Jobs and growth: Don't presume to know how rise will be used

Many in small business would love assured wage

With half a century operating small businesses or associated with many small businesses I know there are many in that sector would like to be assured of a $700-plus weekly wage. Of course, there are or can be non-financial benefits but for sure there are many who are sighing with a wistful look in their eyes.

John Simmonds, Collingwood

The figures simply don't add up

Employer representatives squeal that the economy can't afford an hourly rate of $18.93 for the lowest paid. How then, can that same economy afford for them to be paid a six-figure annual salary?

John Feehan, Warragul

The wealth is there, it's just not here

John Slater (Comment, 4/6) has given us a statistical analysis of why we must give low-paid workers a small increase in pay, much better to give their employers tax cuts. He sums it up by telling us to "ease the regulatory burden on business to create an environment that rewards risk-taking and entrepreneurship". Why doesn't he say what he really means: "the rich have to get richer so there can be a trickle down to the poor". That is another way of saying we have to have "wealth inequality". Australia is not short of wealth, it just needs to be shared out a bit more.

Brian Moynihan, Castlemaine

Cherrypicking the statistics

Pick a number. One that suits and carefully avoid the multitude that don't. That's John Slater's method.

He reminds readers that in 1973, the Whitlam Labor government increased wages by 27.5 per cent and unemployment more than doubled in 18 months. Pretty damning forecast for today.

The latest increase is 3.5 per cent. Unemployment in 1973 was 1.53per cent, with no training courses etc solely intended to shift unemployed off the statistic. Recently, (comparatively speaking) Julia Gillard acknowledged that true unemployment could be double the official figure. And underemployment was not recognised in 1973.

Don Hampshire, Sunbury

The real motive is profits and salaries

In a predictable response, the Australian Industry Group's CEO Innes Willox has slammed the minimum wage decision saying it would be a disincentive to employment. The AIG's members have made an art-form out of making big profits while sacking workers. What Willox means to say is that the decision will hurt the only thing they care about, profit and executive salaries. Perhaps Willox could have supported his assertion by telling us about all the employers who, through the goodness of their hearts, are taking on more workers than they actually need. Be a very short list.

Ross Hudson, Camberwell

FORUM

A sad loss

The intention of the Coalition government to dismantle the Family Court is sadly inevitable. In 1999 then attorney-general, Daryl Williams, announced the establishment of a separate Federal Magistrates Court (now known as the Federal Circuit Court) with concurrent jurisdiction over areas including bankruptcy, migration and family law.

Adding family law to the jurisdiction of federal magistrates provided an unnecessary layer of confusion, and frequently more expense, for clients. Family disputes beginning as "simple" often became complex when proceedings got under way and specialist knowledge of such matters became diluted as federal magistrates with little or no experience were exposed to new areas of law.

By 2000 the Family Court was battling with dwindling resources and the reluctance of the Howard government to replace retiring judges, combined with inadequate legal aid. These difficulties have continued to hamper its operations. Nonetheless, it had – and has – a well-established case management system, experienced judges, highly trained registrars and family consultants, and a coherent message of protecting families and discouraging damaging litigation.

Never before have so many vulnerable families needed a specialist forum to resolve their disputes and provide protection to the abused and disempowered. The Family Court's work is only one aspect of this system, but its demise would be a considerable loss.

Margaret Harrison, Clifton Hill

Thumbing his nose

In daring to admonish Malcolm Turnbull for expressing, rightly and publicly, highly negative views on his unacceptable behaviour when he was a minister and deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce is also thumbing his nose contemptuously at the broader electorate, since its swift reactions to Joyce's affair and pregnancy revelations earlier this year finally drove the rest of the Coalition executive to drop the lengthy cover-up and speak out ("Joyce and Campion use paid interview to apologise to family, attack Turnbull", theage.com.au, 3/6).

Sue Dyer, Downer, ACT

Invisible disability

On a recent tram journey I was sitting in a disabled seat as I have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. The man next to me repeatedly hit my already painful leg with his knee, so I moved. He then told me I shouldn't be wearing such a large jacket. I said it had nothing to do with my jacket, I moved because he was hitting my leg with his knee. He said there was nothing wrong with me because he saw me walking and I shouldn't be sitting in the disabled seat. I said I was disabled. A disability does not always mean a wheelchair, it can mean so many different issues. His response was to threaten and belittle me.

Not all disabilities are visible. It is estimated that 3.85 million Australians have musculoskeletal conditions. I am 37 and have been living with rheumatoid for five years and osteoarthritis since my early 20s.

It is ignorant to assume that those with chronic illnesses and other disabilities will advertise the fact. I use a walking stick because I have to. Most people are trying to live the best lives they can within the boundaries of their condition. If we are sitting in one of those seats or use a disabled car space it's because we need to. It is not up to others to judge whether we should be there.

Ironically, I have spent my life defending myself from judgment because of my limp and an issue with my eye. This is the first time I have had to defend myself for not looking disabled enough.

Susy Dixon, Prahran

RIP, God

Julian McGauran (Letters, 4/6), I too have been waiting for God to cast his vote. Every time I read or hear about a rapist, serial murderer or a paedophile I pray to see him being struck down from above. Alas my prayers have gone unanswered. Perhaps we just have to accept that there is no God.

Cao Phan, Glen Iris

Appalling action

As a rusted-on ABC viewer I was appalled to learn of a sixth complaint in five months by Communications Minister Mitch Fifield to the head of the ABC Michelle Guthrie. The way the minister is acting is similar to that of Donald Trump trying to stifle/influence reporters.

