Credit: Illustration: Alan Moir
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.
TRUMP APPEAL
I am increasingly frustrated at many Letter correspondents’ responses to Donald Trump’s election. It’s as if a handful of misguided rednecks voted him in. But 76 million Americans deliberately chose the name Trump on their ballot papers. That makes a lot of people who rejected the alternative, no matter the many serious flaws of the victor.
It is a weak analysis to postulate that, somehow, a blustery showman simply conned that many people. The lesson for parties of the left is quite clear: So many people are angry at their day-to-day needs being apparently subservient to policy frolics into issues that are important to the well-off, but do nothing to address the daily living challenges of the great unwashed.
Yes, addressing climate change is important, but why should I cop massive increases in my power bills to pay for it? Yes, ensuring minorities are treated fairly matters, but why do the rights of a few consume so much government focus? What about my rights to decent, affordable housing, a health system that works, and access to a good education for my kids?
And, how come senior executives who rip-off or rip-out millions of dollars from big corporations get nothing but a rap over the knuckles, when I’d do 10 years if I stole those amounts from my employer?
For Australia to avoid a similar electoral outcome, Labor and the left need to quickly learn the key lesson from the US election – a lot of ordinary workers feel undervalued and ignored, that they have no voice, that the government is doing a lot for a few, and not much for them.
Graeme Russell, Clifton Hill
Keep calm and don’t carry on
Perhaps we should all take a few deep breaths and not behave like Chicken Little worrying about Donald Trump as president again. We must wait and see what he actually does, as opposed to what he has promised. His strange choices for positions of authority are people who will do as he tells them, or get the “You’re Fired” treatment.
It would appear that he wants to remake America in his image, stroking his massive ego. Whether it will make America great, and how it will affect the rest of the world is yet to be seen. It might be a bumpy ride, so buckle up and try to stay calm.
Maureen Goldie, Blackwood, SA
Trump acolyte picks herald uncertainty
Donald Trump’s selections for his cabinet posts speak volumes about the man himself.
His pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration of the job because of accusations of sex trafficking; his pick for education secretary, Linda McMahon, was sued for allegedly enabling sexual abuse of children; and Peter Hegseth, his pick for defence secretary has been accused of sexual abuse.
All these positions should be filled with people beyond reproach, yet Trump fills them with his acolytes and people patently unqualified for the task.
These are early days, but is it a harbinger of what will come in the months and years ahead?
Hans Pieterse, Narre Warren North
THE FORUM
Opportunity cost
Peter Costello and the Coalition oppose the Chalmers’ Labor proposal to use the Future Fund for social housing. Peter Costello, the architect of the fund in 2004, regards the fund as his baby (‘Very bad’: Costello slams Chalmers over Future Fund, 22/11).
I recall that in 2021, during the dark days of COVID, Paul Keating also opposed what a short-term scheme that allowed super funds to be accessed.
There is a trade-off or “opportunity cost” of doing both these things. All the accumulated funds are no longer available for the purpose the funds were set up for in the first place. In the case of the Future Fund, all the money is no longer available to fund the super liability for federal public servants when they retire.
The same applies to young people, when they forgo the marvels of compound interest, to draw down their super when they are young.
The result of both diversions of funds is that upon retirement, these retirees haven’t got enough money to live comfortably. Many members of these two retiree categories will then become a burden on future federal budgets (or not) as part age pensioners.
The voice crying in the wilderness on housing is the now-retired Bill Shorten. As Labor leader, he staked his political career on a proposal in 2016 and lost.
The electorate contained too many housing investors who didn’t like his proposal.
Shorten’s eminently sensible proposal was the phasing out of negative gearing and CGT concessions for housing investors. This would have reduced the price of houses, as investors withdrew their demand from the housing market.
Shorten has been sidelined in his retirement from politics – and is about to assume the lucrative post of University of Canberra vice chancellor. In this post, Shorten can huff and puff all he likes, while federal Labor cynically remains in power and perpetuates an unfair tax system.
Geoff Black, Frankston
Shorten’s humour
Despite some residual mixed feelings about Bill Shorten’s departure from federal politics, his valedictory speech did contain qualities and concerns that are still endemic to what makes this country unique.
He covered the essentiality of education and its access as a way of shoring up our future; he spoke of the need for climate change action to ensure our young of a worthwhile prospects; he spoke of the importance of competing ideas in building a fairer and more equitable society; and he spoke of the need for justice in respect to women and indigenous populations in this country.
And he did with the occasional self-effacing humour that is at the core of our Australianness
Humour! A quality so missing in the range of self-serving politicians that other democracies seem to be elevating to positions of power on nothing more than cruel, whimsical and naïve promises.
Graeme Foley, Werribee
Australia is a world leader in species extinction and declines. Before the last federal election, it was clear that the Labor Party could see our nature protection laws were totally inadequate, and it therefore made a number of promises to greatly improve our nature protection laws. It is unfortunate that the promises have not been fulfilled.
There is still time, if action takes place quickly, for the Labor government to deliver on its many promises. How wonderful that would be for our fast diminishing native animals, and environment in general.
Brian Measday, Kingswood, SA
Protect declining species
Australia is a world leader in species extinction and declines. Before the last federal election, it was clear that the Labor Party could see our nature protection laws were totally inadequate, and it therefore made a number of promises to greatly improve our nature protection laws. It is unfortunate that the promises have not been fulfilled.
