ rebranding using the Liquorland icon is far more than a marketing exercise. It is about the push already under way across the sector to move aside fine wines in favour of sparkling wines, rosé and “party drinks”, where sales are now aimed at the younger generation. A quick reconnaissance of many of the liquor retail giants’ shelves reveals the extent to which many Australian fine wines from world-class labels are no longer being stocked and are only available online. A tragedy is unfolding. Rod Leonarder, Roseville
Art of reach
With an entry fee of $20 for adults and $16 for children, and a restaurant that charges at least $80 per person, the Museum of Contemporary Art is no longer a family destination. I can no longer afford to take my kids there four or five times a year any more. Why am I paying tax dollars for an institution that is now designed for the rich? Todd Hillsley, Homebush
More legroom
Since the demise of the B767 there has been a massive reduction in the use of wide-bodied aircraft on major domestic routes, mainly because the larger wingspans of newer models are unable to fit on many domestic bays. Airlines therefore operate smaller, single-aisle aircraft where the only viable seating configuration in economy is 3-3, adversely affecting both passenger comfort and cabin mobility. Like Peter Thornton (Letters, March 27), I would love a reincarnation of the “glorious B767”, but not just for a better passenger experience. Former 767 pilots of my age, who have no idea how these modern “video-games-with-wings” stay airborne, would feel far more comfortable in the knowledge that, should both the pilots eat the dodgy fish, we could still land the plane and save the day. Col Burns, Lugarno
The Boeing 767’s seat configuration is 2-3-2, making for better accessibility and more comfort.
Hamas on the nose
In his autobiography, Pope Francis writes: “War is folly and its mad development plan is destruction.” It is therefore not surprising that the people of Gaza have started to turn their backs on Hamas, which wants war to continue at any price (“Rare show of dissent against Hamas in Gaza”, March 27). They know too well that this dissent will come at a price, but with sanity and courage the people of Gaza have shown they have what is lacking in Hamas and Netanyahu. They have lost almost everything but still have determination and integrity. Mark Porter, New Lambton
Monopoly for pollies
William Bennett has a point (“Should politicians be banned from owning multiple properties?” March 27). I am amazed that our National Anti-Corruption Commission hasn’t been onto it like a cat onto a Tasmanian salmon. Norman Carter, Roseville Chase
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