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Credit: Illustration: Andrew Dyson
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Rate rises: Ordinary home owners stuck carrying the load
The Reserve Bank has seen fit to again raise interest rates when so many are struggling financially (“Chalmers to offer relief after shock interest rise”, 3/5). But funds should be sought from citizens and corporations and not just home owners. It seems that owners of rental properties are sacred cows, and the federal government is unwilling to reduce, let alone abolish, negative gearing for such groups.
Nor is there any plan to downsize for eradicate the stage 3 income tax cuts. And yet we see the funding of a football stadium for hundreds of millions of dollars in Hobart.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
Decision has damaging consequences
The Reserve Bank board mouths platitudes while hundreds of thousand of everyday mortgage holders are suffering stress and anxiety over their future. My son would love to take on extra staff but the cost of paying his mortgage simply means he cannot. Anthony Albanese is presiding over a government that is leading us to a recession that we did not have to have.
Kevin Drinan, Bentleigh
Relief will come with a process change
Reporting a fortnight ago on the findings of the independent review of the Reserve Bank and referring to “crucial interest rate decisions”, there was a headline in The Age: “Board members lack appropriate skill set” (21/4). On Tuesday, the RBA board gave further veracity to that finding, with another ill-conceived interest rate increase and “a threat to go even further”. The treasurer’s concern is encouraging, but sufficient relief can’t be found in his promise of a “substantial cost-of-living relief package”. The relief needed is to relieve the board of its responsibility for interest rates straight away. We can’t afford to see remedial action delayed until the middle of next year, as the federal government currently plans.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
One group takes the hit
About 37 per cent of the population have home loans. This group takes the hit for all of us in trying to bring inflation under control. That is unfair. Contrast this with millions of Baby Boomers who own their own homes and celebrate interest rate increases.
The Reserve Bank should be given more tools (other than lifting the cash rate) to share the burden across the population.
Andrew Barrington, Barwon Heads
Break the tired tropes
The human algorithm that is the RBA board simply follows the tired economic tropes, no matter how outdated, ineffective and dangerous. The lowering of the cash rate to bizarre levels made a major contribution to inflation and now the mindless raising of interest rates will help give us a recession. We’ve had robo-debt, now we have robo-rates.
Mark Morrison, Kew
Starvation rates
Ross Gittins (“Starving the unemployed shames us all”, 3/5) alerting us to the starvation rates of JobSeeker reminds me of Susso (sustenance) payments during the 1930s Depression. Why are we allowing the ongoing punishment of hundreds of thousands of our compatriots? They are expected to exist on $49.50 per day. Over-55s will get a trickle more, for some reason.
What are the priorities of this government? It’s time to shelve the $360 billion submarines and make this country a fair and decent place to live.
Annie Mullarvey, Brunswick East
Little has changed
Thank you, Ross Gittins, for detailing the cruelty of life for those on the JobSeeker payment. I am one of the many recipients of this payment, and also one of the many who has forgone medical appointments and taken to rationing to get by. It is difficult to see any change in rhetoric about helping the poor. And ahead of the budget next week, it seems little will change.
Anders Ross, Heidelberg
THE FORUM
Crowning achievements
Many choose to discount nearly 1000 years of the Crown’s continuing history, just as our colonial forebears discounted our first Australians in their own land. Do we never learn? The upcoming coronation is part of all our histories – like it or not. It is not just about one man, King Charles. The Crown is above and beyond the depressing everyday political maelstrom.
Consider the peace and wellbeing of the countries under a constitutional monarchy, particularly the stable Scandinavian countries and their neighbours. What about the 54 friendly countries of the Commonwealth all respecting and helping each other, while still healthily competing at their international games? That institution is the eventual product of devastating colonial practices, and is still led by its titular and symbolic head, now King Charles.
Youth training and unemployment are among his endeavours, as is his interest in all the arts and agriculture throughout the Commonwealth. I’m loyal to such institutions.
Gillian Clezy, Abbotsford
Holy calling?
A secret screen behind which the new king will have a special meeting with God to reinforce his holy calling? Hang on, didn’t he get to be the monarch because he was the firstborn son in a particular family?
