Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.
Monday October 20
000 deaths
“I was brought up to take responsibility. CEOs of large corporations like Optus ARE accountable for deaths caused by their firms’ operations. It’s time for Australia to take a stand. No more dodging the responsibility for people’s deaths.”
Allan Jorgensen
Not super duper
“The changes to super policy are clearly another example of those with access and wealth – superannuation lobby groups – getting a special deal while the low-income person busy trying to live week-to-week gets the leftovers. Although this Labor government is a lot better than the Liberal alternative, this lack of indexing the low-income person’s part of the changes whilst indexing the high income earners part is a perfect example of just how right-wing and beholden to the wealthy the Albanese government really is.”
John Brown
Cats aren’t the problem
“Only our species could come up with this warped idea that punishing one animal, the cat, by locking it inside could save another animal. I glance now into my small native garden. It’s cricket season and the cat, a bengal, is doing aerial somersaults trying to catch them, and she will catch quite a few. She doesn’t eat them but I figure the blue tongue is happy with the little corpses. In the afternoon she will set up to chase the noisy miners.”
Jenepher Surbey, Mayfield NSW
Tuesday October 21
Stay here
“By all means let us explore space from our earthly space station, but the mere thought that humans would actually live elsewhere in space sends shudders down my spine. Have we not done enough damage to our beautiful blue planet already? There is no need to send our destructive power into the universe.”
Margit Alm
Cat call
“In response to your correspondent’s claim that her cat just kills a few crickets (above, October 20), cats need to be contained to protect wildlife. Cats are hard-wired killing machines that have played a significant role in the extinction of at least 34 Australian mammals. SO FAR. As a wildlife carer, the damage inflicted by cats is indisputable.”
Alayn Clark, Bundaberg QLD
Cheery
“Regarding your article Worried about turning 60? Science says that’s when many of us actually peak, don’t forget: from the peak there’s nothing higher, just a plateau or downwards.”
Gabrielle Singleton, Camperdown VIC
Wednesday October 22
Digital dud
“Thank you for the informative article comparing the digital embassies in Estonia and Singapore with those put forward by the founder of Atlassian for Australia. One was significantly revamped after access was abused, the other set up with long term investment by the government. These large data centres use enormous amounts of electricity and water. This is not something we need in a country short of both.”
Paul Campbell
Am I not witty enough?
“I was disappointed that Gabrielle Singleton (above, October 21) gazumped my witty reaction to your article [Worried about turning 60? Science says that’s when many of us actually peak]. I can only assume her turn of phrase was more worthy than mine. Perhaps you can put your AI to work to enumerate the number of letters that are like the one you choose to publish and give that number as an addendum. At least my disappointment in not being published will be assuaged by knowing the size of the herd in which I find myself.”
Māris Bruzgulis
Ed: It was a small herd of two for witty replies, so an honourable mention for your take: after the peak, descent and decline is guaranteed.
Lasting impression
“Pat Hoffie’s great wall images are to me immediately reminiscent of the Hiroshima Panels, which were on view at the former NGV’s home in what is now the SLV, c 1960. These large, predominantly black and white panels are powerful and impelling.”
Jacqueline Macnaughtan
Thursday October 23
Great big holes
“Americans like to say they have the world’s best democratic system with all the safeguards, the ‘perfect’ declaration of independence, constitution, etc. The last 10 months have unequivocally highlighted how fragile it all is; how easy it is to shoot great big holes through it all. And that starts at the political shambles known as the US Supreme Court.”
Alan Lander
A much-needed shakeup
“For decades, universities didn’t see themselves as institutions that were in need of reform. Multiple incidents have shown this is not the case. Having obtained qualifications from three major Australian universities over three decades, I have seen firsthand the negative changes. The university experience in 2025 is a far cry from that of the 1980s.”
Charles Latimer
Where to for the Libs
“I’m not a Liberal voter but Tony Abbott makes good points as to the way for the Liberals to move forward. The Liberals are at their lowest ebb and will become irrelevant unless they can invigorate themselves with bold new policy initiatives.”
Tom Filipcevic
Friday October 24
Elephant in the room
“I am glad that most people agree that Australia is facing a housing crisis. When there are people living in cars (let alone children) who get up and go to work every day, it would be insane or insensitive to think otherwise. I’m also glad we’re having this debate, but what I don’t see is a serious engagement with the idea of tax reform to limit negative gearing on housing investments. Negative gearing favours the wealthy. It drives investment in existing housing mostly, and not new stock. It drives up prices and reduces affordability for first-home buyers. And finally, it reduces Federal tax revenue by billions, some of which could be used for social housing. It seems to me that the arguments against this reform are weak. I don’t want to be cynical, but when senior politicians in all political parties, including the current prime minister, have extensive housing portfolios, I fear it will take significant public pressure to steer reform in this direction. How about eliminating negative gearing on housing and making negative gearing on commercial properties more attractive?”
Graham Cox 