Taxation reform: Ask not what is good for you, but what is good for all

The logic for more tax cuts stops here

The proposed cut to company tax will cost the nation $65billion over 10years. The cost of the new income tax cuts will cost more than double that. The level of national government debt is over $500billion. There may be an argument to help lower-income families, but this is where the logic for tax cuts stops.

Governments are meant to be concerned about building the prosperity of citizens. Corporations should be a secondary focus. The government likes to think that if businesses incur lower taxes, it will translate into a better life for Australians. However, it is a much more reliable proposition that lower-paid citizens will benefit significantly from the new income tax rates.

So why is the government so keen on company tax cuts? Does it have anything to do with political donations from corporates – who only donate because of self-interest and a desire to influence? Let us forget about the corporate tax rate cuts – and ban political donations from corporations.

Neil McPhie, Camberwell

But will our important services need to be cut?

Mathias Cormann, on what basis can you assure me that my tax saving will not mean less money to spend on health, education and infrastructure, or towards reducing the deficit? These areas would be my preference.

Ron Slamowicz, Caulfield North

Moving towards a divided, unequal society

Just to be clear. The poor dream of being rich. If we tax the rich, then we are in effect taxing the dreams of the poor. Who would do such a thing when it is all they have? Particularly when the poor cannot imagine better health, education, aged care or policing services. When people cannot imagine owning their own property, we must allow them to at least dream of owning three or four negatively geared ones.

The Coalition dreams of turning egalitarian Australia into the United States: gross inequality and a society of individuals. I dream of an electorate that "taxes" the Coalition at the next election and turfs it, with it self-serving drivel, out of office.

Terry Donnelly, Northcote

Remember the names of the crossbenchers

Has Pauline Hanson, or any of the crossbenchers who supported the government's tax gift to high-income earners, asked: What government services will be slashed to pay for this largesse? The answer is simple: those services that most of the people who voted for these senators rely upon. Hopefully voters will remember their names, come the next election.

Ross Hudson, Camberwell

The myth of the trickle-down effect, senator

Does Derryn Hinch have any economic advisers on his staff to explain to him that "trickle-down economics" has never worked? Or is he still expecting to be in the Senate in 2024 so he can collect the $7000?

Les Anderson, Woodend

THE FORUM

Home front pressure

Diana Greentree says that "even a callous, immoral leader such as Donald Trump has listened to his nation's backlash against the detention of children" (Letters, 22/5). The reason he changed his policy is because the Republican and Democrat politicians' wives, including Melania Trump, took a principled and humanitarian stand and openly condemned the cruel policy.

I have yet to hear one Australian politician's wife, whether from the Coalition or Labor, let alone the Prime Minister's wife, express any compassion for the plight of the refugees or their children in detention. I am not holding my breath.

Diana Saad, Thornbury

Enough of The Donald

Please tell me that there is a television out there with an automatic "Trump-block". I am in danger of wearing out my remote control. And this last episode – where kids were separated from their parents, and then the President changed his brainless, unethical, immoral mind – was the last straw.

Helen McTaggart, Seaford

Time to walk the walk

"Bishop opens Pacific front" (The Age, 19/6) contained fine words from the Foreign Minister. However, words need to be backed by action. In last year's budget, the government banked a $300million saving by freezing the foreign aid indexation until the 2021-22 budget. This year, the 2018-19 budget papers revealed the government plans to extend that freeze until 2022-23.

The actual amount of development assistance is set to be about $4billion in 2018-19, where it will stay for the following four years. Australian aid funding has now fallen below 0.22per cent of gross national income – the global measure of aid generosity. Julie Bishop's words need to be supported by action.

Robert Packett, Torquay

The importance of aid

I agree that Australia is "reaping what we sowed" (Letters, 20/6) in cutting our overseas aid. One example is Afghanistan. Our help to its civilians declined from $131million in 2014-15 to $80million in 2017-18. In 2014, an average Afghan income was $US680, or about $13 per week.

Our reduction in aid of $51million makes a difference to the average Afghan and their children. It is Refugee Week but our refugee policy does not help them. Australia's aid does: more please.

Peter Graves, Curtin, ACT

I'd love to 'agree' too

The Commonwealth Bank has 28 days to pay a $700million fine imposed by the Federal Court over legal breaches that enabled criminals to launder money through its ATMs (Business, 21/6). Apparently the fine was "agreed upon earlier this month by both CBA and Austrac". If I am caught speeding or I overstay my parking time, why can't I "agree upon" my fine with the authorities too?

David Charles, Newtown

Preventing suffering

I hope Clare Boyd-Macrae's wonderfully warm and light down jacket (Comment, 22/6) is filled with ethically sourced feathers. While some manufacturers assure us that the feathers are from birds killed for meat, it is hard to believe that these can supply all the down needed for the huge number of cheap jackets available.

We do not know a lot about manufacturing processes in other countries, but it appears that many birds are stripped of their feathers while they are still alive. Synthetic filling is not quite as light in weight but it comes without the burden of animal suffering.

Elisabeth Jackson, Brunswick

Eliminating plastic

Kim Andrews (Letters, 22/6), you will be surprised how quickly you get used to taking bags to the shops, and how long a decent one will last. I feel as if something is missing if I go shopping without one, and the first green bag I bought from Woolies in about 2004 lasted for more than 10 years of constant use.

