Why should the Treasurer need to justify his use of Treasury to investigate options with negative gearing or any other matter (Letters, September 28)? Isn’t that what the department is for – to analyse and cost policy options?
Surely it is better that the Treasurer makes decisions based on rigorous analysis by a qualified public service rather than setting policy on the advice or wants of interest groups? Why can’t there be a sensible debate about negative gearing before the media insists on statements ruling “in” or “out” a policy before the analysis is even completed? Warwick Spencer, West Pymble
Treasurer Jim Chalmers Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Poor Jim Chalmers – told to tone down talk of negative gearing, capital gains tax, imputation credits. Let the Coalition and the ALP put their heads in the sand. The young ones and those who can at least put two and two together will be looking to Allegra Spender, David Pocock, other independents and the Greens. Wake up, Australia - the young ones, even with tertiary qualifications, unable to afford shelter, will be moving overseas. Janet Cook, Waverton
Fundamentally, negative gearing requires government to subsidise unprofitable businesses. An investment loss should only be offset against future investment gains - a natural consequence of any unprofitable venture – not reduce salary or wage income. Peter Allen, Castle Cove
Nurses and teachers rated a mention, but another significant group of earners was conspicuously absent (“The people most likely to have negatively geared properties”, September 28). The number of federal MPs, senators and political advisers who are negatively geared would have made for a lot more interesting and entertaining reading. Col Shephard, Yamba
If only politicians had the decency of your correspondents who call for reform of current naive and unjustifiably generous taxation arrangements for capital gains and superannuation! Fiscal reform is needed regardless of the adverse consequences for housing availability and pricing flowing from the existing arrangements. Fairness has been demanding reform for decades. There is no fair go in Australia today and there won’t be unless sufficient Australians are decent enough to want to drain the swamp and willing to pay tax. Ross Drynan, Lindfield
Anybody notice that PM Anthony Albanese has recently listed his Dulwich Hill investment property for sale for $1.9 million? What does he know that we don’t? Gavin Williamson, Narrabeen
Swans’ silver lining
Congratulations to the Brisbane Lions (“Fagan’s heroes: Brisbane Lions make amends by mauling Swans in grand final blowout”, September 28). Plainly it wasn’t the Swans’ day. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the Swans were worthy minor premiers. For the most of the long season, they gave their fans plenty to cheer about. John Anderson, Macmasters Beach
So the Lions maul the Sydney Cygnets, or even more correctly, the Sydney Ugly Ducklings. Chris McKimm, Karangi
I struggle to understand all the recent criticism of Kalyn Ponga over his decision to opt out of the Australian rugby league World Cup squad (“‘He’s been a victim’: Meninga defends Ponga after star’s shock Kangaroos backflip”, September 28. Here is a player who was almost forced out of the game in 2023 due to repeated concussions and forced him to travel overseas for neurological testing. He is trying to prolong his career, if not his life, by having several months of rest and recovery. But the NRL, who say they are the champions of player welfare, especially when it comes to head injuries, can and probably will force him to play. Brian Harris, Port Macquarie
Australia has excelled in many sports at international level and the current exception is rugby union. Excellent footballers are enticed into AFL and NRL for good reasons and this limits the Wallabies’ potential. Every Kiwi and South African wants to be in their national rugby team and we should embrace similar aspirations in Australia. The solution is for the three football codes to form an alliance to allow selection of the very best players to represent Australia, beginning with the upcoming Lions tour and Rugby World Cup. Michael Fox, Mosman
James Fisher-Harris
What a heartwarming story about James Fisher-Harris, a hulking, tattooed, NRL forward with a facial expression that tells you not to get in his way. Looks can be deceiving (“We’re the next generation”, September 28). This quietly spoken monolith of a man is heading back to his home town in the land of the long white cloud to learn more about his Maori lineage and become a family leader who can pass on his cultural knowledge to the next generation. Lyn Savage, Coogee
Nuclear nonsense
Peter Dutton is reported as saying Ontario, one province of Canada, has eight nuclear reactors (“‘Cheaper with nuclear’: What will Dutton’s nuclear plan really cost”, September 28). It has 18 of them, all concentrated in Canada’s most populated and industrialised area in and around Toronto. The rest of Canada has one. They generate nearly 60 per cent of Ontario’s energy supply, but only 15 per cent of Canada’s.
