May 23, 2026 — 8:00pm Photo: Matt GoldingTo submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.The law is the lawWe will apply the “The full force of the law”, as quoted by Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek (and many other public figures when wanting to appear ″⁣tough on crime″⁣) in relation to what is awaiting the spouses of alleged ISIS operatives when they return to Australia, is simply a political optic intended to instil toughness and control for the gullible public.As a lawyer, I have never viewed the application of the law as having gradients, that is, applying a quarter force of the law, maybe half of the force of the law or even two-thirds of the force of the law; but the full force of the law, how ″⁣tough″⁣ is that?Allan Elliott, NorthcoteEquality of dreamsI am so sick of this narrative about Labor’s tax changes hurting entrepreneurs (″⁣How a meme war with tech bros derailed Labor’s budget narrative″⁣, 23/5).If you think what stands between you and your big idea is the removal of a government concession, then maybe you need to consider if your big idea is what the world really needs in the first place. Or maybe it was never commercially viable to begin with.Either way, more than half of all federal tax revenue comes from income tax. As wage earners, we have had enough of subsidising everyone else’s dreams. We all have dreams – owning a home, starting a family, starting a business – none is more important than any other. Pay the same rate of tax as everyone else, stop demanding special treatment.Matthew Mansour, BonbeachWrong prioritiesThe Victorian government cites “the current fiscal environment” as the reason for refusing to fund a $642,000 program to install personal security systems to protect judges and magistrates. Speciously, a government spokesperson refers to $11 million in the budget “to maintain and upgrade court facilities” (“Security plan for judges too costly”, 22/5). As if that’s relevant.To put the government’s apparent disregard for the safety of judicial officers in context, the interest bill on the state’s net debt is around $24 million a day. The massive debt is primarily down to overspending on public infrastructure. Consequently, by the government’s own admission, it’s now unable to fund recurrent expenditure to support vital social policy and safety programs like this one.Lawrie Bradly, Surrey HillsIdea needs streamliningMelbourne Airport’s new drop-off zones sound less chaotic and a welcome improvement. But with hundreds of metres of extra walking for many passengers, its assistance service should start at 4am rather than 6am. Dozens of international and domestic flights arrive and depart daily before or shortly after 6am.Passengers on those flights who need assistance deserve this service too. If unavailable, it could also slow check-in and delay departures at the beginning of the day, rippling through later morning flight operations.Warren Macilwain, Pearce, ACTCover all basesIt seems reasonable to improve the kerbside drop-off areas at Tullamarine as it is now quite busy and chaotic.However, it would be appropriate to have a covered walkway, as it can be quite wet and cold now in the uncovered walkway getting to the bus pickup zone especially with Melbourne weather.Denise Stevens, St KildaSowing divisionIn his recent book The Shortest History of Migration, Oxford economist Professor Ian Goldin writes that: ″⁣Scaremongering political sound bites resonate with vulnerable people worried about unemployment or access to local services. Ironically, though, migrants may be the answer to many of their troubles, such as staff shortages in schools, hospitals and public transport.″⁣On the last page, he concludes that: ″⁣Migration is not a problem to be solved; it is the driving force for human progress and the thread that links our common history. If the history of migration has taught us anything, it is that we are all migrants and that we should embrace our common humanity to meet the existential challenges of the 21st century.″⁣I am disappointed that the Liberals, like One Nation, are now proposing that migrants must accept nebulous ″⁣Australian values″⁣, would not receive social security (even if they were permanent residents), and would have their numbers cut to levels that would lead to damaging workforce shortages in key industries.The Liberals’ stance on immigration is recklessly sowing more division in society. They would be more likely to revive their political fortunes if they developed policies that improved social cohesion, which is always in the nation’s interest.Andrew Trembath, BlackburnVanishing valuesOne Nation and the LNP talk about the threat to Australian values. This thinly disguised anti-immigrant/refugee dog whistling fuels the outrage of those who haven’t received any of the long promised trickledown benefits of neo-liberal economic policies. They want change and are turning to untried, inexperienced disruptors, just as happened in the US.The responses to Labor’s attempts to level the playing field even a little (with a specific focus on making housing more affordable), have revealed that Australian values of mateship, never leaving anyone behind and egalitarianism may be a chimera. Governments are expected to develop and enact policies for the greater good, even if that means reducing benefits received by some. Any unintended consequences should be addressed but Labor’s efforts confirm it remains the party of the people and must press ahead.Peter Thomson, BrunswickTurn to electricRe the budget, there has to be something worth talking about apart from the wrangling over CGT, and the tax on gas exporters. The government knows it must keep [the supply of] petrol and diesel up right now or all hell will break lose. It’s no surprise they are not going to tax gas exporters and risk threatening the deals just done with our Asian suppliers during this period of restriction. The time and means for taxing gas exporters will come. So what else do we do? The way to go has to be to reduce this dependence on oil and gas as a way of living. We do not need ″⁣drill baby, drill″⁣, already being jumped on by the opposition and One Nation. That’s going backwards, and won’t work anyway. This is the time for strong action to support rapid electrification.It’s easy to do and most of us want it. This government has started us on the right track here, but we could all do with a bit of encouragement to electrify our lives. Translate that wave of community support for taxing gas into a need to make polluters pay in a different way – take away their market. Go electric and use sun and wind to give them the two fingers.Carolyn Ingvarson, CanterburyThe consequences are?The Israeli ambassador said his country should be judged by its reaction to disgraceful behaviour, not the behaviour of one politician. I’m still waiting for any consequences for Itamar Ben-Gvir, and judge Israel accordingly.Jo Thomson, NorthcotePrayer for peaceMy thanks to the people who recently confronted Israel over its treatment of the people of Gaza. It is only when love and kindness is shown that peace will be achieved. We must all pray for peace in the world.Merrilyn Beeny, KewA treasure trouseRe Letters (22/5), many years ago, my Italian landlord sported a very stylish pair of pinstriped trousers, telling me he had bought them at the South Melbourne market. ″⁣Very good trouse there,″⁣ he enthused. I gently suggested that the word was trousers. ″⁣No,″⁣ he replied. ″⁣I only buy one.″⁣Ray Lewis, Carlton NorthFrom our partners