Attacks on tax reform just a defence of greed

May 20, 2026 — 8:46pmTo submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Photo: Megan HerbertASPIRATIONHow has aspiration come to only mean a drive for more personal wealth? What has happened to the aspiration for a better society that provides reasonable housing as an end in itself and not as a means of wealth creation at someone’s expense? Aspiration could also mean that public education receives at least its fair share of government funding. Now that would be an investment in our collective future!What a shameful debate we are enduring about the entitlements of 10 per cent of the population receiving 83 per cent of the benefits of the current CGT discount and the 5 per cent profiting from family trusts. It is hard to feel any sympathy for an entrepreneur who has sold a business for $180 million (“Young guns take aim at Albanese’s tax ‘ambush’”, 20/5). How much money does a person need?Let’s cut to the chase: the current attacks on the proposed government reforms to the taxation system need to be called out for what they are. A defence of greed.Simon Gardiner, CamberwellSocial housing crisis needs attentionWhy isn’t anyone talking about the social housing crisis in Australia? Everyone seems to be focused on people buying houses, however, there are many people who will never be able to own their own home.The Productivity Commission’s 2026 Report on Government Services states that there are 254,571 households in Australia currently waiting for social housing; almost half of these households are classified as “greatest need”. The federal government claims to be tackling this issue by aiming to build 20,000 social homes by 2029. Meanwhile, it will be spending $425 billion on defence on capabilities and equipment over the next decade. This situation is a disgrace in a wealthy country such as Australia. So much for no one being left behind.Karen McKay, StrathmoreRBA fears good news for first home buyersRe “RBA fears tax rates with take heat out of housing market” (20/5): For the sake of first home buyers, I hope they do.Janet Chapman, AlburyKey housing questions remainMuch talk has taken place this week about the federal government’s contribution for hundreds of thousands of houses to be built to accommodate our rising population (“Opposition’s migration cut could amount to just 5%”, 20/5). My first question is: Who is going to build all these houses? Do they have Bewitched Samantha’s ability to twitch her nose to make this happen? Tradies are thin on the ground.My second question is: When considering the people now needing homes, do they take into consideration the need to house the hundreds of thousands of homeless people? I’m regularly seeing a dear old soul, her swag rolled up and her entire worldy goods hanging off her walker. She cuts through the city park to a safe seat which is covered from the rain.Jill French, Hervey BayOutrage from those who benefited is staggeringFollowing recent tax changes, the outrage from Angus Taylor’s “aspirational” voters is staggering. These are the same voters who negatively geared their properties, at the expense of the taxpayer, or who were subsidised by the government when starting a small business. If either is sold at a profit, Is it so unfair that some tax be returned to government to contribute to services we all require?Annie Wilson, InverlochThree-word slogan won’t solve inequalityAs we read about growing inequality, the shadow treasurer offers “revenue, without reform” (“Young guns take aim at aspiration ‘ambush’”, 20/5). Sounds like more of the same. Is this the direction we want to go?Is the Coalition up to the hard work needed to address inequality? As Allegra Spender said: “Tax reform is hard.”Inequality has taken decades to grow and will take more than another three-word slogan from the Coalition to address.Jenny Kashyap, BentleighTHE FORUMNeighbourhood soiledIf pokies billionaire Bruce Mathieson was just building a dam, nobody would mind (“Neighbours be dammed: Pokies king digs in”, 20/5). It’s the clearing of 18 hectares of Green Wedge farmland and the endless queue of trucks wrecking the roads and endangering local cyclists and kids accessing the school bus that upsets people.No ordinary farmer needs to import a million cubic metres of soil to build a dam. Most farmers dig a hole and use the soil from the hole for the dam walls.The Allan government needs to implement Action 19 of its March 2024 Action Plan to “introduce a (statewide) planning trigger for soil dumping (clean fill)“.Where will they put the soil from the Suburban Rail Loop tunnels, if it is ever built? Hopefully, not spread over farmland.Rosemary West, Edithvale, Green Wedges CoalitionDeath tax another injusticeThere has been considerable discussion since the federal budget about the merits of an inheritance – or death – tax (Letters, 20/5). But would its introduction not simply deepen the intergenerational injustice already well established? Younger Australians have watched asset prices outpace their wages for decades. Now they face the prospect of being