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Chris Richardson (Comment, 13/4) advocates Japanese-style high-density housing as the panacea for the ″⁣epic disaster″⁣ of many people facing difficulty buying a home.
However, the destruction of existing suburbs is not necessary (or desirable) to solve this problem. What is required is for satellite suburbs and cities to be served to the central city by very fast public transport.

Peter Drum, Coburg

Missing the other side of the coin
Chris Richardson fails to recognise the problem of controlling the demand side of housing availability and affordability. Instead, like other commentators who observe economics from a financially safe distance, he pursues the supply-side equation and targets the NIMBY attitude as getting in the way of building denser accommodation (read as sardine-style living). As long as governments pursue mass migration as a lazy means to maintain economic growth combined with the obscene inequity of buying power between investors and first home buyers, then demand will outstrip supply no matter how many sardine-can abodes are built. Our lazy economic system needs to be restructured into one that is dependent on sustainable factors and not a wilfully blind mindset that supply has no finite socio-economic ceiling on a finite planet.
Paul Miller, Box Hill South

A turnaround in policies is needed
The cost of housing for new home buyers and those in the rental market requires more than fiddling at the edges. The provision and expansion of public and social housing must remain a priority for governments with private investment encouraged but not at the expense of those on low incomes.
If negative gearing and other tax advantages to encourage home building are to continue then there should be a requirement that they occur in areas of need and be available at rents that are affordable. The rebuilding of existing public housing stock has been marked by a decline in available residences for low-income people while more expensive and private housing are given priority to those with the capacity to gain a bank loan. This policy must change.
Safe, affordable and accessible housing is a basic human right and to see it simply as personal investment is a failed understanding of the complex and urgent need to address inequity. The supply of housing will not meet the needs of today without a drastic turnaround in policies.

Ray Cleary, Camberwell

The ‘red tape’ needs to be there
The HIA’s push to cut the “red tape” of urban planning is disingenuous and dangerous. (“Building reforms back on agenda”, 13/4) Even the current regulatory light touch provides a wider context that moderates a market-led free-for-all by encouraging suitable housing located in appropriate places. Without it, we’ll get even more car-dependent sprawl remote from jobs, services and opportunities. That’s a debt trap for buyers, and risks permanent regret (and avoidable remedial costs) for us all as a society.
Rod Duncan, Brunswick East

The NIMBYs are a diverse lot
Chris Richardson blames “older, richer NIMBY residents″⁣ for ″⁣blocking development at local council level”. Obviously, Richardson lives in Sydney because in Melbourne, the state government’s VCAT more often ignores council decisions and later approves developments. As a former councillor, I frequently explained to residents that the state government introduces (and often changes) the regulations for councils to adhere to – and even if we opposed these developments, VCAT would most likely approve them. I often urged residents to mediate with developers at VCAT and try to obtain some concessions.
By the way, the so-called NIMBYs were from various demographics not just “older, richer residents”: invariably, decent people concerned about the proposed ugly intrusions in their lives.
Sally Davis, Malvern East

FORUM

The truth about drugs
Thank you Dechlan Brennan for your honesty and willingness to show your vulnerability in your article ″⁣When I was using heroin, few people knew″⁣ (13/4). You are both compassionate and truthful as you address that everyone has their own reason for taking drugs. Sadly, we are often too quick to judge people who are suffering from addiction, whether it be drugs, alcohol, or gambling without recognising the vulnerability of mental health. Thankfully, your father showed the strength of his love for you without judgment. Your understanding about safe injecting rooms as a lifesaver and an intervention to help people improve their lives is educational, and hopefully may contribute to the provision of the safety of injecting rooms and break down the stigma of addiction.
Julie Ottobre, Sorrento

The path to unity
The notion that Australia should have local and state Voices but not a national Voice is illogical. If it would be a good idea for local and state governments to be fully informed about matters affecting First Nations peoples, then the same would equally apply to our national government. The logical corollary of no national Voice is no national government, just local and state governments: six or seven different countries, each with their own laws, taxes, defence systems and so on.
To say that the Voice would be Canberra-centric and not representative of First Nations constituents is the same as saying all federal politicians are Canberra-centric, not representative of their constituents in their electorates or states, and we don’t need them.
The Voice is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ameliorate 200 years of disadvantage and division, and set Australia on a path to a more hopeful and united future.
Louise Kloot, Doncaster

