A recipe for poverty

James McGee's experience corresponds with the experience of our churches in the orchard areas of Victoria. The combination of farmers being able to set a piece rate with the incentive for backpackers to work 88 days on a farm to get a second-year visa has been a recipe for mass exploitation. Few backpackers feel they can complain and the Fair Work Ombudsman's resources are stretched to the limit.

Speaking to backpackers at a barbecue on Friday night in north-east Victoria, many are at the mercy of the labour hire companies they feel obliged to sign up to. The lucky ones get onto farms where the farmers pay the legal hourly rate. The unlucky ones get sent to farms where the farmer sets a piece rate so high that even Superman or Wonder Woman could not make the "competent worker rate". Most said they would only manage to pick two or three large bins in an eight-hour shift, for $40 a bin. The backpackers who work with no break can fill five bins. The labour hire contractor then takes $7 per bin for themselves. It is a recipe for poverty and exploitation.

Mark Zirnsak, senior social justice advocate, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, Uniting Church in Australia

Consumer greed fuels low wages

It's not that I don't agree with Misha Zelinsky (Opinion, age.com.au, 4/3) – everyone should be paid fairly for services provided, including Uber drivers and anyone else in the gig economy.

But my tip for Ms Zelinsky is this – consumer greed for a bargain is what drives businesses to innovate and try to offer cheaper goods, and thus potentially drives down wages. Similar to Donald Trump's stupidity calling out China for flooding the US market with cheap goods – those same cheap goods his supporters demand on a daily basis – everyone who uses any emerging technology, product or service does so because they don't want to spend more than they need to.

So, let's strip it back to the truth of this situation – it is we consumers who should bear equal responsibility for the woes of underpaid Uber drivers and actually pay fair value for what we receive. Simple economics, Misha – as that old saying goes, greed breeds mean deeds.

Paul Bugeja, Mentone

It won't be right

It was shocking to recently read that hospitality workers have been significantly underpaid in well-known restaurants. I too work in an industry where the same problems are rampant yet never spoken about. Even working for a large and reputable construction company, we are expected to work 70-hour weeks for salaries that don't match the workload. We are forced to work Saturdays (not paid), but when we question this we are told it is "reasonable overtime"; however, our Saturday hours aren't officially recorded anywhere (wage theft) and no time in lieu is awarded for our consistent six-day weeks.

These issues, along with a culture of "she'll be right", manifest as rampant mental health issues within the industry, where colleagues take "time off" for mental breakdowns only to return to an office lacking empathy, or any care for their wellbeing.

I am at the beginning of my career in this industry, and when I've spoken up, I have been told "it's just the way it is", which now leaves me wondering if I can continue. No one is speaking about this, yet we wonder why so many young men are still taking their lives ... because "she'll be right".

Name withheld

THE FORUM

Pyne's mixed legacy

Christopher Pyne will be missed for his eccentricities, loyalty to his home state and longevity of service.

As minister of education, however, he was far more a fizzer than fixer. After his tenure, state schools remained scandalously under-resourced while private schools prospered from this underfunding.

Under him, NAPLAN's pernicious grip was tightened, making Dicken's treatment of education in Hard Times appear to be both prediction and predilection rather than satire. In higher education, he left our milk bar universities (too many trying to do too much with too little) ever more dependent on the revenue from overseas students, raising predictable concerns about treating them as cash cows and beneficiaries of soft marking. Under him, domestic students had their fees plundered to subsidise research (of varying quality, impact and necessity) while undergraduate teaching was abandoned to exploited, overworked sessional staff.

Alas, behind the bombastic rhetoric of the self-proclaimed fixer, lay the self-interest of the survivor. Death by a thousand cuts rather than a bold vision for our universities in the modern era was his modus operandi.

But let's not write him off just yet. Perhaps the office of premier, after more than a few good lunches, awaits?

John Carmichael, Warburton

Trump got that bit right

Au contraire, John Sampson ("Don'tsell Trump short", Letters 04/03), it is President Trump who was "played" in Hanoi.

During the last two years the North Korean dictator has soared in status worldwide, especially with the Chinese. Kim Jong-un succeeded in convincing the US to reduce their military influence in the region while continuing its nuclear weapon program.

