Don’t blame ordinary folk for inflation, look to the big end of town

I wonder if the researchers at the Reserve Bank might bring the new governor up to speed on the lag in supply from COVID and now two wars (“Budget update to tackle inflation”, November 24). Perhaps they could comment on the inflationary effect of luxurious tax breaks for super investments and withdrawals, or for property investors rather than owners. And might they look closely at the market dominance and abuse practiced under our so-called competition laws by banks and supermarkets. Maybe there are a few things other than hair and teeth that need attention in this dishevelled economy they are manipulating into hardship by the misguided use of interest rates to deal with other systemic policy problems that are driving inflation. Peter Comensoli, Mangrove Mountain

The RBA’s Michele Bullock blames inflation on spending by ordinary people on such things as “dentists, hairdressers, dining out and other recreational activities”. In order to discourage people from going to the dentist, the RBA will increase interest rates. What extraordinary logic. Inflation is all about rising prices. Surely high prices are caused by those who set them: mostly corporate retailers. Raising interest rates, as the RBA has demonstrated only too well, has minimal effect on inflation but it has a strong effect on the profits made by banks and on the investments of the already rich. John Biggs, Mt Nelson (Tas)

I intended to get a haircut this week but feel bad that I might be contributing to inflation. When I watch people passing by I wonder about Bullock’s claim that demand for hair trims needs cutting (“It’s quite a thing to blame buzz cuts or fillings for our woes”, November 24). Looking about I see most women have long, unstyled hair and many men have shaven heads. Frankly, I think many businesses, tradies, landlords and real estate agents are using the public’s belief that prices are skyrocketing to pile on unjustified price rises, unscrupulously gouging consumers. For me, getting a haircut is not discretionary so blow it, I’m on my way to my hairdresser. Christine Perrott, Armidale

Bullock rightly points out she has one lever to pull against the excessive spending and resultant price gouging that is afflicting the economy. Unfortunately though, she and her team sit monk-like in their curtained rooms. The impact of fiscal policy is never discussed. Perhaps, if she were to call out the taxation inequities which favour those driving the excessive spending, we might embarrass the treasurer into action. Such action would undoubtedly obviate the need for further rate rises. Peter Hull, Katoomba

Why has the Reserve Bank sets its target cash rate at 2-3 per cent? Please explain! Graham Russell, Clovelly

PM can still honour his promise of transparency

My suspicion that the Albanese government is sliding into the abyss of defensive secrecy has come true (“New leadership, same old secrecy”, November 24). Treating us as mushrooms is intoxicating for too many leaders, but I truly believed Anthony Albanese to be an exception to the rule. It’s still not too late to reverse this trend and honour his promise of sunlight and hopefully avoid the ignominy of being seen as just another politician. Richard Hambly, Potts Point

For reasons probably best left to psychologists to explain, it does seem that when someone wanting your vote says their government will open and transparent, the minute they are voted in they default to a leadership often shrouded in secrecy. How short-sighted and unwise it all was when the truth is finally revealed, as it always is. Fred Jansohn, Rose Bay

Albanese has had a very demanding overseas schedule in the past few months (Letters, November 24). Such is the nature and expectation of national leaders in this global economy. He has represented us as prime minister with diplomatic intelligence, pragmatism and dignity. From China to the United States his presence has been welcomed, respectful and meaningful. It’s a stark contrast to his predecessor, and his current replacement, who has a funereal and vacuous agenda in all his utterings. Maureen Moss, Beecroft

Anyone who has taken a long-haul flight in cattle-class will know that one’s brain may not be at its best on arrival. Our PM may travel in a VIP aircraft, but it’s his alert brain during face-to-face diplomacy that has already mended many important international relationships. So far, he’s done a sterling job of restoring Australia’s abysmal standing on the world stage, which surely was a major priority after his predecessor managed to offend so many world leaders and was sending our reputation into a downward spiral. Albanese has a team to deal with local issues in his absence – they may even have phones if they need to consult with the boss. Randi Svensen, Wyong

McClymont shines a light in dark corners

Kate McClymont is universally admired in media circles, and feared among those who have any inclination towards corrupt conduct (“Herald luminary honoured at Walkleys”, November 24). Her most recent award is definitely well-deserved. Hers is the consummate skill and courage to shine a light on the devious corners of our society. She must include in her stock and trade a well-honed system of contacts, which would have taken some time to develop. A shining light to the community, and a fine example for young beginners in the craft who may have ambitions to learn investigative skills. Derrick Mason, Boorowa

