Credit: Illustration: Jim Pavlidis, 28 June 2024
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THE FORUM
Laws for following
After reading Nick Bryant’s “Nation of rebels” (24/12), I wonder why he still lives here. Every civilised society ensures its survival by adopting a framework for compatible living based on hope of reward and fear of punishment.
There is not one of our laws that I find unreasonable. Mercifully, we have no need of a national human rights act or charter of rights. If other countries need these, then so be it.
If a sign indicating that restraint exists, let us think of others’ needs as well as our own. There is a time and place for everything. Surely, the use of a laptop is better applied in an office or home rather than a café, and chatting with friends is better conducted other than on footpaths adjacent to school drop-off zones.
Why is our country coveted, and so many people want to come and live here? As we see so many nations decaying from within, let us rejoice in the bequest that “not only the descendants of convicts but (also) the offspring of jailers”, together with those who followed in their wake, have left to us. We can do this, provided we all obey the laws which our governing bodies, for good reasons, enacted; even though some of us find them tedious, and unsuited for our own immediate purposes.
Jim Lamborn, Doncaster
Veterans’ costs
“Cost of caring for veterans soars to $13b” (26/12) should read: “Cost of sending young Australian men and women to unjustifiable wars soars to $13b”.
Tony James, Battery Point, Tas
Fair congestion tax
Re “Parking to get more expensive as congestion levy rises 79 per cent”, (26/12).
Heaven knows why the state government would listen to the Property Council of Australia on anything after its scare campaign in 2022 led to the government reneging on a plan that would have seen a modest development contribution towards social housing.
Heaven knows how much worse inner Melbourne’s traffic has to get before they and the broader business lobby recognises congestion is ruining the fun of visiting the CBD. Each return visit to Melbourne starts with longer, slower cab ride from the airport to Spring Street.
The congestion tax is more than fair, given the preponderance of three modes of public transport already serving the inner Melbourne and CBD-centric transit pattern. Given the added carcinogenic contribution to air quality, and the effect this has on the appeal of al fresco dining, it should be higher.
If only the Property Council cared two hoots about Melbourne’s falling amenity, industrial noise levels and entrenched homeless and poverty.
On my last visit, for the first time, I even saw a middle-aged woman excitedly retrieving leftover takeaway from a rubbish bin. If only the Property Council understood Melbourne’s housing crisis and entrenched poverty is bad for business too.
Bernadette George, Mildura
State fund raising
The Victorian government’s 79 per cent increase in Melbourne’s congestion levy over two years, seems squarely aimed at revenue raising.
The increased tax might reduce congestion a bit, but that looks to be incidental. It’s like when federal budget headlines in the past announced - “Beer, cigs up”. That wasn’t a public health measure, to curb drinking and smoking. It was to raise excise, to fund government expenditure.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
High-rise congestion
The state government proposes to increase the levy on off-street parking to reduce road congestion. If this is the real reason, the government would be able to tell us how much occupancy of these parks has fallen since the levy was introduced.
If the government really wants to reduce congestion, why is it trying to increase building density by promoting high-rise construction?
However, the government may continue to find ways to improve an overburdened budget. Perhaps it will put a levy on all sales to reduce congestion on footpaths and roads. The end result of any such moves may be reduced congestion because people move to other states. Denis Robertson, Windsor
Defending Myki
I, for one, would prefer to keep my Myki card. It is enough to keep track of my credit card now without having lots of small purchases from Myki to sort through. Plus of course having someone hack it and having my credit card suspended and therefore unable to travel anywhere. With the infuriating rollout of surcharges, that would be all I would need.
Then, if we needed a refund on a wrong charge imagine how difficult it would be dealing with the relevant department.
Michael McKenna, Warragul
Wildlife funding
Congratulations to The Age for exposing politicians’ shocking lack of commitment to wildlife rescue (“wildlife”, 22/12). Wildlife Victoria is facing record high calls from the public to help stricken animals, consistent with climate change – erratic and extreme weather events – and loss of habitat through urban sprawl.
The Allan government’s most recent budget includes $118 million for hunting and fishing over the next four years, but not a cent for Wildlife Victoria.
Care for wildlife will presumably be left to those of us who dig deep to help such services struggle on. This is a callous “compassion tax”.
Joan Reilly, Surrey Hills
Less is more
New Year’s Eve fireworks are terrifying for animals with percussion-style pyrotechnics particularly traumatising. Many native Grey-headed flying fox mums still have a baby-on-board in December which may be dislodged during our “fun”. When it comes to the welfare of other species and fireworks, it’s a case of less is more.
Lawrence Pope, North Carlton
Christmas thanks
After another lovely Christmas with my family and friends, I want to thank those who provide an “orphans’ Christmas” (such as Melbourne Social Club) for whoever needs it. My thanks also to the many families who spend considerable hours and dollars lighting up their homes in spectacular ways for the enjoyment of strangers. Late last night, I joined many families strolling and driving past fabulous light displays around Wantirna and Blackburn North. It never fails to make me smile.
Julie Christensen, Blackburn North
Volunteering
Our thoughts go out to all the volunteers keeping us safe over the festive season. Thank you, for your service, and please be careful whether fighting fires, rescuing people from the oceans, road accidents etc.
Paul Chivers, Box Hill North
AND ANOTHER THING
Cricket
Nice to see a national team respect its anthem by standing impeccably to attention during its playing. It wasn’t Australia.
James Kennedy, Keysborough
Virat Kohli made sure Sam Konstas received some extra bounce.
Graham Cadd, Dromana
Politics
In the run-up from Christmas to Easter, the Victorian Liberal party room has more in common with Judas than Jesus.
Margaret Raffle, Keilor East
What crossbench politician would trust Peter Dutton if we had a hung parliament? The term, “Not as far as I could throw him″ springs to mind.
Philip West, Jan Juc
Russia sold Alaska to the US in 1867 for a pittance. Putin should take vigorous steps to reclaim it or be properly compensated.
Ian Powell, Glen Waverley
Furthermore
Note to climate deniers: power cuts triggered by the bushfires will be associated with carbon emissions-induced global warming. Not with the renewable energy being used to fight the climate crisis.
John Hughes, Mentone
A heartfelt thanks to the anonymous Santa who bought $100 gift vouchers at Sunbury Woollies and left them with the staff to hand out to customers. It’s wonderful to know the Christmas spirit lives during these unsteady times. Bless you.
Sue Bennett, Sunbury
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Credit: Year in review: Jim Pavlidis, 28 June 2024