Knees deep.Credit: Cathy Wilcox
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Businesses would not need to apply surcharges to credit and debit card transactions if the banks did not charge traders commissions as a percentage of card trade (″Ban on card surcharges risks job cuts, price hikes″, 16/7). Banks (recipients of enormous profits) can well afford to offer cards as a free service to traders and shoppers given the very high interest rates charged to the many customers who use cards as a form of borrowing.
Kevan Porter, Alphington
Financial growth must align with wellbeing
The government’s economic roundtable will look at proposals to grow our economy and lift living standards (″Tax reform must protect bottom line: Treasurer″, 15/7), but the two are not necessarily correlated. Growth is a flawed indicator of overall wellbeing, and is detrimental when pursued at the expense of environmental sustainability and social equity. It certainly doesn’t relate to personal happiness. We have had a huge amount of growth since 2000, but housing affordability has rapidly deteriorated, along with environmental capital on which our economy and health ultimately depends. The wellbeing of people and the planet must be integral to any economic decisions if we are to have a viable future.
Jennie Epstein, Little River
Bring on the cash revolution
I refer to your correspondent’s letter (16/7) regarding a bank or banks charging for teller assistance. How dare we ask for face-to-face service? But if we try to not be a pest and instead use our cards to buy goods, a surcharge is applied at the point of sale. That surcharge is also a percentage, as if data for a $200 transaction costs more to process than for a $20 one? Using cash again might be the fight back? The cost to banks of those micro-bits of data running between EFTPOS machines and the banks, is nothing compared to the end cost to them of people paying cash instead. Think of the cost of extra branches to handle the number of traders banking that cash and the extra staff required to handle it. It would be a great public relations exercise if the banks were just grateful for the costs they are saving by our card use.
Gerry Lonergan, Reservoir
Treasurer, how do we do better?
Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised that the Labor government could build 1,200,000 homes by 2029. The number of homes constructed is already tens of thousands under the builds required to meet the target after a year. Considering that it estimated that there will be just under a million immigrants by the end of 2029 the housing crisis is not going to ease.
Chalmers’ response is that we would need to “do better” – blind Freddie could see that. Where are the plans detailing how we do better? There are not enough skilled tradespeople to build, there is not enough developed land to build, there are not enough building materials to construct homes. Forty seven per cent of the building cost is in government taxes and statutory costs – immediately think of 10 per cent GST and superannuation on wages of 12 per cent.
At the same time, Chalmers is under extreme pressure to increase taxes to balance the expenditures being made. Australia is following the economic mayhem that we have in Victoria.
Ross Kroger, Barwon Heads
It’s deja vu all over again
So the treasurer is going to have a powwow with invited guests to talk about tax. It is all very nice until someone suggests that some people might have to pay more. Then the tears and the fireworks start and it all becomes too hard. We need only go back to the Henry Report of 2010 with its many recommendations of which only a few were implemented. Treasurer, deja vu is writ in the skies.
John Rome, Mt Lawley
THE FORUM
Putting youth to use
Ross Gittins (Comment, 16/7) asked the question, “Defence against who?” but the question should be widened to “against what?” Recent emergencies have included bushfires, flooding and pandemics. We expect a lot from our army of volunteers. How about showing our young Australians that not only are they are needed but how they can help. Yes, the topic is National Service. In the past this has always been military service but why not have our young people trained and able to respond to other emergencies. Also, let’s ensure this would be a period of paid employment and a chance to see and experience the more remote parts of this country. And it would be “defence spending” for those concerned about increasing the amount spent on “defence″.
Albert Bland, Boronia
Boots on the ground
In the absence of a land border between Australia and another country it is all too easy to think that, as your correspondent (Letters, 15/7) indicates, future conflicts will be fought with all kinds of satellites, drones and AI-derived weaponry. In case it has escaped anyone’s attention, the war being fought in Ukraine is very much being fought on land by humans. Defence by cyber attack and distant weapons of destruction is inevitable, but so ultimately is defence by foot and by army. Finland, like many other countries (eg, Israel) has conscription to have an armed force on the cheap. Given Australia’s history, the very idea of reintroducing conscription here as a purely defence measure may well be a step too far for any government in the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, our vastly understaffed land army is all the deterrent we have regarding boots on the ground. It is not necessary to have a particular threat in view to boost defence readiness, but it is necessary to be prepared for any eventuality, even if we can only afford 2.3 per cent of gross domestic product.
