Could someone please remind me what we get from our alliance with America (“PM books urgent call with Trump to spare Australia from new tariffs”, February 11)? So far, it has cost us the following: Four wars, at least one of which was illegal, costing us lots of blood, PTSD victims and national wealth; making Australia a nuclear target through Pine Gap, North West Cape and recently the basing of B52 nuclear bombers at Tindal airbase; $800 million just last weekend to subsidise the US military-industrial complex and a further $366 billion in future for subs, which we will probably never get; and to rub our noses in it, our steel and aluminium exports will be slapped with a 25 per cent tariff. It is time our sycophantic leaders gave up on the dream that if nuclear war ever breaks out, our great and powerful ally will give two hoots about our defence. If the US goes ahead with its tariffs, we should ban all American imports and scrap the AUKUS deal immediately. While we’re at it, we must close Pine Gap, North West Cape and Tindal airbase to all American personnel. Douglas Williamson, Wamberal
Anthony Albanese called Donald Trump about his proposed tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium.Credit: Michael Howard
While we hope Donald Trump changes his mind on his proposed tariffs, there is no certainty he will. If he doesn’t, Australia must be prepared to put heavy pressure on him. Large, profitable American companies have been evading Australian taxes for decades by using transfer pricing. We must consider imposing a turnover tax, similar to VAT, rather than the usual tax on company profits. This is one of the few ways that we could bring pressure on Trump to rescind his tariffs without damaging our economy. Alex Springall, Westleigh
Should Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium go ahead, the most appropriate response would be to target products made from those very materials with counter-tariffs on all American-made vehicles, including trucks, utes, cars and motorcycles. After all, there are viable alternatives in all those vehicle categories, and it would be a good thing to reduce the influx of the monstrous pick-ups as a bonus. David Jenkins, Casey (ACT)
I suggest an immediate 50 per cent tariff on big American-made utility vehicles. It seems like a win for Australian motorists, our roads and the environment. Greg Phillipson, Aranda (ACT)
It appears that the northern hemisphere’s embryonic new fuhrer intends to ruin our trade relationship with the US despite us buying 10 times more stuff from them than they buy from us, and the billions we have put into refurbishing their rust-bucket shipyards. Well, that leaves us only one real choice if we are going to respect the sovereignty of our nation and stop being a mindless satrap to an aspiring colonial empire. The PM has little choice but to tell orange man where to put AUKUS and remove all his spy and military bases from our continent. He has declared war on us economically. America is no longer an ally or a friend. JJ Goold, Mudgeeraba (Qld)
American consumers and local industries will pay the price for Trump’s tariff frenzy. They will also pay more for local products facing less competition from imports. Also, imports will decline as tariff rates rise, reducing Trump’s revenue take. In some cases, these tariffs may choke off all imports, at which point his precious revenue will fall to zero. Fortunately, for countries such as Australia, the imports diverted away from the US will tend to become cheaper as exporters chase additional sales. Garry White, Lindfield
Australia has just given $800 million to the US government as a down payment on our massive AUKUS bill, with billions more to come later. Personally, I would rather our taxes were spent at home on people who need support, such as those with disabilities. The average funding amount under the NDIS is $64,400 a person. If we had used that $800 million we could have funded another 12,500 participants in the NDIS at the “average” level. Suresh Rajan, Stirling (WA)
Is there some way that we can cancel that $800,000,000 cheque to the US, as well as that idiotic AUKUS deal? Anne Ring, Coogee
It’s an interesting way for a friend and ally to act. Trump eagerly accepts wodges of dollars from Australia for submarines that are not even started yet, then slaps 25 per cent tariffs on Australian steel exports. Do we react honestly and risk further “sanctions” or shut up and be labelled as a push-over? Marjie Williamson, Blaxland
Maybe we should have waited to make our payment on the submarines until the tariff matters had been finalised. Helen Howes, Collaroy
Purely political
The opposition’s heckling of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus during yesterday’s question time is proof positive that their posturing on Israel and Gaza is purely based on political expediency rather than any genuine feeling for the tragic situation in the Middle East (“Dreyfus blasts ‘disgusting’ opposition attempt to gag him”, February 11). Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill
