Welcome to the column the collects and curates the cream of your comments on the big stories of the week that was. On The Project, ScoMo went toe-to-toe with Waleed Aly on Islam and immigration, among other things. Most readers scored it a win for the PM, among them Dian:
“I thought Scott Morrison ran circles around Waleed Aly, who didn’t manage to get one ‘gotcha’ moment which you could see he was desperate to get.
“Morrison held his ground and outsmarted Aly for the entire interview, leaving him without a leg to stand on. I think Aly unintentionally gave the PM a leg up because it gave him a great platform to show his debating skills and his knowledge.
“To me Aly looked like a spoilt child who wasn’t getting what he wanted. He had a sulky look on his face the whole time. Didn’t break once, didn’t smile and wasn’t a good interviewer … outwitted, outsmarted and outplayed.”
Douglas doubled down:
“ScoMo was very convincing tonight. He took on Waleed and challenged his false assertions. Waleed did not look comfortable and resorted to interruption and a barrage of irrelevant questions aimed a trying to bait ScoMo. Didn’t work.
“He was not interested in finding the middle ground. Can’t wait for ScoMo to take on Shorten and expose him for what he really is.”
Paul’s position:
“Aly selectively picks statements from a number of years ago from Liberal Party members and then suggests this as a responsibility of the current PM. Aly’s cheap point making is petty in the extreme. I wonder if terrorism is still ‘a perpetual irritant’?”
Arrogant, said Ann:
“His entitlement, and constant interruption were hard to watch.”
AdamR’s review:
“I thought the PM did a reasonable job of trying to find some common ground with Aly and appear united in their support for the Muslim community, but it’s clear from social media that the left will not budge in their demonisation of the Liberal government and the conservatives within it.
“I suppose this is what Trump understood about the left, no matter how hard you try they will never give you any credit, so there is no point even trying.”
Simon said:
“I feel embarrassed for the prime minister having to have even appeared on such a trashy TV program. It’s like the New Idea of TV shows.”
Alison’s analysis:
“Aly always seems to think in very narrow, black and white terms under which all negative thoughts or comments must be due to Islamophobia. It is not inconsistent to believe a) that Islamophobia is real and does exist to some extent in Australia; b) there is also a very genuine threat to public safety posed by a minority of Islamic fundamentalists who are willing to engage in terrorist acts; c) this in no way justifies or excuses actions like those of the terrorist in Christchurch; and d) Waleed Aly is not the messiah and it is perfectly legitimate to find him an irritating irrelevance, not because of his religion but because of his personality.”
Duncan declared:
“I, for one, was moved by the comments made by the Muslim man who had lived in New Zealand for 30 years, and who lost family in the massacre — he did not want to inflame hatred for the killer who he could see perhaps had problems which had led to him being radicalised.
“The only Muslims friends I have are basically nominal Muslims who attend mosque rarely, only on special days. They are educated professionals who love Australia and say their reason for immigrating to Australia was because ‘there is no freedom in Iran’. Nevertheless, they have not renounced Islam, but neither would they wish any harm upon people of any other religion.
“I think it really is a minority of Muslims who represent a potential threat to the life and well-being of Australians of Christian, secular or other beliefs. But there is no point in denying the existence of this minority, especially when they are people who have positions of leadership or credibility or authority in their communities. “
John rejoiced:
“Great to hear Morrison actually taking a stand and not being pushed into the endless waffle so characteristic of his predecessor. Now he needs to make a stand against the new religion of Anthropogenic Climate Change and get us out of the destructive Paris accord, and he may even stand a chance of being re-elected.”
From Rick:
“Waleed Aly has a particularly large and possibly insurmountable blind spot. We need to open our minds not close them.”
Max mooted:
“Perhaps Aly can explain why any criticism of anything remotely Muslim/Islamic is “islamaphobia” but any Muslim complaint, spewed hate, vitriol, demands for followers to behead infidels, demands to have sharia law replace the secular laws, values, ethics, customs etc of Australia and other western countries are not ‘Westernphobia’?”
From Raina:
“I was so proud to have my country’s Prime Minister clearly articulate tonight how he feels about our multi-cultural nation. He emphasised learning to disagree respectfully and seeing each other as individuals — this was spot on.
“It’s disgusting that people are using an unimaginable tragedy like what has happened in NZ to push a particular political agenda — and that goes for all sides of politics.
“I think Waleed was the most guilty of that tonight, and the PM actually handled himself well. Even around the issue re the Medivac bill, the PM said very clearly that the required changes were all about making sure that the Australian public was protected from the small subset of people that were guilty of rapes and other undesirable behaviours — and that this was obviously not the majority of those needing medical attention.
“No matter how Waleed tried to turn it around to make it sound like the PM was tarring all refugees with the same brush, he stuck to his comments. I’m amazed sometimes at the over-simplified expression of some of these complex issues, by those who wish to attack politicians.
“I’m not silly enough to believe that journalists — particularly those of Waleed’s academic standing — don’t know that each bill has to be checked thoroughly for all unintended side-effects before it can be passed — that’s why we have a system of checks and balances. Pretending that each bill should just be pushed through is naive at best, ridiculous at worst.”
