Coalition hypocrisy in full view on ALP super reform

The federal opposition’s negativism on discussions about increasing tax rates on large superannuation accounts is astounding (“Split over planto make rich pay more tax”, February 27). In government, they vilified “leaners”, instigated the illegal robo-debt scheme to chase small amounts it considered overpayment and stood behind Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison, who both discarded and broke multiple election promises. Now, when there’s talk of shutting down a tax rort used by the extremely well-off that will not affect the majority of superannuants, but would provide an extra $4 billion that could fund other government initiatives, the Coalition is bleating and showing the hypocrisy that has been a highlight of its last decade. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl

Forget about Marx and Engels. Howard and Costello’s changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax discounts on property, tax-free superannuation income, franking credits and reduced tax rates on multimillion-dollar superannuation accounts have had more to do with the redistribution of income than any left-wing economic theory. John Bailey, Canterbury

If your super balance is less than $3million, none of this scaremongering affects you. If you’re concerned about tax changes to super, remember that it’s your taxes being used to provide concessions to already bloated super balances at the expense of health, education, the environment and so on.
The Liberals are economic vandals, not economic managers. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield

The Labor Party introduced compulsory superannuation to provide retirement incomes for many. For most, it was by way of after tax contributions. However, the wealthy were presented with salary sacrifice whereby they made before-tax contributions. This saved them income tax payments but later deductions from superannuation were taxable for those using pre-tax contributions. Former treasurer Peter Costello later made all deductions tax-free. Since then, the wealthy have used superannuation as a tax-free vehicle. Labor must place a limit on tax-free superannuation of, say, $1million. A suitable tax could then be placed on amounts above $1 million on a progressive scale. Further, tax needs to be reapplied to pre-tax contributions. Then equity can be restored to superannuation. Barry O’Connell, Old Toongabbie

Changing superannuation is unfair and an easy target. Why doesn’t Labor make changes to negative gearing and make it fairer for people to buy a home to live in? Jane Armitage, Mosman

According to the Liberals, Labor is attacking the accounts of “middle Australia”; that is, those with superannuation accounts of $3million or more. The average account is rather closer to $450,000 for men, less for women. No doubt those with less are just engaging in the politics of envy and should be grateful that the much better off are looking after themselves and are not a burden on the taxpayer, well, except for the generous deductions. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights

Over tax? Sure, but it’ll be goodbye public amenities

The cohort your correspondent (Letters, February 27) identifies who want government out of their lives and don’t want to pay any more taxes are often those who funnel their personal and business lives through private companies and family trusts, far preferring to pay little or no tax if they can get away with it. They often own multiple homes and cars with obscene carbon footprints and add to it by flying first class to business seminars in Vail or Aspen, all tax-deductible. They accept public funding for their children’s luxury private school education and, when the kids are expelled, allow them to be rehabilitated in the public system. They readily use public beaches, baths, parks, ovals, roads, power, waste removal, water, sewer, emergency surgery, vaccinations, quarantine, our courts, police, SES and fire and rescue whenever required and the list is endless. Our public debt is in crisis because this cohort has been encouraged by the Coalition for decades to so act. Howard Charles, Annandale

The group that wants the government out of its lives still wants to use roads, have fresh water, have top quality health services, use garbage and sewer services, have better education alternatives, have the availability of public transport, have public open spaces for leisure and much more. Unfortunately, all of these need taxpayer funds to supply and maintain and the money has to come from somewhere. Geoff Wannan, Dawes Point

When these people are asked about some specifics, they end up sounding like a parody of the Life of Brian skit. “Besides the roads, police, schools, aged care, PBS, Medicare, hospitals, the fire brigades, defence forces and public transport, I want government out of my life!” Andrew Brown, Bowling Alley Point

Your correspondent oversimplifies a little when he says there are many who want governments out of their lives. Sure they do, unless and until they are injured, fall ill, need a subsidy to make their business viable, or just want their kids educated, at public, or private, schools. Then watch them jump if they don’t get the help they need (or think they need). Norman Carter, Roseville Chase

Your correspondent wants government “out of our lives” when it comes to superannuation. No problems. Sock away as much money as you like into your superannuation, but don’t expect the government (i.e. taxpayers) to subsidise your retirement or investment strategies with concessions. Deb Genford, Granville

More to success than academia

Not taking into consideration a student’s ATAR is yet another ploy by universities to admit as many students as possible into degrees (“Non-ATAR starters drop out more”, February 27). When are we going to admit, as a society, that “enough is enough”? There are too many young people out there who have wasted time and money on degrees that they have either dropped before completion or, having completed the course, fail to get a job in their area of expertise. University might provide an interval where young people can discover what they want from life, but this self-discovery is underwritten by the taxpayer and themselves as an ongoing debt. Not everyone is cut out for academic study and nor should they be. We should be encouraging the artisans and tradespeople of the future by invigorating the TAFE system, funding apprenticeships and promoting the value of these occupations in senior high school. Lyndall Nelson, Goulburn

