Victorian Liberal ‘us and them’ housing policy

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CITY GROWTH

The state Liberal housing plan proposes expanding the CBD boundary and stuffing as many high-rises as possible into this area, while increasing housing on the urban boundary (″⁣Liberals target inner-city Labor, Greens seats for wave of skyscrapers″⁣, 26/2).
This plan ringfences its electorates in the east and the bayside areas from increased housing stock. It basically says we don’t want more people, we’re full – or in other words, if you can’t afford to buy a house in these areas we don’t want you.
The Liberals want to appeal to younger and more diverse voters but with this plan those voters are locked out of living in Liberal areas. This is not a housing policy; it’s an us and them policy and many will rightly see through it for what it is, an exclusivity the Liberals don’t want breached.
Samantha Keir, Brighton East

Repeating disaster of Queen Vic precinct
Skyscrapers for the inner city? (26/2). Under its new housing scheme, the state opposition proposes that inner Melbourne, covering North Melbourne, Fitzroy and Collingwood, will become home to mega-buildings.
So far, development in these areas has been relatively well-managed height limits broadly set at the internationally recognised human scale of eight stories.
The shift to 20-30 storey buildings will simply decimate these suburbs, repeating the disaster that has occurred adjacent to Queen Victoria Market.
The middle suburbs can easily handle growth around activity centres, provided it too is done at human scale. In pursuit of votes the Liberal plan would sacrifice the wonderful heritage and livability of inner Melbourne.
Gregory Gardiner, Brunswick

Looking forward to One Nation housing policy
So, Labor is busy planning to pull down inner-city apartment public housing towers while the Libs are busy planning inner-city apartment buildings. But what about the Greens? Inner-city caves, perhaps? Or, the Nats? Inner-city grain silos? Can’t wait to see what One Nation comes up with.
Mark Kennedy, Sebastopol

Mega-council proposal from the Kennett era
The Mayor of Yarra, Stephen Jolly (″⁣Inner-city mega-council floated amid cash crisis″⁣, 26/2) has struck a raw nerve in Spring Street with and the cities of Melbourne and Port Phillip signalling their support for an inner urban council, but it’s driven by neoliberalism and is therefore supported by Jeff Kennett.
The Kennett government’s so-called reform of local government in the 1990s was based on a neo-liberal ideology of cutting costs and people. Compulsory Competitive Tendering was the tool, and the vehicle was an amalgamation that was less about local democracy and communities of interest, and more about making local government a creature of the state. It has survived successive Liberal and Labor governments.
But let’s talk local democracy and not paying off debt today or tomorrow. The coming state election is an opportunity to put this on the agenda and have government and non-government parties lay their democratic cards on the table.
Martin Brennan, Carlton

No hope for affordable housing
How many times have we been told that the way to affordable housing and rents is to build more housing? Dream on! With the cost of building (materials and labour) out of control, together with the taxes, charges and levies that builders and developers have to meet, there is no way that we will get cheaper and satisfactory housing.
Materials and labour are being sucked to the Big Build, driving up prices. That, and the Victorian government desperation for money and taxing everything in sight, leaves little hope for affordable housing and rent.
Vince Vozzo, Elwood

First, solve transport
Without serious attention to public and active transport in the housing policies of both government and opposition, little progress will be made on affordable living.
The Liberals’ new housing policy presents itself as an alternative to the current government’s rushed activity centre policies.
Yet neither side has confronted a fundamental issue: the chronic undersupply of transport infrastructure in new and expanding suburbs.
Prospective homebuyers face a stark trade-off. They can purchase expensive housing in established areas with strong transport connections, or seek cheaper homes on the fringe where access to jobs, education and services is limited by car dependence. This is not simply an inconvenience; it is a structural cost borne by households and the broader economy.
Continuing to push growth to the urban fringe without integrated public transport planning demonstrates that we still underestimate the long-term financial, social and environmental costs of sprawl.
Eric Keys, Flemington

THE FORUM

Wealth no measure
Your correspondent (Letters, ″⁣Furthermore″⁣, 26/2) writes that “wealth is usually the product of hard work and without this incentive ... why would people choose to work hard?″⁣
Many of us who have worked in lower paying jobs, as I have, such as for not-for profits and librarianship, did so because we saw the benefits, enjoyment and life altering result of these types of jobs.
Higher wages do not necessarily equate with job satisfaction, and some of the poorest people work hard. Wealth is often inherited; another aspect your letter writer completely ignores.
Libby Sturrock, Mont Albert

