Fixing problems isn't a vision for the future

The Age

02-05-2025

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David Crowe (Comment, 1/5) says that the Coalition's campaigning has focused for too long on ″⁣the problems of the past″⁣ and has neglected to talk about a vision. The ALP, Crowe alleges, stand to capitalise on this alleged Coalition mistake.
There is a major problem with Crowe's framing of the campaign. In terms of Australia's problems – a housing shortage, inaccessible and costly healthcare, and millions going hungry (to name a few) – these are not only problems of the past. They are problems of today, and tomorrow. This is why the ALP is running a saturation advertising campaign on Medicare, other cost of living relief, and recently announced a package to ensure more tradies get fully qualified.
Promising to fix problems is not a vision for the future, it's broadly equivalent to stopping after being involved in a road accident.
Alun Breward, Malvern East
Hanson in from the cold
John Howard excommunicated Pauline Hanson from the Liberal Party in 1996 because of her extreme prejudices against Indigenous Australians and Asian migrants. In 2025, all is forgiven under Peter Dutton, and the Coalition has placed One Nation candidates second on many how-to-vote cards across the country. Family First has also been highly preferenced. While some will excuse this as strategic preferencing, Liberal voters who follow the card should hang their heads in shame.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
More than bottom line
I am dismayed that the Victorian Catholic Education Authority had ″⁣intervened in key seats″⁣ on the issue of school funding to Catholic schools (″⁣ Catholic schools' election intervention in key seats ″⁣, 30/4). First, it seems it gave inaccurate information of candidates not of the two major parties and their positions. But more because of the narrowness of the advice, especially following the recent death of Pope Francis.
Did they ask candidates what is their stand on climate change, on Indigenous affairs, treatment of refugees, raising of pensions and benefits, and adequate funding for all schools, private or public.
As a Catholic, I expect our educational institutions to be forming young people to be thinking and concerned citizens, and not just about the financial bottom line.
Patricia Fox, Kew
Laboring on figures
Labor have promised to build up to 100,000 homes for first home buyers using $10 billion. This equals $100,000 a house. Anthony Albanese can rely on the fine print that states 'up to'.
And this is the prime minister who criticises the opposition as not being able to calculate the total of their spending budget.
Ross Kroger, Barwon Heads
Cull the volunteers
Let's stop the circus of party volunteers harassing voters at polling booths. Today I endured a 25-metre run through a gauntlet of candidate supporters muttering derogatory slogans about their opposition, thrusting how to vote cards. Each organisation had maybe 10 volunteers wearing their candidate T-shirt.
Then there's the ugly competition and wallpapering of political signage around the booth all basically creating an intimidating atmosphere for voters. We can do better. AEC please take control of the area around polling places, no party volunteers within 100 metres, one corflute per candidate and stop party volunteers from handing out of how to vote cards.
The AEC could simply allow standard sized how to vote cards to be provided in an unmanned leaflet holder. If you want one, grab one. No volunteers handing out cards, no jostling for signage, no slogans or derogatory claims, just voters walking in and voting. Imagine that.
Peter Aitken, Camberwell
Democracy wins
To losing candidates: whether I agree with you or not, well done for facing the public to put your case. You may have lost, but democracy wins. To the winners: congratulations. Enjoy your reward of three years with long hours, commuting to Canberra to deal with people you like and dislike, on behalf of constituents who may love, hate or ignore you.
John Hughes, Mentone
Voting failure
Megan Clement (Comment, 2/5) is far from the only Australian citizen denied a vote in this election.
My wife and I applied for postal votes before we left for a holiday in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. We cannot vote at a consulate or embassy because Australia has no representation in these nations. We left a list of contact addresses, and when we obtained them, local telephone numbers.
The AEC advised that postal vote packages would be delivered to us by DHL, and that DHL would contact us to arrange the delivery. Two weeks later, with election day imminent, there has been no contact from DHL. The AEC has not responded to our request to provide tracking numbers so we can make direct inquiries to DHL.
The candidates in our marginal electorate of Macnamara can offer no easy solution to our dilemma.
In a close election, our two votes might just make a difference. But so might our inability to exercise our right to vote.
It is time the AEC extended electronic voting to citizens in a predicament like ours.
Ken Richards, Elwood
(At present in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia)