Hasty call on Gaza visitor visas a failure of government leadership

The Albanese government’s hastily concocted visitor visas for Gazans is aptly described by Peta Credlin as “a goodwill offering to the Greens and to Muslim activists threatening to campaign against Labor cabinet ministers” (“We may live to regret this hasty call on Gaza visas”, 22/8). Or, as others have termed it, “visas for votes”.

Credlin also accurately notes: “When newcomers arrive in any numbers, over time the country alters to be more like them.” One of the ways this alteration can occur is via voting: a recent example being the significant sway of the Chinese-Australian vote at the last election in ousting the Scott Morrison government. Perhaps Anthony Albanese and his ministers could use “visas for votes” as a catchy election slogan?

But although such visa-induced votes might initially favour Labor, they may not continue to flow in its direction; instead flowing towards those who represent and promote interests and values not conducive to a cohesive, liberal, democratic and pluralist Australia.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern, Vic

It is extraordinary that the Albanese government has rushed through 3000 visitor visas for Palestinians from Gaza, a region under the control of a terrorist organisation whose main goal is to obliterate Israel, a country that shares a close relationship with Australia (“Labor’s Gazan rush: it’s visa-vis safe politics”, 22/8).

It’s another example of the Albanese government running on decisions intended to minimise the voter backlash from the Muslim voters in Sydney and Melbourne, the inner-city green vote and the trade union movement. Tragically, the outcomes, including heightened domestic security concerns, an energy and cost-of-living crisis and weakened industrial growth and innovation are far from the national interest.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

A missed opportunity

The decision to not appoint forensic biologist Kirsty Wright to the new advisory board overseeing the lab screams of bureaucratic payback. She was the key to the uncovering of the disaster that was the Queensland DNA lab, described by the head of the commission of inquiry as experiencing “catastrophic testing problems”.

The decades of absolute failure of that lab were meticulously revealed by The Australian podcasts Shandee’s Story and Shandee’s Legacy. Without Kirsty Wright those revelations would never have been made. Her honesty, integrity and courage would have been a great advantage to the new advisory board.

Bruce Williams, Merewether, NSW

Backyard solutions

We have been racking our brains on how to solve the housing crisis, which seems to only get worse. There is, however, one solution that is hiding in plain sight. Many properties have large backyards that can be used to build one- or two-bedroom self-contained properties (or granny flats).

I recently visited a showroom and was advised that they start at $130,000 for a one-bedroom unit (or $171,000 for a two-bedroom unit. They also include a small lounge, laundry, bathroom and toilet. I spoke to a salesperson who said they are inundated from investors who are now choosing to build these properties in the backyards of their existing rental properties. They are doing this because many investors cannot afford to buy, so the market is saying “build instead”.

Construction costs are minimised because these well-constructed properties are prefabricated in bulk off-site, and can be assembled relatively quickly.

All that is needed is for the state government to reduce red tape as some local councils can take 9-12 months for approval, and there is the need to cease using the derogatory term “granny flat”. This would create a regulated building boom of excellent constructed properties that would benefit all Australians, especially young couples seeking their first home.

In the coming years if this proposal takes off it would not only increase the supply of housing stock but may help in reducing property values.

Jeffrey Smith, Cannington, WA

Combating doxers

Michael Gawenda’s revealing piece on the doxing of Jewish people speaks to the sadness and frustration of many whose most personal information, including their image, was maliciously published, without any consequences whatsoever for the offenders (“New York Times doxing scandal is a shameful story of failed media ethics”, 22/8).

The ease with which anyone with a phone can be a “publisher” – coupled with what is now considered culturally acceptable online – has much to blame. Weak governments are also compliant in this new culture and in the emergence of doxing. In spreading this private information, the bigots have been empowered by a lack of consequence.

Scott Palmer, Mullumbimby, NSW