Land tax can be unfair

The only real shortcoming with the article is the headline suggesting that it's only the more well-heeled who are under the pump.

Tax arrangements that replace stamp duty with an ongoing levy can lower the up-front cost of housing and make government revenue-raising more predictable. They can be fair and efficient. Trouble is, they need not be. The ACT government says that its post-2012 land tax regime is fair because it is revenue neutral. However, revenue neutrality of itself can never guarantee fairness. To ensure fairness, the government must compensate those who bought when stamp duties were at or near their peak. That will include those who bought some years before the new arrangements came into effect. Current arrangements fail on that score.

The transition of moving one form of revenue-raising to another also needs to be smoothed out over a much extended period. The present phase-in period of 20 years may seem a long time. But it is clearly not long enough if it means ratepayers are subjected to annual rate increases running at four times the pace of rises to wage and pensions.

For many, stamp duties have one distinct advantage over ever increasing rates – they are one-off cost. Once you've paid your stamp duty, that's it until you decide to move. When the mortgage is gone or is under control, irrespective of what happens to your financial circumstances, you and your "castle" need only be defended from rising utility charges and the like. A higher-impact rates regime undermines the security that comes with owning your own place outright.

Having any set of laws or arrangements that are unique to the ACT is always problematic. That goes for taxes too.

If the abolition of stamp duty is primarily useful in allowing empty-nesters to downsize once the kids have left home, let's leave it at that and call a halt to the current policy before we need border protection that is principally designed to keep the locals in rather than everyone else out.

Bob Bennett, Gowrie

Can light rail match up?

I often sit outside the Gungahlin bus station having a morning coffee at peak hour, and I never cease to marvel at the speed and frequency of ACTION's 200 series Red Rapid service. Limited stop services going to Civic, limited stop services going to Kingston through Russell and Barton, and limited stop services going to Fyshwick through Russell and Barton. Then there is the creme de la creme: four non-stop services to Civic. All well patronised.

Then I find myself wondering how the proposed light rail will match this service. The answer is that it cannot and, if it is built, will not: trams following one after the other on a fixed rail will only be as fast as the slowest tram on the track. That's not to mention the hassle to patrons of getting off a bus to get on to the tram, then off the tram to get onto another bus to continue the journey. So let's scotch this silly idea that somehow the light rail is the way of the future. It is not: it is a return to the past, and its supporters are at best delusional and at worst seriously insane.

Graham Bridge, Nicholls

We reap what we sow

Despite her position on an Anglican assembly, Dr Muriel Porter clearly doesn't grasp what should influence any church's attitudes ("Same-sex marriage: Churches miss signs of public's hope of change", canberratimes.com.au, June 2). They're supposed to be submitting to a much higher power than mere public opinion.

The failure to understand that has more to do with the demise of Anglicanism than almost any other threat she could name. Conservative churches, as she calls them, are not necessarily missing the signs, but rather don't agree that the marriage change proposed is morally right or good. As a society, we reap what we sow, and we are foolish to think otherwise.

J. Coleman, Chisholm

Assure us it's safe

The article "Demolition of Mr Fluffy homes to begin" (canberratimes.com.au, May 28) regarding the demolition of the Mr Fluffy houses quoted ACT Asbestos Response Taskforce head Andrew Kefford saying that "the over-riding consideration in this whole process will be the safety of the community and the workers". But he went on to state, "Of course, value for money and price is an important consideration". What comes first, safety or cost? WorkSafe Commissioner Mark McCabe was then quoted saying, "He expected houses would be subject to some plastic containment," but not a bubble as previously seen. I hate to tell him but atmospheric pressure cannot be negated with a sheet of anything overhead.

If houses are to be kept wet throughout the demolition, how will the runoff be contained and disposed of? Neighbours are apparently fine to remain on their properties throughout the demolition. If it is "fine" for the neighbours, why, as stated by Mr McCabe on ABC radio, will his inspectors be "watching the demolition from across the road"?

Can the taskforce please advise the public how they intend ridding the hollow core brickwork of asbestos, which would be the construction of

99per cent of the houses, prior to the "one day demolition with a bulldozer" as stated on radio by Mr McCabe. This stage of the work would in my opinion be the most hazardous to neighbours.

Bob Tozer, Latham

Project unwelcome

Yes, there are unwelcome designs on the Curtin shops (Letters, June 5). Residents' objections to that earlier 2011 development application were rejected, on somewhat specious grounds that it was only an application to change the lease purpose.