John Whelen, Box Hill Sth
Too close to home
Your correspondent is right (Letters, 16/7). Imagine the uproar if duck shooters, as happens in regional Victoria, were allowed to frighten families and animals, or if the killing and wounding of wild ducks by shooters was permitted in places such as the Yarra Bank Reserve or Wattle Park in suburban Melbourne.
Malcolm Cameron, Camberwell
A strong voice
Congratulations to The Age Editorial “Silence the response on taxpayers’ money” (16/7). Thank you for being such a strong voice on behalf of Victorian taxpayers. We will all be affected by how this government decides to spend our taxes. Present and future generations need to know and be informed. Increasing taxes has an effect on financial wellbeing. In any other business silence regarding how money is spent would not be acceptable.
Christine Baker, Rosanna
Axe GP priorities
The UK jails people who chop down beloved trees (“Moronic vandals jailed for cutting down iconic Sycamore Gap tree”, 16/7). In Victoria, we are about to chop down even more trees in Albert Park for the benefit of the grand prix. Meanwhile, there are still large fields of mud in the park from the grandstands that went up last December. Perhaps a review of our priorities is due.
Paula O’Brien, St Kilda
Hollow threat
What a joke it is with Donald Trump issuing a 50-day warning to Vladimir Putin. Just like his tariffs, Putin knows Trump will change his mind. If he is fair dinkum then institute the changes immediately. Trump himself must know, as all of us do, that Putin will ignore any threats and then drag out any response anyway. Then of course, Trump may have to negotiate any private deals done previously.
Michael McKenna, Warragul
Embrace wave power
Peter Hartcher (“Green metals, Australia’s power play”, 15/7) highlights key factors that we need to adjust if we hope to continue exporting our iron ore in huge quantities. Primarily, the ore must be transformed into green iron to be attractive to China and other big customers, including Japan and South Korea.
As Hartcher says, Australia has a few years to take advantage of vast economic potential embodied in our energy resources. Recognising that wind and solar have limitations, to take maximum advantage of these resources we need to add to them.
There is one method of renewable generation that seems to have been largely overlooked in this country, it is wave/tidal power. Australia, an island continent with more than 34,000 kilometres of coastline, much of it along the Western Australian coast near the source of our iron ore, provides an abundance of opportunities to select optimal sites for wave/tidal power. Part of the Future Made in Australia program is aimed at realising Australia’s potential to become a superpower of renewable energy. What an opportunity to address the missing component in the current renewables capacity.
Bill Pimm, Mentone
Follow NZ example
We should follow our fellow New Zealanders driving laws for those over 75-years-old and make a doctor’s certificate required. This might throw a burden on doctors, however it would assist in keeping our roads safe. Obviously a medical episode can happen to anyone but the elderly are more at risk.
Mark Kennedy, Brighton
Take a leaf from my book
Your correspondent (16/7) suggests limiting older drivers to newer cars, but is it really safer? I showed my mechanic the letter. Far from being supportive, he told me that every single older driver he knew who had updated from an old car to a much newer one with all the modern safety features had been involved in a crash within six months of acquiring their new transport.
Modern cars, with their screens and beeps, impose too many distractions. Often adjustments to settings have to be made via a screen, so cannot safely be done while driving. Give me my 38-year-old Corolla, with its proper (manual) gearbox, no beeps, squawks and no inclination to decelerate without apparent reason, any day. A car’s most important safety feature is a competent, alert driver, regardless of their age.
Helen Moss, Croydon
A little persuasion needed
In this, the 250th anniversary of the birth of author Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged, that those of us over 70 should hand in our driver’s licence forthwith. With due humility we should also vacate our comfortable homes thus freeing them up for purchase by the younger generation for a mere pittance.
