Welcome to Your Say!
Every week day, we’ll be publishing an edited selection of your feedback in our newsletter, and here on-site.
We know what you have to offer from the hundreds of messages you send us; sometimes thoughtful and kind notes, other times urgent and considered criticism. You can always email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au
Monday May 26
Tax the trucks?
“Why have you purposely left off the extra mass carried by electric vehicles which generally pay little in the way of taxes? Please don’t tell me they should be exempt because of the lack of emissions, given the grid is still powered by fossil fuels.” Selwyn Holland, Kiama NSW
“Your author would do well to drive from Toowoomba to Cunnamulla in a Nissan Micra. Most of the roads are unsurfaced, we have enormous distances to travel, we have hazards like animals and road trains and small vehicles simply don’t have the clearance to cope.” Alison Myors
Up in smoke
“Waste incineration is driving the triple planetary crisis - climate change, biodiversity loss and novel entities (chemical pollution). It has no place in any Circular Economy, Renewable Energy or sustainable Zero Waste system.” Jane Bremmer, Chair, Toxics Free Australia
Housing crisis
“Where I live, perfectly good houses are being demolished and replaced with very large new houses. If governments really wanted to tackle climate change and the housing crisis, there should be restrictions.” Margaret Douglas, Friend of The Conversation, Glen Waverley VIC
Tuesday May 27
Super bad tax
“As a retired Certified Financial Planner, I think the big problem is not the super tax but the proposal to include tax on unrealised capital gains. This concept is wrong. That is what has people upset.” Greg Madden
Media literacy
“There’s been a deal written about the need to introduce media literacy in schools. Don’t they have historians working for them? In the 70s and 80s there were a wide range of innovative media education programs in schools here. It was all swept aside in a curriculum review in the early 90s.” Susan Groundwater-Smith AM, Honorary Professor, Sydney School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney & Friend of The Conversation
Gaza
“C'mon, do you think we’re stupid, you get to choose what subjects get talked about in The Conversation. Do you think we haven’t noticed that there is one subject NEVER talked about: the ethnic cleansing and genocide that’s occurring in Gaza, despite it being the moral issue of the time.” Gordon Drennan
Keep on sending
“Feedback? Surprises; delights, always interests; but no qualms when I jump over the odd essay. I frequently send articles to myself to read again and to others and SOMETIMES they even reply - violently disagreeing or briefly appreciative. Sorry I haven’t been brief, but 90 year old ladies can be forgiven for being garrulous.” Lesley Shaw, Friend of The Conversation
Wednesday May 28
Actually, Gen Z stand to be the biggest winners from the new $3 million super tax
“I strongly disagree with this view on superannuation tax concessions. These estimates of their cost and of their skewing to the rich are based upon an entirely inappropriate tax regime that no country in the world would consider applying to long-term savings.” — Andrew Podger, Professor of Public Policy, ANU & Friend of The Conversation
“Bring it on. Taxing unrealised capital gains will free up assets to be shared rather than hoarded for a golden payday.” — Māris Bruzgulis, Friend of The Conversation
“Your lack of objectivity in discussion of superannuation "tax breaks” is evident when you describe criticism as “shrill”. The Treasurer’s justification for this bad policy (that it only affects a few people) should ring alarm bells for anyone with a genuine interest in good governance.“ — Justin O’Connell, Friend of The Conversation
"This article points out many times that the number of people affected is small; the implication is that those 80,000 people are greedy rich people who should pay more. There is a good rationale for tightening the superannuation tax concessions, however, the scheme should be fair, reasonable and not have hidden gotchas.” —Victor Brooke
Thursday May 29
Olympics
“Has any consideration been given to the possibility of major flooding disrupting this event? With increasingly frequent severe weather events, I think these Olympic Games are at severe risk of being overtaken by a climate change-induced natural disaster.” — Alex Nelson, Friend of The Conversation
Sanctions
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, many nations imposed sanctions on Russian businesses. Why has a similar strategy not been taken on Israeli businesses in response to the situation in Gaza?” — Dave Caddy, Friend of The Conversation
A real conversation with readers
“For me the biggest news today was your launch of Your Say, which is a much appreciated addition to our media landscape. In the digital age where most people under 40 don’t read newspapers and get their information filtered by the algorithms of a few men in Silicon Valley, it’s comforting to have The Conversation provide high calibre reporting. Adding a real conversation with readers is very welcome.” — Gary Barnes, Friend of The Conversation
Friday May 30
Woodside wins
“So Anthony Albanese won the unlosable election – in part because Australians thought Labor was a better bet for the environment. How stupid are we?! Environment Minister Murray Watt just approved another 45 years’ worth of LNG pollution, on the spurious grounds that because we don’t burn most of the gas here, we aren’t adding billions of tonnes of pollution to the Earth’s atmosphere. What is it with politicians and big business?” — Stuart Kennedy, Friend of The Conversation
Take a stand
“I’m hoping that our government can find a way to help the citizens of Gaza who are the victims of a political catastrophe. I’m appalled at the death toll, the displacement of citizens and the destruction of their homes, property, infrastructure and essential services. A bipartisan stand against such humanitarian suffering and violence is the very least we can do.” — Mary Corrie, Friend of The Conversation
Thanks George!
“At 87 years old I have read a lot of newspapers but I have now given them all up. Congratulations on a great read. I am addicted!” — George Beecroft