Ralph Judd, Blackburn North

Fair sharing of streets

John McPherson refers to "our turbo-charged road lobby" when supporting Melbourne City Council's proposals for further restrictions on cars in the CBD (Letter, 22/6). Is he referring to the RACV, which is consistently supporting sensible fair-sharing of road space? Or the now disemboweled and voiceless VicRoads? I researched and promoted lower speeds and fair sharing of streets for many years but I can see problems in some of the council's proposals, which may explain the politicians' caution.

When we talk about "pedestrianisation" and low speed limits, we need to keep in mind that what we call the CBD is a very large area by international standards.

The car-free zone in Ghent is claimed to be the largest in Europe, at 35 hectares. That is just four of Melbourne's city blocks – say, Collins to Lonsdale, and Elizabeth to Russell streets. We are already well on the way. But first, pedestrians would be well-served by reducing the footpath clutter from motor bikes, cafe tables etc, and easing the barrier effect of the tram super-stops.

Dr Ray Brindle, former engineer and town planner, Malmsbury

The world that we need

Which world are you in, Daniel Andrews? World-class means trains, buses and trams that connect, have fast, cross-town routes, run on smooth tracks (Zurich, Barcelona, London). It means long-distance trains with good Wi-Fi, and which run fast, separate from suburban services. It means an ongoing program of construction based on an overall plan (Barcelona, Copenhagen). It means high-level engineering to prevent collateral damage during tunnelling (the London CrossRail). All or any of these would be welcome in Victoria.

Greg Lockrey, Heidelberg

What customer service?

Many years ago, I was a Telstra customer. I found it to be incapable of dealing with complex customer problems and vowed never to deal with it again.

I am now in a relationship with a woman who is a long-term Telstra customer, and recently I needed to deal with it on her behalf. She had a problem, caused by poorly trained Telstra staff, which crossed over the areas of sales, accounts and technical support.

I asked to speak to the customer service department and was told by three Telstra employees, "We don't have one". Now Telstra is going to slash its workforce – a workforce that already lacks one vital area.

Jason Colebrook, Alfredton

The wealthy gain, again

Federal government payments to private schools would be determined by the income tax paid by parents at each school under a new funding model set to disadvantage some elite institutions but reward others (The Age, 22/6). So over-funded private schools will get more federal funding if parents can afford fancy accountants and are good tax evaders.

Dave Bath, Armadale

Let Parole Board decide

I am very shocked that the Premier said convicted criminal Craig Minogue "would die in jail". The Victorian government plans to fix the law to ensure he is never eligible for parole after the High Court ruled that legislation introduced to keep police killers behind bars did not apply to him (The Age, 22/6). This does not sound like justice to me.

Daniel Andrews' empathy for the relatives of Minogue's victims is understandable, even laudable, as is his support for, and defence of, police officers. However, his response to the possible parole of Minogue who, after 30 years in jail, seems to have rehabilitated himself through education, is reactive and irrational. It is up to the Parole Board to decide Minogue's immediate fate.

Judith Crotty, North Dandenong

A call for action, Minister

Although "End of era of white majority" (The Age, 22/6) referred to events in the US, I can visualise Peter Dutton, white-faced and trembling, thinking about a similar fate for Australia. Quick Peter, get those white South African farmers over here or we will be doomed.

Vaughan Greenberg, Chewton

China's growing power

Is there any difference between the Hambantota Port project in Sri Lanka (20/6) and the Port of Darwin?

Beverley McIntyre, Camberwell

AND ANOTHER THING

Taxation

...and the rich get richer. Thanks, crossbenchers.

Bob Graham, Yarragon

So average wage earners aren't as worthy of tax cuts as those who earn more.

Richard Fone, Camberwell

Scott Morrison, please explain.

Ann Shephard, North Fitzroy

National government debt is more than $500billion. How will tax cuts reduce this?

John Johnson, Richmond

The worst day in Australian politics since the Dismissal. The government won't be able afford the ABC now.

Kevin Pearson, Fitzroy North

Malcolm, channelling Marie Antoinette: "Give them investment properties."

Joan Creati, Belmont

Bjelke-Petersen finally got his flat tax policy, posthumously. Hanson, a fellow Queenslander, has done him proud.

David Jones, Essendon

Telstra

Telstra's downfall started when it got rid of me in 2010.

Robert Preston, McKinnon

Cutting 8000 jobs "weighs very heavily" on the CEO. Yes, heavily on his hip pocket when he gets a generous bonus for this work.

Noel Howard, Heathmont

We can't wait for the latest technological development but are outraged at the flow-on effect of job losses.

Jen Gladstones, Heidelberg

Will there be human back-up to rescue Telstra when its great digital world fails?

Jonne Herbert, Kew East

Sport

Thank you, SBS, for the fabulous coverage. And free to air. Go, Socceroos.

Raeleene Gregory, Ballarat East

Port Adelaide FC are ahead of the curve. When Australia becomes China South, the club will have millions of members.

John Rawson, Mernda

"Touchline" (21/6) indeed. We Target nerds don't do sport. Give us sensible words like "ytterbium".

Peter Mitchell & Linda Bowen, Hampton

Bob Murphy is our Banjo Patterson of sport's writers: poetic, whimsical, poignant.

Maurie Johns, Mount Eliza

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