Furthermore, we should henceforth be off to a nursing home where we can be fed for less than 10 shillings a day. Fortified only by this meagre sustenance we would then obligingly soon effect our rapid demise, long before there is any chance we could spend our superannuation thus leaving it in its entirety to our descendants.
Not only would this solve the housing crisis, and alleviate the cash crisis for some, it would free up the roads for the drivers of lesser years, who incidentally, cause most of the accidents, to career down the highways and other carriageways weaving in and out of traffic, jumping the lights and tooting loudly or shouting at those of us left who have the temerity to obey the speed limit.
Cheryl Day, Beaumaris
He comes up Trumps
What a smart guy is Donald Trump – gets a pat on the back for sending billions of dollars’ worth of Patriot missiles and other armaments to Ukraine, gets another big pat from the American arms manufacturers for the billions they will make in extra profits, gets yet another pat from the American taxpayer who won’t have to pay at all.
And who cares for the NATO taxpayers who will have to fund these unexpected billions.
John Quinn, Avoca
Crashes and age
A recent report indicated that 760 stolen vehicles in Victoria in the past 12 months were involved in crashes, causing police to express concern. How many of those vehicles were driven by an older driver?
Gary Roulston, Endeavour Hills
Charges? Bank on them
Commonwealth Bank is not the only one that charges for across-the-counter transactions (Letters, 15/7). Bendigo Bank also does.
I find it ludicrous that I have to withdraw cash from the ATM and then have to take it to the counter to obtain smaller denominations.
Maybe we need a government-owned bank to get come real competition.
Rod Watson, East Brighton
It suits the pair
The Age’s front page (16/7) showed leaders Anthony Albanese and Xi Jinping ″shaking in their suits”. Two old cards like Albanese and Xi would do well to stick to suits, unless a stronger hand suggests no trumps.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
Apologetic Americans
We have just returned from a cruise holiday. Most of the passengers were American. Those we became friendly with were apologetic over Donald Trump and some were even ashamed over his treatment of Australia.
Laurens Meyer, Richmond
Defining antisemitism
There have been many correspondents giving their opinions on what constitutes antisemitism. I am pleased that the Age in its Editorial (12/7) has expressed an opinion that others have been too reticent to give. “It should never become the norm that public criticism of a country’s actions is illegal. Strong views on a conflict, such as the war in Gaza, do not amount to antisemitism. Targeting Jewish people, however, clearly does.″
David Fry, Moonee Ponds
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump
Donald Trump says he uses tariffs for all sorts of purposes. Bullying other countries to spend zillions on US-manufactured arms is undoubtedly one of them.
Bernd Rieve, Brighton
″Trump gives Russia a deadline for peace″ (16/7). Here we go again – another TACO.
John Walsh, Watsonia
Donald Trump says he is disappointed with Vladimir Putin. What about Benjamin Netanyahu?
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
Donald Trump giving Vladimir Putin 50 days to come to the table in peace talks with Ukraine I expect means Putin will increase his attacks on Ukraine.
Marie Nash, Balwyn
Furthermore
The Anthony Albanese-Xi Jinping handshake exemplifies the enhanced Australian economic relationship with our major trading partner at the same time Trump is making it harder for our exporters to trade with America.
Phil Alexander, Eltham
I suspect that Xi Jinping regards Anthony Albanese as little more than a diplomatic play toy.
Dennis Walker, North Melbourne
″Silence the response on taxpayers’ money″ (Editorial, 16/7). We’ve got more chance of seeing Jeffrey Epstein’s secret files, than of seeing state Labor’s transport plans for Melbourne citizens in the west and north.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
If card surcharges are banned, what’s the bet prices go up by 1.5 per cent?
Graham Fetherstonhaugh, Carlton North
In the scorecard for Australian cricketers (Sports Age, 16/7) following the series against the West Indies, what has a bloke got to do to earn 10/10 if Mitch Starc scores 9/10. He blitzed the series.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
What does Scott Boland have to do to retain his Test match spot? Perhaps they could have him opening the batting as well as bowling.
Les Aisen, Elsternwick