Credit: Matt Golding
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STUDENT FEES
Coalition spokesman for housing, Paul Fletcher, told ABC radio on Monday that the government’s proposal to reduce student loan debts would be “profoundly unfair” because it would “cost all Australians” (“Coalition attacks Labor’s HECS debt cut plan”, 4/11). It’s unfortunate that Fletcher sees study and education like the Coalition views universities and research – as a cost and not as an investment. That investment provides doctors, engineers, scientists and a host of other professional people to care for our communities. However, the Coalition has no qualms allowing all Australians to bear the cost of policies such as negative gearing and reduced capital gains on investments that benefit only a relatively small number of individuals (including many politicians), or subsidies for fossil-fuel industries that pay comparatively little tax or royalties while exacerbating global heating and its associated “unnatural” disasters – to mention just a couple of examples.
The young already have enough lead in their saddlebags given the future we are bequeathing them, so I know where I’d rather my taxes go, and let’s give them a break.
Rod Eldridge, Derrinallum
All subsidies deserve same scrutiny
It seems that the Coalition is upset about the government’s proposed policy to reduce HECS debts and repayments for recent graduates on the basis that it is inequitable. According to Paul Fletcher, the policy fails on equity grounds because it benefits only 3 million Australians. By this logic, I foresee many savings in government expenditure. There would be no place for childcare subsidies, family benefits, or diesel fuel rebates and other subsidies to miners and fossil-fuel producers.
Simon Bennett, Hawthorn East
Encourage education
I reckon both sides have it wrong. Australia desperately needs a well-qualified and trained workforce, whether it be tradies or neurosurgeons. All TAFE and at least first degrees should be treated as just an extension of school and be government-funded. Dump HECS. Those well-qualified graduates will clearly earn more over their careers and in consequence pay more tax to fund the education of following generations.
John Salmons, Sandringham
Nice earner for government
Government study and training loans that have remained unpaid for more than 11 months are indexed annually by the Australian Taxation Office, at a rate linked to CPI. In 2023, the indexation rate was 7.1 per cent, and in 2024, it was 4.7 per cent. Government plans to wipe 20 per cent off student debt is a once-off, but indexation continues at compounding rates for as long as there are balances outstanding. By raising the income threshold for repayments and switching to a marginal repayment system, the government is facilitating and encouraging delay in repayment of outstanding balances, making things worse for students and former students as indexation takes its toll. Peter Dutton needn’t worry about Labor being too generous to student loan holders. The government is on a nice little earner with generations of students indebted to it, to fund an education that not so long ago was free.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
Pitting students against one another
Chris Richardson argues that Anthony Albanese’s proposed HECS/HELP reductions are a reverse Robin Hood because they benefit only “those higher earners who went to university or TAFE” (Comment, 4/11). Yet I earn less than the average Australian salary and have a HELP debt more than three times the average while in my mid-30s. Richardson’s argument attempts to pit the working class against the working class. When rents on finite resources such as petroleum are so low that profits make billionaires and offshore corporations richer, it is hard to comprehend a situation where HELP repayments are a larger proportion of government revenue. Giving money to mining magnates is where the real reverse Robin Hood activity is, not enabling the upward mobility that quality education affords.
Adrian Jackson, Kensington
THE FORUM
Politics first
Peter Dutton’s argument that reducing the HECS debts will enable some consumers to increase spending and protract inflation is correct. But it is easy to snipe when you are not in government (“Dutton mocks PM’s pledge of reducing student debt”, 5/11). If Australia is serious about reducing inflation, the Albanese government must get gross domestic expenditure down. Its policies of reducing the HECS debt, providing energy subsidies, and reducing income tax may win votes in the lead-up to a federal election. But these policies prolong inflation and delay any Reserve Bank interest rate cut. Even the “responsible cost of living relief” energy subsidy is smoke and mirrors. It may bring the immediate “headline” CPI down, but most consumers will only spend their savings on other items and further prolong inflation.
The Phillips Curve shows the trade-off between the rate of inflation and the rate of unemployment for a nation at a certain point of time given its institutional constraints. Maybe the curve should have a third axis: perceived votes for government in view of an approaching federal election.
