Australians will pay dearly for the Coalition's short-term focus on the next election rather than our future ("Morrison's fresh pitch". May 10). The government, like a frightened child, has turned its back and closed its eyes at the yawning abyss of climate change. Where is the national energy plan, an energy intensity scheme, an overarching and integrated policy that addresses the biggest issue of our times? This is reckless governance.
Deb McPherson Gerringong
![Illustration: Alan Moir](/web/20170513150931im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/1/s/3/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gw15fe.png/1494460747374.jpg)
The new bank levy has been described as a smart tax as it's harder for banks to avoid than a tax on profits. Not so with the increase in the Medicare levy which should be described as a dumb tax. Scott Morrison's statement that "our decision to increase the levy reflects the fact that all Australians have a role to play" hides the fact that anyone who negatively gears property and reduces their taxable income, can legitimately avoid not only the increase in the levy but the whole levy to boot - and that's a lot of us these days!
Catherine Brookes Manly
None of the post-budget pundits have questioned the government's suggestion that the elderly should downsize to help the home affordability "crisis". The homes they would vacate are outside the reach of first home buyers and by downsizing to smaller accommodation they would be competing against first home buyers. This is another example of smoke and mirrors politics.
John Reaney Queanbeyan
It's great to see that when my husband and I are both 65 in a couple of years, we can sell our house and put $300,000 each into our superannuation funds. However, I am not sure where we will find a smaller house or apartment for $600,000 less than the amount we get for our current one. Maybe we're expected to not only downsize, but move to somewhere like Broken Hill.
Judy Christian Castle Hill
At last we are given a budget which appears to be concentrating on revenue rather than cuts. Even for a Green like me it seems palatable. But now we will have to put up with the Labor Party being endlessly adversarial and negative because that is the way our system works. I am sure that many others like me are heartily sick of the endless shouting that passes for debate in our Parliament.
Jan Aitkin Balmain
I am sure the government's announcement that it will random drug test new welfare recipients will be hugely politically popular ("Drug testing, demerits on the way", May 10). A couple of things seem to be left out of this announcement. First, there does not seem to be any extra money for treatment and rehab centres and second, no mention of tobacco and alcohol. The latter two are massively detrimental, both in health and cost terms.
Geoff Spicer Lane Cove
It's sad that the government is proposing to drug test certain welfare recipients. What will the next step be? A device to monitor their movements 24 hours a day? This is a dangerous road for our country to be travelling down.
Simon Squires Hornsby
Memo to the federal government. The number of job vacancies divided by the number of unemployed just doesn't compute.
Mary Grocott Orange
Although the Coalition seems to be learning that there are people involved in the economy, I'd still like to see all their policy ideas checked by Graham Long of the Wayside Chapel.
Catherine Walsh Ashfield
Watching Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison unashamedly arguing on behalf what is essentially a Labor budget was witnessing hypocrisy at its peak.
Greg Loder Springwood
The cynicism of it all â sock the banks because the punters will love it, and maybe it will help them forget that the politicians still have their snouts deep in the negative gearing and capital gains tax concession troughs.
Colin Simpson Menai
Bank levy bad news for those who rely on dividends
I am a retiree with a small self-managed super fund and I have never asked the government for a cent to fund my retirement, yet ("Banks have target on their chests", smh.com.au, May 10).
Most of my investments are in the four major banks which provide the income I need through their regular dividend payments and the bank levy is going to have an impact on their ability to continue to do this at the same level.
Those banks paid in excess of $11.8 billion in corporate tax last year plus payroll tax, GST and local taxes so they are more than doing their bit for the economy.
This bank levy has the potential to hurt thousands of retirees like me and I can see a day when I am going to have to make an appointment with Centrelink to discuss a pension; that's something the government can bank on.
Frank Adshead Mona Vale
The ANZ closed our popular and well-attended branch a few months ago, despite much criticism and protest from their local customers, many of whom are elderly and can't cope with internet banking. The branch was merged with a larger one at a far less convenient location.
When I complained to various levels of management, the reply was the usual generic letter with a reassurance that the ATM would remain. Now the ATM has also been removed as the old premises is to become yet another gym.
I'm delighted with Scott Morrison's budget and see the $6 billion levy on banks as my own small personal retribution for the contempt ANZ management have shown to their loyal customers.
John Lander Killarney Heights
It takes a business genius like the Prime Minister to work out in the same budget paper that a tax cut for big businesses and a tax hike for big banks are both good for the economy.
Han Yang North Turramurra
Year 9 is not the right time for high-stakes tests
Recent letters criticising the new year 9 NAPLAN requirement have all, in their own way, been spot on (Letters, May 10). One cogent reason the introduction of the new standard is problematic, however, has been neglected: Puberty.
When those 14-year-old boys get pimply and overloaded with testosterone their brains often go into neutral and sometimes reverse. A couple of years later they recover, pass their HSC and go on to become doctors, plumbers, politicians, policeman ... and the list goes on. And don't get me started about 14-year-old pubescent girls ... aarghh! ... who also recover and go on to become doctors, plumbers, politicians and policewomen.
