Michael Buxton argues that the new rules for central Melbourne, with a plot ratio limited to 18:1, with bonuses if a building has "public benefits", are worryingly weak (Opinion, 11/12). Planning Minister Richard Wynne, who has approved a tower with a 29:1 plot ratio, retorts: "Buxton's comments, as always, are impractical and unhelpful" and that he is just "searching for relevance" (The Age, 12/12). Actually, minister, Professor Buxton's comments seem very relevant to a lot of Melburnians, who applaud his strong voice on our city's future. And now we hear that an independent panel of experts had advised the minister the bonuses idea was unworkable and should be dropped. Please listen, minister.
David Lewis, North Fitzroy
Illustration: Matt Golding
Wise counsel so inconvenient
Wow, the erstwhile respected Planning Minister not only ignores the advice of experts, but descends to personal attacks on one of the most respected members of the planning profession over the past 30 years. Of course, it doesn't do to fight the vested interests, so no doubt Professor Buxton's consistent wise counsel is proving awfully inconvenient for the minister. Pity that, as Melbourne has just one last chance to protect itself from the greed and stupidity of developers who apparently haven't even heard of solar panels, or recycled water for parkland and loos. The government is terrified that the construction sector will slow, but this wouldn't happen if it worked with the best developers to elegantly develop 10 or more storey buildings right across Melbourne's ugliest train stations. This would not take people's morning and afternoon sunshine away.
Bernadette George, former president, Planning Institute of Australia, Vic Division
Secret conduct of state is alarming
Melburnians should be alarmed at the secretive conduct of the government over the redevelopment of the public housing site at Markham Avenue (News, 11/12). Most of the site will be sold into private hands, resulting in fewer people in public housing. The development will deliver tens of millions of dollars of profit to the government, while saddling Ashburton with seven- and five-storey towers that will blight the area with overshadowing, environmental destruction and chaos on narrow streets. Mr Wynne has denied repeated calls for proper public consultation. It was claimed initially that the development was "revenue-neutral", but a FoI request revealed plans for a "super profit from Markham". Furthermore, it is a conflict of interest when a government body, Places Victoria, assesses its own proposal. Its report also seems designed to minimise understanding of the impacts. Local council and VCAT are also to be bypassed. Proper planning processes – and democracy – are supposed to prevent such behaviour.
Barbara Downes, Ashburton
Beef up paltry fines
The developer who removed several trees from a tree-protection zone in Eltham (News, 11/12) knows full well he will face a slap-on-the-wrist fine of less than $800 per tree at most. It is time fines were reviewed to be at least equal to the value of a mature tree – some would say $20,000. And if the chainsaw wielders who clearly knew what they were doing was illegal also faced penalties then the cowboys might saddle up and git.
Rex Niven, Eltham
THE FORUM
Focus on minimisers
Kelly O'Dwyer is sadly out of touch if she believes removing the $100 note will reassure the public that the government is doing something about tax avoidance. Most tradies and small business owners know the Tax Office keeps records of average incomes for their business. They have to answer some stern questions if their declared income is somewhat less than the norm.
Regardless, the vast majority would accept paying tax if they were confident that everyone was being treated fairly. This is not the case, as multinationals and some leading local companies use every measure possible to minimise their tax, employing tactics not available to the average taxpayer. As long as the government lacks the fortitude to legislate effectively to increase tax revenue from "minimisers", many average punters will use cash to minimise their tax, with or without a $100 note.
Mike Reece, Balwyn North
... for some tax fairness
Some 40 per cent of the largest companies operating in Australia, 60 per cent of mining companies and 30 per cent of privately owned companies earning more than $200 million paid no tax last year. These Tax Office figures can be found in a quick search on the internet. Meanwhile, a friend is to be slugged $100 off his weekly pension. Next time the government bemoans the deficit, or tells people to stop with the sob stories, can somebody bring up this tax information?
Gary Davis, Mildura
Dungeon of darkness
The climate is not cognisant of political allegiance, Mr Abbott. To say, as he has, that climate issues "were settled for our side back in 2009", speaks volumes for the man's priorities. So, Liberal, Labor, Greens and every nuance in between have no worthwhile views, seven years later.
Public meetings in the electorate of Josh Frydenberg have at least ventilated concerns, and the minister seemed to have taken note by suggesting his government at least consider them. But Mr Abbott would have us all slammed into a dungeon of darkness. The climate situation is not about winning, Mr Abbott. It is about improving the lot of all ofus.
Marguerite Heppell, East Hawthorn
Scary slogans
Some say we have entered the "post-truth" era. Simplistic slogans are always seductive, but complacently accepting that slogan is extremely dangerous.