By heckling and trying to silence Mark Dreyfus while he was speaking about the politicising of antisemitism, the Coalition was doing exactly that. Their lack of insight also beggars belief. Mark Porter, New Lambton
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said it was “disgusting” the opposition sought to silence him while speaking about antisemitism.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
So the Coalition is calling for Kevin Rudd to be sacked as Australia’s ambassador to the US. They claim that Rudd’s negative comments about Trump in the past will hamper his ability to be an effective ambassador. Well, well, what about J.D. Vance, who has also made disparaging comments about Trump in the past? Trump’s reaction? He made him vice-president. Go for it, Kevin. Ruth Holmes, Crows Nest
Scamps’ bill a practical solution
Kudos to independent MP Sophie Scamps for offering a “wellbeing of future generations bill” (“Teal names her terms for support in a hung parliament”, February 11). Our duty of care to young people in the face of climate, cost-of-living, housing and mental health crises could not be more apparent. That the major parties snub younger generations is both baffling and heartbreaking. The practical solutions offered by independent MPs like Scamps are appreciated by parents like me. More, please. Amy Hiller, Kew (Vic)
Sophie Scamps is right on the money calling for a review of our Petroleum Resource Rent Tax and into how much revenue is being collected from the sale of Australia’s resources. It has been reported that no royalties are paid on 73 per cent of the gas exported from Western Australia, with figures suggesting that if fossil fuel companies were forced to pay a reasonable amount of tax, the government would be able to balance the budget easily. As integrity also lies at the heart of a community independent’s campaign, and has been shown to be a key concern of constituents in these electorates, it would be hard to support a major party that runs a disinformation- and smear-based campaign clearly based on lies. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
Women’s health matters
After reading the article by Jamila Rizvi about medical neglect of women’s health, I firmly believe the government’s welcome change of attitude comes from the top (“Healthcare changes will shift the dial for women like me”, February 11). We now finally have a government with a gender balance, so women’s problems are being recognised and changes made to help. The problem has been ignored by all previous male-dominated parliaments. Mary Cameron, Brisbane
Correspondent Carmel Kenniff criticises the Albanese government for not doing enough for women’s health in regional areas of NSW (Letters, February 11). I noticed the area she is talking about has had a National Party member in government for the majority of this century. Perhaps she should be asking them why they didn’t fix this issue when they had the power to do so, and what the party’s policy is if it wins the next election. Geoff Teys, Chippendale
Carmel Kenniff makes a valid point. Basics, like hospitals and doctors for all, needs to be addressed before funding for HRT. It appears that Labor has let down our country cousins with women having to travel vast distances to see a doctor, or having to wait weeks for an appointment. This Labor government has been very city-centric in all their thinking, and our rural people miss out again. Pamela Shepherd, Balgowlah
I didn’t think it was the role of the federal government to maintain regional hospitals. I guess I need a course in civics. Maybe others do. Perhaps we all do. Peter Butler, Wyongah
Pride in Penny
I object to George Brandis’ argument that Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong “sold Israel down the river in the United Nations” (“Beware of the Trojan Horse of hate laws” February 10). Of the 181 member states of the UN General Assembly, 124 voted overwhelmingly to support a resolution demanding an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. I’m proud as an Australian that my country did not follow America, which was one of only 14 nations that vetoed the resolution. I gratified that we have a government that can stand independently on the world stage, and thanks to Penny Wong for representing Australia so articulately. Christina Foo, Wahroonga
Penny Wong did a great job representing Australia at the UN, a reader writes. Credit: Nine
Buttrose colourblind
I read with astounded disbelief that former ABC chairperson ItaButtrose, in answer to a courtroom question about sacked journalist Antoinette Latouff’s ethnicity, answered: “People’s colour doesn’t really worry me at all.” I ask how does one’s ethnicity relate to one’s colour? Buttrose needs to have a quiet moment of introspection and consider how these two match up. Michael Doumani, Randwick
