Clearly the answer is “yes”(“Are we facing a big Australia by stealth? Here’s what the numbers actually say”, September 2). Businesses and government love migration for its revenue, profits, taxes and lower government debt-to-GDP ratio as the natural population increase is so low. Generally, we choose our migrants fairly well. We ensure confidence in the legal program by all but eliminating migrant schemes run by criminal gangs. But we don’t adequately address the housing affordability crises that arise from more people, fewer people per dwelling and poor local market conditions for new home construction. Ultimately, the Commonwealth must invest in better transport services to support higher density living in existing and new cities and towns. Debt finance funded by future taxes is the efficient model to build well-planned road and rail infrastructure, but we can’t agree on what “well-planned” looks like. Peter Egan, Fairview Park (SA)

Supposed high levels of immigration are unfortunately being used by the ultra-right in many advanced economies to garner support. In Australia, the movement is nascent, but the housing affordability crisis has given it fertile ground to grow and become a threat. Unfortunately increasing supply will not resolve the crisis – developers do not build affordable housing. What is required is addressing negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount to dissipate speculation and massive government intervention to build both social housing and genuinely affordable housing. Alan Morris, Eastlakes

Woollahra Deputy Mayor Sean Carmichael is no friend of progress, rallying around his well-heeled constituents to maintain the area’s exclusivity at the same time as robbing the phrase “toxic masculinity” of meaning (“Woollahra officials dig in over housing”, September 2). Colin Stokes, Camperdown

I’m not sure labelling the villain and playing the man is any less old-fashioned than so-called toxic masculinity, no matter how youthful the mouth that utters it. Peter Fyfe, Enmore

Scales of migration

The debate over immigration seems to exist only in extremes: neo-Nazis and the far right wanting none of it; the extreme left wanting open slather (“PM says some good people marched on Sunday, blames exploitation by neo-Nazis”, September 2). No doubt many in the centre are supportive of immigration and multiculturalism with caveats. Media reports of Middle Eastern crime families, Asian drug smugglers and honour killings fuel trepidation about migration, but they are disproportionate to the behaviour and aspirations of most migrants. The migrant contribution is much more than exotic cuisine and fashion. We need to acknowledge the enormous contribution of migrants while at same time ensuring that lawlessness, which is not the preserve of migrant communities, is rooted out wherever it is found. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield

One of the more disappointing aspects of last Sunday’s march was reading the comments to articles in the Greek-Australian media for those of us from that background. Judging by the comments, there seemed to be an overall majority who not only supported the protest but also used hate speech to condemn recent arrivals to Australia and blaming them for various problems from housing to crime. They seemed to have forgotten or perhaps are ignorant of the racism and stereotyping of their parents and or grandparents who arrived here as post-WWII migrants and immense problems they encountered – as recently as the late ’70s, there were calls for them to be deported due to an allegation hundreds of them were involved in a social security conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth. If only they were aware of this country’s immigration history. Con Vaitsas, Makronisos, Greece

All this nonsense about stopping immigration. Most migrants want to settle in a big city because there are more jobs available and rural areas are poorly serviced. Why aren’t migrants encouraged to settle in rural areas? One reason is because medical services have been dwindling and many towns only have a nurse available two days a week. Remote areas of Tibet have better medical services than this. Why not a mandate for graduating doctors to spend five years in a rural area? Child numbers at schools have dwindled to the point where many have had to close. Houses are more affordable in rural areas. If doctors, schools and houses were available, other services would benefit. Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights

I would love to be a fly on the wall when one of the “send them home” mob end up in hospital one day. Will they be chanting their slogan at the doctors and nurses originally from India, China, Ireland, the Philippines, South Africa, England etc? I hope the needle is blunt. Maggie Ramsay, Woolloomooloo

The contrast is stark. Hundreds of thousands of people march in Australia in support of Palestine, peacefully and without incident. Thousands of people march against immigration followed by violence and brutal savage attacks erupt. Will we heed the lessons? Anni Browning, Elizabeth Bay

I came to Australia from New Zealand in the 1970s and I still have a bit of a funny accent: “Fush and Chups”, anyone? Would I be required to return to my homeland – or am I entitled to a dispensation because my skin is white? And what about my brown-skinned children? The devil is in the detail. Alicia Dawson, Balmain

Some people attending an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne on Sunday broke off to invade an Aboriginal encampment. Unthinking idiots. Gay O’Connor, Manly

For those of us who don’t experience racism personally, hearing how it feels to be on the receiving end is sobering (“Haters turn gaze to people like me”, September 2). The message of the march was obnoxious. But set against a population of 27 million, the numbers involved were insignificant. Those who are not afraid of difference barely notice it. So the question is, do the small minority of shouters somehow hijack the conversation and cause hurt out of all proportion to their numbers? Do they taint our whole community, or can we keep moving beyond such small-mindedness? Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Wartime sacrifices

Whenever there is a report of an event marking the end of WWII in our media, it is generally about the Western powers’ sacrifice (and victory) (“A commemoration in Beijing I will be honoured to attend”, September 2). There is hardly a mention of the roles and sacrifices by the Chinese and Russians. Bob Carr’s op-ed is a timely reminder of the huge human sacrifice made by the Chinese in WWII. The loss of 15 to 20 million Chinese lives is second only to the Russian loss of 24 to 27 million. By contrast, the British and Americans lives loss were respectively less than half a million. Thiam Ang, Beecroft

Climate bulls-eye

With the government soon to announce its 2035 emissions reduction target, it is essential that this be as ambitious as possible (“Trump blew up America’s offshore wind industry – now he’s blowing up ours”, August 31). Any talk of a target range is folly, as it would mean the lower end of the range could be used as a measure of success rather than the upper. If we really need a 75 per cent reduction to reach net zero by mid-century, then that’s what the target should be. Anything less would give the government a get-out clause, and the temptation to use it could prove too great.
Sadly, there is no get-out clause when it comes to the Earth’s climate. If we don’t get our emissions down within a scientifically viable time frame, the biosphere will be unforgiving. No amount of political expediency will change that. Ken Enderby, Concord

So much for transparency

Before the 2022 election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised there would be greater freedom of information access to government documents (“Secretive Albanese government goes backward on transparency”, July 25). The prime minister contrasted the proposed easing of freedom of information requirements to the restrictions of the Morrison government.