Now, recent "consultations" asked for our preferred height of buildings in such a re-development – starting with two storeys. We were not given the option of one storey – the existing height. Any higher will take away the winter sun in the square – an objection already maded. Additionally, "higher night-time use" appears to be code for "more commercial activities". Why would these be needed when nearby Woden businesses are struggling? There are far better ways to spend my rates than forcing an unwelcome Curtin development.

Peter Graves, Curtin

The truth may be out about FIFA, but both Russia and Qatar should keep the World Cup. Sport is a winner-take-all contest, played to rules and traditions that acknowledge and cater for this. The process of deciding where the World Cup (or Olympics) is to be held is politics and there are serious dangers to treating it the same way as sport.

In relations between states, there are few absolutes – there is no universally acknowledged referee to decide matters. Qatar and Russia are likely to be seriously embarrassed by revelations to come but Russia, in particular, will mount a vigorous defence, blaming a Western conspiracy and taking out its frustrations on the Ukraine.

Better to let the people of Russia and Qatar (who are blameless) have their tournament but ensure the citizens of both countries are in no doubt about the perfidy of those who brought it to their nations. That way we can all concentrate on the football – and FIFA can get on with the job of taking the politics out of the equation in the future.

Jim Manning, Casey

Needling question

Although not a knitter myself, I have spent envious years marvelling at the effortless, graceful proficiency of good knitters and agree with Marlene Hall (Letters, June 3) that watching actors who obviously aren't knitters knit is painful and distracting. Imagine if John Wayne fell off his horse in every western, or Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry continually got his finger caught in the trigger of his gun and you will understand how grating it is to watch a non-knitting actor's awkward interpretation of the relationship between knitting needles and yarn.

Senator George Brandis, here is a chance for your National Program for Excellence in the Arts to make a real mark on the national arts scene with funding for remedial knitting classes for actors. Method knitting?

Laura Rayner, Campbell

The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions' attempt to exclude information from the coronial inquest on how Man Haron Monis came to be free on bail must not be allowed. The families of victims Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson deserve to know how someone like him was allowed bail despite the numerous charges he was facing.

Apart from the personal loss to family and friends, the loss of Katrina and Tori was a huge economic loss, as they were productive members of society, whereas Monis was apparently a drain on taxpayers through his receipt of social service benefits for seven years, and on our limited police resources and legal-aid budgets.

There should be greater examination of the payment of social service benefits and legal aid to people like him, and there is a huge need to correct the fractured system of state and federal administrations, differing law enforcement and security bodies and ill-advised local magistrates and police.

If the DPP succeeds in having this information withheld from the inquest, the federal government should launch its own investigation.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

Machiavellian leader

Has he come out? Tony Abbott's recent use of the phrase, "come to Jesus moment" could indicate a latent messiah complex (a sort of non-secular megalomania).

Is the captain of the Australian ship of state on the verge of seeking an asylum? If so, more than a few will hope that he won't be turned back.

A more apt incarnation for our leader would be one of Machiavellian character.

One has to marvel at the breathtaking skill with which he bound the cabinet to his cause, citing the principle of cabinet solidarity, to defeat aspill motion when the backbench revolted earlier inthe year, and now he uses support from the backbench on the citizenship controversy to put pressure on his dissenting colleagues. The prince of Australian politics!

Dennis Hale, Beecroft, NSW

Someone's lying

Bill Shorten says Tony Abbott has called the recent cabinet leaks false. Ian Macfarlane has said they are correct. One of these men is blatantly lying, and one therefore should resign without question.

Barefaced, premeditated lying is unacceptable in high office. Previous efforts by any of the suspects should be seen as form demanding less tolerance, not as an excuse totolerate more.

Julian Robinson, Narrabunda

Beware bracket creep

I read with interest Michael Keating's proposals for tax reform ("Fixing the budget: weneed a fairer, broader tax'burden", Public Sector Informant, June 2015, pp4-5).

I agree with virtually all of them. My quibble relates to his suggestion that the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount be removed without qualification.

When the tax was introduced in 1985, it applied income tax rates (with averaging provisions spreading marginal income tax rates above 20 per cent over five years) to any net capital gain after allowance for inflation of the capital value gained, indexed by the CPI. The current CGT arrangements, including their application to 50 per cent of capital gains only, came into effect in September 1999. Importantly, at this change, any CPI indexation of capital gains for tax purposes was discontinued.