I worked with Kate McClymont’s mother for many years and followed her progress through university and into journalism. I can’t add anything to your editorial on the contribution of investigative journalism to the maintenance of a civil society in an age of post-truth except to say if her mother were with us today her heart would be bursting with pride (“Investigative journalism earns timely praise”, November 24). Gordon Lambert, Kiama Downs

How fortunate we are to have such exceptional investigative journalists as Kate McClymont, Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie, whose careers have centred on keeping the bastards honest. Their courage, persistence and strength of character deserve the highest professional honours, and the thanks of a grateful community. Rob Phillips, North Epping

Moore golf debate

For Clover Moore to defend her proposal to destroy Moore Park golf course with the sweeping generalisation that it is “just a playground for the rich”, is both ignorant and offensive (“Club rejects ‘rich members’ claim”, November 24). I would counter with my own generalisation – that “rich” people do not play at public golf courses!
As a local, having played there many times, I can attest to the very ordinariness of the diverse community of players – it is very much a public course for the general public. Ray Thompson, Randwick

Golf. For land use, it must be one of the most selfish games on the planet. Used by golfers and denied to any other person. Much of the time the green acres are unused, and they cannot be used for any other activity whether it be walking, cricket, football, et al. The writer is a golfer of modest achievement and is in awe of just how few people can be found most times on any of three golf courses he regularly uses in the Sydney metropolitan area. Allen Kavanagh, Lilli Pilli

Generational resentment

Bouquets to Alan Kohler for calling out our national housing disgrace and the absent or faux policies that have enabled it for decades (“The dirty little secret that keeps Australian housing wildly unaffordable”, November 24). There’s scarcely a difference between Labor and the Coalition beyond the focus on and normalising the social housing option, and the obsession with private sector non-solutions.

The profoundly sad, destructive result is the palpable generational resentment increasingly expressed by young commentators blaming “Baby Boomers who had it so easy”, and calling for policy measures to be taken against them to redistribute the wealth sitting in their properties, despite that this is essentially misdirected. The young making these calls rarely make a comprehensive critical evaluation and a take a long view of the real history, or suggest genuinely effective solutions, including the one of which we dare not speak: reviewing record immigration. Australia did not need to go down this path to serious social division, inequity, and disenfranchisement of our own young by commodifying and globalising our housing market, and entrenching our property and visa Ponzi scheme. Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville

Double standard?

Universities “couldn’t be trusted to handle campus sexual assault cases on campus” (“University assault ombudsman proposed”, November 24) while elsewhere in the paper we learn Communication Minister Michelle Rowland is trusting the porn industry to self-regulate to bar under-age children from online porn (“Dutton pledges age verification for porn protection”, November 24). Really? Garry Rogers, Camperdown

Student rally dispute

It is perfectly reasonable for students to strike over the issue of climate change (“Sydney school strike for Palestine driven by university students”, November 23). They are the ones most direly affected, it is a problem on which facts are readily available, it is something the Australian government can do something about, and they are entitled to make their views on it known. On the other hand, the Israel/Hamas conflict is nothing to do with us, the facts are obscure and the situation is more complicated than the average student will comprehend, there is nothing the Australian government can do about it, and student opinion about it is irrelevant. This strike is nothing but self-indulgent virtue-signalling and should be treated as such by schools.
Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy

As with the climate school strikes, students are again providing education for adults. Good on them. Julius Timmerman, Lawson

Police at fault

In your article you quote Premier Chris Minns saying he “completely rejected” any suggestion that the police acted “inappropriately” on Tuesday night at the protest at Port Botany (“Police charge more than 20 as pro-Palestine protest blocks Port Botany”, November 23), I have to disagree with him. I was there. He was not.

