Nix HECS interest for a national brain gain

So the HECS debt saga goes on (“Radical HECS cut on Labor’s agenda”, November 1). Just cancel any interest payments on the original debt and thousands of professionals will return to Australia to fill so many vacant positions, especially in nursing and teaching. It’s not rocket science, just a practical, logical decision for a dithering government. Money will not be lost as these professionals will never return under current debt arrangements. Would be a win-win result. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

The potential reduction of HECS debts is good news for students, but it does not encourage the speedy repayment of debts. Those earning a good salary should be encouraged to pay down their debt as quickly as possible, for their personal benefit and to contribute to the budget bottom line. An incentive to do this would be an offer to match the repayments with an additional percentage reduction of the debt. Geoff Harding, Chatswood

The whole system for repayment of higher education loans needs to be radically overhauled, starting with the abolition of indexation. Considering the drastic shortages of essential workers, such as nurses, serious consideration should be given to reducing the fees for some courses to encourage more school-leavers into pathways that will lead them into employment in essential services. Stephanie Edwards, Leichhardt

How ironic that the moniker for higher education loans was once HECS (yes, it was a hex), and was changed to HELP, which it patently is not, apart from only further helping to disadvantage our precious young people trying to help themselves through education. And how offensive that Labor started this descent into effectively privatising higher education by a user-pays model with the John Dawkins so-called “reforms”. Many other wealthy developed nations provide free publicly funded university education to their people. But not Australia, the never clever country. Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville

What is so radical about a Labor plan to assist tertiary students by slashing debt? I had no university debt thanks to Gough Whitlam. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill

Flights of fancy

Is Peter Dutton serious (“PM says treatment over Qantas saga unfair”, November 1)? Asked his staff to contact Gina Rinehart to see if the jet was available to save the taxpayer an estimated $40,000 for a chartered flight? Could his office not organise a general ticketed flight? This whole ridiculous debate is about buying influence, yet Dutton sees nothing sinister about asking to use Gina’s jet. Would Gina never ask for quid pro quo? Craig Duckmanton, Birchgrove

Peter Dutton needs to ask the flight attendants on Gina’s private plane for a Bex so he can lie down into the deep luxury of the jet’s beds and relax. While political leaders do need to manage the optics of their actions, it is ludicrous to believe that Albanese could have overturned decisions to help the Australian carrier because he got a flight upgrade on a commercial flight. My family members have received flight upgrades, but no one jumped on their throats or questioned their integrity. Are our leaders so poor or perverse that we can’t trust them to have normal engagement with the world around them without using it to browbeat them out of office? I heard a wise woman say, “He that is without flight privileges among the politicians, let him first tear up the other’s boarding pass.” Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy

Dutton’s claim that his flight on Gina Rinehart’s jet was at “zero cost to taxpayers” is false. The costs of the flight would no doubt be claimed as a business expense, as would every “freebie” that MPs happily accept, and as such, it is paid for by taxpayers in lost government revenue. Brenton McGeachie, Queanbeyan West

I note that in all the accusations and counter-accusations flying between Liberal and Labor over flight upgrades, not one member of either side has suggested they all should get their noses out of the trough. The rules around our decision-makers receiving gifts need to change, but there’s no sign that any of them are going to suggest cutting off the hands that feed them. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point

Dutton’s latest virtue-signalling against Albanese’s Qantas upgrades is yet another diversionary strategy concealing a policy vacuum. The record shows Albanese working hard in Australia’s interests, while Dutton works hard at excelling in flights of nuclear-powered fantasy and self-interest. Bring on the election. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay

While the matter of politicians’ perks is in the news, I feel I must declare that 35 years ago, I bought a copy of the compact edition of the Oxford English Dictionary at a heavily discounted price from the wholesale source that supplied the council library I managed. Last year I donated it to Lifeline for its book sale to ease my conscience (and as it is now available online). John Flint, St Leonards

Stop all the fuss. Trying for an upgrade is a national sport. Better things to talk about. Enid Murphy, Manly