Columnist Tony Walker wrote recently: "Fifield might pretend he's a friend of the ABC on occasions but in reality he is continuing the salami-style reduction of ABC funding. Lack of funds reduces the ability to adequately research information for programs. It encourages resort to cheap panel shows and to repeat programs both home made and from overseas."

I fervently hope that the ABC will not have to resort to funding from advertisers to keep going as is the case for SBS. Sadly I avoid SBS now because of the commercials. Our national broadcaster deserves better

June Roberts, Eaglemont

Naming rites and wrongs

If you're banned for life from Etihad Stadium can you return once it's renamed Marvel?

Bryan Fraser, St Kilda

Green policies

I invite Phyllis Vespucci (Letters, 4/6) – and anyone else who believes the Greens have a "narrow policy focus on a few issues" – to go to the Greens website and click on "Our Policies". While we too have our problems, there is strength in the fact that thousands have laboured for decades to build the Greens party around a structure of principles, policies, processes and practices, which transcend any individual or particular dispute.

Colin Smith, St Kilda

It's your own fault

I read Jessica Irvine (Comment, 4/6) with mixed feelings. The system has not "failed young Australians" at all. I'd suggest that, through a combination of poor communication from the super funds and a lack of interest in their own futures, young Australians are letting themselves down.

Irvine points out that, due to her own lack of understanding of the system, she has fallen into all the super traps. This could have been addressed by the super funds with better communication, but Irvine demonstrates another failing of the young: she wants all the benefits without doing the work. She blames the system for taking 9per cent of her wages – overlooking the fact that super is a levy on top of wages – and calls HECS "wage theft", forgetting that she incurred the debt willingly when she enrolled in university; she admits to "a penchant for holidays and eating out". She can't have her money and spend it, too.

Angus McLeod, Cremorne

Just a murderer

The planned film on the true story of Ned Kelly ("Do you want Hollywood, or do you want the truth?", The Age, 4/6) is long overdue. For too long the community has idolised this fellow, who in reality was simply a common murderer.

Barrie Dempster, Balwyn

Writing goals

Bob Murphy adds another dimension to football writing and a welcome one (Letters, 4/6). Surely, Murphy was not attempting to assimilate sport with the horrors of war. It was a fitting description of those who have served their clubs with distinction.

Daryl Goldie, Camperdown

Find an organ donor

Congratulations to Martin Foley and Daniel Andrews for promising Melbourne a new gallery for modern art.

Would they now please close a yawning gap in Melbourne's cultural landscape. The Sydney Opera House, Adelaide Festival Theatre, Perth Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and concert halls around the world have fine pipe organs. Melbourne's Hamer Hall has a sheet of masonite where the indispensable organ should stand. Our fabulous symphony orchestra is unnecessarily limited in the repertoire it can present to Melbourne audiences.

Douglas Lawrence, Brunswick

Matter of trust

There is one significant omission to Rod Matthews' "can't trust" list (Letters, 4/6). We can't trust the churches with the welfare of our children.

Brian Sanaghan, West Preston

Wombat disgrace

What an absolute disgrace that the state Environment Department gives farmers permission to kill thousands of beautiful wombats every year ("Going into bat for at-risk wombats", The Age, 2/6). Whoever gives this permission should be sacked and instead the department should employ people to rid the state of the hundreds of thousands of imported feral animals that are killing our native wildlife.

Do they not care that many are endangered? I do – too many animals and plants have already become extinct since Europeans came to these shores.

At a federal level our Environment Minister just deflects requests to stop the carnage of native animals to the state: he's more interested in the resources side of his portfolio.

Lorraine Bates, Surrey Hills

How the economy works

Jen Gladstones (Letters, 4/6) says wage increases lead to price increases and "we're back to square one".

What she misses is that the profit share of national income is at an all-time high. If a wage increase claims some of that back, the extra wages will return as income in the business owners' tills.

This works especially well when the increase is across the board, rather than enterprise by enterprise.

It's also how economic growth occurs.

Greg Platt, Brunswick

The long ride

Over one hour by bus from Clifton Hill to Spring Street, City. "Snail mail" is no longer our major laughing stock.

Paul Murchison, Kingsbury

AND ANOTHER THING

ABC

If I were Laura Tingle or Barrie Cassidy or Emma Alberici, I'd be wearing the condemnation of Mitch Fifield and his ilk like a badge of honour.

Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale

Politics

If Barnaby Joyce knew his job was untenable after the pregnancy was revealed, why did he not resign then?

Susan Munday, Bentleigh East

Is there any truth that Barnaby and Vikki are negotiating for cameo roles in Home and Away?

Barbara Abell, Ringwood North

Bye bye, Barnaby ("Barnaby Joyce lobbied the PM before receiving $40,000 cheque", 3/6).

Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills

Which is worse, Barnaby Joyce getting a $40,000 thank you from Gina Rinehart or the Turnbull government giving her $60,000 because of Joyce's lobbying?

Phil Alexander, Eltham

Am I and most other blokes, really any better than Barnaby Joyce?

Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills

At last, comments without bias from Amanda Vanstone (4/6) with which I agree.

Lance Cranage, Mount Waverley

It's Pauline's Party and she can cry if she wants to.

John Bye, Elwood.

Furthermore

Will Canada build a "great big wall" and get the US to pay for it?

Adrian Tabor, Point Lonsdale

Looking forward to a time when the Sir Doug Nicholls round is played to remind us of how things once were.

Gary Sayer, Warrnambool

Donald Trump can pardon himself? Pardon me?

John Handley, Cheltenham

Pardon me, Donald Trump is extending his executive power.

Gary Bryfman, Brighton

Where will the $700 million fine levied against CBA be coming from? The customer, no doubt.

Rosie Elsass, Brighton