We took a crew of 6 kids from Urala to Sydney for a week. On the ferry to the zoo one morning, one of the children dragged my sleeve. “Look back there at the Anzac Bridge,” he said to me softly. “It’s like a tiny spider’s web hanging over the solid edge of the city.” Education is such a joy. Kent May, Urala
One positive result (Letters, Oct 13) for me is the addition of “giant” to my fledgling vocabulary. Now I need to work on the scaffolding so I can stand in front of my friends. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemoloi
Misplaced Bold Ideas Before Elections
Stamp duty paid when buying a family home never seemed like a good idea to me (“Perrottet’s land tax would get homebuyers out of their pockets,” Oct. 13). Prime Minister Beirut and his party have left enough cash legacies to the people of this state to pay for it. Why the rush, Premier? Why sell your political soul to the demons at the table? Why this frantic rush of big, bold ideas just before the election? Take your big, bold ideas to the people at the polls. We need no more uncoordinated micro-spend on your way out of the house. Jeff Nealon, the mascot
Not content with urging first-home buyers with the prospect of an additional mandatory tax, Perrottet vacillates over the question of whether that tax would extend to those who aren’t the first homebuyers. I humbly anticipate that the period of Beirut’s political life is about to end in the upcoming state elections. Fred Janson, Rose Bay
Pre-election talk has proven very stressful. Joey Coxey, Harrington
The Prime Minister wanted to replace the stamp tax on property purchases with a land tax for all property owners. His proposal, currently before Parliament, is a half-time payment option for first home buyers. In my opinion, it should make it a real premium option purely as a measure to close the gap while doing a proper study of the land tax. By that I mean bringing together the Federal Treasurer and the State and Territory Treasurers and examining the possibility of a nationwide land tax using the Goods and Services Tax as a model. The goal is to get rid of stamp duty, which is a government tax just as it was a sales tax before John Howard achieved the impossible with the GST. John Duff, Lavender Bay
How about imposing stamp duty on investment properties and the option of stamp duty and annual land tax for homebuyers? Bing E, Castle Cove
Two things come to mind whenever I hear talk about the new stamp duty/land tax for Beirut. The first is that the stamp duty is very expensive. What’s wrong with a more modest administrative fee? The second is that the more revenue this government collects, the more it will waste. Anyone need a new soccer field? Tom Oren, Umberal Heights
The selling agent’s 3 percent fee on a Sydney home worth $1.6 million (median price) is $48,000. Have you thought about regulating these fees or promoting private sales? Mostafa Iram, Terigal
Australia should stay in Ukraine
The editorial (“Government must urgently step up support for Ukraine,” October 13) rightly asks our government to increase its support. Few, I expect, would disagree in light of the recent unprovoked attacks in residential areas that have led to the deaths of children and innocent citizens. However, I would like to know what percentage of GDP all countries, especially NATO members, contribute to this war effort. It should make reading fun. Dennis Sutling, Newport Beach
Withdrawing decisive military support for Ukraine will lead to its elimination. Leaving Ukraine unprotected will not make us or the world safer. John Cotterell, Kingsford
Your correspondent (Letters, 13 October) suggests that Australia stop sending arms, military equipment and other support to the Ukrainians. This, he says, simply risks a horrific global escalation on one country. Imagine back in 1939 if we had taken the same attitude towards the invasion of Poland by that notorious dictator. The Ukrainians are doing a great job and deserve all the active support they can get to put an end to Putin. If it doesn’t stop, who’s next? John Whiting, Willoughby
I suppose your correspondent advising other countries to cut aid to Ukraine because it “risks a horrific global escalation on one country” would give the same advice if Australia was invaded by a larger power with a brutal authoritarian leadership. Svirsky, Mount Drouet
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.attributed to him:AP
The Finnish Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, had an appropriately blunt response to the suggestions to stay out of Ukraine. “The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine,” Marin told a reporter recently. Bruce Stafford, Taskcott
The hard line on China
It’s amazing that China knows exactly what the problems are with our bilateral relationship (“China’s Trade Appeal”, Oct. 13) and the benefits to Australia of higher tariffs and trade embargoes, but it seems to think that we are the ones who need to take action. It is also difficult to clap when one hand is covered with an iron glove and the other is in a tied jacket. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls
The Chinese government seems desperate to reorganize trade relations and suggests that this would greatly ease our budget problems, even to the point of financing the third stage of tax cuts.
