Public housing: Private gain will outweigh the community benefits

Economic rationalism gone mad

It is disgraceful that 2040 private accommodation units will be developed on the six public housing estates cited for redevelopment when Victoria faces a public housing shortfall. Security of safe accommodation is critical to wellbeing and this sell-out of public housing (and philosophy) is yet another example of economic rationalism gone mad.

Denise Stevens, Healesville

There must be a model that works

While over recent decades, Victorian governments have allowed a housing crisis to develop for people on very low incomes, at least the current Labor government is taking some action. However, a 10 per cent increase in public housing in planned estate redevelopment will not make a dent in housing waiting lists. A model that avoids disastrous "ghettos of the poor" and provides a mix of socio-economic groups is likely to be both socially beneficial to the broader community, as well as the newly housed poor. Surely the government could manage to develop a model that provides much more social housing, while allowing the whole project to be commercially viable. Phyllis Vespucci, Reservoir

Where will the children play?

The Victorian government's plan to turn car parks and open space at the Flemington public housing estate into 825 new private apartments will adversely affect thousands of children and youth there. They already live without recreational facilities and will now have even less space to play and socialise outdoors. Boredom and nature deprivation will be exacerbated, and young people will hang out more in the streets and other public places.

In the Screen Australia documentary Community Cop (2009) about this estate, the lack of recreational facilities was described as intentional government policy to stop residents becoming "comfortable" so they would move elsewhere. Almost a decade later, the same flawed logic still prevails despite its serious consequences for already marginalised youth and families.

Barbara Chapman, Hawthorn

Labouring the point on equity

After Bill Shorten promised to allocate an extra $250 million to Catholic education, the church offered to help Labor in the Batman byelection because "ALP's policy was the only one to recognise and respect the church's teachings". Now Labor is planning to use public land to add just 79 public housing units and 2040 private apartments, one wonders how this fits in with the church's teachings.

Evert de Graauw, Wantirna

The callous arithmetic of politics

Public housing: either the state government can't count or the poor don't count.

John Bowman, Ocean Grove

FORUM

Crumbling foundations

Reports that the walls of St Paul Cathedral and Melbourne Town Hall are at risk of cracking due to construction on the Melbourne metro tunnel may have the wrong end of the stick ("Town Hall, cathedral at risk of cracking", The Age, 2/4).

Is it possible that the great Anglican architectural edifice is at risk of cracking because it, along with other churches, symbolises revelations of years of the abuse of children and young people in the care of clergy and others, and the abuse of community trust. This would surely shake the foundations of any social institution.

Similarly the Melbourne Town Hall may be cracking under the strain of allegations of misconduct and culture of misconduct presided over by high office holders like the former lord mayor.

Perhaps in the spirit of Easter various churches will now stop using their status to avoid litigation by victims of institutional violations by claiming they do not legally exist as corporations and were therefore not accountable to victims of abuse. Such an act of atonement and reconciliation would go some way to repairing the symbolic moral damage and the lives of so many people. As for the Melbourne council, let us hope that new leadership in this institution takes us closer to a form of government that takes the idea of justice seriously.

Professor Judith Bessant, RMIT University

A public utility

Wendy Squires ("Airing out a wee problem", The Age, 31/3) resonates very much with me and, I would suggest, many others with bladder and irritable bowel issues. Given we are attempting to have more people use public transport it seems essential that all railway stations have accessible toilets for those of us who have that urgent need. I know that on station toilets, with the exception of priority stations, the toilets have been closed down now for many years for various reasons including vandalism and that the stations are no longer staffed. That is little help for the travelling public.

Peter McNamara, Canterbury

Thanks for nothing

I have no sympathy for cricketers who, after being caught cheating, purport to be filed with remorse and regret. Crocodile tears and "sorry" don't mean a toss. Likewise, politicians who talk about climate change being real but do very little very slowly to reverse the effects will get no sympathy in 10 or 20 years when their children are coping with the huge risks that the warming world faces.

Will politicians' tears and regrets and "sorry" solve the problem then? I don't think so.

Elaine O'Shannessy, Wandin North

It's fair we fix it

Like so many readers I was blown away by Ross Gittins' article (Comment, 28/3) on the need for fairness in this divided country. So what are we going to do about it? Not a year-long royal commission, surely, but a week of the best and brightest minds inventing ways to give a fair go to those who are missing out. Followed by cross-party, cross-cultural, cross-state support and involvement. We can do this.

Paul Watson, Torquay

History lessons

I fully understand that commercial channels are driven by the need for ratings and advertising appeal, but it was very disappointing that no networks were willing to broadcast a specific Easter film, such as The Passion of the Christ on Good Friday evening, or the engaging Joseph Fiennes' film Risen on Sunday. Even the classic Ben Hur would have given a hint at the season's meaning.

What, precisely, is so unappealing and inappropriate about reminding citizens what these most pivotal days in human history are actually all about?

The Good Friday Appeal super show obviously is a very commendable event and deserves its annual place, but did anyone on the program ever explain the biblical reasoning behind its name in the first place?

It would be unfathomable that AFL grand final day would not feature the actual football match, or for Anzac Day to not feature a World War I documentary on television, so why be ashamed or hesitant to explain the historicity of two nationally observed public holidays?

Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn

A double whammy

So the Catholic Church wrote letters to parents of Catholic school kids urging them to vote Labor in the recent Batman byelection ( The Age, 2/4). The Labor bribe was to promise increased funding to Catholic schools. As if it isn't bad enough that Labor uses taxpayers' funds to buy Catholic votes, as a double whammy the Catholic Church retains its tax-free status in spite of breaching the non-partisanship rules for charities. And so the Church continues to be subsidised by those same poor old taxpayers. Where's the governance?

