Letters
Letters to
the editor
Property values
Jason Koutsoukis raises a critical conflict of interest issue for the Coalition and specifically for the men who would lead Australia (“How much are Dutton and Taylor actually worth?”, April 26–May 2). It’s a mystery why the mainstream media have not pursued widely the opaque blind trust arrangements of both these men, while they were working themselves into a froth over Albanese’s transparently declared holiday house and stage stumble. Mainstream media pieces have enumerated the houses MPs own, while disingenuously failing to mention the widespread use of blind trusts by, for example, Dutton and Taylor and others. As blind trusts can safely hide multitudinous properties, such stories are pointless. Thank you for going where much of the mainstream fears to tread. We need more such articles if we care about integrity in politics.
– Alison Stewart, Riverview, NSW
Majority anger
Barry Jones believes the next parliament will be the last hegemonic parliament, because an influx of community independents will secure our democracy thereafter (“The last majority government”, April 26–May 2). Election funding laws forced through at the last minute between Labor and the Coalition leave any new independent candidates at a major electoral disadvantage. These laws will come into effect in 2026, meaning only independent candidates who are elected at the current election will have any real chance of continuing after 2028. New faces are very unlikely to appear. The Liberal Party, backed by the wealthy Cormack Foundation, and aggressively supported in anti-teal advertising by Advance, Australians for Prosperity, Better Australia and others, is reportedly pouring huge sums into anti-teal campaigns now, aiming to remove as many teals as it can at this election. Our democracy is being stolen as we watch.
– Chris Young, Surrey Hills, Vic
Need for courage
Reviewing The Saturday Paper from a distance can often reveal interesting perspectives. In the pre-election edition most articles rightly detail bleak machinations underlying the inadequacies of our major political parties, leading to apathy in what really is an important election. By contrast, Grace Tame (“What do young people want?”, April 26–May 2) gives a Millennial’s perspective – a call for sweeping reform based on disillusionment with confected grievances, the dreary “othering” that is politics these days. Similarly, Barry Jones’s “The last majority government” directly addresses failures in not tackling climate change and populist attacks on science and on democratic institutions. Jones and Tame demand courage to tackle inequity and illusory fears of a hung parliament. Both seek a robust democratic process free of game playing. This unity across generational divides hopefully represents a community groundswell for a politics of common sense.
– Gil Anaf, Norwood, SA
Voting for the future
I write this letter regarding the upcoming Australian federal election, in which I am not allowed to vote, being 17 years and 10 months old. This situation is troubling, for although I remain optimistic, I also fear for our future. I don’t usually involve myself in politics, but I feel this is the only way for my voice to be heard. I believe that democratic values extend far beyond suffrage and liberty. Democracy also means caring for the vulnerable, defending the oppressed, and loyalty to humankind as a whole. Not all elected representatives uphold these values as well as they should. I would never tell anyone how to vote, but I ask the following of anyone reading this who is capable of voting: think of all those who are powerless to vote and hence rely upon your wisdom in building a safer, fairer and kinder future for us all. Seize this opportunity to learn in depth about the issues Australia faces and inform your choices. Think beyond the here and now to decisions that will affect our planet for centuries and determine how we will ultimately be remembered. This is a time to act with courage and solidarity.
– Jamie Erak, South Perth, WA
Work in progress
Stan Grant’s commentary was riveting and poignant and left me temporarily empty after putting down the paper (“My grandfather’s war”, April 26–May 2). As a Gen X having grown up in a multicultural setting in both Malaysia and Singapore, I have never had to encounter such brushes of the racism described in this piece. That’s not to say there isn’t racism where I came from. As the cliché goes, it’s work in progress everywhere on the globe to making people accept differences. Thanking Stan for writing from the heart and where it hit me emotionally.
– Eugene Anthony, Applecross, WA
Letters are welcome: [email protected]
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Letters may be edited for length and content, and may be published in print and online. Letters should not exceed 150 words.
This article was first published in the print edition of The Saturday Paper on May 3, 2025.
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