Childcare crisis must lead to more choice, not a universal system

Childcare crisis must lead to more choice, not a universal system

Paul Kelly describes many of the problems that can result from children being placed in Early Learning Centres, with his views well supported by research in UK, US and New Zealand (“Home truths of universal childcare”, 26-27/7). Generally, research shows that parents have greater impact than Early Learning Centres on children’s developmental outcomes. The impact of Early Learning Centres can, in fact, be negative. One-to-one interactions, which are an important feature of child-parent relationships, are difficult to achieve in an Early Learning Centre environment. This can affect the parents’ sensitivity to their child and the child’s interaction with the parents, with the result being problem behaviours.

Claims that Early Learning Centres are important for better functioning in a formal school setting are not well supported. Longitudinal studies have found that any long-term effects of the preschool experience depend on the school experience and may or may not be sustained. Government would be wise to encourage support for parents by allowing choice in how parents raise their children.

Lyn Boland, Rozelle, NSW

Twiggy cut down to size

Peter Jennings gets it right in his penetrating assessment of Andrew Forrest’s historical revisionism in respect to the global intentions of Xi Jinping and the People's Republic of China (“Twiggy sees the future and it looks a lot like him”, 26-27/7). Forrest’s ill-advised entry into commentary on what is a developing global contest reflects poorly on his understanding of history. But we are indebted to him for at least instigating a comprehensive and brilliant analysis by Jennings of the reality of Chinese belligerence on the world stage. We are entering a truly dangerous period in history, and this country needs to understand the realpolitik, and not be persuaded by the financial aspirations of businessmen.

Vicki Sanderson, Cremorne, NSW

Tax overhaul

There is a massive imbalance between the Labor government’s tax policies and the nation’s levels of productivity. With the marginal rate of income of 49 per cent tax kicking in at what is now a very low level of $80,000, and what is now a low rate of GST only on selected items, it amounts to a confiscation of people’s earnings to fund a ballooning, unproductive public service bureaucracy. Lowering the rate of income tax while increasing and broadening the base of GST means that when people spend their earnings those funds go into the provision of goods and services, thus providing employment and increasing productivity. Australia’s tax system needs a complete restructure.

Peter Jacobsen, New Farm, Qld

Greens’ ‘cult’ shift

Chris Kenny is right to call out the Greens for their anti-Israel bias and transgender and queer cult focus (“No country for old environmentalists”, 26-27/7). It is a radical departure from the older environmentalists’ campaigns against water and land degradation and native species extinction in which personal identities tended to remain in the background.

Ideological obsession over rights of identities has monopolised the Greens’ platform on environmental matters while specific causes of ecological degradation remain ignored. The insistence by the Greens on identity politics signals their shift to an anthropocentric viewpoint in which obsessive individualism has taken priority over concern for the environment, as can be seen for example in the posturing of Greens members like Mehreen Faruqi in federal parliament.

Stephanie Ingerson, Middleton, SA

Ley needs help

Simon Benson has expressed his concern that Sussan Ley is in danger of shrinking into irrelevance (“PM shifts tactics to target Ley”, 26-27/7). The key to political success is strong leadership, which is enhanced by a strong cohort of elected representatives. This in turn can only happen if there is a high level of supportive participation across the community, leading to a strong membership base. This was the key to past Liberal successes.

The Liberal Party is essentially a voluntary organisation, unlike Labor, where political career paths are mainly fostered from a union base.

Peter Clarke, Corinda, Qld

Merz’s miracle

We need a leader like Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz (“High-flying Merz above Germany’s old rules”, 26-27/7). Merz rides the line fighting off two rival parties, one on the woke left and the other on the hard right. In Australia, both Labor and the Liberals need to find an Australian version of Merz. It’s certainly not Anthony Albanese. As across most Western democracies, Merz is fighting off deep, political party divisions.

Betty Cockman, Dongara, WA