Viennese model houses all, improves social wellbeing

In thinking long-term about rental availability (“Rental crisis will get worse, before it gets less worse”, April 8), state and federal governments may want to consider Vienna’s public housing system. The state buys and maintains a parcel of land, good quality design and construction of apartments follows, shared green spaces and parks are developed; but, crucially, that land is never sold, rents are always affordable and residents have secure, life-long tenure, which can be passed on to their children.
The system operates without social stigma because most Viennese live in public housing — it’s viewed as a universal right rather than a specific need.
This more egalitarian model has been taken up by California, Ireland and Germany, in part because it’s considered highly profitable. What could this mean when there’s not a property developer in sight? The Viennese model yields social capital, ie, a successful society and sustained social peace. Worth considering, I reckon. Fiona Hibberd, North Ryde

Everyone knows that rent prices are rising at a frightening pace. We should all be concerned. As more people become homeless, it affects quality of life for everyone. That people are unable to pay for rent increases and are living in cars or on the streets is shameful. It does not make people in general feel positive about society. A society that helps out those in need is a stronger and safer one. Australia had rent controls after World War I and during the Great Depression to help people. It worked and helped to lift society through a tough time. I’m asking Premier Chris Minns to act on rent control. Yes, his plan to build more housing is important, but that option isn’t going to be available for a few years. Please act quickly. Something has to change. Lois Katz, Glebe

It is time for our government to finally crack down on short-term rentals to release thousands of apartments and houses for long-term tenancies.
Other countries, including Britain and in Europe, are taking the initiative, so why not Australia? The latest problem is that caravan parks that offer long-term accommodation are closing down because they can no longer get insurance. This is a national catastrophe the government can no longer ignore. Ziggy Koenigseder, Coffs Harbour

Of course Chris Minns doesn’t want to cap rents. A modest suburban house of mine that has accommodated the same family for more than 15 years paid 57per cent of the rent in state government land tax last year. Bill Lloyd, Denistone

If Chris Minns sees increasing supply as a way to ease rental pressure, then bringing all those properties reserved for the holiday rental market back to full-time availability would be a major help. A simple way to do this would be to allow negative gearing only on properties that are rented out full time – say a minimum of 250 or 300 days per year. That could also help to reduce rents as landlords need to compete to secure longer-term renters. Geoff Wannan, Dawes Point

Voice prompts moderate Liberals to face a choice

For many, an imperfect Voice is better than no Voice (“Liberal MPs take a vow of silence for campaign”, April 8). If Liberal frontbench moderates are going to show more loyalty to Peter Dutton than to the values of liberalism, they are LINOs: Liberals In Name Only. At the next election, a vote for a spineless moderate will then again be a vote for Dutton and Barnaby Joyce.
Moderates need to consider resigning from a party they can’t reform and either sit as independents or set up their own centrist party. Alan Garrity, North Narrabeen

The Voice is complicated. That’s understood. But Peter Dutton has been out of touch for a long time. Let’s call his No position for what it is. It’s his personal position. He no longer represents Liberal constituents because Liberal voters have rejected him. He can’t see that simple fact. The Liberal Party has attracted very few votes. Liberals have rejected him in state and federal politics. He has stopped listening to the people that matter. He is trying to force his personal politics and today’s Liberal population is rejecting and cancelling him. The Liberals are becoming irrelevant and may soon be extinct under Dutton. The party immediately needs a progressive leader and new thinking. Dutton is fast becoming a dinosaur. Renos Ross, Paddington

When the Northern Territory Intervention occurred in 2007, it was directed from Canberra. There was no consultation with the Indigenous communities and sadly nothing changed; in fact, things got worse. This and many other instances illustrate for me that, while there is no recognition in the Constitution, while there is no input from the Indigenous communities which the Voice would provide, it will be like the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and over again, hoping for change. I believe we non-Indigenous people have much to learn. When have we ever really taken the time to consult in such a really democratic manner? Joan Lynn, Williamstown (Vic)

In week one of the Liberal Party’s No for a Voice to parliament, we have seen a resignation and two declarations of campaign shyness. If the theme of week one is replicated over the weeks ahead, Dutton may end up with no momentum, no advocates, no hope and no chance. David Gunter, Sydney

Treasurer right to terminate tax

At last! Some sensible action from the federal treasurer in terminating the Morrison government’s income tax offset for low- to middle-income earners (“Treasurer right to end tax offset despite pain”, April 8). The government needs increased taxation revenue to pay for the multiple problems the nation is encountering: an inappropriately funded health system, unaffordable housing, a rundown public education system and a moribund manufacturing industry, not to mention the burgeoning defence budget appropriate for these troubled times. All that is needed now is an increase in the tax income from the more fortunate segments of our society and action to minimise the pain the tax offset’s withdrawal will inflict on less fortunate members of our society. Ian Falconer, Turramurra