Not seeking riches
Your correspondent (26/2) who thinks “wealth is usually the product of hard work” needs to think more clearly and observe those around him. Not many of the teachers, nurses and other ordinary Australians I know, who work extremely hard every day, do so in the expectation or hope of being “wealthy” by the end of their working lives.
Marie Ann Bell, Maldon

Selective free speech
It is both disconcerting and sad when a bar owner is forced away from his business for exercising his right to free speech (″⁣Cherry Bar owner steps away″⁣ 26/2). Disconcerting, because those who are taking part in endless protests are using free speech as justification. Free speech for them is a right, but not for anyone who might disagree with them.
It shows the weakness of their ‘principles.’ Sad, because it is a demonstration of how we are being ruled by a noisy minority, how a single social media post can lead to a pile on which disrupts lives and livelihoods.
The Cherry Bar’s co-owners should apply those same ‘principles’ of free speech and simply say they do not agree with the owner’s post but they accept his right to say it.
Louise Kloot, Doncaster

Re-education program
I read the article about the Cherry Bar co-owner thinking I was back in Mao Tse Tung’s cultural revolution and a guest at his re-education camps. The part-owner had expressed concern that illegal protests were harming small business in the Melbourne CBD. Fair enough, that is his concern, apparently shared by other business owners.
However, the other owners were aghast at such sentiments, saying the views do not represent them, the staff or patrons. Fair enough, that is their opinion. But they go on to say: “He has expressed his sincere remorse and understands the harm of his actions”.
Really? This is straight out of a Chinese Communist revolutionary re-education camp. I am not saying that lightly. Do the other owners realise just what they have said? I hope they reflect and express their remorse for such ignorance.
Simon Bartholomew, Hanoi, Vietnam

Hate speech at its worst
So here we have it happening again only this time a war of words as there is divided opinions about allowing a controversial journalist, Zain Zehrezkeli, into Australia. He is a commentator on Arab affairs on Israeli TV.
Surely, this is a closed case because anyone who calls for mass civilian casualties and humanitarian disaster in Gaza should never be allowed into our country.
This inflames tensions and is a risk to our social cohesion.
Isn’t this hate speech at its worst? Step up Tony Burke, use your powers and speak for all Australians who seek justice and peace.
Julie Ottobre, Brunswick East

In praise of difficult women
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s prompt mea culpaafter describing former Australian of the Year Grace Tame as “difficult” - albeit the right thing to do - reveals an unconscious bias in his (oops, l’ve stepped on a land mine!) Freudian slip (“PM says sorry for calling Grace Tame ‘difficult’”, 26/2).
Moreover, his attempt to clarify his statement - “She has had a difficult life, and that was what I was referring to” - is equally bad because of the presumption that Tame as survivor of childhood sexual abuse is why she is ‘difficult’).
Albanese’s slip of the tongue reveals how deeply entrenched cultural attitudes are pertaining to how women should behave even where the person considers him or herself to be women’s fervent ally.
But therein is the rub. ‘Well behaved women rarely make history’ by being accommodating of patriarchal rules and so called ‘difficult’ women without whom - as Senator Sarah Hanson-Young correctly said - “women wouldn’t have the vote, couldn’t run for parliament and wouldn’t be able to have a bank account or buy a house”.
So, l salute all of the glorious difficult women (myself included!) in our community who work tirelessly to improve other women and children lives as has Grace Tame.
Jelena Rosic, Mornington

Joys of voting
Your correspondent (Letters, ″⁣Republics not perfect″⁣, 26/2) declares that a republic is not inherently superior to a constitutional monarchy, as Australia is now. In fact, we here are required to accept a ballot which we choose to lodge, correctly or not. Americans can choose to vote or not. That is why they have so much vote fiddling. We are being treated as grown-ups.
Tony Haydon, Springvale