Indeed, the Chinese economy is facing a serious problem due to its destructive policy of COVID-zero and the attempts of many developed countries to reduce trade with China, and it needs Australia back. However, for a democratic country like Australia, it is impossible to turn a blind eye to these policies and China’s record of immediate termination of trade when some government policies are not to the liking. Our mineral and energy exports seem to facilitate an increase in Chinese arms, which is currently seen as a growing threat. Thus, the Australian government should take a tougher stance and signal that these exports will be halted immediately if China attempts to seize Taiwan by force. Jeff Harding, Chatswood
China seems more frustrated with its slow pace of world domination than with its relationship with Australia. China’s human rights abuse and denial of human rights will continue to be an obstacle to improving its relations with many countries. Anthony Albanese and Benny Wong’s calm but firm demeanor may make them more anxious than the empty rhetoric of our previous government. Jeff Nealon, the mascot
The political failure in the exhibition
Nick Bryant (“Leaders Lax? That’s Us,” Oct. 13) hears it, describing the “second-class cabal of student politicians” that has led to such a succession of failed political leaders around the world.
Many of them have no real life experience, and are advanced within their party by compliance, unwavering loyalty, and support for all policies, regardless of merit or personal beliefs.
Many of our new politicians have only revealed their views and opinions once they have left Parliament and the shackles of partisan pressure have been removed. Many of them seem to enter politics for the flight of power or to advance their own agenda, and many of them seem to be nothing more than puppets erected by their country’s oligarchs, who remain the true power, financial backers and instigators of politics.
No wonder voters turn to independents for true and honest representation. Alan Marill, North Curl Curl
We will not pay for the doctors
I agree with your correspondent (Letters, Oct 13) that a small joint payment, paid by those who can afford it, would be one way to increase the physician’s revenue. Unfortunately, it has been tried before and canceled. Bob Hawke made a joint payment of $2.50 when he was prime minister in 1991, but it was removed by Paul Keating the following year. Australians seem happy to pay for just about anything, from dry cleaning to day care, but not the doctors. Ross Macpherson, Seaforth
A voice to help heal
Uluruattributed to him:iStock
An old Wilcox cartoon (Letters, Oct 13) brought back a memory, when I visited recently, seeing the sign of the path where Uluru used to climb. It serves as a reminder of how much this land’s heritage has been neglected. It’s time to bridge the gap that Wilcox recognizes in her cartoon and not only bring a voice to Parliament but implement the Uluru Manifesto entirely from the heart. Jordana Martinovich, Dulwich Hill
Skip?
Ruby Kangaroo Launched by Tourism Australia to Sell Australia to Tourists (“Ruby Kangaroo Kicks Off Global Tourism Campaign in Japan,” Oct 13)? Who is Ruby? Surely, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo could have been a better option? George Zivkovic, NorthMed
Is Tourism Australia foretelling that the famous kangaroo could be endangered in the future when choosing a stuffed toy instead of the “real thing” for its international ad? Janice Crignon, Austenmer
dangerous work
Which is more “risky” (in political terms), spending cuts or changing the third stage of tax cuts (“Prime Minister says spending cuts ‘risky’, Oct. 13)? Would the meaning of the word “risky” change if you were thinking other than political thinking? ? David Rush, Lawson
to have
nature sectorattributed to him:Getty Images
I’d like to be able to say I forgot I owned a Class A racehorse (“The Woman Who ‘Didn’t Know’ Had a Runner on Mount Everest”, Oct 13). I might do that and it’s called the Nature Strip and I’ll take Saturday’s news out of the winner’s circle during the protest, “but I’m sure I have the papers somewhere.” Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield
digital parallax
Online comment from one of the stories that got the most reader comments yesterday smh.com.au
The Chinese ambassador is frustrated by the slow progress in repairing relations with Australia
From Jimo: ″ I think the government and Penny Wong are doing a good job here. The dialogue has returned but they have made it clear that we will not obey any demands, we will act in our national interest and become less dependent on China in the future. ″
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Originally published at Melbourne News Vine
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