source : the age
Waleed Aly identifies economic confusion and an inchoate desire for change as drivers of voter discontent (“This is a mess with no easy way out”, October 9). The sense that concerns are not being taken seriously is surely contributing. With basic services struggling, why can’t Australians benefit from our gas exports as Norwegians and Omanis do? Why have we not properly debated the eye-watering and increasingly dubious AUKUS agreement? Why do so many big companies pay no tax? Why is tax in general such a dirty word? Why are we filling up the cities instead of decentralising? Why are fossil fuel mines still being approved? One Nation has its fans but I believe there’s a more constructive option (“Greens celebrate wave of new members”, October 9). New Greens leader David Shoebridge is unafraid to speak up on difficult issues, and people appear to be responding. A recent YouGov poll has found the Greens are polling 41 per cent among Gen Z and younger. This voter wants the government to find its courage and honour its legacy, and that does not mean pandering to One Nation as the opposition is doing. Alison Stewart, Riverview
Waleed Aly has provided a very good analysis of how complicated the world is in economics, politics and social cohesion. It is ludicrous to expect that the solutions to any of these problems are to be found in simplistic policies and slogans that politicians present to us every day. Whatever the shortcomings of the current government may be (and there are quite a few), it is not a “terrible government” letting in “mass migration” and “destroying our way of life”. The vast majority of Australians are still very well off, and if we could promote the idea that those who are prospering could do more to help those who are struggling, we would be much better off overall. However, it is not in the interest of politicians or their parties to appeal to our better natures because stirring up division is essentially the reason for their existence. Bipartisanship is basically a dirty word. Phil Peak, Dubbo
Instead of fannying about trying to deal with our present global Gordian knot(s) (“We’ve reached a perverse moment. Things are only going to get worse,” October 9), maybe we need the intervention of another Alexander the Great, who in 333BC decisively cut through the complex knot with a sword. Unfortunately, he then spent most of his life in battle and reportedly descended into megalomania and paranoia. History does tend to repeat itself. Judy Finch, Taree
Waleed Aly’s stimulating article omits a contributing factor to Australia’s inflation number. Interest rate increases reduce spending by those who have home loans, and fail to reduce price rises from petrol, energy and other inflation-contributing items. Aly wisely acknowledges the value of productivity improvements. However, the Reserve Bank should focus on measures that address cost-push inflation. The trimmed mean is not enough to isolate this factor. Parties seeking simplistic solutions to complex problems fail to address issues Aly identifies as wickedly complex. Brian Dellit, Woonona
Revised immigration stance
Angus Taylor and Tony Abbott are rewriting history to try to justify their immigration stance. (“Taylor and Abbott say Bondi shooting drove the politics on migration,” October 8). The forward estimates for immigration numbers released under the Morrison government predicted higher numbers than eventuated under Labor; but in an attempt to damage Labor’s electoral standing, the Liberals falsely accused Labor of engineering “mass migration” for political gain. That is when the toxicity started. Graeme Finn, Campsie
Another fraught policy
One Nation’s latest promise to scrap independent assessment of major coal mines and hand decision-making power back to politicians because it would be “less susceptible to corruption” is another ill-thought-out and fraught policy (“One Nation vows to cut red tape on coal mining,” October 9). A party that refuses to accept the science of climate change, acting at the behest of profit-driven fossil fuel companies, that know that their days are numbered, is a recipe for a scorched-earth policy that would encourage fossil-fuel companies to maximise profits in as short a time as possible. We’ve seen the dishonesty and misinformation before, regarding lead in petrol, the health dangers inherent in tobacco products and toxic chemicals, just to name a few. Independent oversight is essential as big business has continually shown that profits come before community interests, and personal and environmental health and safety. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
Think before you arm