For Australians to give away an expectation that their leaders will tell the truth is frightening, not naive. The federal government willingly spins "the facts" as it jumps from one foot to another on climate change action: breaking the promise to not subsidise the Adani coal mine.Yet the same government claims virtue in not breaking an Abbott cabinet promise to hold a referendum on same-gender marriage. Oh, the hypocrisy.
William Chandler, Surrey Hills
PM, call out the bullies
The editorial was spot on (11/12). By "kowtowing" to the noisy bullies in his party's right-wing the Prime Minister is sending the wrong message to fellow Australians. Bullies should not be allowed to win at anything, especially not changing the PM's mind on something as important as climate change.
At a time when strong efforts are being made to stamp out bullying in the workplace, in the home (domestic violence), in the classroom, on the sporting field and on the internet (cyber-bullying), the PM's capitulation is completely counterproductive. We need the PM to lead by example and call out the bullies.
John Kirk, Canterbury
Toom Tabard Turnbull
Mr Turnbull has Scottish ancestry and must be familiar with the epithet, Toom Tabard (empty coat), the title given to a Scottish king who did nothing useful and constantly kowtowed to the English. The Scots grew tired of his do-nothingism and incompetence and removed him from the throne.
Tom Quinn, Rowville
Short on good cheer
According to our Christmas stamp, Santa's sleigh flies over Christmas Island. I've asked Santa to drop some gifts and good cheer down to the hundreds of forgotten detainees there. They comprise innocent asylum seekers and "criminals", mainly New Zealanders who have completed their jail sentences.
Eve Addis, Blackburn
Values in classroom
Poor Peter Dutton just doesn't get it. By wearing "Teachers for Refugees" T-shirts, teachers are bringing to the classroom precisely what John Howard said was missing — the teaching of values. Values that your god, Mr Dutton, purports to uphold: compassion and love to all men.
Alan Whittaker, Kew East
A basket case?
Kevin Ward (Letters, 11/12), I don't think the Coalition wants to be seen as a basket case.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
Invite in all talent
Sarah Russell is right: "Opinion pages should reflect our wider society" (Comment, 11/12).
Further afield, research by The Guardian UK found its articles written by women receive more online abuse, irrespective of the subject matter. The 10 least abused journalists were all men. In publishing, women are still encouraged to use their initials (J.K. Rowling not Joanne Rowling) or male noms de plume to enhance market acceptability.
Workplace research by Yale University found women face great risks in speaking up, while men are rewarded for doing so.
This is more than an equity issue. Bright girls and women are typically have strong verbal ability. Their relative absence from the public sphere damages not only those women and the economy, but deprives others of role models. Martin Flanagan helped Waleed Aly enter the media after a football encounter. Doors need to be opened to invite in a panoply of talent.
The broader the wellspring of ideas, the greater the momentum towards personal, social and commercial flourishing.
Barbara Chapman, Hawthorn
Not just about market
Catherine Robson details the now tired practice of teaching the skills of free market thinking and acting to optimise momentary subjective satisfaction or pleasure ("Bad Santa and Banqer", 11/12). This economic ideology has shown itself to create blinders when it comes to moral reasoning and leading an ethical life more generally.
Financial skills are important, but with them must come an appreciation for what finance and economics are: moral philosophies that must be augmented with an understanding of collective welfare that is as focused on inequality and environmental degradation as it is on rationality in an economic sense.
Financial advisers should take classes that focus on the sociological and ecological consequences of their ideology, so they can teach students to be good democratic citizens rather than merely better market actors.
Michael Zyphur, associate professor, University of Melbourne
Commercial festival
As a truly multicultural country we should join in the celebrations of all our cultures. Christianity and the celebration of Christmas has been an important part of our culture. By denying this and replacing "Happy Christmas" with "Happy Holidays", we are turning it into a purely commercial festival.
Those who fear Christmas is excluding others should be inviting everyone to share our celebration. Otherwise they are sending a strong message to other cultures to minimise the festivals of their culture to not offend us. We should be celebrating our cultural diversity, not watering it down.
Jill Edwards, Camberwell
Selective outrage
The latest crime statistics show that violence against women and children, perpetrated predominantly by men, continues to rise. At the same time, commentators, who are also predominantly men, are baying for children to be locked up in adult prisons. If only the media pursued and demonised the perpetrators of so-called "family" violence as they do juvenile offenders.
Nick Hansen, Altona
Empty promises
It was with dismay that we read in the HBL advertising supplement (11/12) of the "11 Ways to Boost Your Vitality". It offered a creative smorgasbord of quick-fix placebos including "colonic cleansing", "charcoal detox" and "IV vitamin clinics". Empty promises included the suggestion that positive ions in the air need removal lest they "wreak havoc".
Unfortunately, some of the promoted "therapies" not only confer no benefit but carry risk: authorities recently closed an intravenous vitamin clinic after a client required emergency hospitalisation.
Sasha Hall and Tiana Moutafis, Prahran