Can our politicians divulge their home-owning secrets?

I don’t begrudge federal members of parliament the right to own a home, but I do wonder how so many of them own two or more properties (“MPs’ ‘stunning property portfolios’ fuel crossbench calls for negative gearing changes”, February 11). In August last year, the base salary for MPs was increased to more than $225,000. While that’s a tidy sum, your newspaper reported around the same time that you need to earn more than $250,000 to buy just one typical home in Sydney, and $180,000 in Melbourne. And that’s with a 20 per cent deposit. Clearly politicians know the secret to acquiring real estate on relatively modest incomes, so perhaps they can share it with their constituents.
Ross Duncan, Potts Point

Most of our young adults, who are trying to buy a property, are “pay as you earn” taxpayers. Their taxes go towards concessions given to our MPs and others, who own more than one property. These same owners have control over high rent our young adults are forced to pay in this housing crisis, making it impossible for them to obtain a deposit. Unfortunately, those unable to find accommodation are living in cars or on our streets. Housing is a basic need and therefore concessions for the ownership of more than one property should be removed and additional tax imposed on owners of properties kept vacant.
Brian McDonald, Willoughby

Sociopathic boys

Ironically and coincidentally, before watching Nemesis, I finished reading Lord of the Flies (“Shakespearean? Nemesis looks more like Enid Blyton to me”, February 11). On the last page the protagonist weeps for “the darkness of man’s heart”. And as Jacqueline Maley says, “Nemesis is also a sorry reminder of the terrible secret of adulthood: no one really knows what they’re doing, and incompetence is the human default”. These men, politicians on both sides as Labor has demonstrated, are just narcissistic, sociopathic little boys straight out of Lord of the Flies. Woe to the Australian people who deserve so much more.
Glenn Pereira, Forbes

The Nemesis program has given us an insight into the cesspit otherwise known as Parliament House. More than a few MPs seem willing to stab a so-called friend in the back if push comes to shove, and it may not even take much of a push. It seems a friend is a friend until they get in the way of ambition. With friends like MPs who needs enemies? The lack of integrity in some Coalition members is astounding. The most disturbing aspect of all of this is that so many MPs appear to be more concerned with covering their rears and personal gain than serving their constituents or Australia.
Graham Lum, North Rocks

Empowered communities

Denise Bowden is so right when she says that “real (Aboriginal) empowerment is for people to be able to decide their future and how their land is used” (“Vague talk won’t close the gap″⁣, February 11). In my years overseeing projects in Papua New Guinea and Africa, I found that the most successful communities were those who were empowered to succeed through their own efforts.
Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

Broad problem

The non-swimming problem in Australia is far wider than children’s access to swimming lessons. (“Push for schools to help kids to swim at carnivals”, February 11). Many adults, too, have not had access to swimming lessons. Some from country/regional areas and an increasing immigrant community are unable to truly enjoy the Aussie lifestyle surrounded by water. A lack of education and understanding of changeable surf and river conditions, too, are placing many lives at risk. Governments need to think broader to solve this problem. Nationwide advertisements, single-sex adult swimming programs and education of tourists to the dangers inherent in moving water etc would be a good start.
Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Algorithm Valentine’s

I suppose in this age when there’s an app for everything, it’s inevitable that relationships too have become victims of an algorithm (“Niche matchmakers are cashing in on ‘swipe left’ burnout”, February 11). I wonder how many of us who have been happily married for 30, 40 or 50 plus years would’ve survived these self-appointed and ridiculously expensive “meddling aunties” who have so much skin in the game with their “date them till you hate them” approach to “facilitated relationships”?
Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

Old friend

Yes, Facebook, like other social media, is addictive but it gives connectivity that was never there before among friends, families and millions of communities (“Facebook is 20. It still hasn’t grown up”, February 11). There has never before been a platform like this one, where people can freely express their feelings and that others would read them. Facebook addiction is no different to smoking, gambling, alcohol or drug addiction. Facebook and other social media platforms have provided more choices for addiction. Not all is good and not all is bad.
Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

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