Geoff Black, Frankston
Trump’s genius
The dark genius of Donald Trump to discredit the mainstream media by labelling it “fake news” has done untold damage to the ability of the fourth estate to hold governments and public figures to account. With people turning away from reputable journalism to internet rabbit holes full of conspiracies and disinformation, we have forgotten, and perhaps taken for granted, how important a robust media is. One only has to look at how the media in America are frequently too scared to criticise or hold Trump accountable for his lies and cavalier use of false information and slanderous sledging of Kamala Harris and other rivals for fear of his vengeance if he wins power. A toothless media is dangerous, and America is a prime example of where this can take a country – potentially to bullyboy individuals with billionaire cronies seizing power. Government of the rich, by the rich, for the rich, with no accountability.
Sandy Jeffs, Christmas Hills
A 51st state
It seems that this US presidential election is receiving more media coverage than our own federal or state elections. Could this be a signal that we have finally made it to becoming an American colony, thus completing the process which began with the fall of Singapore and subsequent bombing of Darwin in February 1942? Considering the progressive Americanisation of our language and the obsession with an election campaign that translates more into an episode of raving lunacy. What happened to my beloved country?
John Davis, Malvern East
Volatile combination
As if the prospect of a Trump return isn’t scary enough, he proposes to hand the reins of government efficiency to Elon Musk (“‘Delete, delete, delete’: Musk’s rise puts millions in peril”, 5/11). Pass me the smelling salts, please – preferably without any musk. Truly a partnership made in heaven, if not in space.
It’s a cartoonist’s dream to imagine some of the spatial “efficiencies” that might result, such as shipping all illegal or unwanted immigrants to the nearest space station. Hard to see the combination of those two uncontrolled egos producing anything positive, let alone efficient.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
Rethink schools
It was petrifying to learn of the death of an 11-year old boy who was killed by a car that ploughed through a fence at Auburn South Primary School. As a parent of two kids I cried at the news of the incident. It is imperative that schools be mindful about where sitting areas for children are allocated. School premises must be protected with a priority on safety and parking lots separated so as to avoid incidents of this kind.
Shiva Neupane, Wollert
Clear the air
I am aghast at the extent to which air pollution is detrimentally impacting our health (“The dangers of even low levels of air pollution revealed – and why men are more vulnerable”, 3/11).
Increasing the prevalence of everything from lung cancer to peanut allergies, and causing 11,000 premature deaths per annum (10 times more than the road toll), we should not accept traffic exhaust pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter PM2.5 in our air.
Researchers in your report suggest that we use air purifiers and avoid walking on main roads. How about we tackle the root cause of the problem and rapidly roll out active and electric transport solutions that leave toxic vehicle exhaust in the past where it belongs? As your correspondent conveys (“Connection anxiety”, 4/11), our environment, health and our hip pockets, will be happier when streets are filled with pedestrians, cyclists and clean electric vehicles.
Amy Hiller, Kew
VIP service
David Crowe’s report (“MPs say they’ll quit Chairman’s Lounge and Virgin VIP perks, too”, 4/11) cites Warren Entsch, Graham Perrett and others who intend to keep their membership . Both MPs say they need a quiet place to do some work before taking a flight. This reasoning seems quite disingenuous as a quiet place could easily be obtained by buying a membership of the Qantas Club.
At $699 a year, this more modest club is well within the reach of a MP’s salary. What these MPs are not revealing is that the invite-only Chairman’s Lounge is far more than a quiet place to work. It’s a la carte meals, fine wines, highest priority for upgrades (using points), and priority boarding. When it’s time to board, an attendant will find you, hand you your ticket and tell you it’s time to get on the plane. And, if anything goes wrong with your flight, a person from the VIP service will call you and arrange for alternative flights.
It’s the sort of service that the average punter could only dream of – and this is the real reason why some MPs are so reluctant to hand in their membership.
Mike Nicholls, Bradbury SA
Many tough schedules
Warren Entsch’s suggestion that MPs have more arduous travel schedules than lots of us to justify access to the Chairman’s Lounge confirms the entitlement view of some politicians.
Lots of business people travel as much and to more diverse and remote locations than Entsch in any one year – and with commercially sensitive matters such as pre-ASX company disclosures and takeover/acquisition secrecy.
