Government must plan expenses instead of punishing savers

As pointed out in your editorial (“Unrealised gains tax despotic idea”, 10/7), the Treasurer’s eyeing of the funds of those with the aspiration to save is stealing money from the prudent to continue unfettered government spending.

These are reverse Robin Hood tactics. To have government money to spend on new schemes, the Treasurer needs to cut spending in other areas, as responsible households do.

It is totally unprincipled for the government to steal from its citizens because it can’t effectively plan and execute a budget within its means.

Robin Southey, Port Fairy, Vic

Biosecurity is key

Australia is under significant pressure on multiple trade fronts, from pharmaceuticals to beef tariffs. As a veterinarian, I am concerned that in these negotiations our biosecurity standards could be used as a bargaining chip, a move that would be reckless.

Diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease could decimate our agricultural sector if introduced. Nationals leader David Littleproud is right to warn that any concession in biosecurity would put our farmers and national economy at risk.

At the same time, our weak stance on the recent Iran-Israel crisis has undermined our credibility with key allies, leaving us unable even to secure a meeting with the US President.

This lack of trust only adds to our vulnerability in trade negotiations. While I firmly support the US’s decisive actions on global security issues, we must not let our diminished geopolitical standing force us into poor decisions.

Protecting our robust biosecurity standards is non-negotiable.

Jason P. Loukopoulos, Werribee, Vic

Victoria’s dependence

There is one reason sick Victoria bludges on the GST of other states. NSW and Queensland apply taxes and royalties to their mighty export industries (“Bold GST carve-up proposal pitched as eastern states’ stoush looms”, 10/7). International education is Victoria’s major export. Universities are rich, bloated corporations, yet they pay no tax.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics values international students as a $52bn annual export industry, yet wealthy foreign students pay no GST on their tuition fees. At 10 per cent, it amounts to $5bn for Victoria.

David Z. Hughes, South Melbourne, Vic

Climate profligacy

It was reported recently that the Climate Change Minister was accompanied by 75 bureaucrats during an overseas conference on climate change (“One climate summit, two ministers, 75 bureaucrats and a $1.6m bill for taxpayers”, 8/7).

A more fundamental issue is whether there is a need for a separate climate change organisation. If climate is a scientific rather than an ideological issue, place the climate commission in the department of science.

It would eliminate a minister, a chief executive, a senior HR manager, the need for two diversity, equity and inclusion units, two finance divisions and numerous lower-level administration units. It would also facilitate pure scientists (physicists, chemistry, geology) to examine the issue.

Roy Gilbert, Perth

It’s disappointing that the Coalition is still at loggerheads over net zero and Peter Dutton’s controversial nuclear policy (“LNP set for clash on climate approach”, 11/7).

At the last election, Labor gained seats because climate change was an important issue in many communities. But most Australian voters didn’t see the opposition’s plan to build nuclear reactors as a viable solution.

The Coalition must listen to its voters if it wants to find a way out of the political wilderness.

Anne O’Hara, Wanniassa, ACT

Objective rate-setting

The reaction to this week’s cash rate decision by the Reserve Bank was a powerful reminder of why Australia has an independent rate-setting central bank. The unusual prominence given to the forthcoming decision by some sections of the media seemed intended to make popular expectations a factor in the decision.

And the Treasurer publicly calling for a rate cut was indeed ironic when it was his government’s vote-buying attitude to public expenditure that helped sustain higher rates for so long. Having a central bank that continues to strongly guard its independence and objectivity is clearly in Australia’s best economic interests.

Philip Temple, Larrakeyah, NT

Well-deserved win

The Queensland State of Origin team had so much motivation and they fully deserved to win.

How many of us could have followed Cameron Munster’s lead in being so very strong after the sudden death of his beloved dad?

Claire Jolliffe, Buderim, Qld