Moreover, this birthright involves no particular personal qualities or attributes. No level of intelligence or skill required. One just has to be born. Do we really all believe in this fairy tale?
Sally O’Brien, Benalla
We can do better
My coronation oath of allegiance:
“As a citizen of Australia, I reject outright any allegiance to the British monarchy, together with any divine right of kings.
I support a Voice to parliament, together with the development of a treaty around First Nations people. Invasion of Australia by the British meant original inhabitants lost their land and many of their people, while their culture was eroded.
Democracy is our chosen form of government. Bring on the republic, and let’s move forward together, not with a king as our head of state, but with a figure-head chosen by parliament.
At the same time, I swear to uphold the equality, freedoms and human rights of all Australians, regardless of race, age or creed.”
Wendy Northey, Mordialloc
Clear choice for president
Having read Geoffrey Robertson’s typically clear-sighted dissection of the hyperbolic rituals by which an old Englishman will be anointed (among other things) king of an independent country far removed from his own (“Coronation is just plain silly”, 29/4), I went to my library and borrowed Robertson’s autobiography. I unreservedly recommend it: witty, sharply observed and self-deprecating. Now there’s my nomination for our first president.
David Baxter, Mornington
Forever is too long
When I was a young child, the Queen pledged to serve the people for all of her life, no matter how long or short it may be. She faithfully carried out that pledge throughout her long reign. Now that I am an old woman the King asks me to pledge allegiance to him even if he lives forever. I cannot bring myself to do that.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn
Following a trail blazer
Australia’s first female commercial pilot, Deborah Lawrie, would be especially pleased to hear about Vanessa Hudson’s appointment as the new Qantas chief executive to succeed Alan Joyce. Hudson is the world’s first female chief executive to head up a national airline. It could be said that she is standing on Lawrie’s trail-blazing shoulders.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
Full support of the board
As chairman of Qantas and the AFL, Richard Goyder’s announcement of new chief executives to both organisations is interesting. For the AFL, Andrew Dillon is the “standout candidate”. For Qantas, the board “firmly feels” Vanessa Hudson is the person for the job. Good luck, Vanessa.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
The lesser of two evils
I am disappointed with Health Minister Mark Butler’s stance on vaping. Vaping has been around a long time and many believe it to be a much safer option than cigarettes. It is certainly cleaner and less expensive. I am all for banning the flavoured vapes that appeal to young people and may get them addicted to nicotine, but for rusted-on nicotine-addicted adults, vapes appear the better option. Surely these people should be able to choose between vaping or smoking?
Georgina Rea, Wangaratta
Tainting an industry
It is with great sadness that I note that racehorse St Arnicca was euthanised after a fall on the first day of the Warrnambool jumps carnival. As your chief racing reporter points out, the fatality rate in jumps racing in Victoria is one in 294 starters.
Can you imagine the outrage if this figure was transposed to flat racing, where there are about 1200 horses participating at meetings each week. This would equate to around four horse deaths a week. People would be rightfully demanding that the industry be shut down.
As the only state in Australia that still allows jumps racing, surely it is time to consider its future before it further taints the rest of the industry.
Rob Hulls, Strathmore
Hot, and cold, seat
I applaud the letter urging the use of recycled plastic in the construction of “smart seating” in public places. The metal seating that is prevalent in Melbourne is guaranteed to give you a very cold bottom in winter weather. And under direct sunlight in the summer, you can get scorched. Seats made of recycled plastic are not only more environmentally friendly, they are also a lot kinder to the body of the seated person.
Elizabeth Pearce, Hawthorn
Essential services
The social inclusiveness role of some op shops (Comment, 2/5) can also be extrapolated to libraries. A frequent visitor to my local library who obviously has some challenges in his life told me that “they are really good here, they talk to me”. What a great compliment to the staff.