Yes, some will fail. That's life. But let teachers get on with the job of teaching without this unnecessary burden. They know their students. And let's not forget the poor old parents who go into stress mode over this nonsense.
Richard Fry Marrickville
Comey rings alarm bells
There is a lesson for Australia in this sacking ("James Comey's axing by Donald Trump sets off US political storm", smh.com.au, May 10). James Comey effectively gave Donald Trump the presidency when he cast doubt on Hillary Clinton. That alone should have made him the presidential bestie. If supporters like this aren't safe, then what hope is there for allies like Australia if we even think of giving the president an opinion he doesn't like?
David Neilson Invergowrie
A capital climate point
Thank you, Clive Hamilton ("The great climate silence: We are on the edge of the abyss but we ignore it", May 10). It is remarkable that climate science is so ignored. Congratulations on giving our planet Earth the status of proper noun. For some reason it is more often than not relegated to common noun status, "earth". Perhaps this is in keeping with the downplay of climate change warnings that no doubt define our Anthropocene culture.
Robyn Stutchbury Linley Point
Blasphemy threat to all
At present, a woman is on death row in Pakistan, an innocent politician faces a jail sentence in Indonesia and a comedian is threatened with a fine in Ireland because of blasphemy laws ("Ahok jailed for two years for blasphemy", May 10).
The case of Jakarta governor Ahok, accused of disrespecting the Koran Al-Maidah chapter, verse 51 (which says Muslims should not take non-Muslims as leaders) is particularly worrying for democracy, as it implies that anyone asking a Muslim to vote for, or campaign for, a non-Muslim, or any Muslim voting for a non-Muslim political leader, is disrespecting the Koran.
It would be great for democracy and human rights if religious leaders in all countries worked together to lobby for the removal of death sentences and jail sentences for blasphemy in all countries where blasphemy laws continue to be used to maliciously destroy people's lives.
Esther Anderson Surrey Hills (Vic)
Abortion bill is important test for democracy
The intended debate in the NSW Parliament of Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi's Abortion Reform and Safe Access Zones Bill is a test of our democracy.
There are many broadly researched opinion studies showing nearly 80 per cent of Australians support a woman's right to choose an abortion for an unwanted pregnancy and support an exclusion zone around women's health clinics. In NSW then, why do MPs feel they have the right to their conscience vote ("MPs to be allowed conscience vote on historic vote to decriminalise abortion", smh.com.au, May 10)? They are in Parliament to represent the majority opinion of their electorates, not their own personal view.
Laws are supposed to be made by the majority opinion, not a vocal, but determined minority.
Dr Pieter Mourik Albury
The private member's bill before the NSW parliament does indeed seek to remove abortion from the state's crimes act. But it goes much further than that. Among other things it purports to make it unsatisfactory professional conduct for a doctor with a conscientious objection to abortion to fail to advise a person about abortion, or to fail to refer a person to a practitioner who does not have such an objection (or to refer to a women's health centre). Fortunately, for practitioners who would otherwise be adversely affected, arguably this provision is constitutionally invalid, being inconsistent with federal human rights legislation.
Greg McCarry Epping
Anthem deserves respect
Further to discussion of the anthem (Letters, May 10), of greater concern surely must be choice of performer. It is not a pop song. It should be sung only by opera singers or the military to convey suitable gravitas.
John Bullivant East Lindfield
A Christian schooling
Steady on Susan Lynch (Letters, May 10), please do not tar all private schools with the same brush. Do you know that Martin Hanscamp, the executive officer of the Australian Association of Christian Schools, has written to Simon Birmingham to congratulate him on the new funding model?
The AACS has two schools in the 24-school hit list, with a further six schools currently funded above the Student Resourcing Standard. This association represents 125 schools Australia-wide. Hanscamp's letter speaks of desiring equity for all schools; sounds a very Christian approach to me.
Rhonda Seymour Castle Hill
The Treasurer giveth ... and taketh away
I could hardly believe my ears when Scott Morrison announced a scheme providing funds to tackle homelessness and then announced a scheme to remove all payments from some welfare recipients ("Drug testing, demerits on the way", May 10). Could these contradictory measures be termed "oxymorrison" budgeting?
Mark Pearce Richmond
Scrap the shootout
Even the soccer (football) purists often cringe that a penalty shootout determines a winner ("Sydney FC win A-League grand final after penalty shootout", May 8). My solution is that after extra time is played, as happened last Sunday , the winner should be the team that finished higher on the ladder. This adds substance to those believing greater recognition should be given to the season's best and most consistent team.
Bruce Jacob Carlingford
Unscrambling NAPLAN
With the diagnostic purpose of NAPLAN repressed, there is little wonder that among the teaching fraternity and students the tests are now "affectionately" termed "napalm".
Janice Creenaune Austinmer
A fair question
Every time politicians start talking about something (like a budget) being "fairer", my wallet starts hurting. Given nothing much has changed on my side, have I somehow become un-fairer, or have they?
Steve McCann Lane Cove
Comey and going
I'm amazed Donald Trump didn't sack the FBI director via Twitter ("James Comey's axing sets off US political storm", smh.com.au, May 10).
Stephen Manns Woollahra