Would work if they could
On January 20th this year, I read in The Courier that our Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton is seeking to lower the age criminal migrants can be deported. I considered his comments unacceptable, until I read the final comment which I found repugnant. "Mr Dutton also says questions should be asked of anyone who has lived in Australia for a number of years, is able-bodied and of working age, but 'hasn't worked a day since they've been here'". Surely the Immigration Minister should know, as I do, that across our communities there are asylum seekers who do not have work rights.
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They and their families survive because of the love and kindness of Australian citizens who are aware of their plight. How demeaning to live on charity when you are eager to work, and have skills to offer. Our government has made a choice to be unfair and to vilify and belittle thousands of people. It is getting harder to get access to work rights, Medicare and other supports. It is time for everyone to realise the serious implications of the cruel treatment being imposed on people seeking our help. We, as Australian citizens, should be ashamed of what is being carried out in our name. Other countries in the world are ashamed of our behaviour.
When will our politicians stand up, speak out and act righteously?
Diane Collacott, Ballarat
One solution to negative gearing
If we abolish negative gearing, and use the money saved to increase rent assistance, all our problems are solved at once. Yes, rents will rise, but this is paid from negative gearing savings. The landlord investors will gain this newly created rent assistance increase which offsets the removal of their negative gearing. The poor renters saving for a first home now get ahead with less pressure on house prices, and the government has no increased cost, maybe less, and in time, as each tenant buys a home, the government has less rent assistance to pay. In the long term, it is more financially viable on an ongoing self-perpetuating basis to save money. Mr Turnbull tells us a glut of houses on the market will bring prices down. Well, tenants moving out create spare houses, and increase national pride stability, and high financial strength through higher home ownership. It is not new money. It is old government money now being more fairly distributed for everyone. One wonders if the government holds money for long enough for it to be called old. The only risk of this scheme failing is for the broke government to pocket the negative gearing savings and not pass on the rent assistance increase. Our PM, treasurer and finance minister can solve this at the stroke of a pen. They keep flogging the line of rent rises, whilst I have solved this problem at no cost. I do not get paid to write letters.
Colin Holmes, Ballarat
Trouble ahead
Following Brexit, the fragmentation of the EU is exposing imminent fractures. These fractures appear in the form of financial stagnation. Poland has recently introduced a reduced retirement pension age to create employment along with a $100 per month increase to low paid workers.
As wage growth slows or retracts worldwide, the ability for the stock market to continue rising can only achieve these aims by increasing poverty and homelessness with the fear of possible future rebelliousness. The original theory was global capitilisation at the expense of the "third world" through a "new world order". It was a gross oversight to ignore and underestimate the "third world's" reaction to a kleptocracy intending to plunder their natural and population's resources.
There are lessons within the EU for our government. Workers are also people and without them receiving their fair share of the national wealth, business and governments will fail.
Wally Reynolds, Perth