It appears Chris Minns’ decision to set up a heavily armed response team highlights a decision based on appeasing a minority group, as opposed to one based on sound advice, common sense and practicality. Some 250 heavily armed, specially trained officers driving high-powered vehicles to do what exactly? (“Expansion of Jewish security groups’ remit still being considered despite new heavily armed police unit,” October 8). In reality, the chances of this squad ever being deployed to a real-life “Bondi Beach” situation are negligible. A terrorist will act regardless of such a unit being established and will simply carry out the act at a different location or time. A complete overreaction, an act of group appeasement.Have a response unit by all means, but it must be strategic. This sudden influx of money and available staff and resources could be better used elsewhere in the system and state, and for heaven’s sake, forget this folly of allowing private groups to be armed. Bob Cameron, Coffs Harbour
The police in NSW should not be immune to public scrutiny and answerability for their actions. (“Lanyon moved to block public watchdog hearings into police violence,” October 8). When the decision has been made to create a force of heavily armed police officers, when the premier seems determined to allow armed “civilians” to patrol public events, the need for open public scrutiny becomes essential to prevent excessive use of powers against citizens exercising their democratic right to protest in a liberal democracy. Paul Pearce, Bronte
I certainly understand and support the development of some type of NSW Police rapid-response force following the horrific events in Bondi in December 2025 in which 15 people were killed and 41 injured. Antisemitism and the associated violence are abhorrent. The Australian Institute of Criminology’s report found that there were 33 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in prison or police custody in 2024-25. That was the largest number since records began in 1979-80 and almost double the average since 1989-90. To date in Australia in 2026 there have been 54 women killed as a result of violence. I understand the fallacy of moral equivalence that oversimplifies a complex moral situation. However, I certainly hope that after multiple years of evidence of Aboriginal deaths in custody and domestic homicides that similar rapid-response forces can be developed and deployed for the people and families so horrendously affected. Graham Fazio, Cootamundra
Taking aim at new low
The US has sunk to a low that I could never have imagined. It is now going to livestream executions by firing squads (“US to livestream firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter,” October 9). I wonder who’ll bid highest for the advertising rights for this glorification of the use of firearms? Pam Fichtner, Dunbogan
Nidal Malik Hasan devalued the lives of the 13 people he killed and the 32 others he injured at the US military base in 2009. Now Pete Hegseth wants to devalue Nidal’s life by executing him by firing squad and livestreaming the horror. We have not progressed beyond the Code of Hammurabi. We still want an eye for an eye, or worse. Mark Porter, New Lambton
Public executions were a public spectacle in the Middle Ages, from which most of the world moved on hundreds of years ago. But warmonger Hegseth is dragging the USA back to that gruesome era. Never mind that capital punishment is anathema to most reasonable people, the prospect of livestreaming such inhumanity is beyond appalling. It also raises a legal dilemma for us. In the wake of the Christchurch massacre, we banned all media from livestreaming acts of violence, but the act of publicly shooting dead another human being is now White House policy. Where does that leave our otherwise law-abiding media, which has proven so committed to social cohesion over clickbait spectacle? Dick Clarke, Elanora Heights
ATO credit line
No one wishes small businesses to go under. But when they do, I’ve seen firsthand the losses suffered by their unsecured creditors, including good faith suppliers of goods and services. They also run businesses, have families, have debts to service and tax to pay on time. Top of the unsecured list sits the ATO (us taxpayers) followed by employees left chasing unpaid wages and superannuation. This week (“‘Double standard’: Business groups urge ATO to reverse its credit card ban,” October 7) small business lobby spokespersons actually stated publicly that many small businesses cannot afford to pay their taxes, as and when they fall due, without resorting to further credit card debt. A strong indicator of insolvency. Howard Charles, Glebe
I can’t understand the ATO. An arm of government, the RBA, allowed card networks to stop merchants from charging a surcharge, saving consumers $1.6 billion a year. The ATO, another arm of government, banned taxpayers from paying by credit card because it would cost them $200 million a year, which is a mere pittance at 0.031 per cent of their annual receipts of $636.3 billion. They should thank those taxpayers for coughing up. Rob Gordon, Kew
The small-business lobby seems to be portraying the ATO’s decision to stop accepting credit card payments as an attack on small business. As a small business owner, I disagree. While businesses can incorporate the credit card costs into their overall pricing, the ATO has no equivalent option: it cannot increase a legally determined tax bill simply because a taxpayer chooses an expensive payment method. The ATO is right to protect the integrity of public revenue rather than allowing some business owners to shift the cost of their preferred financing method onto the tax system. A tax liability is generally based on economic activity that has already occurred. The business has already earned the income or collected the relevant revenue. If a business routinely needs a credit card to meet a predictable tax obligation, the issue is not necessarily the ATO’s payment system, it may be the business’ own questionable financial management. Han Yang, North Turramurra
At a Northern Beaches food court this week, I noted one vendor offering a 3 per cent discount for cash payments. This means that if the price was $10.00, the cash price would be $9.70. The Macquarie dictionary defines a surcharge as any additional charge or tax added to the usual or already paid amount. Whilst not described as a credit card surcharge, a cash discount does not pass the “duck test”. That is, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck. To deliberately misquote William Shakespeare, a surcharge by any other name is just a surcharge. Gary Glover, North Willoughby
The float that flopped
The promoters of the problematic Firmus float (“Data centre bid on brink”, October 9) need to get smarter. “Would you believe $11?” “Would you believe $8?” “Would you believe $1.99 and a free pair of steak knives?” William S Lloyd, Denistone
Firmus went cold (“Oliver Curtis’ bid to float Firmus for $44 billion falls over,” October 9). I hope my super fund was saying they weren’t coming to the picnic. Donald Proctor, Cremorne
The true cost
I wonder how the survivors of the floods in Nepal, grieving the deaths of family members and coping with the destruction of their homes, or the Pacific Islanders facing the annihilation of their homelands, rate the seriousness of concern for the Hunter Valley’s future loss of jobs in an industry that contributes to such disasters (“Fire, cyclones, extreme heat: Albanese’s hellish summer forecast,” October 6). Barry Wooldridge, Harden
Can’t take it with you
Whoa, imagine being worth $17.3 billion! (“Billionaire Nicola Forrest donates $500 million to her Coaxial charity,” October 9) and yet, it does seem an awful waste to end up being the richest person in the mortuary. So thank you, Nicola Forrest. It’s a pity others of your ilk weren’t so generous. Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick
Nice to hear of Nicola Forrest making these generous donations. This country has been generous to her and her family and these causes she has chosen are very worthwhile. Taking the lead from another famous Australian, Mary Mackillop, “She saw a need and did something about it”. Well done. Kath Maher, Lidcombe
Nicola Forrest has made $500 million donation to a foundation for children, First Nations people and women. Brava, Nicola Forrest! Your generosity spells deep feeling and understanding for those who have less. We strongly admire and respect you. Franca Bopf, Curl Curl
So Nicola and Andrew Forrest have donated and pledged billions to charities and deserving causes. Gina has given a plane to One Nation. Please explain. Peter Sexton, Lindfield
Applause for our artists
I was very pleased to see a high-quality courtroom drawing in The Sydney Morning Herald today. Such drawings are usually an aesthetic disaster and/or a poor caricature. Congratulations to the artist and a credit with their name would help. Jim Croke, Stanmore (Ed: Artist was Scott Breton)
Hello there, after all the accolades given to Cathy Wilcox, I think it’s overdue to give a shoutout to the current cartoonists. Megan Herbert, Badiucao and Golding (“Climate reality merchandise” was tragically hilarious) do an excellent job while relying on only a few words. Cheers to them all. Leon Taylor, Penshurst.
Couture in court
The term “colourful character” is often used and as I saw Alan Jones’ vast array of clothing as he entered court every day, I thought he really epitomises that descriptor (“Tense scenes as Alan Jones accuser denies deceiving broadcaster,” October 8). John Duff, Lavender Bay
Baby’s birth brings hope and possibility
Today my newest granddaughter is being born, and she is bringing a wave of fierce, undeniable hope with her. It’s no secret that we are living through a very heavy cultural and geopolitical moment, of which media keeps relentlessly reminding us, (“We’ve reached a perverse moment. Things are only going to get worse”, October 9). We are met with an intersection of overwhelming, heartbreaking and dark headlines, inducing the perception that the world is fracturing, and a sense of hesitation or fear about the future we’re handing down to the next generation. But the birth of a new baby reminds of the fundamental truth that we never truly know or can map out the future, and that life insists on moving forward. Just as history has moments of deep shadow, it is also entirely unpredictable in its capacity for revealing light, resilience and unexpected joy. My new granddaughter is a clean slate, like all new life, and a burst of pure possibility, and she is both relatively and exquisitely lucky to be landing on this part of the planet. Robyn Ann Dalziell, Kellyville
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