There is still time, if action takes place quickly, for the Labor government to deliver on its many promises. How wonderful that would be for our fast diminishing native animals, and environment in general.
Brian Measday, Kingswood, SA
Follow Hanoi’s lead
An aim of 40 per cent canopy cover in the City of Melbourne is admirable (20/11), but we are far from it.
One approach would be to do as Hanoi has done, a city renowned internationally for green canopy and flowering plants climbing up from footpaths and flowing down from rooftops. This has been achieved by planning, and assisted by moving electricity wiring underground.
If we did the same thing in Melbourne, we could increase our street trees, their greenery could arch overhead, no more need for ugly pruning, reduced labour expenses and most importantly, reduce impact from climate change. Prue Gill, North Carlton
Tree loving
The tree-loving sentiments of your correspondents are shared by most of us (“We are all part of the solution to save canopy”, 21/11).
During lockdowns, many Melburnians even sent email testaments to trees, writing things like, “I think you are my favourite tree. Such beauty on such an ugly road.”
That’s why the 3-30-300 rule of trees in cities makes perfect sense (“City fails tree canopy test after count falls short”, 20/11).
Every home, school and business being within viewing distance of at least three trees, having 30 per cent of the neighbourhood as greenery, and being within 300 metres of a park are certainly goals to strive for. Fortunately, the City of Melbourne has urban forest precinct plans. Let’s see them fulfilled and rolled out across all urban council areas.
Sarah Brennan, Hawthorn
SRL alternative
Re your correspondent’s comment (Letters, 21/11): ″Driverless taxis could cut congestion, lower emissions, and enhance mobility. Let’s seize this opportunity to make Melbourne a benchmark for a smarter transport future″, makes me wonder about the Suburban Rail Loop’s purpose?
A fleet of taxis or mini-buses on demand and door to door might render the rail loop an expensive white elephant?
James Richardson, Langwarrin
Ambulance alternative
Another correspondent decries the unnecessary use of ambulances (Letters, 19/11). I recently called an ambulance and was very thoroughly triaged. We agreed I was not suffering from a stroke or a heart attack. We also agreed I did need emergency treatment, and could not get to hospital on my own. Solution – a taxi was called. This worked perfectly, leaving an ambulance free for someone needing rapid transport with paramedics in attendance. If all triple zero calls were handled as efficiently, there would be no unnecessary use of ambulances.
And less ramping.
Jan Lacey, North Melbourne
Bumpy road ahead
As a regular driver on Victorian regional roads, I suggest a ″Smooth Surface Ahead″ sign, instead of ″Slow Down – Rough Surface″. It would save thousands.
Michael Maine, Warrnambool
Road to more ruin
At last, the Department of Transport has admitted that it’s cutting back on resealing roads and diverting the money into reconstruction works (″Roads so bad that speed limits have to be cut″, 21/11),
Unfortunately, this approach was prevalent in the 1980s and resulted in road systems in municipalities falling into a ruinous state. Shires in Gippsland had ratepayer uproar about the badly potholed and patched roads. The councils complained vociferously to government about lack of funds, when the problem was how the funds had been used. It took about five years to turn this situation around by increasing the bituminous reseals of all roads and cement stabilisation of the most severely damaged sections.
In Victorian rural areas, much of the road system was built with naturally occurring gravels and unbound crushed rock which needs a secure waterproof surface to maintain strength and freedom from potholes.
The new departmental policy deprives these roads of the essential waterproofing reseals needed when the existing bitumen perishes.
If the “new” policy continues, Victorians will be faced with more potholes and broken roads.
Norm Butler, former Vicroads regional manager, Traralgon
Once wore cardigans
There was a time when Australia “rode on the sheep’s back”. Our wool was world renowned and twin sets (in the finest merino woollen jumper and cardigan) were worn by “blue rinse” matrons.
Margaret Skeen, Pt Lonsdale
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Politics
The Libs don’t like Labor raiding the Future Fund for housing builds, but the Libs previously wanted first home buyers to use their own super savings for a house deposit.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
Dan Tehan demands less immigration, then blocks a bill that will deliver it, straight from the Donald Trump playbook.
Peter Baddeley, Portland
Thank you, Bill Shorten, champion of women’s rights and First Nations people. I wish you well in your new role as vice chancellor of the University of Canberra.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn
Many thanks to Jim Chalmers for reminding us Labor can’t be trusted with other people’s
money.
Gordon Thurlow, Mooloolah Valley, Queensland
If our two-thirds of our gold reserves hadn’t been sold off in 1977, there would not have been a requirement for a Future Fund.
William Hines, Seaford
Furthermore
Donald and his new bestie, Elon, are already rebranding America as the USX.
John Bye, Elwood
I have no doubt that there is genuine competition between the two big supermarkets – to pay their suppliers and workers as little as possible, and to charge consumers as much as possible for their products (″Coles defends big profits as consumers feel price pain″, 22/11).
Lindsay Zoch, Mildura
Paying $6.24 million for a banana taped to a wall is final proof that this once wonderful world has gone bananas.
Tasma Wischer, Hawthorn
Re the value of tree canopies: The disparity in temperature between the footpath and our shrubbery-shrouded path to the front door is evidence.
Christine Barnes, Glen Iris
Let the much awaited five-day Test with India begin. I can’t wait to see Kohli ″flower″.
Ross Ogilvie, Woodend
The opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.