We should have an immigration program of 50,000 a year maximum, reduce or abolish incentives for having larger families, like baby bonuses and family tax benefits. Changing access to tertiary education could reduce foreign student numbers, many of whom stay on in Australia after their course. Likewise with work visas. The 250,000-strong queue of visa review cases shows the whole migration program is out of control and hopelessly unfocused and under-resourced.

I'm not arguing against migration per se, but in favour of a formal national population policy. No doubt the mentioned gentlemen will say all this is a federal matter, but handballing the issue won't improve our "liveability index".

Geoff Hall, Mentone

Some new states would help

The seemingly unrestrained growth of Melbourne and Sydney needs to be addressed by both federal and state governments. One way to do this, and at the same time generate development in other parts of the country, is to start moving towards dismantling our three-tiered and overly bureaucratic administrative system by creating new states in a more efficient two-level system.

Northern Queensland, Northern NSW, a state encompassing the Kimberley and parts of the Northern Territory come to mind as possibilities. Perhaps we could give South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory new names more in keeping with their traditional occupants or more recent history.

Ken Barnes, Glen Iris

Poor planning is not the problem

People still blame poor planning for the ugliness of overdevelopment, accepting overpopulation as a given. "We've just got to plan smarter" to cope with population growth. Are we too scared to face the real problem?

No matter what sops we come up with to squeeze more people in, we will be overcome by the relentless tide. Why can't economists see that unending growth will lead to disaster when to ordinary people it's obvious? Portents of collapse are staring us in the face right now.

Don Gillies, Canterbury

You can't lock up a city

Tim Smith touches on a number of fallacies in the field of urban development. There is the fallacy of "allocating" population to other locations, as though humans can somehow be picked up and placed wherever we see fit. In reality, people will choose to settle in a city come hell or high water if the city offers them what they are after. There is the fallacy of "planners" being responsible for the directions of urban development, whereas planners are simply a modest component of a huge system dominated by financial, economic and political forces.

But perhaps the biggest fallacies are these. First, that the city is somehow obliged to be the embodiment of what we want it to be, and that if it turns into something less it is some sort of injustice. In fact, cities have always had their own way to go regardless of what we want them to be, and if they happen to have shaped themselves in a way we have found satisfying, we should be thankful. The second is the idea that a city can somehow be locked up, that we can declare a kind of "end of history" and demand the city remain as it was in the past.

In truth, just as the city before us grew, changed and imposed on its own in order to accommodate those of us now living in it, so, too, we who are living in it must accept growth, change and imposition in order to accommodate future occupants. We cannot pull up the gangplank now that we are aboard. Kris Hansen, Ringwood

THE FORUM

Why no outcry?

Senator Nick McKim's treatment during his recent visit to Manus Island points out clearly what we already know; that the treatment of detainees there is too bad to be made public and is embarrassing to PNG, while our government thinks it can get away with "deterrent" abuse because the camps are far away over the horizon where we might with luck forget about them.

But the past three weeks have made clear what some of us may not have known, that systematic mistreatment exists in detention centres here in our own capital cities.

As you have reported, at Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation two children who were healthy on being detained were recently found to be seriously vitamin deficient, one with teeth so rotten she needed dental surgery at the age of two. In the past three weeks in MITA two small children have required hospital attention, one with an entirely preventable head injury, the other with flu. In both cases it's claimed the parents had to call outside advocates to ring an ambulance because management had refused. An adult who had been complaining of chest pain fell dead. Another man was desperate enough to try to set himself on fire. Another is so ill he has sewn his lips together.

All this in Broadmeadows. In an Australian government facility. In our midst. Why is there not an outcry? Why do we not treat people seeking asylum like people?

Janet Gaden, Daylesford

Presenting an ugly image

The continuing detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru is inhumane and has been condemned by the United Nations. It also presents a very ugly image of Australia to the rest of the world.

We who have been blessed by being born into a life of freedom and plenty are inflicting a slow living death on less fortunate human beings whose bravery and resourcefulness could have been an asset to our country. It is beyond time to end their suffering.