taxed on the one transfer of wealth they might reasonably have expected.The Boomer, meanwhile, won’t lose a cent – they’ll be dead.Martin Hunt, East MalvernPay your wayI am constantly bewildered by the complaints that the government has not sufficiently funded schools, hospitals road maintenance, environmental protection, etc, while simultaneously complaining that taxes are too high. The orchestrated outcry directed at the changes to negative gearing rules, capital gains tax and discretionary trust income illustrates this disconnect with great clarity.Self-interest outweighs the national interest. I am fed up with the “what’s in it for me” mob.Taxation is your admission fee to society. If you want a functioning society you must pay your fair share.Ken Rivett, Ferntree GullyParents need choicesYour correspondent’s suggestion that the government should stop funding private schools (Letters, 20/5) ignores the fact this funding enables private schools to lower their costs and fees, thus allowing more parents to enroll their kids there. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that 36 per cent of school students attend private schools. In Britain, where no such state funding exists, the equivalent figure is only 6.4 per cent.Eliminating government funding for private schools would rob many parents of the choice of where to send their children.Nikhil Dhanabal, Clyde NorthIt’s all about attitudeThis will be wildly unpopular, but after teaching for 35 years in at six different public schools, I believe the poor literacy and numeracy outcomes for many has little to do with a lack of funding and more to do with increasingly poor behaviour and a culture that simply doesn’t value education.While there is no doubt elite private schools are overfunded, indoor aquatic centres do little to improve NAPLAN results. Truth is, even public schools have enough resources to teach students, they have textbooks, unlimited online resources and a highly trained and dedicated workforce.While statistics point to poorer outcomes for students from lower socioeconomic households, this is only part of the story. During the past 10 years, I witnessed the growth in fantastic results from first-generation immigrant students, also from severely impoverished backgrounds, who had arrived here with little English. The difference with these students and their families was that they, unlike many “traditional” Australian families, actually value education. The students want to learn so behave and interact accordingly. Education to migrant families is seen as a privilege and opportunity.The adoption of this ethos is essential if we are to improve educational outcomes.Craig Jory, Albury, NSWBehaviour the problemHaving visited and taught in a number of underperforming schools as a casual relief teacher, I’m not so sure that throwing extra money at these schools will improve outcomes. The problem is large numbers of unruly students who engage in poor behaviour and lack any real work ethic. Dysfunctional families and poor parenting is to blame but of course, as a society, we don’t want to acknowledge or talk about this. A bit too close to home, perhaps?Tim Habben, HawthornPatriot gamesYour correspondent (Letters, 20/5) suggests “basic values are no longer being taught in our public education system” on the grounds a single 18-year-old university student of his acquaintance had no idea what the word “patriotism” meant. I sympathise with the student. Despite my academic qualifications including an honours law degree and a doctorate in Australian history, I, too, have no idea what the word means. Like many so-called “values”, its meaning is in the eye of the beholder. For some, like Samuel Johnson, it is “the last refuge of a scoundrel”, which is possibly why I was never taught it at school in the 1950s and ’60s.Dennis Dodd, Shepparton,A life of serviceThe sad passing of Peter Hollingworth should be marked with respect for his long life of advocacy for the poor and fight for social justice (“Bishop and controversial former G-G Hollingworth dies at 91”, 20/5).His work at the Brotherhood of St Laurence was motivated by deep concern for those in need, informed by his faith. Many people forget that investigations into his handling of sex abuse by the clergy while Anglican archbishop of Brisbane, found that he had acted correctly in most cases.His mishandling of one particular case and subsequent “train wreck” media interview are also legitimately part of his record.However, some on the left were outraged by John Howard appointing a cleric to the vice-regal post and were determined to hound him out of office. The life of Peter Hollingworth is, in fact, a great Australian story of faith and service. May he rest in peace.Peter Curtis, Werribee SouthDisappointing stanceIt is very disappointing that the ABC and SBS won’t adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism (“ABC, SBS veto disputed definition of antisemitism”, 19/5). It’s by far the most authoritative definition, having been formulated by an international panel of leading experts over a few years.It has