Providers cut corners
We must improve the quality of food in aged care. The only way is to get rid of the private for-profit operators. It has been shown in child and aged care that if they can improve the bottom line by cutting corners, they will.
Barry Lizmore, Ocean Grove
Foundational issues
I won’t hear a bad word said about Maggie Beer, but history shows the word ″Foundation″ can ring alarm bells.
Paul Custance, Highett
Private schools get real
I have little sympathy for private schools complaining about payroll tax when you consider the money many have spent, or plan to spend, on grandiose pools, learning centres and playing fields.
Having to redirect some of their funds to payroll tax might be a dent in their plans but it’s quite fair to have to pay what government schools have always had to. It’s a bit rich to hear their bleating about the injustice when government schools make do with what they have, and it’s about time taxpayer subsidies for these building programs came to an end.
The problem, in my view, is that private schools are addicted to building ever grander facilities in order to outcompete the competition. But that’s a First World problem in their already privileged world. They need to adjust to reality and move on.
Michael Cormick, Carnegie
A fine mess
You can understand why the Victorian government would want to increase late fees for fines, to bring in an extra $40 million a year. To keep solvent it needs all the revenue it can get (“State plan to hike fine fees a tone-deaf cash grab”, 17/10). Mind you, $40 million is less than two days’ worth of interest payments on the state’s debt. The interest currently runs at about $25 million a day and the net debt is estimated to reach approximately $194 billion by 2028-29.
Lawrie Bradly, Surry Hills
Hard left
The old adage of when socialist governments run out of money, they come after yours, has never been more true than under our current Victorian government (″State plan to hike fine fees”, 17/10). Two consecutive hard left regimes (and I use the word advisedly), are more interested in befriending China than trying to get our once thriving state back on track.
Robyn Williams, Sale
Out of touch
″Tone Deaf Cash Grab″ 17/10 described how vulnerable people are being burdened by fines and penalties on overdue payments. A government spokesperson was quoted: ″There are multiple opportunities for people to ask for a review of their fine in addition to being able to take it to court.″
You have to wonder what world the spokesperson lives in to believe that a vulnerable person has the time, resources or emotional strength to go to the courts on the matter. This response is just an example of an out-of-touch, unresponsive bureaucrat, totally ignorant of how real people live.
David Fry, Moonee Ponds
Empires fall
There are surprisingly few examples of political courage left in the US, so I applaud the Pentagon press corps for standing up to ″censorious, anti-democratic and disturbing″ attempts by War Secretary Pete Hegseth to restrict press freedom (″Pentagon press corps walks out over new rules″, 17/10). Their actions should have led to mass demonstrations across America, condemning the US administration for its continuing moves away from democracy. Alas, hardly even a whimper.
The Pentagon press corps walkout reminds me of another walkout, 108 years ago, almost to the day on October 27, 1917: Lenin announced to the Congress of Soviets that the Bolshevik-led Soviet had seized power. Delegates from two political parties, the SRs and the Mensheviks, walked out, protesting that it had been a Bolshevik coup. Trotsky jeered after them that they had been ″consigned to the dustbin of history″ and Lenin proceeded to build his socialist society. That ″utopia″ lasted 73 years.
In years to come, we might look back on this moment and reflect that this was the moment when press freedom ceased in the US.
Pam Cupper, Dimboola
Cafe etiquette
I’m sure many readers like me enjoy reading The Age in their local cafe and have a ritual of coffee and newspaper time. It was astonished when I was recently asked by an audacious and brazen manager to get up and get the paper myself while seated as I politely asked a waitress if she could hand me the paper on an opposite table as not to inconvenience my fellow patrons.
Is there a special cafe etiquette I’m not familiar with that collecting a newspaper is not part of a waitress’s job description? I was left speechless and flabbergasted, especially for their elderly customers who may have difficulty in accessing newspapers now.
Panagiota Frangopoulos, Malvern
Minding manners
Christopher Bantick (“Transports of Delight?” 17/10) is right to highlight the behaviour of phone users speaking loudly on their mobile phones on public transport. An acquaintance of mine, with more chutzpah than me, when confronted with such noise merchants, would walk up to the phone user and request, “Ask your caller to speak up more so that we can all hear clearly”. It generally invoked the desired silence.
Brian Kidd, Mt Waverley
Life is short
Christopher Bantick must have got out of bed on the wrong side when he wrote yesterday’s article (17/10) about the misery of taking public transport.
I certainly don’t appreciate loud conversations and fare evaders but as an older person with a walker, I generally find people help me getting on and off the tram and I usually get a reserved seat. If the seat is not offered I’m not afraid to ask for it but this rarely happens.
Regarding bags on seats one only needs to politely ask for their removal, same goes for feet on seats as well. Yes, I’m an assertive old woman but life is short so why be intimidated by those who’ve forgotten their manners?
Megan Peniston-Bird, Kew
Carlton forever
I have been a Carlton supporter since l was a kid. My young aunt used to walk me to Princes Park (we lived in West Brunswick) when Carlton played at home. Nobody seems to care about spectators any more, with players like Charlie Curnow (who had four more years with Blues) being traded to play with Sydney and Stephen Silvagni playing for the Saints next year. What about the supporters’ feelings?
Max Waugh, Melbourne
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
Liberal Party
Until the Liberals across this country wake up to the fact we are no longer British they are doomed. The British dumped their criminals here and that is where it ended. Accept the truth or remain in opposition forever.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
The federal Liberal Party is not just divided, but probably at war with itself. Their political, social, cultural, ideological and economic divisions are as deep and possibly deeper than they were since the federal election. Eric Palm, Gympie, Qld
Trump world
Donald’s halo may yet crumble.
Meg McPherson, Brighton
As we remember the horrific murders of the Balibo journalists, let us also spare a moment to reflect on over 200 journalists killed in Palestine.
Mary Mandanici, West Preston
Donald Trump won’t commit US troops in Gaza for peacekeeping – he needs them on home soil for his ″lawless″ cities and citizens.
George Djoneff, Mitcham
What a tragic irony that the very person who named the Middle East Trump Peace Agreement after himself is the very same person responsible for dismantling USAID and other major overseas aid relationships.
April von Moger, Ashburton
Furthermore
Australian gas – a gift to everyone, except Australians.
Bill Burns, Bendigo
As a result of increasing city violence, perhaps retail business will move back to the suburbs.
Paul Drakeford, Kew
“I’m 55 with no kids. How should I spend all my money before I die?” (Money, 15/10). George Best once said, ″I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered.” I hope that helps.
John Fife, Box Hill South
Finally
Whilst I applaud the essence of Maggie Beer’s foundation’s attempts to improve the quality of food in aged care facilities, I find the amount of taxpayer funds spent, just a little distasteful.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson
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