Scarce details make support for voice proposal difficult

Thank goodness for Chris Merritt, whose cogent and incisive analysis of the voice proposal thus far (“Voice to parliament call too vague to support”, 4/11) makes quite clear that it is absolutely imperative any proposal for constitutional change must be presented to the Australian people in a detailed and proper manner so that those entitled to vote on the necessary alteration to the Constitution know precisely what that change will be, how it will be implemented and the likely future outcome of that implementation as best as can be determined at the time the vote for approval is taken. I agree with Merritt that the Albanese proposal to the Garma Festival is too vague and should be rejected. Like Merritt, when constitutional recognition of Indigenous people became a live issue I was among those sympathetic to that proposal but needed to see what was proposed and how that proposal would be implemented. That has not been done so far. As Merritt writes, the Constitution derives its legitimacy from the people – not from judges or politicians. That means the people must be fully informed concerning any proposal for constitutional change before they vote to give approval to what is proposed. Otherwise the proposal is doomed to failure.

Ian Dunlop, Hawks Nest, NSW

Altered states

Charitable Coalition supporters, perhaps relieved to have lost this year’s election, may have sympathy for Anthony Albanese – beset by inflationary, even recessionary gales from the US and Europe, beholden to exuberant, rashly made promises and unions seeking unwelcome return to 1970s industrial strife. Cameron Milner now advises him to look to his Labor state colleagues for models as to how best to resolve such economic peril (“State Labor is showing Albanese how to lead”, 4/11). Interstate rivalry can of course work to benefit Australians as, for example, when the Queensland Bjelke-Petersen government pioneered the abolition of iniquitous death duties. Yet the opposite can sadly occur when, as now, states such as Queensland and Victoria lavishly spend taxpayers’ money on bureaucracies, short-term electoral advantage and even spur-of-the-moment sport subsidies. They are definitely not precedents to be followed in Canberra.

John Kidd, Auchenflower, Qld

Treasury head Steven Kennedy’s warning about our national debt is in stark contrast to opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor’s reply to the budget (“Tackle debt or it could get out of hand”, 4/11). From a political perspective, Mr Taylor’s message has appeal: no tax increases and reliance on economic growth to improve our financial situation. But that is a best-case scenario as real­istically an increase in revenue is required to have a real impact on debt reduction and to allow for unforeseen expenditures. Prudent economic management demands a precautionary approach.

Michael Schilling, Millswood, SA

Negative feelings

With nationwide concern over the scarcity of rental properties for long-term occupation, discouraging investing in short-term holiday rentals may be a partial solution. The fairness of buying investment properties using negative gearing has long been controversial. More national good flows from housing permanent renters than the optional frill of a few days away. With 250,000 short-term holiday-let properties, a good proportion of which are probably negatively geared, why not reduce the allowable negative gearing percentage on those to encourage their switch to long-term rent?

Leigh Thomas, Wodonga, Vic

Polarised politics

Desperate times mean desperate rhetoric. With the Reps gone and the Senate in the balance, President Biden’s description of Trump supporters as “semi-fascist” (“Biden warns of ‘path to chaos’ ”, 4/11) mirrors Hillary Clinton’s fateful “deplorables” in the 2016 presidential campaign. And it seems there is no intention to let up beyond the mid-terms, with the latter’s claim that the Republicans have a plan to “literally steal” the White House in 2024. The US polity is as polarised as ever but hardly helped when the two most powerful figures in the Democratic Party describe their fellow citizens thus. It’s time for a stocktake; they have held the political Holy Grail – the White House, the House of Representatives and Senate – for most of the past two years and messed up. There is no place to hide.

Kim Keogh, East Fremantle, WA

Nursing a grievance

Everyone agrees we need wage growth. Andrew McKellar firmly believes the only way to achieve this is through productivity increases. Putting to one side the fact productivity has improved and wages haven’t, what does productivity actually mean to a nurse working a double shift for less money than they were getting this time last year?

Ian Campbell, Mosman Park, WA