Susan Nisbet, Caulfield North
Injustice system
Like your correspondent (Letters, 3/5), I also need someone to explain how our adversarial justice system continues to be employed, especially in cases of rape, where the alleged victim’s life is exposed, interrogated and fought over by vulture-like adversarial lawyers while the alleged rapist sits safely silent, cocooned in their privacy. Where is the attempt to find the truth when only one person’s life and privacy is shredded by our current justice system? Justice? Not really, when statistics show such a tiny percentage of accused rapists are actually found guilty.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights
Credit to caring workers
Your correspondent does a great disservice to many aged care facilities and their staff and management in writing as she does (Letters, 2/5). Agreed, friends and family are a key to deterring dementia and cognisant decline, and also there is a strong case for upgrading aged care services in a number of areas.
But recognition must be given to the fine work being undertaken by many facilities and caring staff in supporting Australians through difficult stages in their lives. Working long hours with poor levels of remuneration, many, but granted not all, provide the best lifestyle to folk in the years when they have difficulty in looking after themselves.
Longevity of life and a reluctance to include three generations in the family home has resulted in a situation in much of Western society which was not evident in previous generations, and is still unknown in many countries where it is expected that the same care is given to parents as they gave to you as children. The result in Australia is that large numbers live alone and lonely, homebound and not receiving necessary healthcare. In such circumstances residential aged care is the best option, and advice should not be given to avoid it.
Michael North, Pakenham
Criticism went too far
Cameron Woodhead’s review of Macbeth (1/5) goes beyond artistic criticism and focuses relentlessly on the choice of Hazem Shammas in the role of Macbeth.
As readers, we want to know what an art critic thinks, whether it be positive or negative. However, Woodhead’s language went well beyond what was reasonable.
He said that Shammas’ performance belonged “in the Richard III ward of Monty Python’s Hospital for Over-Acting”, that it was “a strategic error to over-emote early on” and that he “also channels uncontrolled distress that stretches the verse to medieval torture”.
Woodhead’s response to Shammas’ performance is at odds with the audience’s response, which was rapturous, with a standing ovation from most there at the night I attended. My own response to his performance was consistent with the rest of the audience.
Alan Mitchell, Elsternwick
Loss of a great
One of Australia’s greatest musos, the singer, songwriter and harmonica player Broderick Smith passed away this week with little fanfare. As a young man I was fortunate to see him perform many times as frontman of the iconic bands the Dingoes and Broderick Smith’s Big Combo.
The short set he performed with his original band, Carson, at Sunbury way back in 1973 remains a favourite. Throughout the ’90s and 2000s he continued to write and perform with others and released his final album, Man out of Time, in 2018. Australia has produced many great musical artists over the years. With his distinctive voice, lyrics and harmonica playing, Broderick Smith deserves to be recognised and celebrated as the equal of any. Vale.
John McCartin, Yarraville
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
And another thing
Economic pressure
The Reserve Bank claims it is “doing what is right for the country”, yet the recent review says the board is unqualified to be making interest rate decisions. What gives, despite our dwindling pay packets?
Mark H. Kennedy, Sebastopol
No one left behind, Mr Albanese. That means every one on JobSeeker needs a lift in their income, not just the older ones.
John Walsh, Watsonia
It is beyond time that every company starts paying some tax. Wage earners are subsidising those tax-avoiding corporations.
Cindy O’Connor, Brunswick
Politics
Tony Abbott is right, 4 per cent of the population will have a Voice to parliament if the referendum succeeds. How they’ll be heard above the 1791 people, including lobbyists, who currently have access is another matter.
Kevin Fahey, Red Hill
Instead of holding a divisive and expensive referendum, why don’t we just give every Indigenous activist in Australia an orange pass to Parliament House?
Greg Hardy, Upper Ferntree Gully
AFL
To make the AFL a truly national competition, it needs the Northern Territory to own the 20th team.
Brian McGuinness, Richmond
I hope Dillon isn’t just a Gillon fillin’.
John Rawson, Mernda
All it took was a 2.30pm AFL grand final confirmation to have Dillon convince me.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
The coronation
Australia will become a republic: in the meantime, just enjoy the ceremony and glitz of the King’s coronation with a pink gin and cheese twirls – quiche optional.
Mary Cole, Richmond
I cannot wait for the coronation and have invited friends over to celebrate with champagne and nibbles. I am a fifth generation Australian. Who says it is not a show for Australians?
Angela Cronwright, Eltham
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