The power they sell is cheap largely because distribution costs (poles and wires etc) are low in such a small area around Toronto, and the Canadian government sold its Candu reactor design with its developing and marketing rights to private industry in 2011 at a very low price.
Peter Dutton’s plan would spread seven separate reactors over a whole continent at present costs, made worse by how far apart his nuclear plants would be. They would have to be built in sequence, with teams involved in their preparation, construction and commissioning shuttling between sites, so there is really no chance that they could all be operating within 20 years. The time and money could be far better spent. Russell Julian, Port Macquarie
It’s valuable that Dutton’s claims on nuclear are being fact-checked, such as glib, gaslighting guff about just one Canadian province. But one potent objection is not stressed enough. The grid is being reshaped by rooftop solar like nowhere else. It’s huge already and likely to triple in effect. The big daily output bulge must be fitted around – something coal can’t do well and this is why it is going. There are no bans.
Nuclear has the very same inflexibility problem. It’s irrational to replace one inflexible mode unsuited to the new grid with another unsuitable, inflexible mode. Grid operator AEMO says no to nuclear for this reason and because it can’t possibly be built in time to replace retiring coal. Needless to say, the Liberals don’t talk to AEMO. Nick Wilson, Palm Beach
With Labor betrothed to coal and the Coalition dating nuclear, a marriage of convenience between those minor parties and independents who oppose these would be a good way to gain the balance of power in both houses of parliament and force wise energy choices onto infatuated governments. Bruce Gall, Canberra
If homeowners are worried about a looming gas shortage, there is a simple solution: install a heat pump and/or an induction cooktop (“Australia risks gas shortage in winter: ACCC”, September 28) I have both and have waved goodbye to gas. A gas hot water system has an efficiency of 0.9, meaning that for every unit of energy you put into it, you get 0.9 units out. A heat pump, by contrast, has an efficiency of 3.8! This means you save energy, save money and also save the planet. What could possibly be wrong with that?
Ken Enderby, Concord
Public computers
Perhaps surprisingly, the first library in NSW to have open-access computers was in humble Ermington (“Teens turn a new page, flock to public libraries”, September 28). The Burnside Family Learning Centre initiated it. The learning centre families were all too poor to afford even a connection, let alone a computer. High schools were starting to ask kids to present assignments online. We found a community-oriented company to donate the computers, a TAFE teacher to give classes to parents and our local head librarian agreed to make it happen. Our teens took to it like ducks to water, the parent classes were a huge hit and soon the pre-teens were setting up email addresses and popping in each afternoon to chat online. The head librarian for NSW launched the project. She said: “If this works, we will put computers in every library in NSW.” And so it began. Jean Hay, Drummoyne
Library friends (left to right): William Ellis, Ava Pullen, Florence Bala-Milroy and Alice Grant.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Uber-cheap airport run
I’m not surprised taxi drivers went on strike recently to protest against Uber having kerbside access at the international airport (Letters, September 28). Without any competition from Uber, taxi drivers are doing very well indeed. For example, our recent taxi fare from the airport to South Coogee, mid-afternoon, was $59.85. In contrast, the Uber fare from South Coogee to the airport, mid-morning, only four days earlier was $25.34. I can’t wait for kerbside access to Uber at the domestic airport. Merona Martin, Meroo Meadow
Misbehaviour rewarded
What an appalling judgment, paying compensation to two teenage girls for unlawful arrest (“Bullying, assault claims at Sydney school, girls arrested ‘unlawfully’”, September 27). The incident was described by the judge as “violent and serious” and the girls were arrested. It is hoped that the girls were “shocked, humiliated, embarrassed and distressed” at being taken away by the police – that is intended to discourage them from a repeat performance. If the police did overreact then any compensation should have been a “token” amount of $1 and the girls should have been charged for wasting police time. All the judge has achieved is to reward bad behaviour to the tune of $65,000. Peter Claughton, Farrer (ACT)
