Not just Brighton
It is becoming tiresome to repeatedly hear about Brighton residents’ opposition to the Allan government’s huge planning changes as if it is the only suburb with major concerns. Many other communities and councils are also voicing their disapproval, but it is convenient to paint the debate as being mainly about privilege.
Calling people “NIMBYs” and “blockers” is simplistic and patronising when the issues at hand are extremely complex, and require comprehensive consultation between governments, councils, experts and communities.
Liz Turner, Frankston
Planning folly
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny and Premier Jacinta Allen have been sold a pup. Planning is not the main problem in regard to housing supply and nor affordability. Sure, some aspects could be improved, but trashing the planning system is an inappropriate and ill-conceived response, particularly in terms of tackling housing affordability.
Sally Vivian, Carlton North
Social engineering
The policies emanating from Spring Street are increasingly becoming exercises in social engineering – in particular the destruction of Melbourne’s suburban communities for the sake of a vision for our town of high density living. A consultative process would indicate that residents do not want to live like that, nor do they want to be dictated to by governments that this is how they should live. Whatever is the case overseas there is no way Melbourne residents will (for example) give up their cars, so the end result will just be increased traffic congestion, both in terms of parking and getting around. If those in government think that they can impose upon Melbourne a convenient (for them) foreign model of suburban living, they are to our (and predictably their) detriment.
Peter Drum, Coburg
Cancer concern
Brad Battin has changed his position on voluntary assisted dying and now states he is supporting it due to witnessing a close friend’s battle with cancer. Daniel Andrews, who introduced the VAD debate into state parliament, was influenced by his late father’s journey with cancer.
Thousands of Victorians are suffering and dying of cancer and other illnesses every year and according to polling up to 85 per cent of adult Victorians support VAD, so why do many politicians need the experience of watching a friend or family member suffering before the penny drops?
Neil and Pam McDonald, Berwick
Ignoring reality
So, we are “Hurtling towards climate chaos”, 30/10. As Ayn Rand famously said: “We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality”. How bad does it have to get before Bolt, Credlin, Hastie, Joyce, Littleproud et al accept the reality, evidence and advice on climate? The consequences that cannot be ignored will last centuries.
Ian Pittman, Glen Iris
Ley’s priorities
Sussan Ley is worried about a T-shirt but cannot get her side of politics to agree on the most serious of issues facing the country and the globe (‴Hurtling towards climate chaos’: Feedback loops are accelerating global heating″, 30/10).
Robert Brown, Camberwell
AFL boycott call
Re Richard Flanagan’s ″A footy club meant to unite Tasmanians is bitterly dividing them″, 29/10, I propose a nationwide boycott of all AFL games (grounds and TV) by all fair-minded footy supporters, starting now, until the AFL removes the requirement for a new stadium that has the potential to financially ruin the state. Yes, we ″north island″ footy supporters would love to see a Tassie Devils team, using the perfectly appropriate existing stadiums, including Hobart and Launceston.
And, Tassie using just a small portion of the savings could significantly invest in state and local competition. It’s great for community building. It’s the spirit of the game that counts, not the big business.
Andrew Twining, Reservoir
Give stadium boot
Questions about why the AFL seems so determined to impose an unnecessary new stadium on Tasmania ought consider what is politely termed conflict of interest. Melbourne’s Dockland stadium saga is instructive. Against substantial opposition it was built using very expensive BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) financing. Some entities did very nicely out of that arrangement. It’s quite possible the Tasmania stadium is intended as a repeat.
Mark Freeman, Macleod
AFL arrogance
Tasmania is a mendicant state relying in part on taxpayers’ funds from states like Western Australia to fund it services like health and education. This, we gladly do for Tasmanians as part of our nation, but now the arrogant AFL wants to use some of our money to fund a white elephant stadium in Hobart. This comes after WA taxpayers donated Perth Stadium to the greedy AFL. Its arrogance knows no bounds.
Ron Edwards, Trigg, WA
Halloween dental plan
Thank you for the article about the lengths Halloween celebrants go to this time of year (″Melbourne’s most haunted houses for Halloween 2025″, 28/10). It is great to read that so many make their own decorations and learn about their themes.
However, as a non-Halloween celebrant we do participate when the local children come around exclaiming ″Trick or Treat!″ by requesting a short story, poem, song, dance for their treat. Conscious of not providing dentists with more work, we offer mandarins with scary faces instead of lollies.
On our walks around Elwood streets during this time, my dog enjoys the decorations, especially the spiders and would love to get into everyone’s gardens to play with the plastic pumpkins which he believes are lost balls.
Judith Hudson, Elwood
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
Albanese
Albanese’s new best friend is more worrying than his T-shirt.
Doris LeRoy, Altona
Right-wing commentators must be wringing their hands as Albanese becomes Trump’s new best friend.
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor
Forget what Albo’s T-shirt had on it. Few focused on him proudly wearing a T-shirt! Zegna suits and budgie smugglers aside, this is the biggest sartorial statement in Australian political fashion since Lady Sonia’s split dress.
Mark Kennedy, Sebastopol
BOM
The Bureau should have asked that always awkward question,“Does my BOM look bad in this?” before going live.
Lauriston Muirhead, Table Top, NSW
The last thing the BOM needs is a ″proactive storyteller″. All we need is the old site reinstalled. Fixed at no cost.
Annie Wilson, Inverloch
Furthermore
How is a ceasefire still a ceasefire when Hamas and the IDF continue to shoot at each other?
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
Perhaps King Charles could banish Randy Andy to the Falkland Islands, the South Atlantic Ocean solution.
Di Cousens, Upwey
AFL is not playing fair demanding a stadium that will be an own goal for Tasmanians. Just let the Devils play!
Anne Page, South Yarra
Re ″Net zero by 2050 ‘just ideology’ ″, 30/10: Does Scott Morrison also believe science and mathematics are also just ideologies?
Joan Segrave, Healesville
We now hope that the Victorian upper house treat us as human beings and lives up to the task of passing the assisted dying bill.
George Fernandez, Eltham North
Finally
Here in Bendigo we have a band called Harold Holt Search Party. Is that offensive?
Patrice McCarthy, Bendigo
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