No life on a dead planet
Your correspondent hit the nail on the head (Letters, 23/4). Climate change should be the main focus of this election. Solutions will arise for housing and other social issues but the state of our climate can’t wait forever, and without a healthy planet where will we be?
Diane Maddison, Parkdale
Policies, not bribes
Thanks to economics correspondent Shane Wright for exposing the shameful pre-election bribes being thrown around (Comment, 27/4). Clearly designed to influence swinging voters with a “what’s in it for me” mentality, pre-election bribery is in the same integrity barrel as political donations from vested interests. As Wright notes, what’s needed are policies, not gifts, in particular policies that make society richer.
Much has been written about gas extraction companies not paying taxes and royalties. The fossil fuel levy suggested by senior economists Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims is a big-picture wealth policy fitting Wright’s description. So far, only the Greens and teal independents support such measures. More than ever we need big-picture politicians with policies, not bribes. Let’s get behind them.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
What cost the spending?
The proposed spending of $21billion by Peter Dutton on defence over the next five years may make us feel slightly safer but at what cost? Surely there will need to be major cuts in services such as health, education,welfare payments and veterans affairs to name a few.
How will this policy help relieve the cost of living pressures people find themselves under these days? The people who need help the most will be the ones who will have to bare the brunt of cuts needed to pay for the Coalition’s policies.
Randall Bradshaw, Fitzroy
A last week lost
The benefits of democracy in Australia include a last-minute scramble for votes before each election, dominated by slogans and sweeteners. The broad-brush long-term plans are optimistic, but often not costed and with little detail (″Dutton targets energy and housing to fund promises″, 27/4).
The current overall plans from both Labor and the LNP are judged to lack productivity measures, with housing policies that would nudge house prices up, not down.
No wonder millions vote early.
Australia has a flawed but robust democracy overall.
The last week before polling does not highlight the best of it.
John Hughes, Mentone
Please, recognise women
I’ve just watched the funeral service for Pope Francis. Although it was a moving ceremony I was distressed by the vast numbers of male clergy. Why can’t the Catholic Church recognise women and acknowledge how valuable female clergy are?
I’m a Christian and am grateful for the many priests and bishops we have in the Anglican Church.
Carole Nicholls, Surrey Hills
The missing leaders
Over the past week I appreciated catching up with Pope Francis’ achievements for justice and peace across our troubled world. I watched Francis’s funeral with all those “men dressed up in their importance”, as a friend of mine said; ie, cardinals and bishops.
I thought, surely it is time for the fabulous diversity of skilled, compassionate and courageous women across the globe to also be in Catholic leadership?
Bring this on – and I might then go back to church.
Maria Bohan, Newtown
Need to tackle poverty
Domestic violence can never be condoned or tolerated, and government messaging in the media could be useful, but if we are to eliminate this we need to deal with the causes. Poverty through the disparity of living standards and the proliferation of gambling due to government inaction would be a good start.
John Marks, Werribee
Campaigning 101
I wonder if poor polling for the Liberals is because they prefer to talk about the problem but not the solution?
Bridget McKenzie argues a great point that EV users should be paying for roads but won’t tell us how. Or that nuclear reactors require more water than what’s on offer but farmer’s water rights won’t be affected. Where will the water come from?
Any opposition wanting to govern must provide an alternative set of policies to win the hearts and minds of voters; it’s campaigning 101. The Liberals don’t appear to have done the hard work; rather, they have taken the easy road of telling us all what’s obvious. Less than a week out from polling day that’s not good enough.
Rob McCasker, Bull Creek, WA
No climate for change
A notable feature of the two major political parties during their election campaigns is the lack of focus on policies to tackle climate change. In the novel The Bee Sting by Paul Murray is a possible explanation as to why this might be the case.
In summary it argues that to adequately address this existential threat, we have to stop doing the enjoyable, everyday things that we know are causing it: “The thought of addressing it [ie, climate change] actually seems in some ways worse to us than being killed by it.” And “Make someone ashamed to their core, tell them that their very being is inimical to life … then ask if they want to make a donation.”
That being the case, it’s no wonder the topic has been relegated to a minor role during the campaign.
Kevin Bailey, Croydon
Widening gap
″Life isn’t 9 to 5 and neither is healthcare.″ While that statement is true it’s laughable for Anthony Albanese to trot this out in the election campaign. For the purpose of its rebates, Medicare defines normal hours for GPs as 8am to 8pm weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. The small after-hours rebate increase only kicks in after that. No wonder the number of GPs choosing to do any after-hours work has declined and clinics now either close or charge increasing gaps if they are open on weekends.
Louisa Ennis, Thornbury
Crises of humanity
Your correspondent (Letters, 26/4) correctly says there are humanitarian crises in Yemen, Syria and Sudan. But this doesn’t excuse Israel’s inhumane actions against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
AND ANOTHER THING
The election
How many citizens in Australia do a big supermarket shop without a list or a budget, but ″rack it up″ on the credit card at the checkout? Two, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
Just imagine how dynamic and relevant this election campaign would be if Julie Bishop had been elected opposition leader.
Pete Garfield, Echuca
Is “undecided” a polite pollster term for “don’t know” and/or “don’t care”?
Bernd Rieve, Brighton
Re. being back on track, so will we all end up in Gundagai?
Ann Young, Chirnside Park
Trump
Donald Trump is proving to be better at breaking deals than making deals.
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick
What on God’s good earth has Trump got in common with Pope Francis that would make him think he’d be welcomed at the Pontiff’s funeral?
Bruce Crowe, Sunbury
At the Pope’s funeral, President Volodymyr Zelensky could have asked Donald Trump if he possessed a black suit: but then he has dignity and virtually global respect, unlike the US president.
Russell Taylor, Box Hill South
Donald Trump has just realised that Vladimir Putin might be “tapping him along”? He’s been playing him for the past eight years, and he’s only just worked it out.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
Protests
Pro-trans protesters clashing with pro-trams commuters – not winning hearts and minds.
Ralph Böhmer, St Kilda West
Far-right protesters who disrupt council meetings and other gatherings are so selfish and self-righteous. They have no consideration for the desire of the other attendees to actually do something constructive at the meetings.
Michael Helman, St Kilda East