This does seem a little strange, given the pain caused by rising prices and interest rates. You would think that the government would massage the timing so that the combination of the removal of the offset and modified stage three would have reduced impact on taxpayers. Are they playing politics with pain now and relief closer to the next election? Or does this offset the cost of any cost-of-living relief so that they aren’t accused of worsening the budget? Presumably, we’ll know closer to the budget rather than speculating now. David Rush, Lawson

Traffic in turmoil

Your correspondent (Letters, April 8) is spot-on pointing out that the recognised Sydney method of indicating a right turn is not to signal until the lights turn green. It is but one of a number of such practices employed by Sydney drivers, including: Left turn – no need to signal at all. Even better to swing out to the right before making the turn, causing panic to both the drivers to the right and behind. Lane changing – turning on indicator means “I am about to change lanes into the piece of road space currently occupied by your car. Get out of my way unless you want to risk being run into”. Hazard lights on – “I know I am parked illegally in a no stopping zone or on a clearway inconveniencing other road users, but I won’t be long”. No doubt there are many others. Ian Rewell, Longueville

Our law enforcement officers do little enforcement of basic road rules these days. I frequently see drivers fail to stop at stop signs, run red lights and cross double lines or continuous merging lines. As for failure to use turn indicators correctly or at all, it is such a common occurrence I sometimes try to guess what a driver may or may not do as a means of passing the time while driving. Safe driving as promoted in our media and roadside billboards is solely focused on speed. Other driving transgressions are seldom, if ever, mentioned. In reality, they can be equally or more dangerous than driving five or 10kph over the posted speed limit. Ian Stevenson, Belrose

As a pedestrian, I find it confronting when waiting to safely cross streets or lanes and most drivers are playing the “guess where I’m going?” game. Maybe the current language used doesn’t help. I feel that the almost universal use of the word “blinker” has a rather different connotation to the more accurate description of an “indicator”. Joy Heads, Wollstonecraft

Moral matters

The Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius saw doing the right thing as the one thing that mattered at the end of life (“Four funerals and a wedding: my crash course in Stoicism”, April 8). The moral imperative was just as important then as it is throughout life now. Then, to paraphrase Aurelius, what we do now will echo in eternity. Mark Porter, New Lambton

Railing at trams

The case for on-road public transport between Circular Quay and Central has always been strong (“Sydney finally embraces light rail as patronage surges”, April 8). On-street rail (trams) has hazards that make it unfriendly to pedestrians, which results in a peopleless canyon on what should be a busy pedestrian George Street. Long battery-electric rubber-tyred vehicles (buses) would be more frequent, faster outside the CBD, more pedestrian-friendly, and the hazards of rail infrastructure can be removed. Despite the proud history of our tram network before its closure in the 1950s, in this battery-electric era there is no excuse for railed vehicles (trams) on our streets. Peter Egan, Mosman

The article disregards the fact that many bus routes of the privatised former public bus network were discontinued or altered so dramatically that it forced passengers, with no other option, onto the light rail. Its popularity is statistically distorted by the loss of these former efficient bus routes. Mark Berg, South

Petty’s legacy

As a long-time friend and cartooning colleague of the late, brilliant Bruce Petty (“Bruce Petty, cartoonist and Oscar winner, dies aged 93”, April 7), I wish to add to the wonderful list of accomplishments mentioned by others.
As well as his wry, dry, laconic, very Australian humour, he was a sharp, ever-prescient observer of public life, accurate, yet never bitter. He remained amusing, amused, ever humble and ever respectful to his readers. Agree or disagree with his point of view, you would always find it funny. He was proud of that. For his cartooning colleagues, he will remain the standard-bearer for as long as his gems are published. Alan Moir, editorial cartoonist,
The Sydney Morning Herald

Vale Bruce Haigh

Apart from his brilliant career as a diplomat, Bruce Haigh (″⁣Bruce Haigh, diplomat who aided anti-apartheid cause, dies″⁣), smh.com.au, April 8) was very active on Twitter and scathing about AUKUS and many other foreign affairs stands Australia has taken. He called spade a spade in his unbiased way.
Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

Return service

I think some credit must go to whoever was returning the 4000-plus footballs to Daryl Halligan and Nathan Cleary after their practice shots at goal (“Halligan’s heroes: Secrets of a clutch kicking specialist”, April 8). My siblings probably still curse me after they were forced to fetch the footy for me. Paul Taylor, Murwillumbah

Albo’s accent

In his Easter address to the nation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned a lady I haven’t heard of since the last Olympic Games medal presentations: Sarah Moany. Paul Hunt, Engadine

Scott who?

Nobody paying you attention, ScoMo? (“Speculation grows over Morrison future in Cook as Liberal senate battles loom”, smh.com.au, April 9) Gregory Sale, Saratoga

The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Tip your delivery drivers: Treasurer’s plea for gig economy workers
From daved: ″⁣Instead, how about regulating the gig economy so that drivers earn the minimum wage. I despise the tipping culture in the US and have no wish to replicate it here.″⁣

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