Lobbyists’ power
Your correspondent (Letters, 13/4) is spot on about lobbyists. About 700 lobbyists are registered with the federal parliament.
I bet the Coalition listens to the voices of the mining industry and other influencers from the big end of town.
Jim Coghlan , Brighton

Message not received
Perhaps committee member Ian Quick, like much of the Liberal Party, conveniently overlooked the fact that the voters of Aston, simply wanted to send a message: we do not approve of the behaviour and ethics of the previous representative, we do not agree with the stance of the Liberals on most issues and we are tired of the totally negative inertia of the past 10 years.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson

Answers, please
Instead of berating the Labor government for the current situation in Alice Springs, I would like Peter Dutton to explain what the Coalition government did to address Indigenous disadvantage during its years in government.
Jacinta Price, who served on Alice Springs Council for six years until her election to the Senate, could also tell us what she achieved in that role, including in her year as deputy mayor.
Jen Hooper, Box Hill

The moral compass
Congratulations to Julian Leeser providing a model of integrity when cabinet solidarity conflicted with his values. He stands in sharp contrast to Stuart Robert who hid behind cabinet solidarity, while thousands of vulnerable people were being wrongly held responsible for debts from distorted income averaging. Lives were lost to suicide, mental health was undermined, financial ruin faced many with robo-debt.
It is refreshing to see that Leeser holds a moral compass and, dare we say, leadership in standing for Yes to the Voice campaign.
Cathy Humphreys,
Professor of Social Work,
University of Melbourne

No more Chipp off the old block
As I read the Age letters and listened to comments about Liberal Party attitudes, my mind wandered back to Don Chipp who, when losing faith with aspects of the Liberal Party, in 1977 with others formed a new political party. He said: “We [the Australian Democrats] .. offer you a politics based on three simple virtues that have been badly battered and abused in recent years … I speak of honesty, I speak of tolerance and I speak of compassion.“
Peter Dutton and his blinkered cohorts might want to take heed of the principles of both “tolerance and compassion”.
Margot Sharman, Carlton

Tackling racism in footy
We need action not words on racism in AFL. So if a player is racially abused by either another player or the public, stop the game. Players leave the field. Racist is removed from ground. Play resumes. Disruptive to the game, but a clear message that racism will not be tolerated.
Michelle Leeder, Trentham

Misleading lines
The behaviour of Chevron and its gas export project, Gorgon, is a stark reminder about the failure of carbon capture and storage (“WA gas plant hits record exports at the expense of carbon capture”, 12/4). But not only the failure of carbon capture, it exemplifies the fossil fuel industry’s pursuit of profits, with little or no regard for environmental or emissions-reduction standards.
The report stated: “The WA government allowed Chevron to build Gorgon on a nature reserve, on the condition that it built a system capable of storing all the reservoir CO2 and achieved a minimum of 80 per cent storage.” They haven’t achieved anywhere near this promise, and nowhere in the world has carbon capture worked. Not only has it failed, the technology uses huge amounts of fossil fuels.
The kick in the tail of the article is that this $81 billion project uses gas with “an increasing amount of CO2″. Insult to injury is putting it mildly. We are being taken for a ride.
Fiona Colin, Malvern East

Urologist subsidy
The medical benefits schedule is a minefield, and it’s easy to understand why, but …
Given that prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, wouldn’t you expect the federal government to do everything in its power to encourage men to visit a urologist before they have no choice?
I saw my urologist this week for a check-up and paid $200 for the consultation, with a rebate of $39.25. I get a bigger rebate from my podiatry appointments, and by a significant margin. Who ever died of tinea?
Upwards of 20,000 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually. It is a dereliction of duty by those in authority to allow monetary considerations to influence men pondering a visit to a specialist.
I’m not crying poor, but I have fewer financial concerns than most.
The health minister has many pressing issues – the subsidy for visits to urologists is one, and it should be at or near the top of that list, alongside breast cancer.
Michael Sheahan, Albert Park