Bringing them home
A solution to the dilemma of the 11 Australian women and their 23 children at the Al-Roj camp in Syria, would be to house them at the North West Point Immigration Centre on Christmas Island. It is very isolated and currently empty, so it would seem to be the perfect place to house these Australian citizens until they are ever deemed “safe” to be returned to the mainland.
The children would have access to Australian schooling, health services and healthy food, and the entire group could be deradicalised if required, in safety and away from the influence of any extremists. Many of these women were coerced by husbands and other family members to go to Syria.
Surely, every Australian deserves a second chance to redeem themselves.
Carol Muir, Grovedale

Algal’s ugly bloom
The Australian dream of sea, sun and surf is now under threat by raising water temperatures and increasing intensity of algal blooms, collapsing once healthy reefs in a matter of days (″⁣Algal bloom heads north towards marine wonder″⁣, 26/2).
We know this is caused in large part by big coal and gas polluters. And yet we, the taxpayers, are paying to keep this Australian dream alive while some of these polluters pay next to nothing in tax or royalties. Not a fair go.
Milos Karapandzic, Myrtle Bank, SA

Relentless NDIC quest
I expected to spend my declining years enjoying my grandchildren and perhaps writing a new book, but I’ve never worked so hard in my entire professional life.
My 96th birthday was last week, and I’ve spent the past two and half years advocating full-time for my son who fell ill with meningitis in August 2023 and now has a permanent acquired brain injury.
It was just 10 days before his 65th birthday, but as he was unconscious in intensive care on that all-important date, he was unable to apply, and so was refused NDIS support.
I continue to appeal and hope ″⁣the system″⁣ will not fail me – I haven’t got too much time.
Ros Collins, Elwood

Doctors, walk in my shoes
Please, to your doctor correspondent (Letters, 24/2): Take just five minutes to walk in the shoes of a mother whose child has suicided.
Having fought for help for more than 18 years for my son, and having been a witness to the ″⁣treatment″⁣ he received within many facilities in that time, I can only hope that the grieving families to whom you refer are at the very least granted some respect as they voice their stories.
If the ″⁣uncomfortable truth is that suicide prevention lies more with better community care″⁣, then why is this care not there?
The very uncomfortable truth is that the royal commission into mental health achieved very little with many agreed-upon recommendations being quietly dumped. Where is the housing stability, addiction treatment, social connection etc? Where is the urgent care support in months-long waiting lists?
Platitudes such as ″⁣I hear what you’re saying″⁣ are inadequate, patronising and soul destroying for parents with children in crisis, as is the lack of compassion and disdain often shown towards those with addictions and mental health issues.
I cannot fight the medical profession or the coroner, or the guilt and taboo associated with suicide, but I have a piece of my heart missing and so wish I had really been ″⁣heard″⁣ and had fought harder.
Sue Skahill, Bendigo

AND ANOTHER THING

Trump’s speech
Ukraine voted for a comedian and got a leader. The US voted for a leader and got a clown.
Ray Brindle, Burwood

For heaven’s sake, give the man a gummy.
Molly Hanrahan, Maldon

Watching Trump’s State of the Union speech, I quickly realised that I’d forgotten to take out the rubbish.
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East

Phew! Thanks for setting the record straight, Mr President. I thought America was falling apart.
Matt Dunn, Leongatha

The state of the union is totally divided. Democracy has flown out the window.
John Bye, Elwood

Broken record in more ways than one. When do you think that unprecedented will make way for unpresidented? Can’t happen quickly enough!
Barry Greer, Balnarring

Furthermore
How can a 14 year-old girl make a rational decision to travel to any country with a radicalised husband and now be punished for it? Those of us who have daughters surely must feel some empathy.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East

Jess Wilson is equivocating as to whether to preference Pauline Hanson’s One Nation at our next state election. To quote John McEnroe ... ″⁣are you serious?″⁣
Maurie Johns, Mt Eliza

No wonder councils are facing financial issues (″⁣Inner-city mega-councils floated amid cash crisis″⁣, 26/2). The council allowance paid is outrageous. I was an elected councillor from 1988 to 1992 and we were given $3000 a year. It is a voluntary position, so you should only be given a token payment.
Christine Hammett, Richmond

Finally
Not enough federal MPs? Surely, there are plenty of state and local politicians who are more than capable of playing with the ‘big kids’ when needed?
Al Anderson, Glen Iris

Labor proposes 40 more politicians for federal parliament. Voters want quality, not quantity.
Kevan Porter, Alphington

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