I never wish any one any harm or misfortune but sometimes it's really hard to resist the temptation to make an exception – for someone like Senator David Leyonhjelm, for example. I receive almost the full age pension and I'm not proud of it. It's a simple statement of fact. Being a pensioner now reflects not previous extravagance but years out of the workforce while raising children and then returning to a job that paid peanuts. I haven't made a cracker as a lifelong volunteer but I have made lifelong friends. Furthermore, divorce, as every woman knows, is a loss-maker. I am, however, one of the lucky ones. I "scaled down" for retirement many years before the event.
But why should I now be forced from my home because the value of my nice but modest unit has increased in value, thanks in large part to the government-supported property investment racket? Why should I be forced to move away from the support networks I have built over the years, in part with an eye to old age? Yes, it is very hard not to wish a fall from wealth or health on to the likes of Senator Leyonhjelm.
![Illustration: Andrew Dyson](/web/20170106052300im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/m/2/z/f/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtltnz.png/1483537379117.jpg)
Margaret Callinan, Balwyn
Poor written off as trash
Senator Leyonhjelm says people who receive pension payments should not be proud because it shows they are poor. The English novelist and art critic John Berger wrote that poverty today, "is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied – but written off as trash." A telling comparison of the beliefs of two people, one of whom has a vision for humanity. Vale John Berger.
Brian Newman, Brunswick
Breathtaking arrogance ...
Senator Leyonhjelm states that taking the pension signifies you are "poor, or close to poor". Presumably this is meant to shame us mug pensioners who have paid for his parliamentary salary and generous perks, and the future taxpayers who will fund his comfortable retirement. The arrogance is breathtaking.
Peter Goonan, Cranbourne West
... and delusions of omniscience
I am disgusted by the rank hypocrisy of Senator Leyonhjelm in accusing doctors of thinking they are God in relation to gun control (The Age, 4/1). The Australian Medical Association has made some eminently sensible recommendations, including a real-time national firearms register and a tightening of existing restrictions. And the senator's response? To mock, demean, disparage and denigrate doctors with the tired old "God doesn't think he's a doctor" routine. I would have thought that the only person in this debate with delusions of omniscience is the senator himself. But even if he were all-knowing, I'd still opt for the principled stance of the AMA over the views of this laissez-faire libertarian.
Rowan Forster, Surrey Hills
Derision contradicts libertarian principles
As gun control affects the entire community, surely everyone is entitled to an opinion. David Leyonhjelm's derision of the AMA is not only a total contradiction of his free-speech, libertarian principles but an attempt to shut down public debate. The AMA's proposals are eminently reasonable and fair. Their aim is to protect Australia from becoming a gun-crazed society like the US where despite appalling massacres, any attempt to alter gun laws is quickly stifled by the National Rifle Association. If anyone is "playing God" it is Leyonhjelm himself, who appears to believe his opinion is more important than anybody else's.
Terry Hastings, Hawthorn East
THE FORUM
Tough tasks tackled
The Abbott-Turnbull government has successfully tackled its high priority issues of age pensions, switching on the Centrelink system to chase welfare "debts" and taxing backpackers. Now it can attack the lower-priority issues: climate change, getting rid of the remnant of "terra nullius", taking responsibility for asylum seekers in offshore centres, taxing multinationals, properly funding education, fixing the relationship between financial institutions and their customers, and building world-class interstate rail links and a decent national broadband network.
Of course this can only take place after it sends $1 billion to the Adani family's bank account in the Caymans to stimulate jobs and growth.
Wal Close, Surrey Hills
Don't overbalance
I understand balance is important to those running things in Canberra. They often mention "getting the balance right". And they've just brilliantly rebalanced the age pension system.
It seems I've been wobbling along with a dangerously out-of-balance payment that was contributing towards a serious national imbalance. So now that I will no longer have a pension coming in each fortnight everything will start to get back into the right and proper balance.
But I am not sure how the cancellation of my Senior's Health Card will help fix the balance problem. I will probably start to wobble in the opposite direction and cause a reversed unbalance. But I haven't been able to get any answers to this conundrum because the Centrelink/MyGov website is not balanced enough to accept my query.