Brain pleaser
Vale David Plomley, cruciverbalist. Ever since retirement, Wednesday mornings have been full of anticipation; “It’s DP today!” David’s cryptic crosswords always challenged, amused and self-corrected. He aimed to perplex and entertain, and he certainly succeeded. Every compiler has a particular style, a different way of thinking. I was fascinated by the way Plomley’s brain worked and felt connected. Household chores were often put on hold, due to my determination to solve his cryptic crosswords and also his quick. Then sadly, a hiatus – no DP on a Wednesday in recent months. David, your brilliant mind kept our neurons ticking. Thank you! Jennifer Burgess, Watson, ACT
Double standard
While agreeing in general with David Salter’s criticisms of the proposals put forward by the Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom, I do find it amusing that the man who was more than happy to judge and rank journalists in his role as the first executive producer of ABC TV’s Media Watch doesn’t like it when others want to get in on the game (Letters, September 28). Richard Mason, Newtown
Innocent victims
Ferdo Mathews’ heart “cries out for the death of innocent women and children” and compares his experiences in World War II as being “nothing compared to the mass killings and destruction in Gaza and on the border with Lebanon in the current conflict” (Letters, September 28). He is, of course, correct in lamenting the loss of any innocent life. How sad, then, that he chose to ignore the origin of the current conflict and the murder, rape and torture of innocent attendees of a music festival and innocent civilians in Israeli towns on the border the Hamas terrorists breached. Alan Slade, Dover Heights
Bali booze limit
I agree with the responsible service of alcohol on flights after having a similar experience to your correspondent on a flight to Bali (“Just flew to Bali – it’s time to limit booze on planes”, September 28). I had a couple sitting in front of me on a plane who were already drunk. I knew that because I’d chatted to them when checking in. They kept drinking on the flight and their behaviour escalated so much they had to be separated. One was sent up to business class and the other was left to sleep across the now empty seat. No passenger should have to endure witnessing that kind of behaviour. Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary wants a two-drink limit imposed at airports before people fly.Credit: Bloomberg
My introduction to Australia was as an immigrant, back in 1982. The final leg of my flight from Perth to Sydney included a fistfight between two old men in a dispute about which seat was theirs – the flight attendant finally sorted it out. Then, to my dismay, the captain said in a broad Aussie accent, “Let’s get this old tin tub off the ground shall we, and fly to Sydney?” Needless to say, my subsequent introductions to this lovely country were much more acceptable and I’m still here. Freda Surgenor, Caringbah
Fair fuel competition
Yes, Ben Balzer, Coles and Woolworths’ service stations give a discount to their card-carrying customers but as their prices are frequently much higher than those of the independent service stations, and the discount is a mere 4¢, why bother (Letters, September 28)? In my location, there are a number of well-known brands and independent service stations with much lower prices that cars queue for on the main road to gain access. Now that’s a demonstration of competition. Rodney Crute, Hunters Hill
Whatever water works
Beaches in western Sydney are not new (“Would you swim in this reservoir? The bold pitch for 22 new river beaches”, September 27). In my youth a stretch of river in Parramatta Park was known locally as Little Coogee. Swimmers entered the water from a muddy bank and joined the myriads of bacteria, cryptosporidia, pollutae and other pathogens from storm water run-off and discharge pipes in enjoying the aquatic surrounds. Refreshing it may have been, healthy it was not. Barry Wooldridge, Harden
Word of warning
Another genus – Cyclist Nobellicus (“I’m a zoologist who cycles in Sydney, and I’ve had a stroke of genus”, September 28). Cyclists who don’t warn their approach by utilising a warning bell. Gail Grogan, Constitution Hill
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