Tertiary sector needs reform before vote on student numbers

Peter Dutton should be very careful that he is not being “wedged” in his decision that the Coalition will vote with the Greens against the proposal by the Albanese government to limit international student numbers (“Dutton picks cap fight with Labor”, 19/11).

This is a very live issue in the community. Federal and state governments have been “gamed” by the tertiary education lobby for a long time.

The influx of international students has not only served as a proxy entrance into Australian citizenship, but it has artificially fed an inflated tertiary sector. It has transformed higher education in this country into a factory for providing certification for other nations’ young people. The effect on the quality of higher education is significant and largely overlooked.

The Coalition needs to make its intention to reform this sector very clear as an alternative to any cynical ploy that the government is promoting.

Vicki Sanderson, Cremorne, NSW

Super needs inquiry

Judith Sloan has hopefully opened up a “can of worms” with her commentary (“$4 trillion super giant running wild”, 19/11).

The underlying flaw with the system is that the industry super funds are not meeting the sole purpose test adequately. This entails the maximising of retirement incomes of members.

The regulators – the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority – have failed miserably in this department, and Sloan describes the situation as a “complete vacuum of accountability”. Perhaps the Australian Taxation Office should carry out this supervision?

The failure of Cbus to meet claims by members is appalling. The fines, possibly up to $50m, to be imposed on Cbus raises the question of who pays them. These funds surely can’t be taken from members’ savings in the super fund? Will that process meet the sole purpose test? These fines should come out of funds that have been going to such organisations as the CFMEU and employer associations.

We had a royal commission into the banking industry. Perhaps we need one for the industry super funds.

Peter Fuhrmann, Watermans Bay, WA

Cash needs support

The federal government will enact legislation to force essential businesses to accept cash (“Labor to insist cash remains king for essential items, services”, 18/11).

Many commercial banks have left small towns. In my case, my business bank for 45 years has left the area. I cannot bank cash or get coins for change because the bank refuses to allow banking at the post office. It suggested that I drive to a branch 100km away. So, does this help our government understand why cash may be king, but in regional areas it is also the joker?

Tony Hennessy, Casino, NSW

Protest insults history

Sidney Myer, an impoverished Belarusian-born Jew, came to Australia over a century ago. With ingenuity and hard work, he built up a business, Myer Emporium, with stores all over Australia, including my fair city of Townsville.

He would turn in his grave if he saw the spectacle of hate-spewing anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli protesters acting against the wonderful Christmas shop windows at his original Melbourne store. These actions are preventing millions of children from admiring the enchanting shop windows, now a well-known Australian institution.

Andrew Sholl, Cranbrook, Qld

Kids best left to parents

The government has found a new thing to ruin in the name of “public interest” – parenting. It is swooping in to “save” us by banning kids under 16 from social media. But it’ll need more than delusional confidence to keep kids off social media when they have outsmarted every rule before the bell rings.

Here’s a thought: instead of undermining parents and wrapping kids in government-issued bubble wrap (which will, of course, turn out to be toxic), how about leaving the decision about social media to parents?

Parenting is messy, and kids are too. Social media bans won’t stop their curiosity, rebelliousness or occasional idiocy – that’s part of growing up.

Matt Brunker, Casey, ACT

Ukraine’s crunch time

One can only applaud the bravery of the Ukrainian people in halting the Russian onslaught. This is despite having one hand tied behind their backs by weak Western governments.

The Biden administration, desperate to end its tenure on a high note, has finally removed all arms limitations on the use of US-supplied long-range missiles inside Russia (“Ukraine Trump’s first test of foreign policy bragging”, 19/11). The US decision may have come too late.

Tom Moylan, Dudley Park, WA