Arlys added:
“Decent Muslims live their lives, just like the rest of us. They work, pray, are family people, pay taxes, and like having friends over, and going to the footy.
“The radicals have caused chaos since 9/11, caused many deaths, and are callous, vicious, killers. You cannot equate one lot with the other. The only problem people have is the lack of speaking out from decent Muslims.”
Robert was reasonable:
”Kudos to both for entering the fray given the high emotions of the past 5-6 days.
Australians can decide for themselves what they thought of each combatant. I would like to think that both, particularly the PM, have only the best interests at heart and that is to make this country more inclusive.”
Last word to Cassandra:
“I am perpetually irritated by Aly.”
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New modelling revealed that Labor’s proposed windback of negative gearing tax breaks would send the teetering property market into freefall. Many commenters were negative, including Allen:
“Labor’s stated purpose for their tax policies was to make housing more affordable. Now, when respected forecasters agree and predict that housing prices will fall drastically under them, Bowen says that ‘fears that the market will drop are unfounded’ and that these reports are all shonky.
“Labor’s tax policies will negatively affect every home owner, every investor and every renter in the country. Homeowners will experience price falls, negative equity and mortgage stress; banks won’t lend on housing for fear of writebacks and credit rating falls making it harder for them to borrow money in wholesale markets; businesses will not be able to compete with foreign companies due to higher taxes, they will not get the much needed liquidity from banks, so they will either cut back on staff or close and operate overseas.
“Unemployment will inevitably rise. Labor will turn the current credit squeeze into a full blown recession with first home buyers and businesses the hardest hit.”
Mick’s take:
“Talk about creating division, this pair, Bowen and Shorten are clueless. It’s not about negative gearing, it’s about their belief that if you are negative gearing, you are rich, the top end of town.
“These two can’t have rich people negative gearing while we have poor people on $75,000 a year suffering with hardship. Meanwhile, there are the firies, the teachers, the cops, the nurses, the factory worker and the shelf packers who negative gear, who took a risk and borrowed to buy the second house, to offset their mortgage and debt by negative gearing.”
Jane suggested:
“It’s not about rich and poor, it’s about the distorted housing market, the fact that young people cannot afford to buy a house, and that billions of taxpayer money is used to prop up individual wealth and reduce their tax. Whether we like it or not, negative gearing on existing houses has to go. “
Gary was wary:
“It bothers me that no one seems to factor in the Chinese government’s restriction of overseas investment as a possible cause of the decline in Australian property prices, strange!”
Darren’s declaration:
“Young people can afford to buy housing, not just in the middle of the city or with the four bedrooms, en suite and double garage. Young people need to adjust their expectations.
“Wrecking the economy so young people can get their dream home up front is not what I call good government. Especially when they have no job. Its just vote buying, the old ‘whatever it takes’.”
Chris’s comment:
“Ask Keating why negative gearing had to be brought back after 18 months. If he can’t remember, remind him of the queues of people at Department of Social Services (now Centrelink) who had nowhere to live because the rents were too high.
“Initial drop in property prices but then prices rose higher because fewer properties were built and as the cost to build rose, other prices rose as well. Keating would like all of this to be forgotten.”
Christine concurred:
“Absolutely right. The inherent subsidies from the landlord to the tenant are enormous. Annual rent, now, is at best 2pc of the value of the property. That 2pc is equivalent to the depreciation of the building (ie 50 years). The landlord pays, now, about 6pc interest and, at best gets half of that back (ie 3pc).
“The CGT discount recognises inflation. That’s what it was created for: to replace the previous system where capital gains were only levied on gains made over the CPI. Costello’s CGT discount regime ‘simplified’ taxation of capital gain but in truth it made it possible to tax it at all.
“Under the old regime the compound inflation showed that no one ever made money on housing. For example: say I bought a flat 30 years ago for $50k and sold it for $200k and over that time inflation averaged 4.5pc. Then the inflated value would be 3.75 times the $50k. That is, accounting for inflation it is now worth $187.5k. The “profit” is $12.5k Take out costs of selling at 4pc ($8k) and there’s $4.5 k to pay tax on.
“Now do the calculation using the 50pc CGT ‘discount’. The taxable gain is $150k less the $8k selling costs leaves $142k. Discount by 50pc gives a taxable amount of $71k. Under Shorten this will be a 25pc discount leaving a taxable amount of 150-8 = 142 less 25pc discount of $28.4 which means a taxable amount of $106.5k.
“All of that taxable amount is inflation. We are paying tax on inflation. If you cannot see that, you should not be investing your own money. Not only is the landlord paying to manage the house they are also paying tax on the part of the gain that is inflation.”
Allan added:
“I believe some banks will not provide loans to SMSF’s as part of them financing property purchases. Another avenue of maximising your funds gone. No franking, CGT changes etc. Rental property purchases will slide, values slide, rents will rise.