In contrast, obtaining information has been made more difficult, with government departments and agencies using every excuse to delay or refuse access.

The proposed changes the attorney-general will present to parliament this week further reduce access to information.

Transparency and accountability are key principles of a democratic country. These principles are being further eroded in Australia. Anthony Ryan, Randwick

Level playing field

Our economy is replete with subsidies for all manner of private enterprises (“Top private schools may pay to play in public parks”, September 2). This public support may well have begun as so-called “social engineering” to achieve desirable social outcomes. But these hand-outs are frequently being gamed by big money and by those with political clout. The fact that private – profit-making – schools do not pay for the use of public parks is simply another. It is well past time that our decision-makers rationalised these subsidies. Unfortunately, this would require the sort of courage and bi-partisanship we are sadly lacking. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

St Aloysius’ College’s apparent disinclination to pay to play is arguably a pie in the face of local ratepayers. Not content with free council rates on prime land with harbour views, it now wants to have its cake and eat it too. Fare’s fair. Edward Loong, Milsons Point

Trop billing

The revival of Tropfest for filmmakers is “bubbling-over” news for all of us interested in film. (“Tropfest reinvented: Short-film festival makes comeback”, September 1). Bringing people together for the shared experience of the short-film art form is generous, but the creation of a dedicated YouTube channel not only allows global recognition, but access for all who are aged, infirm and disabled or simply unable to travel to Centennial Park. The inclusivity for all lifts the not-for-profit venture into another stratosphere. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Bring on Brisbane

Along with Ron Sinclair, I was among the crowd cheering home Cathy Freeman in the “best Games ever” in Sydney 2000 (Letters, September 2). As an 11-year-old, I was also in the crowd at the 1956 Games in Melbourne, and recall vividly the finish of the men’s 1500 metres event. My father, of Irish descent, cheered home the whirlwind finish of Irishman Ron Delaney, while I was thrilled that our own John Landy ran a game and courageous third. In a world beset with conflict and disunity, long may Olympic Games continue to flourish as a source of enjoyment, unity and pride. Bring on Brisbane! Michael Healy, Raworth

Katter’s hypocrisy

It is obvious that Bob Katter’s threat to the journalist is the result of being confronted by his own hypocrisy (“Hey, Bob Katter, try being a teacher. I reckon you wouldn’t last five minutes”, September 2). The journalist simply pointed out that Katter was himself a product of immigration from a previous generation (a point of irony well illustrated by Cathy Wilcox’s cartoon). Katter’s response was inappropriate and displayed an aggressive hypermasculine stance that is not a good role model for anyone. Katter needed to be censured in parliament. Leo Sorbello, Leichhardt

Party lines

Congratulations to the Adelaide Crows achieving 80,000 club members – a result that can only encourage greater on-ground participation (“Canavan leads group of five demanding Coalition debate scrapping net zero”, August 27). But this compares very poorly with the miserable total of about 15,000 South Australian members of political parties. Those few decide two key political questions: whose names go on the ballot paper and what are the policies of the parties.
There’s nothing wrong with the footy, but we must get our priorities right and cease abandoning the political playing field. David D’Lima, Sturt (SA)

Verbal confetti

Phew, so glad I’m not the only person who had to google “CaLD” (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) (Letters, September 2). Reminds me of the many times in organisations where the incumbent culture would liberally shower you in verbal confetti of TLAs (three-letter abbreviations) and FLAs (four-letter abbreviations), simultaneously and incorrectly calling them acronyms.
The expectation was that everybody would know what was meant by the jargon scatterings of their micro-culture. But they didn’t, and then finding out what they meant became a diplomatic art form.
Many abbreviations (eg, CEO) no longer need explanation, but new coinings, or suddenly fashionable ones, do. Without a courteous explanation, they simply become TMAs (Totally Meaningless Abbreviations). Peter Thompson, Grenfell

Patriotic palette

Elizabeth Maher I’m not sure about pink and grey in the 1980s, but my maternal grandfather bought a new FB Holden in 1961 after sharing the proceeds of the Opera House Lottery (Letters, September 2). Resplendent in pink and grey, it was the first car this labourer from Gulson’s Brickworks in Goulburn had ever owned. My favourite bird, the galah, always reminds me of this wonderful old man because of the colours it shares with his new car. To me, pink and grey are a combination that is as uniquely Australian as the colours of the wattle. Phil Armour, Yass

All in the family

A few years ago my brother and I had a letter published on the same day on the same topic (Letters, September 2). Readers who know us were amused to see them, one below the other. We never discuss our contributions beforehand and, to keep the mystery, I will not reveal his name. Judith Campbell, Drummoyne

In reply to Howard Charles’ query, my husband and I both had letters published on the same page of the Herald (different topics) on Friday, September 6, 2019. The framed page will become a family heirloom. Jacky McCarroll, Gerringong

Can or cannot

Looked for tinned pineapple at the supermarket today. Fruit came from everywhere except Australia. Checked other tinned fruits and found the same – none from here. In times of glut we see fruit ploughed into the ground. Why don’t we have a canning industry here? There was no tinned fruit in my basket today as I try to buy Australian. Anne Bradley, Manly

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