I am a 61-year-old woman who is deeply distressed by what is happening in Gaza. That is why I went to the peaceful protest. The mood among the protesters was of peace and solidarity with the sufferings of the Palestinians. Protesters were never violent. I did not fear the protesters. It was the police who scared me. We were crushed between police aggressively pushing us from one side and the mounted police charging from the other side as we were trying to get away. I have never been so scared. The police didn’t care that the crowd was made up of all sorts of people – many elderly women, some young children. I was very shaken by the fact that I was made to feel so scared of the people who are supposed to protect us. Kim Salisbury, Lakemba

Teachers go public

It warms my old teacher’s heart to think that private school teachers are apparently lining up to jump ship and join the public system (“Private school fees jump to keep teachers on board”, November 24). That they are prepared to leave their well resourced, well-supported and well-paid careers in our greatest private schools such as Kings and Waverley College is fantastic. Perhaps they should take pause and remember that the recent public school pay rise was the first decent increase in over a decade and that public schools still fall way short of the Gonski funding model. On reflection, it’s not going to happen is it? Peter Cooper-Southam, Frenchs Forest

Going underground

Your correspondents states that “three degrees of global heating … will make large areas of Earth either very uncomfortable or expensive to live in” (Letters, November 23). This is surely a colossal understatement: Extreme weather events in such a world will force whoever is alive to live underground. George Carrard, Oatley

Everything must go!

No Black Friday bargains for me. I’m more interested in getting things out of the house than bringing items in. Moving into aged care when a vacancy occurs, I have to find a new home for almost all my furniture, kitchenware, linen, even my wedding present dinner set, largely intact after 60 years. In the end, it’s all just stuff. Joan Brown, Orange

Black Friday should prove helpful in curbing inflation. About three weeks ago I bought a pair of shorts online for $31.46, RRP $54.95. They were faulty so I returned them for a full cash refund. I went online again, this time direct to the stockist, and bought the same product in the “Pre-Black Friday Sale” for $20. I should have waited because on Thursday they were advertised in the Black Friday sale for $18. John Duff, Lavender Bay

Dog-whistle politics

I wouldn’t just give my dog the vote, I’d let her run for parliament (Letters, November 24). Albert, my great dane, displayed early signs of genius, hence her name. She would make an excellent transport minister. If her dinner is one minute late, there is hell to pay. Her true calling would be minister for immigration in a Coalition-led government since she is without a conscience. Her lifelong commitment to the eradication of poodle crosses would make a right-winger blush. I call for the dog vote. Dogs are people too! Paul Davies, Crows Nest

It’s OK for voters to be accompanied by dogs and most other companion animals at polling booths, but let’s draw the line at voters taking their imaginary donkey friends to booths and thus voting accordingly. Col Shephard, Yamba

At our church, we are accustomed to seeing Daisy, the (cute) dog waddle up the aisle with her owner (on a leash) when she receives Communion. At Christmas, Daisy wears a festive doggy dress. The priests are all quite catholic about her presence. God bless them! Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

My wife regularly took our dog to church. He’d lie there as she played the piano and sang hymns. Until the parish priest phoned to say there’d been a complaint and “that dog” wasn’t welcome.
Graeme Milton, Dulwich Hill

My favourite notice from outside a church: “May you be the person your dog thinks you are!” My since passed border collie was also a good judge of people’s character. He didn’t like them. Robert Hosking, Paddington

Postscript

“At age 86 I have just forked out $8000 for crowns on my central and lateral incisors. I suppose the Reserve Bank governor, who has trivialised debate on inflation, would call me a reckless optimist,” wrote Ray Alexander of Moss Vale. “Even worse, as a dyed-in-the-wool racing man whose habits die hard, I still tip the hairdresser.”

Correspondents were taken aback by RBA governor Michele Bullock’s comments on the country’s “inflation dragons wrecking havoc across Australia” (as described by the Herald‘s Shane Wright), namely “dentists, hairdressers and the local kebab shop owner” and not price-gouging oil companies or cashed-up boomers.

Letter writers feared the comments would bring back the DIY bowl cut of the seventies, others were having difficulty dealing with the guilt. “I am sorry. A few weeks ago I chipped a tooth. I went to the dentist, as one does, for a bit of fun. Now I discover that I am responsible for the Reserve Bank’s financial problems. Mea culpa,” wrote Harald Ehrlich of Balmain.

Dentist Peter Sheridan wrote he was “staggered” by the governor’s “questionable contention”. “Dentists are acutely aware that dentistry is an elective expense, that their patients have financial constraints and therefore avoid raising fees,” he wrote, calling for an apology from Michele Bullock to the dentistry profession for the “cheap and inaccurate slur.”

Following a story about government pork-barrelling via dog parks, we received many missives describing your very intelligent and adorable pooches. Correspondents outrageously used these pages to call for dogs to be given the vote. As an ardent member of Team Cat, I stand with Alicia Dawson of Balmain as she questions the foundations of democracy and asks: “What exactly do cat owners get from all this ‘park-barrelling’?” Pat Stringa, letters editor

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