David Gentle, Heidelberg

Waiting, Peter

With headlines over the past week about running brawls involving a gun and a glassing in South Yarra and Toorak, I was eagerly awaiting Peter Dutton's view of it all. Alas not a word about rampaging gangs and how residents in these suburbs are cowering in their homes afraid to go out.

Mustn't be a suitable suburb, or ethnic background for him to make a comment.

Kevin Ward, Preston

Act quickly

In citing approvingly the views of Tony Abbott and Bob Carr supporting a temporary pause in Australia's immigration intake, Tony Walker ("Immigration tipping the balance", The Age, 2/4 ) endorses a conservative position at odds with policy-makers in other Western nations faced similarly with the disturbing economic consequences of low birth rates and an ageing non-taxpaying, population sector.

Nations such as Germany and Sweden have, unlike Australia, creative population strategies that place a high premium on refugees as an economic resource. Contrary to the perception of Angela Merkel's government as having been impractically altruistic in accepting hundreds of thousands of Syrian asylum seekers, heavyweight German corporations such as BMW and Bosch are enthusiastically facilitating the integration of these newcomers into their labour force; and, crucially, boosting that nation's tax-paying coffers.

Walker rightly criticises successive Australian governments for impeding infrastructure reforms: the immigration integration process here will have extra challenges but time isn't on our side. Only robust immigration intakes, combined with innovative urban and regional planning and business practices, will guarantee Australia's future prosperity.

Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza

Some are lower

After all the hoo-ha of the past week I still hold our cricketers in higher esteem than our politicians, bankers and big business types who regularly bend the rules to breaking point in the cause of self-interest and never apologise for their actions.

Stephen Dinham, Surrey Hills

No to organic

"Alarm as organics under threat", due to imported vegetable seeds being proposed to be required to be treated with fungicides to prevent the introduction of fungal diseases into Australia (The Age, 2/4)? Good. There's no evidence that over-priced organic foods are any better than non-organic products. And in many cases, they're inferior in nutrient content. I'm a vegetarian. My diet is based on vegetables. Whenever I see an organic alternative on the supermarket shelf, I leave it there.

Wayne Robinson, Kingsley

It's all chemical

I had to check the date on the article about Andrew Jones of BurraBee Farm in his quest to produce "chemical-free" produce. Initially I thought it might have been an April Fool's joke. But it does appear he was serious, as was the article's writer in using the phrase. Apparently, his customers might have no choice but to "go with a chemically affected plant". It's just as well, otherwise they would be buying nothing. I hate to disappoint him, but everything in his produce is a chemical, including the water that makes up the vast bulk of his vegetables.

Presumably Mr Jones and the author mean synthetic chemicals, but even there they should be careful for what they wish for. Just because something is natural does not mean it's good for you. Cyanide, nicotine and asbestos come to mind. He appears to be using plastic-coated wire baskets to sell his produce. Can he guarantee his customers chemicals from the plastics are not leaching into his vegetables? It's time the use of the phrase "chemical free" to market products to gullible people was tested by consumer law.

Ralph Judd, Blackburn North

Back to school

Dare I suggest Steve Smith and David Warner could spend time doing their community service under the guidance of the principal of Doveton College, Greg McMahon ("Enrolling the community", The Age, 31/3). They would have a much better idea of what really matters in life, and perhaps have an opportunity to regain some respect and make a difference to some children from a disadvantaged background.

Maggie Lynch, Brighton

One for cricketers

The big difference between the two trinities of Smith, Warner, Bancroft and Guy, Ondarchie, Finn is that the cricketers recognise and acknowledge their offence against fairness.

Barrie Bales, Woorinen North

Beyond belief

The Liberals use religion to manipulate Parliament – beyond belief.

Margaret Ward, Eltham

Team substitute

Is there any chance the AFLW Western Bulldogs team (they won the flag) could replace the AFL Western Bulldogs team?

Kim Lockwood, Eaglemont

AND ANOTHER THING

Pairing

Matthew Guy's favourite band? Cheap Trick.

Tim Durbridge, Brunswick

A pair in cricket is two ducks. A pair in Guy's team is two fouls.

Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley

I was appalled by the deceit of the Coalition on Good Friday and saddened by Labor's response. When are political standards going to improve? I won't hold my breath.

Ray Jones, Box Hill North

Cricket

The cricket trio are tearful and remorseful because they lost their wickets being caught out.

Jonathan Lipshut, Elwood

I couldn't give a rats about cricket. Should I feel guilty or something?

Wendy Batros, Templestowe

The South African cricket team must be so proud of winning a Test series at home by targeting the wife of an opposition player.

John Hare, Wonthaggi

It's not just Cricket Australia but government, insurance companies, banks etc that need to recalibrate their moral compasses.

Bet May, Berwick

Furthermore

What is the point of autonomous driving vehicles? Take a taxi or Uber.

Helena Kilingerova, Vermont

How many times have we heard a Pope call for peace?

Rod Matthews, Fairfield

I find the approval of duck hunting on a par with the immoral behaviour of the NRA. Grow up Victoria.

Roger Vincent, Fitzroy, SA

I'm reminded that Jesus' team member, Peter, after a big and public error of judgment, came back later as captain.

Barry Lamb, Heidelberg West

Greatly upset by Footy headline "Eagles 121, Beagles 70". We would have given the Eagles a good licking!

Toby and Freckles,

(Via) Robert Phillips, Templestowe