It’s time for equity for tenants in social housing

Paul Scully is being a little bit disingenuous about what the Minns government is doing to increase social housing (“Raymond pays $150 a week to live in Paddington. Developers want him to leave”, July 13). Yes the Minns government has allocated funds to increase incentives for developers to build social housing but it will take months and possibly years for any real bank of social housing to be available. Scully doesn’t address the issue of boarding houses being bought by developers to build apartments or houses for the rich. Yes, the DAs for many of these developments are decided by the local council but that decision is often then tested in court, which regularly comes down in the favour of developers with little thought or care for the existing tenants and what will become of them. Their lives being torn apart and away from the only community they have known. Imagine if that happened to the judges, lawyers and developers and who were powerless to stop it from happening? It’s time there was some equity in these situations for the existing tenants, who otherwise cannot afford to be a part of these communities. Laura Beaupeurt, Callala Bay

Two stories in the Herald; one about million-dollar home renovations and another on the residents being evicted from their boarding house accommodation. The inequities here are symptomatic of Australian society: an affluent class that can spend millions of dollars on renovations and a growing underclass which is being priced out of accommodation in order that “four multimillion dollar glamorous mansions” can be built. I work in mental health and the number of people who cannot be discharged from hospital because of the lack of accommodation is staggering. Where there used to be boarding houses such as the one described, there are now back-packer hostels or overseas student accommodation. Unless I am blind, there is something wrong with this picture which privileges greed and vanity over affordable housing, a basic human need. Patricia Farrar, Concord

I refer to the article about the ongoing battle to protect vulnerable renters from the ever-growing number of rapacious developers sweeping over Sydney, particularly the eastern suburbs. For generations there has always been a balanced mix of affordable and higher-end residential stock. This is now under concerted attack as vulnerable sections of our community are bearing the brunt of this brutal campaign by greedy developers. The state government lauds their housing initiatives but fails to protect the most vulnerable. Michael Doumani, Randwick

Thank you for covering the dire housing crisis so thoroughly, particularly in Sydney. However, what is often overlooked is that when they raise old houses to the ground they take their gardens with them. Undoubtedly, this destruction of green space will increase if the Premier’s plan to replace low density development with high density apartment blocks is realised. There is copious evidence to suggest that sitting in parks or gardens, watching the beauty of plants and flowers growing in the open air, serves a therapeutic purpose and enhances wellbeing. It is particularly important for the very young and elderly, and as a serene escape for everyone from the hurly burly of modern life. People should not have to travel far to experience the natural world. Lyndall Nelson, Goulburn

Built-in vulnerability

Reading today’s report on criminal infiltration of the building unions (“Building Bad”, July 13), I can see that nothing much has changed from the time more than 30 years ago when Roger Gyles QC, who conducted a royal commission into the NSW building industry, recommended the deregistration of the Building Workers’ Industrial Union, which had become a branch of the CFMEU. Gyles acknowledged that a strong union had its place, but unscrupulous elements within the building union had exploited the chronic vulnerability of the building industry – the prospect of delays to the construction program, which could bring some intolerable interest bills from the unrelenting banks and the prospect of bankruptcy should things go belly-up. There was not much chance of the building union being deregistered because of its strong support within the core of the labour movement and the Labor Party. But it did not mean the problem would go away, and just as the greyhound racing industry survived a move by an appalled then-premier, Mike Baird, to abolish it. In both cases, present disclosures appear to indicate that things have become worse. In the case of the building industry, the vulnerability of clients and contractors remains, and even more unscrupulous elements appear to have moved in to capitalise on it. Malcolm Brown, Ermington

A new life is possible after DV

It took me years to realise that the destructive outbursts, threats, manipulation, blame and isolation I was experiencing in my first marriage were, in fact, forms of domestic violence (“Evil’s littlest victims”, July 13). Only when I chanced upon a DV information leaflet did I begin to understand what was happening to me. But still I tried to hold things together “for the sake of the children”. It was only when my husband started to turn on them that I finally determined, and found the courage, to leave the relationship. By then, the children were 14, 13 and 10. I regret to this day the fear, anxiety and trauma they suffered. But in spite of everything, they are all now thoughtful, kind, creative, generous and socially connected adults. With the right support, it is possible to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills

Coastal heroes

The obituary of the last two surviving WWII coast watchers, Ron Lee and Jim Burrowes, who were part of a group of magnificent volunteers in WWII, is a must-read (“Australia’s last two WWII coast watchers die, aged 100 and 101”, July 13). The coast watchers, along with the diggers at Milne Bay and Kokoda, ably supported by American troops, turned the entire battle of the Pacific in favour of the Allies despite being outnumbered, out-equipped, outgunned and outflanked in the early days of WWII. They were credited with actually turning the tide of the war and saving Australia. Lee and Burrowes’ colleague, Reg Evans, were received in the Oval Office by president John F Kennedy shortly after his election and thanked as his saviours. Grateful US leaders awarded several coast watchers their highest medal for bravery. Phil Wade, Lane Cove

An ill wind

The misinformation about wind farms damaging whales originating from the Atlas network of right-wing think tanks sponsored by the fossil fuel industry has been known for some time. Unfortunately, not well known enough by the community groups genuinely concerned about whale welfare. Whilst it is relatively easy to discredit conspiracy theorists like Peter Dutton and David Littleproud, entering the local debates about offshore wind farms is more disturbing. Do these politicians really care about whales? Or is it that their opposition to offshore wind farms cynically sits neatly into their opposition to renewable energy sources in their support of their nuclear agenda? Carolyn Pettigrew, Turramurra

Seemingly overlooked in Peter Dutton’s plan for a nuclear reactor in Port Augusta is that South Australia is already 70 per cent self-sufficient on renewals for electricity generation and is on track to reach 100 per cent by 2027. The SA grid is reliable, wholesale prices are falling, and the last coal-fired generators have been closed down.

Port Augusta and Whyalla, it may be remembered, were slated by the Coalition as being turned into wastelands by the introduction of a carbon price. Both are now thriving renewable energy hubs and hosts to new green industries and technologies. Although declaring Port Augusta as a nuclear site, neither Peter Dutton nor any of his senior colleagues have been anywhere near the place. This simply underscores the fantasy of the Coalition’s back-of-the-envelope plans. They are playing us all for mugs. Alan Phillips, Mosman

Everyone needs to calm down. Australia will never have nuclear power. Too expensive and more importantly, too late. That’s without considering the waste storage, potential cost blowouts, price of the electricity it generates, where they would be located, water availability, the list goes on. If it was a goer, the coalition would have started it in their time in government. It’s just a distraction and a tactic for a guy with few answers to get back into government. Eric Sekula, Turramurra

Biden’s big problem

Peter Hartcher assures us that many sources say that Joe Biden is in control and is able to be a credible opponent for Donald Trump (“Architects of peace on the march”, July 13). The debate performance and subsequent press conference, there for all to see, would say not. There may be a number of legitimate reasons for Biden’s gaffes, but the biggest problem is his inability to directly respond and question the litany of lies coming from his opponent. The American voter sees this as a weakness, not unlike those in other countries who are increasingly voting for “strong” individuals, no matter if they preach false “truth”. This is a worrying time for Western democracies, and although I have no wish to sound alarmist, I think we should be. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne

“Violence has no place in our political system”, say many US politicians and ex-presidents after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump (“Trump Rally Shooting”, smh.com.au, July 13).
I am sure that former US presidents Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford and former attorney-general Robert Kennedy would beg to disagree. Michael Slocum, Ascot Vale (Vic)

Of course the Democrats are battling about this huge issue of whether or not to let Biden continue to lead: the Democrats are far more principled than the current Republicans are, who are allowing an unhinged maniac to represent them and their party. Natalia Bradshaw, Potts Point

A laggard’s lament

I thought some help was forthcoming for people like me who “Don’t Attempt” David Astle’s Friday crossword when I saw the editorial heading “New measure will speed up DA laggards”. Until I read it fully. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy

The late mail

While I’m prepared to take Denis Goodwin on his word, I’m not so sure that missives from other contributors who are pushing up daisies won’t continue to land on the editor’s desk (Letters, July 13). (Keep this under your hats - emails can be scheduled to arrive at future dates and times.)
Col Shephard, Yamba

Private eyes

I’d love to know just what “sensitive defence force material” an army private has access to (Letters, July 13). You’d think that, on that rung of the ladder, the limit would be the governor-general’s hat size. Adrian Connelly, Springwood

It appears there are some shortcomings with the security clearance process. Maybe the name Igor doesn’t always suggest a Russian connection but has anyone checked for any couples named Boris and Natasha? Perhaps an “I am a spy” tick box on the application form would prevent this happening again. Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill (Vic)

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