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Credit: Cathy Wilcox
PLANNING
The Premier is free to present herself as spokesperson of young Victorians who are struggling to rent, let alone buy a home.
Unfortunately, it is very misleading to present this housing crisis as something that sprang from nowhere in 2024 and that is only solvable with urgent and mandatory high-rise.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) regularly publishes projections of Australia’s future population.
In November 2018, its medium scenario for projections stated that in 2024 Australia’s population would be 27.6 million and Victoria’s population would be 7.3 million.
In March 2024, Australia’s population was 27.1 million and had grown 0.6 million in the past year, so it is probably 27.4 million now.
The ABS projections are remarkably accurate, especially given the disruptive effect of the pandemic.
So, the Andrews/Allan government has had six years to get ready; to organise a response that meets community priorities. They didn’t.
They have allowed a crisis to develop that was completely foreseeable. Now they want us to believe that they are competent to organise a response. They aren’t.
Alun Breward, Malvern East
We don’t need a slowdown, we need a halt
As a parent, I support Premier Jacinta’s Allan’s plea to help our children find homes (Comment, “Brighton, I want you to know that I’m not a blocker. I’m a builder”1/11). Yes, new houses are needed. But the main challenge they face is the extreme competition for them – and hence unaffordable prices – driven by our increasing population.
In the year to March, the number of people living in Australia – and wanting homes – grew by over 600,000, of which 500,000 was from net migration.
What our children need is a halt, not just a slowdown, to this unprecedented growth. It is denying them places to live.
It is also degrading the amenity of our cities, adding to the infrastructure backlog, increasing carbon emissions and eroding the natural environment.
Ian Penrose, Kew
Can’t see the forest, or the trees
There has been much talk by the state government for the need for more housing.
Whilst it’s true we are facing a housing crisis, we are concurrently facing a climate crisis, yet there has been no recent discussion about how we will green our cities and grow Melbourne’s tree canopy cover.
It isn’t possible to maintain the level of tree canopy cover in Melbourne, yet alone increase it, with the scale of development proposed by the state government.
As trees are removed from private land for developments, there is insufficient space on public land to plant the required number of replacement trees.
Trees play a vital role in cooling our cities. As well as setting housing targets, the state government needs to set tree canopy targets and explain how they will achieve this.
Yvonne Bowyer, Surrey Hills
THE FORUM
The quality of trust
A letter to the editor (1/11) was one of a number addressing public trust. One correspondent said, “Only when the rule of law is applied to all will my confidence be restored.”
There is a lot more to trust than the law. First is honesty and transparency – one can hide behind the law to avoid both, especially the latter. Second is objective evidence that supports decisions on matters that have no clear legal and specific direction in the first place.
A key issue with the pandemic lockdowns was, even though decrees from health authorities were legal, a few were not necessarily evidence-based and were not monitored in a timely fashion to see if they were effective.
On the ABC recently, Nick Coatsworth (an infectious diseases expert) said he could not readily find evidence that supported the initial travel limitations as an effective means of reducing spread. His view was that an assessment of its benefit should have been made after some months, and if not clearly effective, it should have been suspended earlier.
The other issue with the pandemic was lack of feasibility of the “quarantining” of contacts. In Shepparton we saw so many people confined to home, that there were too few people to stock supermarkets and deliver food to those who needed it. Obviously, it was not practical. Good decisions based on experience and observation are what drives trust, and what provides the best basis for law.
Graeme Young, Wheelers Hill
Never a free lunch
The current brouhaha about politicians’ complimentary lounge memberships and flight upgrades has reflected poorly on both sides of the chamber. The pollie perks need to stop. Companies only provide this largesse in the hope of influencing those who make important decisions on behalf of others. That is why doctors were forced to stop accepting hospitality and even branded stationery from drug companies. There is indeed no such thing as a free lunch.
Steve Trumble, Aireys Inlet
Politicians’ bad manners
Our politicians appear to have abandoned any pretense of having a moral compass as they stampede towards Qantas chairman’s lounge. The common belief seems to be that if they declare that their snouts are in the trough, then the voting public will not notice their total lack of table manners.
Hardly surprising that people are deserting the major parties.
Mike Francis, Fitzroy
Not above the law
The article ″Road rage outside prestigious school snares top cop in corruption probe″ (1/11) supports the principle that nobody is above the law; not a member of Victoria Police, not a qualified legal practitioner, or a parent doing the school run.
Caryn Auld, Point Cook
A life without super
Re “Aussie super funds racked up $12b in expenses” (1/11). This figure needs a little context.
There are 30,000 GPs in Australia and they get paid about $250,000 a year. This means about $7.5 billion in salaries in total. Keep in mind GPs have to syringe your ears, lance your boils, tell you your mother has Alzheimer’s, sign death certificates. Oh, and save your life.
I imagine working as a functionary in a super fund is a lot less challenging than being a GP. It certainly takes a lot less education and judgment.
In what universe should it cost 50 per cent more to run super than a nation’s doctors?
Try living without doctors and then compare this to life without super.
Anthony Kitchener, South Melbourne
Range anxiety
I have just finished a trip viewing the Silo Art trail over three days travelling more than 700 kilometres to and from Horsham in an electric car.