Maybe Mr Trump was right in calling Kim a great leader ... the one clear success in the exercise was that he, Kim Jong-un, has significantly enhanced his contacts with the Vietnamese government, with talks of investment opportunities being held while he was in Hanoi ("Trump departs, but Kim show goes on", 3/3).

Trump's commentary on Otto Warmbier was also him playing Kim off a break? Please!

Graham Hoult, Richmond

Anything but a success

Only the most ardent Trump supporter could describe his recent visit to Hanoi to meet Kim Jong-un a success. For the rest of us, it looks like another monumental failure by a president who continues to demonstrate his utter incapacity to do the job he was elected to do.

Mr Trump is a narcissistic, petulant and ruthless man who hides behind his fake-news mantra to dismiss all legitimate criticism. When he claims that the media is the "enemy of the people" he is describing himself. His critics can see the wood for the trees; it is his glued-on supporters who cannot.

Colin Smith, Mount Waverley

Selective compassion

A guilty George Pell will now have a room and board courtesy of the state. But what about the poor, homeless man in Melbourne city? And Melbourne will have an improved public transport system. But what about our homeless who can't afford a train ticket?

We protest in defence of refugees. But are we protesting for our own unwanted people? Who cares?

When are politicians going to walk our city streets and take compassion on those who sleep on concrete between witches hats?

Maggie Main, North Melbourne

Moral compass missing

Where is Tony Abbott's moral compass and ethical checklist? How can he publicly and even privately support Cardinal Pell after being convicted of child sex offences?

His support in the mind of those victims would be crushing and most unhelpful in their ongoing recovery from the most heinous of crimes and breach of trust. Harming children in any way should be viewed with disgust, not support.

Mr Abbott has disgraced himself and should be seeking employment outside of Parliament and in a position where children will not be affected by any decision he makes. He has let himself and the community down yet again with his behaviour.

Time to go, Tony.

Darren Wiseman, Eaglehawk

Desertions mark a failure

Scott Morrison may not be "distracted' by the number of his MPs deserting the Liberal Party, but the general population sees this as a failure of his government.

Gloria Meltzer, Chewton

Perhaps it's time ...

It seems ridiculous that we are supposedly in autumn here with every day so far in March being well over 30, and little relief in sight.

I'd like to propose that we do as some northern hemisphere places do, and start the seasons from the equinoxes and solstices instead of the arbitrary first of the month. It seems to me (and Bureau of Meteorology statistics back me up) that March 1 to 21 is quite a bit hotter than December 1 to 21 – so we would still have 17 days of this endless painful summer to go. (While I'm ranting, can TV weather presenters stop saying "it'll be a lovely day" when it will be 28 in Melbourne, because it will probably be 38 or 40 out here north of the divide.)

Mick Webster, Chiltern

... for a seasonal shift

Warwick McFadyen (Comment, 4/3) notes March appears to belong to the summer season rather than autumn.

Royal Botanic Gardens director Professor Tim Entwisle has already suggested a new set of seasons for southern Australia. March is added to summer, then autumn and winter follow, occupying two months each. Spring is renamed as Sprinter (August-September) and Sprummer (October-November).

Entirely appropriate.

Andrew Smith, Leongatha

Some things never change

I recently went to the National Gallery of Victoria at Federation Square to see the Modern Australian Women exhibition (it was very good).

A ground-floor staff member told me it was on the second floor. I could not find it, just three galleries with the centuries of the artworks named on each entrance. I asked another staff member who said the exhibition had not opened and would open tomorrow. I replied that it opened on October 19 last year. I eventually tracked it down to a smallish room in the 20th Century gallery.

None of the paintings had an individual annotation as to artist and subject, unlike other paintings in the gallery. There was a nearby panel with a broad definition of the works on each of the three walls. Three other patrons were annoyed by this as well. One of them said she had been to the National Gallery International to see Designing Women and had trouble finding this exhibition as well.

The notes on the wall in NGV Australia said women at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century generally were encouraged to stick to painting flowers and portraits. Any life painting was to be "appropriate". Now all this time on, I am tempted to think women are still being pushed into the background.