Mark Edmonds, Southbank
Analyse our values...
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has put Australian values back on the agenda ("Less 'trivia' in test for citizenship", 4/1). So let's consider what they are. Putting "economic growth" ahead of condemnation of China's human rights abuses. Ignoring and concealing cruelty to asylum seekers in offshore detention. Attempting to betray East Timor by misappropriating its oil. And now, failing to condemn illegal Israeli settlement in Palestinian territories. Where is decency in this country?
Janet Upcher, Battery Point, Tas
... as I am confused
A citizen from way back I no longer know what our values are. We spend billions of dollars on offshore detention yet deny responsibility for its management; we agree to take 12,000 Syrians refugees "before Christmas", but which Christmas?; we refuse to take appropriate action on climate change in case we move faster than other countries but now that we are lagging we still refuse the need to take proper action; we "fix" the budget deficit by starting with those who can least afford to contribute to the fixing; and we stress the importance of science yet remove 900 scientists from the CSIRO. I could go on ad infinitum.
Beverley McIntyre, Camberwell
Citizen sponsors
The citizenship plans are welcome, but don't go far enough. It is easy to be coached in supplying the right answers in a civics quiz, while privately disavowing their meaning. An important addition is a sponsorship scheme, whereby two existing citizens not only commend the candidate's character but accept joint liability for any illegal behaviour of the new citizen – should offending occur. That would ensure the sponsors will think carefully before commending the application, minimising the likelihood of trouble-makers gaining citizenship.
David D'Lima, Sturt, SA
Stop the dog whistling
The whole discussion of a tougher citizenship test is punitive, trivial and irrelevant. English is practically a second language for some Indigenous Australians. I'm sure some would struggle with the gotcha questions, yet they have more right to be here than any of us. Please stop with the dog whistling. There are many more important issues.
Mark Dennis, Balwyn
Loudest voices rule
Messrs Bernardi, Christensen and Abetz are regularly described as "conservative", while Pauline Hanson is termed "populist". These terms have specific meanings that do not in any sense correspond to the political views of these people. Applying such words, which have a respectable historical pedigree, to incoherent extremists gives them an undeserved legitimacy and admits them to the mainstream of political discourse. That is not healthy. Language possesses meaning: once we decide it means whatever we say it means, discussion gives way to the rule of the loudest voice.
Rod Beecham, Monbulk
Silence is deafening
The latest scandal of the underpayment of employees of Bakers Delight can be added to the list of Caltex, 7-Eleven and the fruit picking industry. Meanwhile, the silence of our fluoro-wearing champions of the working class Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and senator Michaelia Cash has been simply deafening.
Although they were quick to demonise trade unions over accusations of thuggery and greed, not one word has emanated from their mouths over this scandalous behaviour by employers. They simply say the Fair Work Commission has the responsibility to investigate. Sounds like being savaged by a teddy bear.
Stephen Rawson, Sale
Leading by example?
I wonder whether Gerry Gerrard, Bakers Delight general manager, who has described as fair keeping vulnerable workers on 2006 contracts, leads by example and has similarly capped his remuneration at 2006 rates.
Gerald Richards, Mt Martha
Get out on the road
Transport Minister Darren Chester's solution for the appalling road toll is for parents to spend a bit more and buy their children safer cars. This staggering out-of-touch statement is up there with Joe Hockey's "poorest people don't drive cars".
Rather than providing thought bubbles on family spending, the minister should be correcting the inexcusable percentage of the budget of his portfolio given to Victoria to improve roads. Last month's mid-year economic and fiscal outlook shows the state will get just $91 per person for infrastructure compared with $281 in NSW, $320 in WA and a staggering $362 in Queensland. Quality roads are essential.
So Darren Chester, comparing the highest number of road deaths and the state that receives the lowest amount of Commonwealth infrastructure funding is a better place to start rather than asking parents to kick in for your shortfall.