Stephen Lynch, Sandringham
Upgrades trivial
For a whole week column inches have been expended on flight upgrades that have been granted to politicians of both the government and opposition. Yet Qantas, Virgin, Netflix and Canva are among 1200 major companies that paid no income tax in Australia in 2022-23 and too many of us are ignoring the travesty of our current tax regime. The majority of working citizens and many retirees are paying their fair share of income tax, but it seems major companies can quite legally avoid their civic duty, and few people care.
Regular taxpayers contribute to our schools, hospitals, unis, public service providing essential facilities, but not some 1200 major companies. What’s wrong with us? Flight upgrades are deemed worthy of greater public scrutiny than tax laws that enable many companies to offshore profits and do nothing to support Australia.It’s time we ignored the petty squabbling.
Mike Reece, Doncaster
Small change
Shadow attorney-general Michael O’Brien opposes the proposed increase in probate fees in Victoria that would see someone inheriting an estate of $7 million pay $16,803. This would still leave them $6,983,197. If it was me, I wouldn’t whinge about having to pay the fee, representing just 0.24 per cent of the total amount. Compare that with the maximum estate (death) tax rates elsewhere – 55 per cent in Japan, 50 per cent in South Korea, 50 per cent in Germany, 40 per cent in the US and 40 per cent in the UK.
Paul Kennelly, Caulfield North
Hidden costs
The Age’s report by Annika Smethurst and Broede Carmody on the government’s need for secret funding top-ups to pay for hospitals’ public-private partnership contract services reminds me of the other, yet undisclosed, top-ups needed to service PPP contracts undertaken to commission Public Housing Renewal Program and Big Housing Build projects. In the words of Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association secretary Craig McGregor, the government is obliged to keep “funnelling money into private coffers” when this money could be used to build public housing.
Salvatore Furfaro, Northcote
Clean their mess
Your correspondent, aged nine, (“Make a difference”, Letters, 5/11) makes more sense than many older people. It is absolutely only fair that the generations who enjoyed the benefits of fossil fuels and plastics, before their negative consequences became so apparent, clean up their mess, and don’t make it worse with a nuclear-fantasy “solution” that will add a whole new meaning to toxic legacy.
Lesley Walker, Northcote
Flapping on the line
An excellent point about plastic made by your correspondent. My late mother, would use plastic bags for storing food in the fridge. I remember the washed plastic bags hanging on the line.
Susan Munday, Bentleigh East
Keep at it
As someone who wrote his first letter to the editor at the age of 15, I encourage your correspondent to keep writing. With her six-year head start, there is every reason to think that she can surpass my many decades of letters and continue to make a difference.
Chris Curtis, Hurstbridge
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
US election
And the world holds its breath.
Andy Hannah, Macleod
The ancient Greeks must be looking down on the US with disdain at their version of democracy.
Pamela Papadopoulos, South Yarra
If God has anything to do with this volatile presidential election – then may “God help us”.
Margaret Skeen, Pt Lonsdale
Estate fee increase
The high cost of living is to be augmented by the high cost of dying.
Les Aisen, Elsternwick
Jacinta Allan has reintroduced an inheritance tax in all but name. Britain and the US have one. Australia did until 1978 when Bjelke-Petersen abolished it in Queensland and the other states followed like sheep. It is the best and fairest of taxes. It allows me to give back to the state when I die what the state has done for me in life.
Nicholas Low, Cape Paterson
Surely the Victorian Labor government has just about run out of new avenues to increase taxes. I guess we will find out the next tax to be increased at 4pm on the eve of our next public holiday just like we did with the probate tax increase.
Bill Holmes, Kew
Upgrades
Which political leader would attack another on upgrades after accepting, at least two free flights from a billionaire?
Tom Stafford, Wheelers Hill
With all the vacancies now opening up in the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, I’m happy to volunteer as a member and I promise not to give any favours in return.
Heather Barker, Albert Park
Furthermore
Dedicated teachers demanding more time free of the students they are there to teach? It’s a sure sign of an education system strangling its staff in administrivia.
Kay Moulton, Surrey Hills
On the pronunciation of Reservoir, I believe their footy team was once called The Meat Eaters. Their supporters used to yell “Car’n Voirs” during games.
Andrew Smith, Leongatha
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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.