Stick to skills needs for immigration policy rather than fill a cap

While immigration contributes to economic growth (“Set migration rate on auto”, 9/1), it also is a factor fuelling property prices. It seems contradictory to bleat about the acute rentals shortage and, on the other hand, bring in more people looking for homes.

Rather than focus on a fixed cap on immigration, we should emulate other countries and make sure we enable employers to easily bring in foreign workers for sectors with skills shortages. More important, industry needs to provide more ongoing guidance to the education system so students can choose job training that will lead to employment.

John Kempler, Rose Bay, NSW

Higher immigration. Yikes! This from the Business Council of Australia, whose members have been happy to pocket any (illusory) benefits while leaving the downside to others. Let’s do this properly. Rather than companies beating the drum to moderately intelligent MPs, we should determine the population size that gives us the highest per capita income (not the greatest GDP), then look at the skill sets and work from there. Harder to do but better in the long term.

Shane Wiley, Glenhaven, NSW

If anything, the three-year Covid hiatus has given governments breathing space to carefully consider the reboot of our migration intake. Australia has been enriched by migration since World War II, migrants with a strong work ethic, introducing new languages and their cuisines to our shores. All have benefited.

But our new government needs to be judicious in its choice of the post-Covid migrant. The message should be that intending residents consider whether Australia is a suitable destination for them. The ABC’s The Drum is the go-to program encouraging migrants to rattle off a long list of their grievances since arriving here.

Cheryl Louise Kerr, Clayfield, Qld

A five-year plan

Jim Chalmers’ article (“Resilience needed for challenging future”, 9/1) outlines the economic weaknesses inherited by the Albanese government, including stagnant wages, flatlining productivity, weak business investment and energy policy chaos. It’s true that the Morrison government was hardly a five-star economic reformer, but at least it exhibited little of the “government knows best” mantra of its successor when it came to attracting the investment necessary to sort out supply problems on the energy front and increase national productivity necessary to lift wages.

Our Treasurer’s stated faith in the ability of government legislation to address our economic problems is breathtaking. Can we look forward to a five-year plan in the May budget?

Bob Miller, Wembley, WA

Voice of experience

I am in my 70s, I have done some work for the Aboriginal Legal Service, I have some understanding of the disadvantage our First Nations people experience. Previous efforts by government to make a difference have achieved little during my years. The voice offers some hope and my conscience tells me I should vote Yes. My other self, however, is uncertain as I do not know what the voice will actually do. Will it fix the high rates of imprisonment for young Indigenous people? Will it fix the high rates of unemployment? Will it fix the lack of education for young people?

How will the voice, presumably a body in Canberra, know what is going on in regional Australia? Will the voice be top-heavy? The government needs to tell the Australian people in very simple language how it will work, otherwise risk the response of: “I do not know what I am voting for, perhaps I should say No.”

Leslie Young, Randwick, NSW

Young recidivists

There is no doubt that in Australia generally and particularly in Queensland the juvenile justice system is failing everybody from the victims right down to the perpetrators and many individuals and institutions concerned. For want of a better description, boot camps for recidivists should be considered. Get the perpetrators away from general society and out in the bush in specially designed modes of accommodation with skills to be taught and fitness programs inaugurated. Personal development courses should be included and therapy available. Resilience and co-operating as a team would produce excellent results. Staff would need to be paid handsomely but all of this would cost less than incarceration with little prospect of rehabilitation.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Vatican humour

Michael Lattke’s reference to theologian Hans Kung (Letters, 9/1) brought to mind a joke that did the rounds post-Vatican II. It goes: Hans Kung was offered the papacy but knocked it back because he did not want to lose his infallibility. It follows that those attracted to Kung’s theology would find little to like in Joseph Ratzinger’s.

Frank Pulsford, Aspley, Qld