Rates of anger
I read the article in Tuesday’s Herald and was gobsmacked that the person quoted said they paid only $1305 annually (“Sack them all” after North Sydney Council votes for 87% rate rise”, February 11). Come and live in the Bega Valley, where rates are on average $4000. Then you might have something to complain about. Even if your rates rose 100 per cent, you’d still be paying a lot less than us. Get a grip. Kath Miller, Tura Beach
North Sydney Council’s residential rates are still well below those of our (quite good) local Wollondilly council ($1922.14), despite the relative affluence of North Sydney. Rather than sack the local council or have the government bail them out, perhaps it’s time for the good burghers of the lower north shore to join the rest of us at rates time. Andrew McDonald, Menangle
Tree of life
Records show that the Bowie House in Bayview traded in 2021 for $6.5 million (“Tiny house plan hit by big tree-cut bill”, February 11). The owner wants to erect a “tiny home” for more than $500,000 and is upset that to do so two trees will need to be removed and replaced with biodiversity offsets of $55,000 – apparently the “cost of living crisis” spares no one. But on a happier note, should the project be shelved and a renovation of the main residence proceed, the trees will remain, no offsets needed. All the bird and animals that use tree hollows to nest and breed still have a home. A win-win situation. Dorin Suciu, Eleebana
Burnt by tax
For decades, Australians have been encouraged to use sunscreens (“Slip, slop and slap on the tax” February 11). Now the ATO could ruin all the work of the health professionals and others by imposing GST on products that are not primarily promoted as sunblock. Philippa Reiss, Port Macquarie
Instead of tightening up on sunscreen products for GST purposes, maybe the ATO and government could look at the unfairness of taxing textbooks, which are used for educational purposes. Surely with increased tertiary student debt and high rents, a more expansive interpretation of the provision of education is needed. Students do vote. Michael Blissenden, Dural
The ATO is considering imposing GST on products that are not primarily promoted as sunblock.
Hard lesson
I taught history civics for years at a boys’ comprehensive high school (“Push for civics lessons amid rise in antisemitic attacks”, February 10). Most popular was the history of Australia’s involvement in overseas wars, feminism – especially when we discussed burning constrictive underwear and listened to the song I Am Woman sung by Lady Gaga. Aboriginal history was a bit of a chore for them, despite discussing Keating’s Redfern address and Rudd’s apology to the stolen generation. The one Aboriginal hero they were able to relate to was Archie Roach, using his music and a film about him provided by a fellow student whose father worked for the ABC. However, by far the least favourite lessons for the boys were those about how government works in Australia. It was extremely difficult to make this an exciting subject for teenage boys. They understood it, but found it quite uninspiring compared with Gallipoli and burning the bra. Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh
Blissful ignorance
Anyone looking for an example of “unintended irony” has only to consider the statement of US President Donald Trump while in his plane after the Super Bowl that “people in Gaza looked like Holocaust survivors”. Well, quite. One needs say no more about it. Explaining the irony to Trump would be a fruitless exercise. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights
“Boy”, or should I say “man”, what a shake up in Washington DC. Not since the days of FDR has there been so much done in so little time. But hopefully, by the midterm elections in 2026, Trump supporters will probably drop off (due to the high inflation caused at home due to Trump’s unrealistic tariffs) and the elections will be a landslide for Democrats. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga
Profit marginal
As a rental property owner, I would be delighted to see my “profit” limited to 15 per cent above expenses, as suggested by correspondent Tom Orren (Letters, February 11). On a small suburban house, let to the same family for more than 20 years, land tax takes 63 per cent of the rent, and the agent, council, water and insurance increases this to 79 per cent. There’s only 21 per cent left for maintenance, depreciation and mortgage interest. A 15 per cent profit would be wonderful.
William Lloyd, Denistone Behind the times
Behind the times
Is that what it is (“Always running late? You might be experiencing time blindness”’, February 11)? There I was thinking I had a severe case of putting everything off until the last minute. I feel so much better now that my condition has a respectable name. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills
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