Leave legal electric bike riders alone

The Age

20-07-2025

Younger voting age
I happened to be chatting with my mother and my daughter when the story about the UK lowering the voting age to 16 came up. I pointed out that my mother left school at 14 and started working full time (although she was unable to convince my 19-year-old daughter that 'typist' was a genuine job). My mother was married at 19, and had her first baby with her at her 21st birthday. Yes, she was 'worldly' and mature and experienced at a young age.
My daughter still lives at home with her mum and dad at 19 years of age, which is in no way uncommon. She won't finish her schooling (at university) before she turns 21, and probably won't be in full-time work until a few years after that. Again, that's not uncommon.
Clearly, kids 'grow up' much later in life now than they did two generations ago. This should be a factor in rejecting the move to allowing 16 year olds to vote.
Geoffrey McNaughton, Glen Huntly
Proceed with caution
The Greens who are wanting the vote for 16-year-old Australians, believing, perhaps mistakenly, that these young people would be more likely to support their cause, should remember that, unlike the UK, we have compulsory voting. Certainly, many 16 year olds can articulate their socio-political opinions and would be worthy contributors to national debates. But many would no doubt rely on the example of parental voting patterns and information (false or true) from social media for their views. Indeed, many less mature children may indeed simply add to the informal vote.
Kay Moulton, Surrey Hills
Educate, then vote
Following the UK example, considering if 16 year olds should have the vote in Australia is worthy of discussion. However, there needs to be some thought as to how young voters can be enabled to make informed choices.
Most of the students I taught over a 40-year span in the secondary setting were very vague about Australian politics and the mechanics of the parliamentary system. This year, volunteering for an MP during the election campaign, I was surprised at the number of voters who also had a limited understanding of the workings of the electoral system.
Although the secondary curriculum is very overcrowded, perhaps there is merit in introducing a short and tightly structured unit on Australian politics for senior students. The more voters know about how government functions in Australia will make our democracy even more robust.
Louise Edwards, Sorrento
Reading choice
Interesting to reflect on the 'expert views' of your contributors to the 'debate' about the value of reading to children. One certainly must acknowledge the pressures on parents, be that financial or competing choices, and peer pressure amongst many such considerations.
However, ultimately we all make choices and perhaps these are not always well considered. Do I go and watch the latest episode of a favourite series or talk to my kids or read them a story? Not always an easy choice, but it is a choice with consequences?
Charles Griss, Balwyn
Call this democratic?
What other democracy gives one category of people two votes each while another category of people, get one vote as is the case in City of Melbourne council elections? Another Jess Kennett legacy apparently. This needs to be urgently addressed (″⁣ Reece moots electoral reform for Melbourne ″⁣, 19/7).
Jenny Macmillan, Clifton Hill
Infants at risk
The guilt, grief and anger described by Wendy Syfret (Opinion, 19/7) as she was forced to leave her crying baby in childcare due to the financial necessity to work, is echoed daily in childcare centres across this land. The choices of parents are now greatly diminished, narrowed by the cost of housing and justified in the name of productivity.
Babies need secure and consistent care by people they know and trust. Being exposed to multiple staff in a childcare system driven by profit and riddled with staff recruitment and retention problems, puts infants at serious risk of emotional abuse, with potentially long-term harm. We have known this for a long time – it was why we closed babies' homes in the 1970s.
In addition to all the measures needed to make childcare safe for very young children, let us think broadly about the solutions. Housing affordability, extending paid parental leave, increasing work flexibility for fathers as well as mothers, means-tested family benefits in lieu of childcare subsidies for parents who prefer to be at home with their infants – all these should be high on the government's agenda.
Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott, Australian Centre for Child Protection, Adelaide, SA