The decline of TAFE courses and the exorbitant rises in course fees should be addressed by governments who want Australian manufacturing to build things rather than import them. Perhaps this can solve the problems of Australia’s skilled workforce shortage and the high number of students with low ATARs dropping out of universities with nothing but a HECS debt to show for it. Jennifer McKay, Ashbury

ATAR scores are based on the HSC, which is a flawed predictor of university achievement for two reasons. First, worldwide, high school marks are the best single predictors and when combined with aptitude tests are even better predictors. The HSC only measures achievement and doesn’t measure aptitude. Strike one for the HSC. Second, the HSC needn’t even measure achievement as we already know those results – they are called high school marks. Strike two for the HSC. And now for the irony – the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) publishes an online calculator, the ATAR Compass, for students to predict their ATAR with “a high degree of accuracy”. Students enter their exam marks from their chosen year 12 subjects and the calculator generates reliable estimates of their future ATAR. The UAC has inadvertently revealed what many educational psychologists have said all along: why do we need the HSC when we already have excellent predictor scores – students’ high school marks? David Kennedy, Neutral Bay Junction

The article does not mention the funding of universities. Universities need to cram as many students as possible into their first-year courses as the income in fees generated by these students enables the smaller and much more specialised courses to run in later years. During COVID, tens of thousands of foreign students were unable to come to Australia and, as a consequence, the universities took a massive financial hit. Look forward to another round of offers to students who have little chance of success; they are merely financial cannon fodder. Peter Cooper-Southam, Frenchs Forest

Emission impossible

For as long as we export coal and gas in the volumes we do, there is little hope for a reversal of polluting emissions induced climate change (“Bowen rules out ban on new gas, coal ventures”, February 27). In the interests of our current economy, we run the pretence that we are very active in controlling emissions and contributing to bringing global warming to a halt. Of course, this is patently ridiculous because we are exporting the raw materials that produce emissions at levels way beyond any pollution that has been produced in Australia – ever – and which totally negate the efforts of many countries to bring this beast under control. We speak, always, with a forked tongue.
Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie

It is astounding, on the anniversary of the deadly North Coast floods, to hear from Chris Bowen, who is ironically the minister for climate change, that”progress” depends on climate-destroying new coal and gas projects. Labor’s contradictory position will make it hard to vote for if it continues to promote its fossil fuels donors at the cost of Australian lives. Caroline Atkinson, St Ives

Fibre hazard

Yet more lives lost to easily preventable workplace lung disease (“Silicosis response tantamount to industrial manslaughter: doctor”, February 27). The fine fibres of asbestos minerals make the man intrinsic hazard. Engineered stone is a form of concrete that is not intrinsically dangerous in raw material (rock) or final product form (kitchen bench). However, the crushing of the raw material to powder, and the cutting and grinding of the finished product, can rapidly result in silicosis for workers if not well-managed. There is no reason that raw materials crushing, and the making, polishing, cutting and grinding of engineered stone can’t be done in sealed rooms by robotic equipment. Unfortunately, as a society, we need tough government regulation before industry will make the necessary investment in equipment and training. Peter Egan, Mosman

Cuts both ways

Your correspondent (Letters, February 27) says that “loyalty to a brand is a thing of the past”. He is correct and the reason is that the “brands” have long ago discarded their loyalty to the customers who established and built their brand in the first place. Bill Irvine, Goulburn

Vitamins’ deficiency

I’m not surprised that the price of vitamins has risen (“Inflation gives vitamins spike in cost”, February 27). The last time I looked, vitamins A, D, E and K were still being referred to as “fat” soluble. Surely they deserve the post-Roald Dahl nomenclature of “enormous” soluble vitamins. Vitamins have feelings, too. Trevor Somerville, Illawong

Politically correct 007?

″⁣Sensitivity readers″⁣ want to censor James Bond (″⁣Racial references cut from 007 novels″⁣, February 27). Presumably they think the killing, opportunistic sex and misogyny practised by Mr Bond is OK. Perhaps we should censor everything that offends, then we can all concentrate on violent video games.
Andrew Scott, Pymble

For Oddjob, I suggest Peculiar Work Assignment. Nick Franklin, Katoomba

Fabulous Fernandez

Let’s have Jeremy Fernandez read the ABC News in his Mardi Gras attire and glitter eyes (Letters, February 27). He always looks dashing, with impeccable taste in ties, but his parade outfit was a cut above in magnificence. Ann McEwin, Maroubra

Dykes on Bikes, Gorgeous, Loud and Proud, the Rainbow Serpent, Yes for the Voice Now, the 78ers, thank you all. Jane Waddy, Boronia Park

Heartening as it is to read criticism of a busy bloke’s outfit, please consider said shirt may have been the only clean one in the wardrobe. Suzanne Wicks, Potts Point

Anthony Albanese also had the shortest eyelashes and the most natural hair. Don Leayr, Albury

The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Crossbench split on super tax overhaul, but Labor urged to go harder
From MM: ″⁣With cost-of-living pressures increasing and relatively low interest earnings maybe $3 million is a reasonable figure. Federal and state-defined benefit schemes should be included.″⁣

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