Labor policies resulting in shrinking business footprint

Why would you build a business in Australia under Labor (“Capex crash: it’s a distress signal, Jim”, 30/5)? To pay the exorbitant electricity prices, the high wages, the generous super, all while negotiating with the ever expanding work-from-home bureaucracy and complying with environmental, social and governance requirements? And if against the odds you have any success and make a profit or a capital gain, you are up for punitive taxes.

Australia now appears anti-business and it won’t be surprising if business votes by investing elsewhere.

Alexander Haege, Tamarama, NSW

CSL chairman Brian McNamee nails it when he speaks of an accumulation of hostile policies being pursued by the Albanese government.

Of course, Australians have voted for that. Those who allocate capital will take their money elsewhere and the beleaguered PAYG taxpayer will continue to be the budget’s beast of burden. Is that how we achieve fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all?

Richard Shankland, Pymble, NSW

Strengthen defence

Some of us of an uncertain age have recently sat back in our armchairs and sighed with resignation: “Oh well. A continuing Labor government can’t be all that bad.” Then our idle thoughts have turned to defence, budget deficits, national and state debt, NDIS waste, the rape of the land for the sake of renewables and any other issues our ageing short-term memories can bring to mind. Perhaps the one that may affect us least but will be paramount for the younger following generations is defence. Your editorial puts it well in pointing out that China must be pleased with the Prime Minister’s recent denigration of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (“CCP will like PM’s comments”, 30/5).

Why the government is cowed by the comments of the Chinese communists on our defence and foreign policy matters is a mystery, unless the government lacks that vital attribute for any self-respecting nation, courage. The sad truth is that the Coalition’s attitude seems almost as deficient as that of the government.

David Morrison, Springwood, NSW

A tip for Anthony Albanese on his first visit to meet President Donald Trump.

If he wants to avoid a typical Trump public rebuke in relation to our nation’s paltry defence expenditure, he could consider raising our current performance from 2 per cent of GDP to 2.6 per cent over two years simply by cancelling the meaningless $17bn in tax cuts announced during the election and applying that sum to defence. That would show real intent on our part and help preserve the vital ANZUS alliance. As for taxpayers, we would lose an estimated $5 a week (the so-called “coffee a week” tax break). Surely that’s a no-brainer and a better outcome for all of us.

David Burt, Quindalup, WA

Task before Libs

So, out of the ashes of the Nationals’ winter of discontent, it could be that a phoenix will emerge? Sussan Ley has made a call for a new line-up of hopeful aspirants for major roles, which will be needed to challenge the re-elected, enlarged and, no doubt, slightly cocky Labor government of the day.

It may a risky call to see some very fine and experienced performers reseated on the backbench, but history tells us that there have been times when amazing outcomes have resulted from changed and previously not envisaged circumstances and situations. The new line-up in the opposition’s front and backbenches must be ready and informed, as they will be needed to make a significant contribution to our nation’s future welfare, now and into the future.

Stephanie Summers, North Turramurra, NSW

The reminted Coalition needs to prioritise these:

● Hold the government more forcibly to account than it did during the election campaign.

● Recognise that with few major party candidates winning a seat on first preferences, new quality candidates need to be quickly selected, and work needs to be done to elevate Coalition first-preference outcomes.

● Design, over the next three years, pragmatic and fully costed policies, particularly on key issues such as cost of living and energy, which are still likely to be the election dogfights in 2028.

Deliver that, and the Australian electorate may see some core values in a Coalition.

Kevin Skinner, Lauderdale, Tas

Fiscal basket case

The descriptions of Victoria’s investment policy as “North Korean-like” and “frustrating” are a damning condemnation (“Garden State like North Korea, says Santos chief”, 29/5. The Labor-Greens ideological pursuit of net zero trumps common sense. When there is no gas to power the state, other states will need to supply Victoria. When the state’s finances, already dire, require federal funding support to avoid bankruptcy, it is the other states that will foot the bill.

Lee Smith, Kenmore, Qld