Jan Marshall, Brighton

Duck death mystery

Ducks and other wildlife are dying at Lake Pertobe in Warrnambool during a disease outbreak that has so far lasted four weeks. Upwards of 80 birds have died so far, most of these being ducks. There has been no definitive cause for these deaths identified, and we have no idea how long it will continue.

It is not too late for the Victorian government to cancel the cruel and unnecessary duck shooting season scheduled to begin next month given disease outbreaks like this will further decimate duck populations in Victoria.

Monique Ferrier, Warrnambool

Energy only part of the mix

It's good Scott Morrison has finally recognised that Australia must do more to mitigate climate change. However, he – like much of the media – is focusing mainly on moving to more sustainable energy sources. Certainly this needs to happen, and the faster the better. But energy is only one part of the economy that needs to change. Others are transport and agriculture.

Much more can be done in Australia to shift to more sustainable modes of travel. We need to get people out of motor cars and onto public transport and bikes. We need to get people out of aeroplanes and into high-speed trains.

And people in Australia, as in all developed countries, need to accept that their current diet, high in animal products, is unsustainable. Production of meat, eggs and dairy products takes a heavy toll on the environment in all sorts of ways, including clearing of forests, methane emissions, heavy use of antibiotics, threatening their long-term effectiveness, and serious issues of waste disposal.

Australia sorely needs a government that is prepared to act on all these fronts.

Julia Blunden, Hawthorn

Plane and simple

If Mr Dutton is worried about our inability to absorb a few hundred arrivals by boat, he must be terrified out of his mind by the 250,000 immigrants who flooded in through airports last year, aided and abetted by the major parties to "boost the economy" (huzzah!). Well over 50 per cent of our population increase.

Instead of stop the boats, I'd be saying stop the planes.

Don Gillies, Canterbury

The dish best served cold

Labor's announcement that it could recall six former Liberal politicians-turned-ambassadors would be sweet revenge for the decision of then foreign minister Julie Bishop in 2013 to cancel the appointment of former Victorian premier Steve Bracks as consul-general in New York.

What goes around comes around.

Garry Meller, Bentleigh

What a waste

Congratulations, Peter Dutton, for spending millions of taxpayers' money on a facility which wasn't needed, for people who should never have been on Manus Island in the first place ("Questions over PNG tender", 4/3).

Perhaps Mr Dutton, like Pontius Pilate, calls daily for a basin of water to wash his hands and completely absolve himself of any responsibility for this sordid affair, and still the refugees remain in limbo.

Helen Scheller, Benalla

AND ANOTHER THING

Politics

If the flood of resignations from the Liberal government continues, they will be able to hold their Cabinet meetings in a phone box.

Ron Hayton, Beaumaris

Merlin Morrison's got his hands full, the vanishing act is out of control.

Bill Trestrail, St Kilda

Labor's diplomatic "unappointments" will be welcome provided they are replaced with career diplomats not Labor stooges.

John Walsh, Watsonia

I have resigned from the Liberal Party for reasons stated by Peter Rutherford (And Another Thing, 4/3). It is time that Abbott, et al were publicly held accountable for the "debacle" that the party is in.

Jan Ross, Ballarat

Count me out

From Tony Abbott's annoying three-word slogans, to Scott Morrison's inane two-worders, notably "fair dinkum", his government is heading for just one – "dispatchable".

Greg Curtin, Blackburn South

I see Red?

When Ita gets up and running at full speed will she see Red?

Leo Doyle, Bundoora

A new contender

John Cummings is on to something regarding March 3 as Australia Day (Letters, 4/3). May I also wish him a happy belated birthday.

Bob Pelekanakis, Williamstown North

Furthermore

Scott Morrison's $2 billion direct action plan is like paying for some vehicles in a fleet to go slower, while the lack of a carbon tax scheme means letting the remainder travel at whatever speed they want.

David Rose, Balcatta, WA

Electric cars and planting trees. Scott Morrison is a genius. Why hadn't we done this before?

Simon Costello, Melbourne

Finally

Bosses seldom make the mistake of overpaying wages.

Malcolm McDonald, Burwood