Vulnerable pay the price for investment vehicles

Sydney Morning Herald

2 days ago

Seize the four-year moment
'Labor must seize the moment' writes Shaun Carney (' Albanese era must leave a legacy ', July 3). I wish that the PM would use some of his enormous political capital and seize the moment by reaching out to Sussan Ley with the suggestion of bipartisan support for a legislated four-year term for the federal government to commence after the next federal government term. This way no one party could be perceived as being disadvantaged by this sensible change. If this change cannot be legislated and needs a referendum to alter the Constitution this could be done at the next federal election. That would be something that will be remembered in 40 years' time. Dale Bailey, St Leonards
The National Party, because it is a regional party will never be able to govern on its own, will always need the softer right-of-centre party in the Coalition to ever govern again. The paradox at the heart of conservative politics in Australia is that the only way the Liberal Party could ever form government is with the support of the cities, which in recent years have virtually abandoned them. So by making themselves more relevant to the city they become increasingly irrelevant to the regions. This will be a lose-lose situation for years and years. Chris McKimm, Karangi
Australians have entrusted the Albanese government with their trust because the Coalition was untrustworthy. This is not just an opportunity for the government – it is an obligation. After three Coalition terms of going nowhere and a first term of housekeeping and fending off Dutton's disingenuous attacks, it is time to effect much needed changes. Shaun Carney is right, Australia is a different place to what it was for the Hawke/Keating times of change. The time is right, there is a mood for lasting change to be implemented. The biggest threat may still be the Coalition outliers, an unruly mob, harder to control than a herd of cats. The Australian people are watching. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Universal basic income
Rob Phillips (Letters, July 3) ponders on the likely effects of AI on work availability. Much of this thinking has already been done, and trials have already started of a universal basic income as a solution to the problem. Every adult gets a government-funded no-questions-asked payment roughly equivalent to current welfare payments, replacing and simplifying current welfare structures. It not only supports people without employment or adequate hours, but it ensures demand for goods and services does not fall with collapsing employment. It places no impediment for enterprising people to still create their own wealth. Most alternate scenarios involve the dystopian nightmare of increasing concentration of wealth for the few, and an underclass in extreme poverty. Stein Boddington, St Clair
Letters champion loquacious to the last
I went to Joan's funeral yesterday afternoon (Letters, June 29). It seems Joan just couldn't stop writing even at the end. In true Joan Brown-from-Orange style she wrote a poem about her life entitled 'This is who I am' for her funeral service and she even wrote the eulogy which was read by her sister, Marion. Talk about a prolific and persistent wordsmith. She will be sadly missed not only by her family and friends but also the readers of the Letters pages. Valerie Craig, Orange
Bradfield knife-edge
Your correspondents who evidently supported the independent candidate in Bradfield are missing the point (Letters, July 3). Had Ms Kapterian been elected on as fine a margin as Ms Boele now has, I very much doubt the latter would not have used every measure possible to challenge that result. Ms Kapterian won the first count by about four votes and lost the second by 24. While I agree that our electoral commission is the very best, it evidently can still make mistakes in the count as this shows. Ms Kapterian won the first-past-the-post vote by a very large margin. She owes it to those supporters to challenge the result and seek a fresh election which would very likely be a two-horse race. Whoever wins that, then so be it – she will have very clearly proven her mandate. Peter Thornton, Killara
Assuming the Liberal Party is successful in its appeal for a by-election in Bradfield, what platform would it campaign on? Is nuclear power still on its manifesto? Is the Liberal Party still opposed to cutting the lowest tax rate from 16 per cent to 14 per cent? Will women return to the Liberal Party cause on the promise that possibly some time in the future they may consider quotas to increase female representation in the party? If the good people of Bradfield were happy to reject the LNP in May, I don't imagine things would have changed significantly by July-August. John Bailey, Canterbury
You would have to wonder on what grounds the Liberal Party would seek to overturn the election result. They would have to have evidence of serious misfeasance or malfeasance. There has already been a full recount under the strictest scrutiny imaginable. 'We should have won. It's our seat. We thought we had won and now they reckon we lost. Boo-hoo' does not cut it. Seats are won by the person who gets 50 per cent of the votes + 1. John Burman, Port Macquarie
Selective wake-up
The disturbing article relating to testing for selective and opportunity classes in our schools should be a wake-up call for future schools of this type (' Secret warning before test chaos ', July 3). One parent said 'by that time, the children had lost interest'. Of course they had. Money would be much better channelled into creating classes in normal schools where the gifted children could be educated with other students while their exceptionalism would be well catered for, and their education for life being much more rounded. Ann Babington, Thornton
Take pride in Lions
May I put forward the most worthwhile of all hobbies (Letters, July 3)? Join a service club such as Lions. My wife and I did just that a decade or so ago and have joined a great community of volunteers which contributes so much to our local, state and international peoples in need. Annual fees are minimal, no expensive equipment has to be purchased – only your time and labour are required, we have lots of fun and we know that all our funds go to the people who need it. There are no paid positions so none of our funds get 'wasted' on administrators. You can give as much time and effort as you wish, from a couple of hours a month and upwards. There is bound to be a club close to your home. Lions clubs are crying out for members so please join us and learn that we are more than just Saturday morning sausage-sizzlers.
Graham Carter, Eglinton
I discovered the pleasure of reading aloud when I volunteered to become a reader for Librivox.org – an organisation dedicated to recording all written works (out of copyright) for the free enjoyment of everyone. It's easy, they are delightful encouraging people to work with and it can be done from your own home, requiring minimal equipment. Jennifer Beckett-Wood, Chichester
I so agree with accepting new challenges to stimulate an ageing brain and body, because I know first hand it absolutely works. I started ballet for the first time at 80. This year it's computer training and as the City to Surf with 90,000 starters is not safe for me, this month I will exactly replicate the course without the crowds so I haven't missed the experience. Starting fresh becomes so important to a good quality of life with advancing years – embrace it. Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick
Ukulele as an inexpensive – $40 – hobby? Perhaps, but you would need to spend many thousands of dollars extra to build a soundproof room in which to practice or risk being murdered by your family or neighbours. This brings us to the old riddle – what is the difference between a ukulele and a trampoline? You take your shoes off before you jump on a trampoline. Ian Morris, Strathfield
In reply to John Swanton's letter asking if AC/DC can be performed by bells, as a practising campanologist I can claim that, at the age of 72, I'm a member of a heavy metal band. Jennifer Derrick, Orange
Airs, no graces
Why is Museums of History NSW bleating about the proposed development next to its Justice and Police Museum at Circular Quay (' Sydney law museum embroiled in own fight for justice ', July 1)? A few years ago, it sold the developers the air rights over part of the museum for millions of dollars and this in turn has facilitated the scale of the development. You reap what you sow. Peter Watts, Lilyfield