Rob McCasker, Anglesea
Buckling to hunters
It comes as no surprise that the state government has again buckled to the shooters lobby by declaring a duck shooting season. It has given a green light to a full season; shooters will be allowed to kill up to 10 birds a day. In 2010 and 2011, due to the floods, record numbers of birds were slaughtered including ducklings, just days old, and other species. Due to a prolonged winter followed by an extremely wet spring and summer, the number of waterbirds that will lose their lives this season will be unprecedented. Duck rescuers will again be out in full force.
Will the government ever see sense and ban this sport once and for all? Sadly, the votes of the Shooters and Fishers Party MPs, and the power of shooting lobby groups are far more important to it than protecting a precious and valuable part of Australian wildlife: the waterbirds and the wonderful wetlands they reside on.
Kate Bossence, Heidelberg
Pokies upturn theory
Rebekah Boynton's article on behaviourism (Comment, 3/1) brought back nostalgic memories of Monash University in the 1970s, where I trained my pet rat to sit on my shoulder with its whiskers tickling my cheek. Understanding behaviour was simple then. Any behaviour could be changed when the antecedents were considered and the consequences were rewarding.
Boynton suggests we forget punishment, a tenet of behaviourist theory, as "no one consistently punishes themselves for doing something they like". However there is one behaviour that many people indulge where they are punished for doing something they like but keep doing it. People addicted to pokies invariably lose all their money, a massive punishment, but it doesn't stop them.
Much powerful behaviourist theory goes into the manufacture of poker machines. And those addicted to the pokies turn the common wisdom regarding behaviour change on its head.
Carolyn Hirsh, Ferntree Gully
Pack a protein punch
Eggs are cheap and convenient cooking capsules of animal protein and pack way above their weight in nutritional value for money ("Australians shelling out for more free-range eggs", 4/1). Paying a little more for free-range eggs and supporting "happy hens" is a win-win all around.
Sandra Fordyce-Voorham, Black Rock
Howzat possible?
The other day I had an Indian cabbie who was not besotted by cricket. He didn't have the slightest interest in the game. I couldn't resist asking "Howzat?"
Pamela Pilgrim, Highett
AND ANOTHER THING...
The nation
Senator Leyonhjelm says the AMA is not qualified to comment on gun laws so should remain silent. Will he follow the same dictum on climate change?
Patrick Kavanagh, Strangways
Senator, the entire population is qualified to debate gun ownership.
Geoff Schmidt, Fitzroy North
Will Peter Dutton be tested on Australian values? So far he appears to not understand what they are.
John Tingiri, Mornington
Christian Porter tells us Centrelink's automated debt recovery system is working splendidly. Any plans to use it on tax-dodging corporations?
Thos Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld
The botched Centrelink system takes its place alongside the 2016 Census for innovative Coalition screw-ups.
John Higgins, Hawthorn
The government managed to cut 330,000 pensions but forgot theirs.
Susan Munday, Bentleigh East
Is there no end to the government's determination to take from the less well off in its quest to balance the budget?
Annie Wilson, Inverloch
Unfortunately, Peter Martin (Comment, 29/12), all assets used for the assets test for the age pension are not money-producing investments.
Ian Bayly, Upwey
Happy New Year as house prices skyrocket. Multi-home owning Coalition MPs rub their hands together. Millennials weep.
Greg Curtin, Blackburn South
Here's an idea. Sack the lot of them and make Ross Gittins Minister for Everything. Job done.
Bill Davis, Ballarat
President-elect Trump was appointed by the American people. Prime Minister-elect Abbott appointed himself.
Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley
Other matters
Great to hear Jim Maxwell, the voice of cricket and the best ABC commentator by a country mile, on the airwaves again.
Damien Peters, Brighton
When I last visited a Melbourne beach I thought I was swimming. Apparently I was just going through the motions.
Rowan Wigmore, Lismore, NSW
Albert Riley (Letters, 4/1), a belly brassiere could lead to more people just contemplating their navel.
Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW
Hills hoisted (The Age, 4/1).
Rod Matthews, Fairfield