Plastics in the stream
I thought I had a fair grasp of plastic recycling in Australia and was fairly confident that I was doing the right thing, but the article ″ ⁣The plastic that contaminates our recycling stream ″⁣ July 19, was a depressing eye-opener. What will it take to achieve nationwide, clear and consistent labelling that is both legible and specific to local recycling capabilities, along with mandatory extended producer responsibility? The onus is on government, manufacturers and consumers alike to effect the positive change so desperately needed.
Vikki O'Neill, Ashburton
ICYDK about RPET
I am curious if any other conscientious, well-intentioned, would-be recyclers who read the article 'The plastic that contaminates our recycling stream″⁣ now feel even more confused than they were before.
Opaque PET? Is that a plastic milk carton? RPET? Does that mean any recycled plastic is a pointless nuisance if included in your recycling bin? We try our best, and yet again I feel we are Sisyphus dwarfed by the growing mountain of rubbish and plastic we generate. If the governments and councils cannot get their act together to help us understand how to do things better, perhaps The Age could enlighten us all by running a short series investigating all the common things Victorian households recycle (or mistakenly try to recycle).
Sam Bouchier, Kyneton
Solar panel regret
I have just received notice of upcoming increases in my electricity rates. All have gone up except the solar feed-in tariff which has gone from 4.5 cents (a pittance) to 1.5 cents (an insult).
If I bypass the meter I would be charged with theft, if they bypass reasonable compensation it is called 'business'. I regret ever having installed solar panels. My $8000 plus investment will never pay for itself and only serves to subsidise the electricity company. There is even a suggestion to pay us nothing or charge for feeding in solar. I consider that amounts to theft, taking something and selling (fencing) it to someone else.
Floris Eringa, Hinnomunjie
Lawless actions
The renaissance of consciousness of MAGA members about the Epstein 'cover-up' by the Trump government should prompt cautionary introspection. The impunity enjoyed by those who partook of Epstein's paedophiliac activities is probably trivial in comparison to the risk posed by the lawless actions of ICE towards minors.
The taking of children by ICE, combined with the staggering absence of accountability, must be enormously attractive to paedophiles, eyeing the opportunity to abuse infants without the intervention of the rule of law.
It would be a blessing to humanity if the rise in consciousness currently being exhibited by MAGA members extended to the protection of children today.
Martin Bell, Balgowlah, NSW
AFL sell-out
I paid to attend a socially relaxing night of AFL football, only to find that the main event was advertising. Even during the game, we were continually assaulted by flashing, running billboard lights so distracting that you could hardly watch the game. I had to retire to the bar and watch it on TV. Is it time government banned excess advertising at public events? We have always had limits on public TV. Greed is destroying our environment, our national sport and our social relaxation. They are selling its soul.
Michael Yencken, Armadale
AND ANOTHER THING
Diplomacy
Peter Hartcher's article ‴⁣⁣ Adolescent' nation coming of age ″⁣ (19/7), reflects Australia's movement away from the time-honoured ″⁣all the way with L.B.J.″⁣ to a more practical policy, ″⁣on our way the Albo way″⁣.
Jim McLeod, Sale
One has to hope and pray that Albanese's bromance with Xi isn't a modern version of Pig Iron Bob.
Tom Stafford, Wheelers Hill
Trump
The political tyrant Trump suing the media tyrant Murdoch will be an interesting spectator sport.
George Djoneff, Mitcham
Donald Trump is to sue Rupert Murdoch for $15 billion. Rupert, 'Reap what you sow'. Enjoy.
Rod Eldridge, Derrinallum
Trump in one word:'Tariffiying'.
Barry Greer, Balnarring
Furthermore
Re ' Think you're getting old?' (20/7). I must be getting old. It reports 'don't say the word ridiculous in front of your adult children'. That sounds ridiculous to me.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
As a teacher of more than 35 years, I have no more concern about lowering the voting age for students as I do in allowing some of the parents to continue to vote.
Craig Jory, Albury, NSW
Seriously, is anyone surprised about anything to do with Mark Latham? And to think he was once an option for prime minister. Lol.
Michael Carver, Hawthorn East