May 26, 2026 — 6:00pm 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.There has been much spoken of and written about regarding intergenerational inequality. The Labor Party is trying to address it in housing of course. Political parties and their voters need to focus much more on the needs and aspirations of young people. Apart from housing equity, the young are suffering from lost income growth and paying off federal and state debt (“Hanson has no answers but she’s wooing young voters”, 26/5) and HECS debt. In future, they will suffer from our failure to ameliorate climate change and the expensive consequences. Apart from the equity and fairness issue, which is the most important, we should also focus on what benefits Millennials and Gen Zs can bring to the country with their new ideas, their energy and their enthusiasm. Lower the voting age, lower HECS debt payback rates, mentor the young into parliaments, give them more opportunities in the workplace, make loans available at lower rates for business start-ups. The party or candidates that can offer young people alternatives and hope for the future will be the party that wins government in 2028, because they are the largest voting block. To ignore this is to ignore reality.Jan Marshall, BrightonSlow progress on the rightI looked in vain to find the “one simple truth” that explains the alleged appeal of Pauline Hanson to “younger people” (Opinion 25/5). I saw no evidence to support the contention that Hanson is appealing to younger people, though I did find some relevant information about stagnant real wages over the past 20 years and the perilous debt problems that have beset Australian governments and young people. The argument, it seems, is that Hanson, despite having no actual solutions, is gaining popularity because the major parties have not done enough to alleviate the problems facing young people. The fact is Labor has done more to improve circumstances for younger Australians over the past four years than the Coalition did in their nine years in office. Labor, against much resistance, has now started to address the imbalance in the system that has been in place since the Howard and Costello days. That resistance is coming from the opposition and vested interests intent on stalling and stopping these overdue changes. Labor should do more, but the one simple truth is that whatever they do will be resisted by the opposition. As unhappy as some voters may be with progress under Labor, the one simple truth is that progress would be much slower under the Coalition or Pauline Hanson’s grievance party.Graeme Henchel, Yarra GlenMore start-ups not what we needIf an estimated 70 to 90 per cent of tech start-ups fail in their first few years, why are we encouraging young people or anyone to go into a start-up? Why aren’t we encouraging young people to get training in the job vacancy areas we have in Australia including building and other trades, teaching, aged care and childcare etc?Julie Jones, CamberwellWhere’s the surge for the Greens?Jane Buncle (Opinion, 26/5) misses the elephant in the room. The truth is the radical policies that would begin to address the concerns of younger voters are those of the Greens. They advocate stronger action on climate, significantly more redistribution of wealth and income, and a withdrawal from expensive defence spending and unreliable alliances. So where is there surge of voters? The hard truth is that since the end of the Cold War, virtually all of the economic improvement has gone into the hands of the already wealthy. And when the ALP makes a start on the long and arduous job of rebalancing the economy, recognising the big lie of “trickle-down”, all one hears is the wails of outrage from the already wealthy. One Nation of course has the full support of the wealthy media owners, so you can be sure that, like Trump supporters in the US, a vote for the Hanson brand of snake-oil is tantamount to turkeys voting for more Christmases.Ken Richards, ElwoodTHE FORUMLegacy beyond footballNeale Daniher’s death after a 13-year battle with motor neurone disease marks the loss of one of Australia’s most courageous and inspiring figures. Through unimaginable adversity, Neale refused to bow to this insidious disease, instead turning his fight into hope and action for countless others.His strength, dignity and determination created a legacy far beyond football. Equally inspiring was the love and support surrounding him from his devoted family and friends, who walked every step of this difficult journey beside him. Like Jim Stynes before him, Neale’s impact will endure long after his passing, not only through fundraising and awareness for MND, but through the example he set of courage, humility and grace. God bless Neale and all who loved him. His legacy will live on.Darren Grindrod, GlenroyA remarkable manAustralia has lost far more than a football legend with the death of Neale Daniher. While many first knew him through his years in football, it was his courage beyond the game that truly defined him. Faced with the cruelty of motor neurone disease, he chose not bitterness, but purpose. Through dignity, humour, and extraordinary determination, he became a voice for countless families facing the same battle. As Australian of the Year in 2025, Neale represented the very best of this country: resilience, compassion, and the ability to inspire others even in the darkest circumstances. His FightMND campaign has changed lives, raised hope, and reminded Australians what strength really looks like. While his family mourns a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, the football world and, indeed, Australia mourns a remarkable man.Anne Kruger, RyeConscience votingIn the event that our independents do form a political party, they need their constitution to enshrine that each member is entitled to vote according to their consciences and the wishes of their constituents, as they do now. This is unlike Labor, Liberal and National parties whose MPs are obliged to vote according to their party lines. In other words, they cannot and do not heed their own consciences or the views of their constituents, the very people who voted them in. To my mind, this model does not reflect representative democracy.Terry Black, Black RockTaxpayers foot billBehaviours strictly in line with government or corporate laws and regulations, and behaviours that clearly transgress these rules, are easy to detect and respond to. However, there is always a significant grey area, where behaviour can be massaged across the line but clearly doesn’t pass the pub test. Behaviour where personal morality can be questioned. Senator Bridget McKenzie, or any politician, can easily show reason for billing taxpayers – by chatting with anyone, or group, or local newspaper. The example of McKenzie is just a tiny blip on the huge map of political and business largesse being manipulated for the benefit of a small number of the rich and powerful. Taxpayers end up footing the bill.Howard Tankey, Box Hill NorthChange your mind premierWe need stronger laws on gun ownership and we need to restrict the number of guns a person can own as well as the type of guns that can be bought and owned in Australia (“Allan at odds with PM after rejecting gun buyback scheme and limits on firearms”, 26/5). Four guns per farmer or any other person is more than enough guns for anyone to own. People don’t have four arms, so they really don’t need multiple guns. I understand that farmers might need a couple of different types of guns to shoot maimed animals or kill pest animals. But if I wanted to live in a country where gun ownership was unlimited and more important than people, I would have moved to America long ago. I don’t want American ideas about gun ownership here. Guns plus people, kill people. Let’s limit that ability in Victoria and Australia. Change your mind, Victorian government.Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg HeightsGive IBAC proper powersAnother day, another scandal (“Feds detail fraud, theft allegations on the Big Build”, 26/5). Surely it’s time for members of the Victorian government to take a hard look at themselves and commit to giving IBAC the powers it’s been asking for to investigate what’s been happening. Indeed, if they want to remove the pall which hangs over them every time the premier obfuscates about this scandal, it could do even better and appoint a royal commission. If Jacinta Allan can’t be persuaded to do this, then they must find someone else who can.Ivan Glynn, VermontAbbott no answerWhile it may be true as George Brandis writes (“Liberals’ unlikely pair of saviours”, Opinion, 25/5) that Tony Abbott “rebuilt morale ... and cast defeatism to the winds”, that was then, this is now. Right now the Liberal Party needs to show an outsider to the party like myself what it will do for Australia. Abbott gave us “No” in every possible guise. He did not give us policy. Brandis lists Liberal values which Angus Taylor has enunciated, but each value mentioned seems to boil down to a freedom for me, with no responsibility. Abbott’s oppositional style may have rescued the Liberal Party in the short term, but it drove people to look for a more nuanced way of thinking, where polarised politics no longer works. People responded by finding independents, who from listening to their constituents, bring to parliament ideas and initiatives that can benefit all Australians. These people aren’t saving any party, but they certainly breathe life into the wellbeing of Australia.Abbott I fear pushed backwards the future of the Liberal Party, by disguising for longer the reality.Marguerite Heppell, East HawthornSuper sector could winThe federal budget was sold as a housing affordability measure, but its deeper effect may be to entrench the power of Australia’s $4.5 trillion superannuation sector. By restricting negative gearing to new builds and replacing the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount with a new minimum tax regime for individuals, the government has reduced the incentive for ordinary Australians to invest outside super. Yet superannuation funds retain major tax advantages, including concessional treatment of capital gains and exemptions from reforms affecting other investment structures. The result risks creating a two-tier investment system in which large institutional investors gain a structural advantage over individuals. This matters for housing. If individual investors retreat from established property while super funds, real estate investment trusts and other institutional vehicles remain comparatively advantaged, Australia may drift further towards a future where more housing is owned by large investment entities rather than resident households. The government claims these reforms will boost supply and help first home buyers. But unless policy also addresses the growing dominance of institutional capital, we may simply replace one housing distortion with another.Australia deserves a tax system that prioritises home ownership, productive investment and fairness between ordinary citizens and large financial institutions. Otherwise, the budget’s true winner may not be first home buyers, but the $4.5 trillion superannuation industry.Graeme Devey, HamptonBasics the real needI find the constant use of the term “building wealth” alarming. This fragile planet on which we live simply cannot provide excessive wealth to us all. Unless we begin to accept that fact, we are in trouble. We must aspire to a society where the basics – shelter, food, health care and education – are obtainable. They are the human rights governments should see as their absolute responsibility.Beyond that, assistance in building personal wealth is not the responsibility of governments.Judy Kevill, RingwoodMicroplastics’ bad tasteRe “From plastic kettles to pans: Simple swaps to cut microplastics from your kitchen” (26/5). So, basically, throw out almost everything in my kitchen including most of my pots, pans and frypans, and replace all of it with wood, metal, glass, ceramic and stainless steel? Sure! As soon as I win first or second-division tattslotto! I guess we’ll just have to go on ingesting microplastics for the time being.Peter Christopher White, HawthornDiction downsideYou are not the only reader noticing a decline in diction of presenters (Letters, 26/5). They also talk so fast that I can’t understand a word they’re saying, and often turn off the radio in frustration. ABC 774 isn’t the only culprit but it is the worst. We want not only to hear what you are saying, presenters, but also to understand it. Please lift your game.Margaret Collings, AngleseaTrain of thoughtJust thinking about the decision that pick-up and drop-off points at Melbourne Airport will be moved southward into the car park. Why not take passenger convenience responsibilities out of the hands of the airport once and for all. Go further out and move these points to Southern Cross Station? Have trains running to the front door of the terminal from the existing ease of access at Southern Cross and not have lengthy delays at the airport end.Gerry Lonergan, ReservoirNeale Daniher has left an inspiring legacy.Alex EllinghausenAND ANOTHER THINGNeale DaniherNeale leaves this world a much better place for his being here. His battle is over and it’s up to us to carry on his fight. Well played, Neale.Mick Hussey, BeaconsfieldHow come investors making money are called aspirational when we see true aspiration is Neale Daniher’s determination to find a cure for MND.Dave Robson, Port MelbourneCoachesMichael Voss gone and now Brad Scott. Who will be the next whipping boy for the media? Do you ever consider that these are people with feelings and families?Belinda Burke, HawthornI am glad my team is not playing Essendon this week. Sacked coach guarantees a victory.Dean Virgin, StrathmoreBrad Scott did not drop marks, miss handpasses, mis-kick or give away stupid free kicks!Doug Perry, Mt MarthaFurthermoreVoting for an independent might give a warm and fuzzy feeling, but who would be PM and how would a cabinet be formed if we had 150 independents in parliament?Michael Brinkman, VentnorBack off critics. It must be tough to make ends meet on a base salary of about $240,000.Ewa Haire, Moonee PondsGeorge Brandis stated in his column that “Abbott was the most effective opposition politician Australia has ever seen”. With him as president of the party, it appears that accolade is likely to remain so for years to come.Alan Inchley, FrankstonIf a picture says a thousand words a cartoon by Cath Wilcox (26/5) says a million! Her clever “ballot paper” sums up the political scene – although I think I’d put “wacky billionaire” last and “Lucky Dip” first.Sally Davis, Malvern EastFinallyHopefully moving walkways are planned between the airport terminals and the drop-off and pick-up areas at the remodelled Melbourne Airport.Michael Nicholls, TravancoreMore:LettersOpinionFor subscribersPauline HansonTony AbbottBridget McKenzieJacinta AllanFrom our partners