The tax regime in Australia needs change

Photo: Matt Golding

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Reform tax regime
The federal opposition, led by its shadow treasurer, Ted O’Brien, is blaming the need for a rate increase on government spending rather than private spending (“Bullock links issue of spending to rate rise”, 7/2). So now we have the back and forth as to which it is, or both. This argument, and its inherent government blaming, ignores the fact that real people are involved in these figures. The federal government needs to spend on health, education and housing. Increased population and higher cost of living means increased government spending. Wealthier people have their own cash reserves to fall back on and their links to other resources.
It is time the opposition stopped trying to score points on this issue. Time for the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, to stop wasting time trying to “defend” government spending. There would be less need for increased government spending if we had good tax reform, shifting the tax burden from being mostly on working Australians to more on big corporations that do not pay their share of tax.
Jan Marshall, Brighton

Housing costs
The biggest cost of living for most households in Australia is most likely accommodation: a survival need that must be met before anything else, too often leaving little discretionary income to spend on non-essential “extras” — hospitality, holidays, and even clothing — upon which so many small businesses depend.
Those who invest in multiple properties have a vested interest in seeing their price increase of course; the increased cost is borne by the tenants while the value of the investors’ property portfolios appreciate.
Perhaps “mum and dad” investors should be encouraged to have one, maybe two, investment properties that they can negatively gear and claim a capital gains tax discount upon sale, to ensure there is still property investment to help ease the housing crisis. Beyond that, negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts should be scrapped. They were never fully justifiable, as was predictable even if it has taken some 20 or more years for the impact to be played out.
Emma Borghesi, Rye

NDIS funding plea
Laura Pettenuzzo (Comment, 6/2) is obviously correct in stating that a child’s autism can be no justification for their murder. There can never be any justification for murder.
The focus must be upon the circumstances that led to the tragic deaths of Leon and Otis Clune. Without in any way attempting to justify the actions of their parents, we should at least try to understand the pressure the parents were under and assess what we can do as a society to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again.
As the parent of a profoundly autistic and intellectually disabled child, I still shake when I recall the sound of windows and walls being smashed in the middle of the night and screaming under my pillow: “When on earth will all this end?” It ended for me with the advent of the NDIS, which enabled my child to be placed in supported accommodation.
The NDIS has been a godsend for many parents with disabled children, but its rapid growth has resulted in funding cuts, which I understand occurred in the case of Leon and Otis. Cuts to NDIS plans are now common.
It is so important that NDIS funding is allocated only to people with significant, permanent disabilities such that they can lead a reasonable quality of life. Pettenuzzo correctly states that disabled people are not a burden on their parents. But their parents still have a burden of anguish, which can be relieved significantly if their child is properly funded by the NDIS.
John Lambrick, Malvern

This is not normal
The news is full of stories of home invasions, carjackings, shootings and knife attacks. Has anyone wondered why society has reached the point where this is now considered ″⁣normal″⁣? Have we become so inured to this background to our lives to not even give it a thought? As a person who can recall the 1960s onwards, I can attest to the current state of society as being ″⁣abnormal″⁣.
David Fry, Moonee Ponds

Give birds a thought
I’m 18 and worried about the wetlands and the rare birds that live there. We should be protecting these fragile systems, not adding to their trauma. Following the recent bushfires, Victoria’s wetlands and the species that rely on them are under strain. Proceeding with the duck shooting season next month while these habitats are struggling to recover is a choice my generation can’t afford to watch and do nothing about. Wildlife rescuers are already overwhelmed by the fire crisis. These environments need time to heal, not further disruption.
Hector Stewart, Caulfield North

More nuance, please
As your cartoonists and correspondents have so clearly highlighted, the Reserve Bank’s only weapon to crush inflation – raising interest rates – impacts those least able to cope with the ensuing financial pain. Surely the RBA, the government (even the opposition) and think tanks can come up with more nuanced strategies than this blunt instrument.
To reduce pollution, the polluters should be penalised; to stop poor developments, the shonky builders need to be weeded out; to stop businesses ripping off customers, the culprits are fined; to reduce inflation, bring pressure to bear on the “price makers” not the “price takers”. There must be innovative carrot and stick policies to tackle the most flagrant and impactful price abusers and protect struggling consumers.
Peter Thomson, Brunswick

Barracks of note
With the support cost of maintaining 67 Defence-owned sites, it seems appropriate for a review to rationalise their use by divestment.
However, like many correspondents, I hope the government will also consider the historical significance of some of those sites in determining their future use
In particular, Victoria Barracks in St Kilda road, built between 1856 and 1872, deserves historical recognition as a foundation part of the new colony of Victoria. Not only did its British 14th Regiment of Foot seemingly deter possible Russian invasion, but they also played football against local teams, going down narrowly in a rough match to Carlton in 1868.
The regiment’s supporters became known as ″⁣barrackers″⁣ thus contributing that word to enduring local sport lingo and the Collingwood club song. Another historical note is that the barracks held the war cabinet meetings during World War II.
Maybe this suggests some form of military museum future for the barracks.
Thomas Hogg, East Melbourne

Stump up for Bill
On Wednesday, the legendary Bill Lawry turns 89. In 2025, a petition proposing the erection of a bronze statue of Lawry at the MCG was delivered to the board of the MCC.
The petition comprised of 528 signatures representing the enthusiastic support of hundreds of visitors to the first two days of the 2024 Boxing Day Test – including over 90 MCC Members – current (and ex-) suburban cricketers from clubs in Melbourne, officiating umpires, and club supporters.
When approached, almost unanimously I was asked two questions: where do I sign; and, why isn’t he there already? Is there a company or organisation willing to sponsor a statue to be unveiled on Bill’s 90th next year?
Rob McWilliams, Footscray

No, PM, just no
Re Donald Trump’s Board of Peace proposal for the Middle East, don’t you dare, Anthony Albanese, don’t you dare.
Michael O’Brien, Toormina, NSW

Dazed and confused
I find the increasing misuse of the word discombobulating quite discombobulating.
Jim Pilmer, Camberwell