Housing affordability is not just about supply; it is also affected by competition in the marketplace. The federal government could immediately pull two levers to ease the competition. While guaranteeing all current property investments remain untouched, Prime Minister Scott Morrison could decide from January 1 next year no negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions will apply to new purchases of pre-owned housing, and no foreign nationals will be permitted to purchase pre-owned housing in Australia.

In short, move the focus of banks, investors and their millions of dollars, from established housing to the development of new housing, thereby boosting supply and construction jobs. Continuing tax concessions for speculation in established housing adds nothing to the national stockpile, it creates few construction jobs and keeps young couples and the not so wealthy out of the market.

Will the PM have the courage to step up and do something significant to ease the current crisis in housing affordability?

The Age reported this week that Melbourne is to have a trackless tram system from Caulfield Station to Chadstone Shopping Centre; 19 kilometres, 13 stations, twice the speed of an average Melbourne tram, $1.4 billion and running by 2025.

Come on, Canberra! We used to be an advanced jurisdiction. Dump the "iron horse" from Civic to Woden and get on board with 21st century technology.

It is well known that US troops are four times more likely to die by their own hand than in combat. They've figured out how to protect US military personnel from enemy fire, but not from the psychological consequences of working for the US military. However, it seems that the same applies in Australia as our after-war military deaths seem to have the same ratio as in the USA.

And we are going to spend $500 million on extensions to the war memorial. Yet another disgraceful example of our PM's values along with the treasurer's three Holocaust museums to which we are contributing as well. Remember our soldiers, someone. Stop them from dying when they come home, here in this cock-eyed country!

Why, as an Australian, do I feel shame and embarrassment? It must be time to consider an improvement to our system of democracy. Perhaps secret ballots in parliament in lieu of traditional divisions in both chambers.

Our system needs change to give representatives the chance to debate, listen, and digest before voting on critical ethical issues without the immediate pressure of a good whipping. The voting history of all members and senators would need to be made public before each election for voters to adjust their votes on the performance record of their representatives.

There must be some good folk in parliament who wish to have a better way to validate developing policy. We should never again be let down by the odious performance of our leaders.

M. Flint thinks Australia has zero effect on global warming (CT Letters, Nov 4). He is wrong. A small effect is not the same as zero. Any individual human being on this planet has a small part, but the total effect of 8 billion humans across the world is that we are dangerously heating the planet. Australia has signed the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global heating to much less than 2 degrees. To achieve this the world needs to limit the amount of greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere. If Australia emits more than its fair share, as it is doing, the implication is we expect other nations to emit less than their share. M. Flint may think that is reasonable, but I hope he is in the minority.