Pollies and Qantas are both on the nose at present, so how about this? Instead of offering upgrades to well-paid pollies and celebs, offer them to those who are paying whatever last-minute price they must to attend a family funeral? Or perhaps a family travelling for medical treatment? Possibly a disabled passenger who might be very uncomfortable in cattle class? Sucking up to politicians isn’t the only “long game”. Sue Hoad, Merewether

Hey, Gina, may I borrow your plane on the weekend? Tony Hughes, Varsity Lakes (Qld)

Name shame

Your correspondent laments the name-calling of Anthony Albanese (Letters, November 1). Doesn’t the letter writer remember all the nicknames and nastiness during Scott Morrison’s governance? Name-calling comes with the job. Pamela Shepherd, Balgowlah

Spain’s rain our pain

Parts of Valencia received a whole year of rainfall in just eight hours this week, the latest catastrophic climate event (“Deadly floods sweep through Spain”, November 1). We all know that fossil fuels are wrecking life on the planet so here’s an idea for all our politicians. Please do whatever it takes to remove Australia from the increasingly indefensible fossil fuel business. And please do not feed us the line that “Australia has such a small part we cannot make a difference”. Of course we can. Australia was a world exemplar with issues such as voting rights, dealing with AIDS and plain packaging for tobacco products. Rob Firth, Red Hill (ACT)

Anybody with any knowledge of the correlation between rising CO2 emissions and extreme precipitation events would be truly horrified at what’s unfolding in Spain, as it is irrefutably a harbinger of humanity’s future unless we rapidly transition away from the fossil fuels driving it. Chris Roylance, Paddington

Leave abortion rights alone

It’s alarming to read abortion rights could be taken away by conservative male politicians (“Men’s opinions shouldn’t rule women’s bodily choices”, November 1). Likely consequences are a rise in backyard or self-induced abortions, with subsequent death and infertility, and forced parenthood under which unwanted babies would be raised in unsuitable, unstable environments, compromising their long-term prospects and adding to the welfare burden. There’s risk with any procedure, and women don’t make the decision lightly. It’s often heart-wrenching. But preserving the right of the primary caregiver to safe and timely terminations is the only sensible, compassionate, logical solution. Anne Matheson, Gordon

Let’s add to the discussion re men having a say in the abortion debate. Is it time to ban Viagra from the PBS list? Joy Heads, Wollstonecraft

Halloween = landfill

An ironic contrast in your newspaper appears in a photo of children enjoying Halloween above an article discussing Sydney’s looming landfill crisis and the NSW government’s plans to reduce plastic waste (“Sydney’s running out of bin space”, November 1). Halloween, a relatively new celebration in Australia, creates significant environmental impact through non-recyclable oil-based plastic costumes, sweetie wrappers and decorative items, many of which harm wildlife and add to landfill waste. To the extent that real pumpkins are used, their disposal in landfill and their eventual decomposition releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Those objecting to the use of fossil fuels claiming they have an adverse impact on climate change need to be consistent. If we are committed to addressing global warming, sustainability during celebrations like Halloween is important. By all means, let children and their parents enjoy a fun-filled few hours, but let’s try to be more environmentally responsible as we go about it. John Kempler, Rose Bay

Hard to overlook the complete and utter rightful juxtaposition of two news stories on the Herald’s front page (November 1): one with Donald Trump arriving at a rally driving a garbage truck emblazoned with his name; and the other about Sydney having nowhere to stash its rubbish. Judy Finch, Taree

Residents railroaded

No public transport around Macquarie Street (Letters, November 1)? Thank the last Liberal state government, which removed routes to the east side of the CBD for most of the eastern suburbs to “improve” service. In reality, to funnel passengers onto the light rail. Michael Berg, Randwick

I welcome your correspondent’s suggestion of a light rail loop around the CBD. And while they’re at it, how about installing additional stops in George Street between Town Hall and Haymarket, and between King and Market streets, the retail heart of the CBD? We’re still waiting for the government to fulfil its election promise of a bus stop in York Street for our local 389 service to the CBD, nearly 20 months later. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont

ScoMo’s pandemic

I nearly broke a tooth on my breakfast toast laughing at your correspondent’s love letter to Scott Morrison (Letters, November 1). Aside from the secret acquisition of every cabinet portfolio he could grab, and being very late indeed to the pass regarding vaccine purchases, I would love your correspondent to list exactly what he did do and in comparison with the excellent and exhausting work the premiers delivered to keep us safe. Victoria Watts, Mango Hill (Qld)

Little thanks are needed to be given to ScoMo for leadership during the pandemic other than his setting up of a national body for his health minister Greg Hunt and premiers to take control and front the media daily. ScoMo’s failure began by not implementing Australia’s Health Management Plan for Pandemics (signed off the previous year by then health minister Peter Dutton). Our thanks are truly owed to all our overworked medical personnel and the public servants of our health departments. Brian McDonald, Willoughby

If only the parallel-universe Scott Morrison of your corespondent’s imagination had been the real one. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell

Heaven on earth

The fairy floss image of life after death that your correspondent doesn’t subscribe to (Letters, November 1) is not accurate, so no wonder he wouldn’t be interested. Indeed, my Catholic tradition teaches that heaven starts here through growing in relationship, not with a “long-white-bearded fellow”, but with a being who is love and who transforms hearts when they are open. Also with Jesus, who came to show us a taste of heaven, where tears are wiped away. Gordana Martinovich, Dulwich Hill

Signs of gratitude

The new independent member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, is not the first politician to hold a “Thank You” sign to voters beside a busy road (Letters, November 1). Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, member for Logan, did that a few years back after an election. When I saw the TV news clip at the time, I became a fan. I have followed his career, and he has not disappointed. Jennifer Fergus, Croydon

The good stuff, on tap

Being older than your correspondents (Letters, October 31 and November 1), I am happy to have hot water when I turn on the tap. Thiam Ang, Beecroft

Life is a sequence of old ways being replaced by new ways, and those being replaced by newer ways. If you are enjoying a healthy life while witnessing progress, be thankful and consider yourself lucky. Mustafa Erem, Terrigal

Manipulative hands

When viewing all these photos of “faith leaders” laying their hands on Donald Trump (Letters, November 1), let’s remember the American evangelist Billy Graham’s words in 1981: “The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.” Trump knows exactly what he is doing. Edward Grieve, Woolloomooloo

It would appear the only thing that succeeded in the religious laying of hands on Donald Trump was turning him into a pumpkin for Halloween. John Swanton, Coogee

Postscript

The big subject this week on the Letters page was, of course, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Qantas “”upgrades” problem. There were many letters about this. Herald letter writers are never known to hold back when a big story comes along.
It was an interesting mix of views. Many people were horrified and annoyed that any politician could get or ask for upgrades, feeling that it looked too much like corruption or favour-swapping. But many more were unconcerned, or happy to remind the Coalition of past sins of omission and commission. Yet others felt it had always happened, or it wasn’t a big deal, or the whole thing was a Coalition beat-up in lieu of actual policies to present to the public.
Nuclear power, or at least Peter Dutton’s idea for a promise of policy, was dismissed pretty much out of hand after news that Ontario subsidises its citizens’ electricity power bills by $C7.3 billion a year from general revenue, contradicting the Coalition’s claim that nuclear reactors would drive prices down.
Discussion about the cost of refurbishing the North Sydney Olympic Pool was also vigorous, as no one, least of all the suburbs’ ratepayers, wants to add to the $91 million already spent. This led to further discussion about who pays for everything and whether ratepayers are supposed to subsidise people coming from “outside” to use local facilities.
Mathematics was another popular topic, after the story about a mathematics crisis in Australia, warning that the country’s ability to compete globally would be hindered without a dramatic lift in the number of teenagers studying the subject at a higher level.
Letter writers agreed, articulating a range of concerns – from a lack of computer programming study to an inability of young shop workers to count change to prove the point. A few tried to blame a lack of times tables at school, but a number of teachers said they had lost count of the number of times that has been mentioned over the years without any proof.

Harriet Veitch, Acting letters editor

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