Pantomime such a drag
When we were kids in the ’50s, we went to drag shows all the time and nobody had a problem with them. They were called pantomime.
Pam Kaplan, Caulfield South

Reaping the ridiculous
It’s 2023, women are competing for a man on Farmer Wants a Wife. Really, how ridiculous.
Maree Fraser, Yarraville

No transports of delight
How ironic that Neil Chambers of the Container Transport Alliance Australia is concerned about hundreds of long freight trucks being temporarily diverted through Docklands down a single-lane road past pedestrian crossings and tram stops. His industry daily sends more than 6000 container trucks along Francis Street, Somerville Road and Williamstown Road, passing schools, shops, childcare centres and bus stops on single-lane roads. Residents are sick of authorities turning a blind eye to dangerously long road trains operating on non-permitted roads and an industry that prefers to take rat runs past homes rather than stick to freeways and industrial areas where they belong.
Graeme Hammond,
Kingsville

A degree of gratitude
As several correspondents have noted in recent days, the Menzies era in Australian politics was predominantly marked by complacency, racism and provincialism. However, Robert Menzies did have one thing going for him. He was a great admirer of universities and unstintingly supported the establishment of universities like Monash and La Trobe. For this, at least, there ought to be a university named in his honour.
Allan Patience, Newport

Chuck birthday one, too
I completely agree (Letters, 13/4) that we should not have a public holiday for the coronation of King Charles III. At the same time, could we please replace the King’s birthday holiday with a more appropriate Australian occasion. Perhaps a celebration of the passing of the Voice referendum, if it happens.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn

A cruel cut
Both sides of politics have been faced with a clear choice in recent years. Should we fund services sufficiently to allow our battlers to get a roof over their heads and decent healthcare, or do we just give people on $200,000+ a $10,000+ annual tax cut? Both parties have said ″⁣let’s just give the wealthy the tax cut″⁣. Disappointing to say the least.
Tim Mahar, Fitzroy North

Oh, to suffer no nonsense
Mary Poppins, at $169 a ticket, was a typical example of the modern live theatre experience. Except for the continual crackling of plastic water bottles, the constant crinkling of chip packets, the audible conversation of those behind and the checking of smartwatches on those in front,
it was practically perfect in every way.
Narelle Murray, Glen Waverley

AND ANOTHER THING

Politics
If Daniel Andrews is axing needed public servants, will he also trim his excessive hordes of political advisers too?
Caroline Leslie, Hawthorn

Treasurer Chalmers, Australia’s budget outlook will be $600 billion better off by cancelling the stage 3 tax cuts and the unnecessary nuclear submarines.
Damian Meade, Leopold

The Voice

Peter Dutton is applying his unique knowledge of African gangs to solving Alice Springs’ problems.
Peter Bennett, Clifton Hill

The opposition reportedly says the Voice is elitist? Pot. Kettle. Black.
Brian Kidd, Mt Waverley

Ever the gentleman, Julian Leeser holds the door open for Simon Birmingham and Marise Payne to join him.
Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley

Dutton’s way of seeing things is increasingly on the no’s.
Peter Dodds, Montmorency

Don’t shame people into supporting the Voice referendum. Instead, show how it will benefit Indigenous lives.
Walter Lee, Ashfield, NSW

Furthermore
A school that is well makes for students who are well.
Barbara Lynch, South Yarra

RBA predicts inflation will fall because we will have no money to spend. Problem solved. Brilliant.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South

All 14 Age experts (13/4) tip Collingwood over undefeated St Kilda. Clearly form is no guide.
Don Hyatt, Dingley Village

Racism is a societal problem, not a football problem.
Rod Matthews, Fairfield

Is Fox News Donald Trump’s puppet? Or is Trump the puppet of Fox News?
Marie Nash, Balwyn

Dear lord, get the smelling salts, please. I’m in agreement with Jeff Kennett.
Mark Morrison, Kew

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