Government policy at the centre of class chasm

One of the great fallacies of Australian life is that Australia is, in fact, an egalitarian society (“Two-speed electorate a fast lane to civic discontent”, 1/11). Since January 26, 1778, Australia has been a society divided by class. This division came to the fore during Covid when the elite classes maintained their jobs and salaries while ordinary Australians and small business owners were crippled financially by government-imposed lockdowns. The current furore over solicited airline upgrades combined with a period of high inflation further highlights the class divide. Far from being an aspirational politician rising from a housing commission home, Anthony Albanese, who once said he “likes fighting Tories”, is now part of this elite class deserving of special treatment. This was epitomised earlier this year when he told a rally organiser: “I am the Prime Minister.” It was compounded by his three-night attendance at the tennis following a four-hour visit to Alice Springs and his purchase of a $4.3m luxury clifftop home. “Freebie Albanese” is just a metaphor for Australia’s class divide.

Riley Brown, Bondi Beach, NSW

It is unsurprising that 10 per cent of the population, the elites, have views that differ to the rest (“Mainstream v elites chasm widens ahead of federal election fight”, 1/11). What is surprising is that the patterns in the pie charts for each group are so similar. It must be remembered that even those with postgraduate degrees have families and have to pay the bills, which helps to explain the similarities. Let’s not go down the US path where such division leads to lack of trust in democracy and even science.

Karen Lamb, Geelong, Vic

It comes as no surprise that there is a widening gulf between Australia’s elite and mainstream classes. The elites believe Australia is heading in the right direction whereas the mainstream think otherwise. Regardless, my gut feeling is that we are certainly not on a positive path. Most of us are not better off than before the 2022 federal election. It would seem that the elite classes arrogantly believe they know what is best for the rest of us and if anyone disagrees with them then they are silenced. As a society we are woefully unequal when I think of how the current cost-of-living crisis affects different people in different ways. This becomes a stark reality for me when I read that there is a sellout crowd attending Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. Not many of those attendees will be concerned about rising energy bills.

Peter Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Fundamentally flawed government policies across the board are helping to drive division and widen the gap between the mainstream and the elites. Our complex, discriminatory and punitive tax system penalises the productive and rewards the unproductive. Our attempts to comply with unachievable, unaffordable and futile net-zero targets under the false flag of saving the planet are destroying access to abundant minerals and energy resources needed to sustain and strengthen our economy. If Donald Trump regains the presidency of the US and again walks away from the Paris Agreement, the American economy will no longer be a two-speed model, it will be full steam ahead for all, and the climate will continue to change of its own accord. What will be Australia’s response to the results of next week’s election on the other side of the Pacific?

John McRobert, Indooroopilly, Qld

It is becoming very clear federal Labor’s one and only focus is winning the next election. To do that, its policy is geared towards garnering support from the unions that fund its election campaigns through sweeping industrial relations reform. Also seemingly central to Labor’s re-election plan is pandering to Greens inner-city and Muslim voters, ensuring anything Labor perceives is needed to secure their vote is provided. The effect is that instead of growing the pie all Australians share, supporting our allies and expanding defence capability and economic strength, the Albanese government is achieving the opposite. Across government policy, from wasted green handouts to friendly billionaires to pie-in-the-sky economic policy, the government is forcing productivity down and businesses are closing at record rates. The pie is smaller and Labor’s mates take a far bigger share. No wonder Australians are doing it tough.

Ian Brake, Mackay, Qld