I have no problem in principle in levying a CGT at income tax rates to capital gains. However, I do find it curious that Keating, having convincingly argued against income tax bracket creep as aprincipal solution to the federal government's revenue problems, should have omitted to allow for bracket creep (via indexation) in the taxation of capital gains.

Either index all tax brackets for income tax purposes to the CPI, including capital gains, orneither. Either way, be prepared for a mighty political backlash from investors in property in particular who have invested on the basis of the current CGT rules, unless any changes to the CGT rules do not apply retrospectively.

My own suggestion is to index income tax brackets, including 100 per cent of capital gains, but to grandfather the changes overtime for those who have invested capital under the current CGT rules (ie, apply them to future, not past investment decisions). If this is not done in relation to capital gains, then, make no mistake, this would represent a major retrospective tax increase over time inflated by bracket creep.

John Mellors, Mawson

Attack unhelpful

Must voters attempting to assess arguments for and against constitutional change suffer Professor Marcia Langton's unabridged crankiness. Her go at Father Frank Brennan's compromise for a proposal that might just work is tiresome ("Academic Marcia Langton blasts Frank Brennan's recognition plan", canberratimes.com.au, June2).

Come on, Professor Langton: let's have some intelligible words from you that offer an opportunity for the revised constitution to excise reference to any kind ofdiscrimination, and words that guarantee everyone in ourcountry is treated equally.

Please identify the sections of the constitution you want changed and what wording you would advocate as a viable, acceptable alternative to our constitution of 114 years' standing.

Patrick Jones, Griffith

Volunteers born here

In the current enthusiasm for depriving Australians of their citizenship through a minister advised by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, it has been overlooked that most of those young volunteers for the caliphate are likely to have been born in Australia and tohave no guarantee of citizenship anywhere else.

The concern with dual citizenship and immigrants isthus misleading. It will end with breaking up families of citizens by naturalisation and Australian children by birth. The proposed policy is too complex to be argued about through the political parties. As the death toll rises, many volunteers are likely to risk coming back to Australia to bereunited with their legally resident relatives. Then what?

James Jupp, Hughes

ROAD SIGN NEVER USED

Could somebody in the government let those good motorists of Tuggeranong who frequently travel north know why the large electronic road sign over the Parkway between Kambah and Hindmarsh Drive is never used and is covered in graffiti? Oh, and how much did it cost?

Ed Highley, Kambah

REGULAR INCURSIONS

Alan Shroot (Letters, June 4) is hilarious. The Israel Defense Forces regularly make armed incursions against Israel's neighbours, use white phosphorous, use drones to murder people in their homes, and bomb their homes to bits in the thousands.

Marilyn Shepherd, Angaston, SA

REASONABLE DOUBT

I share David Biles' concern about the criminal law in practice (Letters, June 3), hence my qualification of beyond reasonable doubt for the death penalty for those I named.

Lindy Chamberlain and, closer to home, David Eastman, come to mind among those convicted short of a reasonable doubt.

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

CHARGING BANK STAFF

Having condemned the big banks, including the ANZ Bank, for their "appalling behaviour", Australian Securities and Investments Commission chairman Greg Medcraft boldly claims ASIC will consider pursuing criminal and civil proceedings against bank staff if they are found to have breached the law ("ANZ named as one of the 'appalling' banks in rate-fixing probe", canberratimes.com.au, June 4).

I'd pay good money to see that.

John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

POWER TO COAL

As I rose to yet another sub-zero morning, I gave thanks to the coal-fired electricity lighting my way in the dark and powering my heat pump. Ishould be grateful, I suppose, that the misguided policy to harness the sun and wind to power the city still allows us to use coal when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing, a rare example of facts-based thinking in Canberra's otherwise irrational energy world.

Doug Hurst, Chapman

GLOBAL WARMING

Could Tim Flannery please tell mewhen global warming is coming toCanberra?

Sheila Duke, Ainslie

LET MEMBERS PAY TOO

In the interest of "feeling the budget pain" fairness, I assume our gander MLAs will also pay for parking in their Legislative Assembly car park ("Traders fear paid parking hit", June 4, p1) like the rest of us geese.

P.R. Temple, Macquarie

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