PM must stress Labor policy risks

There is no shortage of ammunition if ScoMo would just fire it.

While Scott Morrison may perceive his more favourable personal polling versus Bill Shorten, as a winner in a mano a mano contest at the next election (“PM’s war cry: it’s personal”, 27/11), he misses the point that voters will look for policy contrast in making their decision. Morrison needs not only to differentiate Liberal policies from Labor, he must attack them on the consequences they will wreak. The greatest dangers posed by Labor policies are:
• Over-reliance on intermittent renewables resulting in higher energy prices and unreliability of supply, as well as ongoing costly subsidies.
• Higher taxation due to policies on negative gearing, capital gains and franking credits that target “millionaires” when in fact many low and middle-income families will be adversely affected.
• The phoney battle for higher penalty rates that will enable unions to negotiate them away for restrictive working arrangements and filling union coffers, as evidenced by Shorten’s own enterprise agreements.
• The policy to abolish the building industry watchdog and a return to thuggery in the industry.
• The danger that “refugee” boats will return to appease the left and Greens and we will lose control of our borders again.

These politics of envy attacks on our tall poppies must be challenged in favour of aspirational endeavours by all Australians.

Mort Schwartzbord, Caulfield, Vic

Let’s vote on it

We have been through the experience of a referendum on gay marriage (Malcolm Turnbull’s crowning achievement?) but surely a defined immigration policy, via a referendum, is at least as important? There would need to be certain qualifications, no input from governments, politicians or big business, all questions to be the result of input from a wide section of the community. We have heard Jeff Kennett banging on about Australia is a big country and we have room for millions more immigrants but where do they all settle? The same as nearly everyone else of course, on the coast and in the larger capital cities. Most of Australia is arid and far from the coast and there are no jobs there apart perhaps for farming and, in my state, mining, but I don’t think our farmers would want to shoulder this burden and mining is not labour intensive. I personally support significant cuts in immigration. There are many countries in the world that survive quite well without population growth and we already have far too many people on the planet.

Peter Wood, Erskine, WA

Stop China in Samoa

Australia must circumvent China getting a port in Samoa for the same reason we will develop the Manus port along with our American allies (“China’s Samoa port plan a concern”, 27/11). We can’t afford to be wrong-footed geopolitically and allow our trade choke points to close, especially with all our liquid fuels coming via Singapore. China’s base in Djibouti covers seaborne trade though the Horn of Africa and our west coast. Their new submarine base on Hainan Island, bases in the Spratleys and Mischief Reef with their beachhead in Darwin must be counteracted otherwise how’s your Mandarin?

Joseph Vagunda, Taroona, Tas

Believing in freedom

The religious protections that are supported by a majority of the population (“Majority backs laws to protect religions”, 27/11) will ultimately benefit everyone. They preserve freedom of thought and action in a world where personal liberties are being constrained on a daily basis. There is nothing more fundamental to a person than their conscientious religious or even non-religious belief. It acts as the basis for their values, ethics and directions in life.

James A. Athanasou, Maroubra, NSW