I researched the availability of EV chargers online before departing, and any range anxiety was dispelled by chargers being shown at enough intervals that if one was not functioning, I would have enough power to get to the next one.
The charging for the first half of the trip was without incident with tap-on function using chargers operated by Elvie and RACV/Chargefox with standard plugs and integrated cable.
On the second half of the trail, the charger at Hopetoun was not working, but I had ample charge to get to the next charger at Rainbow. However, it was a type with a different connection requiring a separate cable (which was not available) and which had not been apparent online. Anxiety became sky-high when the next charger was also effectively unavailable for want of a separate cable, and on further inquiry the same for the next two chargers.
We cut across country and made it to Kaniva where the charger there was fortunately standard type.
When electric cars are encouraged for valid environmental reasons, then ease of charging should be facilitated with a mandatory standard connection. That is no more than the expectation of a driver of a car with an internal combustion engine at any petrol station.
Ian Pitt, Brighton
History repeats
It’s routine now. The script is set. Israel bombs a residential building in Gaza (“Scores killed in ‘horrifying’ blast”, 31/10). Many are killed, children included. Outrage is expressed. Explanations are called for. Israel says the building was hiding terrorists. The US expresses concern. An investigation is promised. Time for a repeat.
Tom Knowles, Parkville
Take time
Thank you, Tony Wright for a superb article (“Kiss and go’, the drop-off sign at Auburn South Primary advises. But not today”) about the tragedy at Auburn South Primary School. I have lived in the street behind the school for more than 40 years and have seen many thousands of cars over those years at drop-off and pick-up times.
The cars have got bigger and more powerful in that time and although not the cause of this accident do impede the views often for pedestrians and other drivers. I urge all of us drivers to take special care and slow down.
Life has got busy and many of us are trying to fit so much into our lives. This terrible tragedy may be a reminder to us to appreciate all those illusive precious little moments that are what life is really about.
Thinking of the Davey family and the families of the other children who were injured and the myriad people this tragedy has affected deeply. Give them strength to deal with the enormous challenges they will be facing for a long time to come.
Kerin Tulloch, Hawthorn
Hell-bent, men
Madison Griffiths got it right (″Women’s bodies are back at the mercy of men and their ’consciences‴, 31/10). Are we never to be free of men dictating how we must live? We fought for decades for abortion rights and thought the question was settled. Are men hell-bent on forcing us back to back-yard abortionists? Again? Back off, fellas. Look after your own bodies; we are more than capable of making decisions about ours.
Wendy Baker, Lilydale
The frog simmers
It was good to read the positive responses to Tim Winton’s article (30/10). Yes, we need to cut growth which means maybe not capitalism. Many people acknowledge climate change but then fly to Europe, possibly using some green-wash offsets. The tourism industry is huge and involves burning a lot of fossil fuels. We are to expect further disasters.
We have to change our lives, which is big, but maybe it’s the frog in the heating water. People won’t speak up or join to do something until it becomes too uncomfortable.
Chris Hooper, Castlemaine
Grander designs
Megan Backhouse inspires us with the restoration to grandeur (“Greyleigh is just a wonder of dilapidation and delight”, 1/11) Big ideas indeed. But those same ideas can apply to small gardens. Beautifying spaces benefits nature and our mood, no matter the size. The urgency is even greater with climate change challenging our traditional planting methods. Placing greenery strategically can maximise the aesthetics as well as forming some buffer from rising temperatures. Whether restoring or tending a garden, there is joy to be brought.
Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Frequent flyers
Senator Bridget McKenzie should check the colour-coded spreadsheet to see which flights were freebie upgrades.
George Reed, Wheelers Hill
Not long ago, it was “Utegate”, last week “Housegate” and as we suffer through “Flightgate”, we are left to wonder if a “Gardengate” will lead us up “the garden path”.
Kim Kaye, Surrey Hills
No, prime minister, Labor is not held to higher standards than Liberals. All politicians are just held to, dare I say it, community standards.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
When Gina provides a jet for Peter Dutton, is the travel a tax deduction for Hancock prospecting?
Barry Toll, Pipers Creek
Politicians seem to have paraphrased the one rule from the movie Fight Club. They seem to believe that the rule is ″You don’t talk about the Qantas club″.
Peter Roche, Carlton
The question before the house is, have you ever accepted a favour because you were a member of parliament? Those who say no, to the left and those who say yes, to the rort.
Kevan Porter, Alphington
Be careful what you wish for. If politicians aren’t upgraded, they could be seated next to you in economy
Denis Evans, Coburg
ABC
ABC viewing is down around five per cent. I would have thought more, when there are antique episodes of Antiques Roadshow and Hard Quiz every night, yet it dropped The Drum, a successful program.
Francis Bainbridge, Fitzroy North
A news bulletin on the ABC referred to children as ‘kiddies’. This is unconscionable. Have all its grammatical standards been discarded?
Meg Paul, Camberwell
Furthermore
Trump driving a garbage truck. Oh, the irony.
Mark Tomkinson, Bridgetown, WA
Spring question. Why are yellow-tailed black cockatoos pruning all my red bottlebrush shrubs?
Ian Powell, Glen Waverley
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