been adopted or endorsed not only by Australia, but 46 other countries including most Western democracies (some of whom are notably critical of Israel), the European Union and the Organization of American States.Apparently, it’s contentious that the definition’s examples of antisemitism include claiming Israel’s existence is a racist endeavour. Many states define themselves by a religion or ethnicity, so surely it’s antisemitic to claim doing so is racist only when Jews do it.Jamie Hyams, director of public affairs, Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs CouncilUnfair accusationsI agree with the stand taken by the ABC and SBS in regard to the contested definition of antisemitism because it could be used to stifle legitimate debate.What does not seem to have been discussed is if the word is used to denigrate or threaten a non-Jewish person for opposing or disagreeing with the policies, behaviours or statements of a person who is of the Jewish faith or who supports a Jewish cause.Zoe Daniel, the former independent MP for Goldstein, and her supporters received claims of being antisemitic via anonymous letters and posters during the 2025 election campaign, to the extent she feared for her safety and that of her supporters (“Someone will get hurt”, 15/6/2025).This example is merely the tip of the iceberg in a pattern of behaviour that happens frequently and goes unreported.While this behaviour does not grab headlines like the awful behaviour seen in Bondi and physical assaults on Jewish facilities, it is nonetheless important and surely fits into the issue of social cohesion which forms part of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion’s title.Jenny Callaghan, HawthornDangerous policyIn 1979, as a young climate scientist, I was interviewed by an even younger Age journalist, Jennifer Byrne. I had given a talk at the General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics in Canberra, presenting monthly temperature data from stations in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, which showed slight warming trends. An overwhelming message coming from that assembly was a warning of serious and dangerous climate change.Now, 47 years later, that advice has been re-enforced by more refined data collection. It is now clear to all that our climate is changing, shown by increasing numbers and intensities of bushfires, floods and droughts. We now know how serious it is, we know what is causing the climate change, and we know that it is due to human behaviour. Despite this, One Nation, the Nationals and the Liberal Party continue with a policy of relying on coal rather than renewable energy. It is a dangerous policy that should be opposed by all.Jo Jacka, AbbotsfordBureaucratic efficiencyWe hear a lot from business people and conservatives about government inefficiency. My car registration plates were stolen. I contacted the police and completed an online theft report. I went to VicRoads Carlton Office and in less than five minutes, I had bought new plates ($43), and I have had them installed with non-removable screws. Much easier and faster than any bank transaction in the branch!Bruce Hartnett, AlphingtonAND ANOTHER THING ...TrumpIn the article on the US Department of Justice’s Anti-Weaponisation Fund (“Tax lawsuit out, $2.5b ‘slush fund’ in”, 20/5), it said the amount to be set aside was $US1.8 billion. It is actually $US1.776 billion, a figure obviously chosen to celebrate the 250th anniversary of independence.Peter Williams, Alphington Photo: Matt GoldingDonald Trump says, “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation”, with one obvious exception.Bill King, CamberwellAs the United States is tyrannised by the hideous government it voted for, we’d do well beware the orange monster.Bill Burns, BendigoBudgetIt was US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes who stated: “Taxes are what we pay for civilised society.” Worth remembering before asking for tax exemptions.John Neve, Black RockIt’s good to see the “young guns” dragged out to criticise the budget. I’m glad the “tradies”, “Aussie battlers” and “ordinary mums and dads” have been given a rest this year.Peter Carlin, Frankston SouthPeople were able to invest in property before negative gearing.Malcolm McDonald, BurwoodWordsCollective nouns: An “arrogance” of influencers? Or should that bean “ignorance?”Lyn Beaumont, BentleighSuggestion for the dictionary for the MCG’s sensor fusion: a fusor or senfus – to avoid con-fusion!Luise Mock, Tawonga SouthSwimmers, bathers, togs? Nothing better than a swim in the birthday suit.Bryan Fraser, St Kilda WestFurthermoreWith 1.5 million children killed in the Holocaust, 38,000 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 21,000 in Gaza and about 5000 in Ukraine, maybe it is time to take the “civil” out of civilisation.Barry Revill, MoorabbinFinallyIf we don’t have enough oil to make plastic milk bottles, what about going back to returnable glass ones? Much less wasteful.Chris Hooper, CastlemaineThe Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.From our partners