What about us?
The Liberal government’s popularity is down. Businesses are wondering if they will survive and GPs are needing more support for Medicare. Meanwhile, the government is talking tax relief. Not support but tax relief which will really apply to the big end of the business world. Here we are living in one of the best ″houses″ on the planet and the government is telling us we don’t have to pay a high rent.
If we need anything we need support, we need mental support to get us through these times, not freebies for our ″friends″. We need straight talking and not the ″we have done this for you and we will do better for you″. The time has come for clear thinking about us, the people. So, who will supply our needs? And when? Or is this all too hard?
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
Taylor-made suit?
It seems electric trucks are tailor-made for improving our environment – less noise, less pollution, less congestion (The Age, 18/1). It’s surprising, therefore, that the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor, remains stridently opposed to altering the policy settings that would support the truck industry’s calls to move to electric vehicles. At a time when we must act with leadership and conviction on reducing our traditional CO2 emitting, climate warming fuels, surely Taylor could cut his political suit to fit the environmental cloth.
Karen Campbell, Geelong
Consensus first
What is the point of Australia becoming a republic if we can’t first achieve consensus about what kind of nation we want to become? Urgent problems such as climate change, the need to reinstate diplomacy and diplomatic missions to plan, initiate and sustain key global peace initiatives, the dangerously widening of gap between rich and poor in both financial and cultural wealth, the increasing casualisation and insecurity of employment, the need for a national ICAC to reinstate integrity of democratic government, the need to strengthen the public service, require an immediate focus and commitment to resolution.
So far, resolution of these issues are being swept under the carpet by the Coalition, and are not mentioned by any of the republic models that have been offered.
Jennifer Gerrand, Carlton North
Sorry Paul, you’re wrong
I invariably enjoy Paul Keating’s forays into the public arena and usually agree with him. Not this time.
The 1999 referendum showed beyond doubt that Australians will not support a model that does not involve direct election by the people. The model currently being debated by the Australian Republican Movement achieves this in a balanced and orderly way. A similar model has operated in Ireland for years, returning fine presidents without threatening the parliamentary system or usurping executive powers.
Insistence on exclusively parliamentary selection will doom any such model to rejection.
Michael Beahan, Brunswick
Socialist stoats
While Joan Kerr (Letters, 18/1) and I would agree on the iniquity of the No. 10 Downing St parties, I think it is unfair to malign the stoats and weasels. What these admirable creatures did was occupy the over-sized and under-utilised property of the aristocratic wastrel Toad, and for a brief time implement a social housing co-operative. Unfortunately their efforts were stymied by a counter-coup staged by an alliance of the yeomanry (Badger) and the bourgeoisie (Rat and Mole), who instituted a return to “business as usual”. Well, that’s the version I used to tell my kids.
Mike Puleston, Brunswick
Crisis, what crisis?
The interview with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison (The Age, 15/1) reinforces my opinion that conservative politics is about not changing anything until you absolutely have to. The result is ongoing Band-Aid solutions to a plethora of political sores, mostly too little, too late.
None of the difficult issues faced by this government have led to any long-term policies or legislation to try to avoid repeat events. Indeed, it puts much effort into avoiding such legislation.
The notion of putting in place a scheme to last until 2050, to become carbon neutral, is anathema to a government that cannot see beyond the few months to the next election. Any policy designed to last the next 10 administrations is unimaginable to them.
Surely the voting public should be able to expect more from a government than lurching from crisis to crisis.
Michael Meszaros, Alphington
Responsible citizens
Winston Churchill once described a necessary quality in politicians as ″the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen″. Scott Morrison has struggled to explain the COVID landscape, but it is unfair to blame him for the fiasco. After all, he hasn’t done a great deal, and as he reminds the weary community, we really have to take responsibility.
Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
No crowds, no idiots
One small bonus from a crowd-free Australian Open tennis championship last year was the thankful absence of the raucous idiots who badge themselves as ″we the people″.
It’s a disgrace that Tennis Australia allows them to sit in prime position on any court whenever Australian players are engaged. It goes on year after year and for what purpose? It’s embarrassing.
Tim Nolan, Brighton
Please, give a RATs
There is an unintended consequence of not being able to buy a rapid antigen test. Our father is in a nursing home, which has confined residents to their rooms for months on end because of COVID complications. To enter the facility now not only requires we are double vaccinated, but that we also record a negative RAT before entry. The facility does not provide these tests, and of course we can’t buy any tests. So once again, we’re refused entry. Here is an obvious case where the government should make these tests free to the wider population.
James Sarros, Black Rock
Affording a home
Housing affordability is far more complex than simple notions of supply and demand.
As Jessica Irvine notes (Comment, 18/1), record low interest rates have drawn more people into the market which has pushed up house prices. So, paradoxically lower repayments on home loans have made homes less affordable.
Now that interest rates finally seem to be rising, will housing become more affordable? That would require a sharp fall in demand and a consequent fall in house prices. But that outcome is far from certain.
It is more likely that home buyers will be deterred by increased loan repayments.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills
Tanks for nothing
I cannot believe that the Australian government would outlay $3.5billion on buying 120 new tanks to replace the Army’s 59 Abrams tanks bought in 2007. These Abrams tanks have never been used in battle. Where are these new tanks going to be used? We should be looking at budget repair as we try to recover from COVID lockdowns and provide aid to our neighbours in the Pacific to counter China extending its influence in that region. And how on earth are we to send these tanks to areas of conflict?
George Nicholls, Surrey Hills
They are refugees, PM
Scott Morrison told 2GB radio that the 30 people at the same hotel as Novak Djokovic were not refugees. Most of the 30 have refugee status granted by this Morrison government.
Susan Munday, Bentleigh East
It’s all going swimmingly
Record case numbers, hospitalisations, deaths, hospitals in crisis, long waits for PCR results, no rapid antigen tests, workers in isolation, empty shelves. “Let COVID rip”, now that went well.
Damien Smith, Big Hill
AND ANOTHER THING
Morrison
Scott Morrison’s the best night watchman this country’s had. It’s time for him to let somebody who can bat have a go.
Peter New, Elwood
Do we assume Jen has charge of ordering in supplies in the Morrison household.
Joan Segrave, Healesville
Looks like the PM has lost the lead in the RAT race.
Andy Wain, Rosebud
Why the shock, surprise and outrage? Rapid antigen tests selling at ″market-clearing″ prices is can-do capitalism, by definition.
Kristine Hanscombe, St Kilda
Thanks Scott Morrison for the Claytons Australia-wide lockdown.
Rob Ward, Lake Tyers Beach
What about a once-off levy on windfall profits during COVID to fund an extra week’s leave for frontline workers?
Steve Melzer, Hughesdale
The government is consistent in its dealing with COVID-19 and climate change. The economy is clearly the dominant factor in both.
Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank, SA
Furthermore
James Anderson was England’s unlikely hero of the Ashes Tests. By surviving the last over of the Sydney Test, he saved England from a five-nil loss.
Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick
The new Novak Djokovic reality show: ″I’m a celebrity … get me in to here!″ (To be seen on TV, in three years.)
Merv Robbins, Coburg
A message to the Serbian President – we don’t torture spoilt rich sportsmen in Australia. We torture sad poor refugees.
David Allen, Bayswater North
We’ve angered France, China and Serbia, not to mention the world and Pacific island nations over climate change. Who’s next?
Lesley Taskis, Kingsbury
Can we assume ″Code Brown″ means that it’s all turned to s—.
Ian Millar, Mordialloc