Fiona Moore, Ivanhoe

Restore the cuts

It is good to see that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recognises the huge benefit an independent ABC and SBS can provide to the community. Let's hope the government takes note and restores some of the recent funding cuts to the ABC.

Margaret Hanrahan, Thornbury

A self-defeating move

The Reserve Bank, Treasury and our Treasurer never seem to be able to read the future outcome of their financial management decisions nor do they seem to be able to see even the immediate outcomes.

One does not need any special knowledge to know from experience that by reducing the official interest rate, the value of the dollar would fall against other currencies. Again this has happened – to immediately defeat the government's predicted spending spree that is supposed to stimulate a dreary economy.

Practically all the goods we buy on the domestic market these days are made overseas and will come with a hike in prices to compensate for our lower dollar. So those who have only a modest income – which is the majority, will hang on to the old and forgo buying new until absolutely necessary. So sorry, Prime Minister and Treasurer, but we will not be buying to stimulate the economy.

Especially stringent at this time are we retirees (in my case self-funded) who have lost our spending money on account of interest on term deposits no longer even keeping up with the inflation rate.

With an unpredictable future (re. health and housing) we dare not diminish our capital, which would diminish our security.

Graham Page, Buxton

Not holding my breath

Good to see our Treasurer taking on digital giants Facebook and Google, although to describe the ACCC report into digital platforms as "ground breaking" and "truly a world first" is classic Frydenberg hyperbole.

The reality is there has been a global backlash against "big tech" for some time, especially in the US, where the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into internet platforms and where there are calls for the major players to be broken up on competition grounds.

Perhaps Josh Frydenberg might also look at formulating regulations requiring Facebook to extirpate "fake news" to ensure the integrity of our elections, although I do recall a press release emanating from Frydenberg's office suggesting Labor was proposing a "death tax", so we won't hold our breath on thisone.

Neil Hudson, East Melbourne

They are linked

Former Beyond Blue chairman and founder Jeff Kennett, appears to have forgotten the charter of that organisation.

He claims that mental health is no excuse for poor behaviour, but one would have thought that violent behaviour was entirely caused by a mental disturbance.

A man desperately wanting access to his medicine might well be excused for a bad moment, especially since he has apologised and will pay for the damage.

Mr Kennett, who created a pall of gloom over Victoria for seven years, should quietly disappear into his retirement.

Graeme Lee, Fitzroy

It's worth the cost

Ursula Miller, health insurance may be costly and yes, there is a "gap" to be paid (Letters, 27/7).

But I have private health insurance so that I don't have to wait a painful/nervous 18 months to have a semi-urgent procedure that my private health insurance membership means I will have done within five days.

Simple.

Jen Gladstones, Heidelberg

Right idea, wrong target

Dick Smith received $500,000 in excess franking credits, which means he received at a minimum $1.6 million in share dividends. The payment is tax free and is paid from other people's taxes. His payment represents $19,230 a fortnight – 33 times more than a person on Newstart – $575 per fortnight.

The Prime Minister rightfully claims "we are not an open cheque book" and can't increase Newstart. But governments make choices. Labor promised to stop the Dick Smiths of the world getting this largesse. Our PM chooses to keep paying him. In my humble opinion, the PM simply chooses to pay cheques to the wrong people.

John Rome, Mount Lawley, WA

A little perspective please

Is Peter Hartcher ("Setka a tricky problem to solve", The Age, 27/7) being deliberately provocative or does his attack on the union movement truly represent his own beliefs, strongly reflecting those of the LNP? At the least, his is an extremely narrowly focused attack. No doubt the CFMMEU have gone beyond the pale in a range of areas as have some other unions, but this is surely inevitable in the highly charged negotiations between union leadership and large corporations.

But their behaviour pales into insignificance in comparison with the long-term behaviour of the large financial institutions, the technology companies, mining companies – with the damage done to the environment, and, finally, the widespread underpayment of staff in the hospitality industry. All of this has been fully documented.

