The Indigenous voice proposal has had an easy ride, and can’t handle real scrutiny

Janet Albrechtsen mounts a compelling argument as to why any Indigenous voice should be subject to parliamentary oversight (“Parliament must be able to have the final say on voice”, 13/4).

However, I disagree with the assumed premise that voters are ready to enact constitutional reform via referendum to enshrine a voice in the Constitution. Thus far, the concept has been debated only by Indigenous groups, activists and a friendly media, with no dissenting voices permitted.

The concept has not been subjected to serious scrutiny or opposition, which will surely ensue if the idea proceeds. The fact is that all Australian adults already have a voice; it’s called a vote. This voice idea effectively gives some Australians two voices. It divides us by race, a retrograde step whichever way you try to spin it.

John McLeod, Sunshine Coast, Qld

Zombie policies

As the PM points out (13/4), the ALP’s plan for new urgent care centres is a re-run of Kevin Rudd’s failed 2007 “Superclinics” plan (itself a re-run of a similar failed Whitlam scheme).

The most concerning thing about the plan is that it demonstrates a complete lack of understanding in Canberra about primary care, even though it is the federal Health Department that would be responsible for it.

Traditional general practices in Australia are essentially a grassroots small business, developing over time where they are needed, in response to local factors. Practices have taken into account their local demographics, bus routes, ease of access for the elderly and so on.

Superclinics and the proposed urgent care centres are mini-hospitals, parachuted into selected electoral seats, with minimal assessments of the local requirements, much less how the elderly disabled will achieve access.

In the 2007 iteration of this concept, one superclinic in Townsville was opened just down the road from an existing clinic that already offered the same services, achieving nothing more than taxpayer-funded undermining of a successful practice.

While politicians want to see higher bulk-billing rates, and GP services are complaining that the current Medicare rebate is too low to allow this, would it not make more sense to put this money into existing general practices and allow them to take the pressure off the hospital system?

Nick Bretland, Bayswater, WA

In listening to Anthony Albanese’s ramblings about what he’s going to do, I notice he makes some vague reference to “fee-free TAFE”. By now it should be pretty obvious that Albanese is pretty vague about a whole lot of things, which is a major concern in itself.

Nevertheless, I would like him or someone from Labor to explain exactly what he means by fee-free TAFE, how it will work and, of course, what it will cost. Could someone – anyone – please enlighten us?

Christopher Jay, Hackney, SA

Foot off the gas

The report by Perry Williams (“Gas industry faces dramatic drop-off: investors”, 13/4) questions the wisdom of investments in gas in the long term, suggesting that gas exports may decrease by 80 per cent by 2050. What to make of this?

The only likely way this would happen would be if the world stopped importing gas.

It seems to mean that governments will move collectively to take this action. If the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predictions of increasing and costly floods, fires and so on come to pass, then the world might move in that direction.

So I would conclude that the risk to gas investments in the long term is not negligible, depending on how much faith you put in the science of the IPCC reports. Perhaps have a bet each way by combining gas investments with Fortescue Metals Group?

Gary Barnes, Mosman, NSW

Think positive

Drought, fire, plague, recession, flood and tragedy: Australia has been through them all these past three years, emerging stronger, more compassionate, healthier, wealthier, brighter and sunnier (“ACCI to leaders: think big”, 13/4) than almost any other country in the world.

By helping the afflicted, healing the sick, mending the injured, grieving for the dead, consoling the bereaved, employing the jobless (4 four per cent), putting money in empty pockets, learning from mistakes, planning to do better next time, accommodating all races, faiths, people and opinions, and remaining a democracy firm and true as any, we have shared between ourselves the very best of what this earth has to offer.

Let us recognise our good fortune and not deny it, nor become embittered by ugly words from antagonists who do deny it for their political gain.

Australia has been well managed through several years of great hardship. It is still the Lucky Country.

Tony Herbert, Battery Point, Tas