“We have put up with LOW interest rates for years AND more reductions to come. Partial pensions to come equals more government costs.”
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Janet Albrechtsen had readers around the nation choking on their cornflakes when she suggested that what Australia really needs is Bill Shorten in the Lodge, in an extreme case of voters getting the government they deserve. We’ve had it too good for too long, she reckoned, and the nation needed a Whitlam-esque wake up call to return Labor to sensible policies of the Hawke and Keating years. Michael was almost amused:
“It would be a funny article if it wasn’t so serious … and spot on the money. Sometimes you have to eat lemons to know that oranges are sweet!”
Eric was edgy:
“My real fear is that once Labor takes government they find ever so many ways in which to stay in power longer than one term. Labor has ‘perfected’ the art in Queensland by stacking thgovernment, and hence they keep voting Labor.”
Betty’s bit:
“Our political masochism reaches new heights now. Voters know exactly the calibre coming. Untrustworthy is the word … shame on the Coalition, to be beaten by such an adversary.”
Anthony was angry:
“In 1965 I paid my 10 pounds stirling at Australia House in the Strand to escape the depression of the Harold Wilson socialist government and come to Australia. Here we go again, but I am too old to escape again from the scourge of socialism.”
VickiSA said:
“I was a new voter at the time of the Whitlam dismissal, and had plenty of time left to get myself sorted out financially. Now I am approaching retirement, and worry about the future; I don’t have the time left to recover from a Shorten government, as I did in my younger years.”
No joke, said Jonathan:
“But there is a danger here Janet … the hard core fanatics like McManus and Greens will see that this is as a real chance to implement a socialist system and they will have vast influence over a Shorten government.
“Is it possible that they could risk it all and use this chance to introduce drastic socialist changes to the very basis of our system (free speech, industrial, financial, political, energy, exports) that could take decades to undo, if they can ever be undone?”
Ian’s encomium:
“I look forward to reading Janet each day and this article is what the nation needs to here. Or at least us who despair at where Australia is going.
“I think this is the best article you have written. We all needed this insight. I certainly knew that hardship was required to wake up our complacency yet I hadn’t connected the dots to Shorten. Thanks you. Let’s hope they learn to vote him out just as quickly … after the lesson.”
Robert noted:
“Tragically the old maxim that those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it, is again to be proven correct.”
Aaron asserted:
“I think you’ll find that the left have well and truly outplayed us over the last decade. The left may not have been in government during this time but they have infiltrated the schools, universities and nailed the activism game and built a groundswell of support for generations to come. Be prepared for a long, dry spell in opposition.”
Betty again:
“I was there too (for Whitlam). His hippy government was humorous. At least we got a laugh. Whitlam was a manic spender. He was, however, a man of vision and ethics.”
It’s the stupidity, stupid, said Laurie:
“It is not complacency it is stupidity. Australia is far more stupid this time around than it has ever been. It is reflected in our education standards our deviation from our past values our embrace of socialism (a failed philosophy) the I want what you’ve got theory of unions and welfare recipients. “
Robert recalled:
“I also lived through the chaotic and, at times, plain incompetent Whitlam years. You have to remember that the Whitlam cabinet had no experience of government. The ALP had been out of power for decades. Whitlam was also had a very different temperament to Shorten, who is a cautious man.
“There was more than a whiff of paranoia floating around in the Whitlam ministry (not all completely unjustified). Even a manifestly incompetent government created a worthwhile legacy in some areas: universal health care, recognition of China, leading the way on decriminalisation of homosexuality come to mind.
“In my view, the biggest risk with a Shorten government is timidity.”
Bad times, said BruceM:
“I’m 77 Janet. I might not last to see the good times again if Bill Shorten gets in. Already I struggle to pay power bills and sit with a blanket on in the winter. When prices double I doubt if I will be able to afford to put the kettle on for a cup of hot coffee.”
Rolf’s rubric:
“Bad times deliver strong leaders. Strong leaders deliver good times. Good times deliver weak leaders. Weak leaders deliver bad times. Ad nauseam.”
Mick looked back in anger:
“I was just hitting my straps when Whitlam’s mob were elected. New job, new company with huge potential for expansion and promotions. Bought a house, a Monaro, had just married and wife was pregnant.
“We borrowed on my salary alone and oh, did we struggle. I was so elated when Whitlam got the sack and could not understand how people thought that was outrageous. The country was decimated with debt, job losses, companies hitting the wall, yet we had the inner city circle mob and the arty parties, the teachers all baying for blood. It didn’t matter that we were broke. So, like you, can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Last go to Geoff:
“I agree that the bitter pill of Labor may be necessary to enlighten the Millennials, who are probably going to sweep Shorten to power. It’s like the dose of castor oil our parents used to give us — distasteful but good for you.”
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Each Friday the cream of your views on the news rises and we honour the voices that made the debate great. To boost your chances of being featured, please be pertinent, pithy and preferably make a point. Solid arguments, original ideas, sparkling prose, rapier wit and rhetorical flourishes may count in your favour. Civility is essential. Comments may be edited for length.
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