Without unions, workers would have severely diminished rights, especially now that the political right is in such ascendancy. The present stagnant state of wage growth will be exacerbated without unions, and this will have a strongly negative affect on the overall economy, not to mention the diminution of other rights for those who do not own capital.

Greg Bailey, St Andrews

Selective concern

In recent articles there has understandably been significant outrage about the stockpiles of waste resulting from the lack of recycling and single-use plastic bags. Single-use nappies significantly contribute to this waste problem, making up 4 per cent of landfill, but their environmental impact is conveniently ignored, even by the Greens.

It is estimated 95 per cent of Australian families use disposable nappies instead of cloth (reusable) nappies, yet the reasons to avoid disposable nappies are compelling: australianscience.com.au says Australians use 5.6 million disposable nappies a day, meaning more than 2 billion nappies go into landfill around Australia each year. These can take up to 500 years to decompose. They report that disposable nappies use three times more energy, 20 times more raw materials and twice the water than reusable nappies during manufacture.

It is estimated that using disposable nappies costs $3250 per child and Sustainability Victoria says it takes one cup of crude oil to make each disposable nappy. Vanuatu is banning disposable nappies later this year but, surprisingly, the Greens have no policy and are not interested in raising this environmental time bomb.

Does our concern for the environment cease when the more environmentally-friendly choice involves the washing of smelly and dirty reusable nappies?

Reusable nappies will save several thousands of dollars per child and are better for the environment, so why wouldn't families choose them? A win for families and a win for the environment.

David Charles, Newtown

Follow BHP's lead

Wow: We have BHP, one of our largest businesses, leading action on climate change. Some short-term pain, huge long-term gain. Bringing shareholders along with them by commonsense explanation and concrete plans and action.

Scott Morrison, now is your chance for real action, not hollow rhetoric. Your citizens are the shareholders of the nation and the planet. You are our leader. Lead us into a sustainable future.

How good is BHP chief executive officer Andrew McKenzie? Let us see how good our Prime Minister is.

David Court, Glen iris

We owe it to our pets

Jason Steger's description of the passing of his beloved dog Pluto ("Our pets deserve love until the end", Comment, 24/7) was so sad. I have had the difficult experience of having to say goodbye to three dogs and two cats over many years. I stayed with them and held them as soon as the injection quickly took effect.

I do not understand how someone could just leave their loving pet to die alone. I feel that it was my thank you to these faithful pets and I feel better for being with them at this sad time.

Elaine Cullinane, Hampton

AND ANOTHER THING

Not so super

Voluntary super now. Involuntary poverty later.

Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley

Politics

The passing of the medevac repeal bill in the lower house is a giant leap backwards for mankind.

Stephen Baldwin, Frankston

Any thoughts from our glorious government about a "cheating-employer-busting bill"?

Ian Millar, Mordialloc

Those of us who've been estranged from Australia since the election need our own chamber of Parliament.

Peter Martina, Warrnambool

Fun and childlike. Britain has brought back the Boris Minor.

Paul Wells, Bendigo

Donald Trump and Boris Johnson: How can Australia compete since we no longer have Zig and Zag?

Mark Orford, Coburg

Hang on a minute, that's not Boris Becker at Number 10 is it?

Mark Herrmann, Bentleigh East

The sporting life

The AFL is fiddling with the rules and interpretations so much that the game may soon be unrecognisable to fans.

Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick

Not to make light of their predicament, but if the Ararat Eagles were "literally" on their knees, Sam Duncan (Comment, 26/5), that might explain the score.

Hilary Bagshaw, North Melbourne

Wonder if the English cricket team will shake hands with the three proven, not alleged, cheats in the Australian squad.

Ian Gray, Benalla

Furthermore

Could editors put a red line through references to Boris and Donald's hair? Enough already. No one would dare to comment on a female politician's hair.

Roger Mendelson, Toorak

Finally

Big tech companies are a threat to public interest journalism. So what do you call constant attacks on the ABC? Contradiction is easily overlooked when you're determined to govern by ideology instead of rational thinking.

Jenny Herbert, Metung

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