July 15, 2026 — 8:00pm Photo: Megan HerbertTo 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.Georgie Armstrong’s account of living in an affordable apartment is heartbreaking (″⁣Hidden price of affordable housing″⁣, 15/7). After overcoming life events that could be just around the corner for any of us, she finally found the security of a home of her own that everyone deserves. It is disturbing that such an important government-backed program creates a new underclass. It might be reasonable that owners and tenants who pay more have access to particular services such as swimming pools, but it is important that all people living in mixed residential spaces retain their dignity as members of that community. The idea of a ″⁣poor door″⁣ is outrageous.Judy Williams, BeaumarisThis distinction is a form of apartheidIt is disgraceful for a Labor government to allow developers to get away with imposing a form of apartheid on residents of affordable housing units in otherwise standard apartment blocks. Thanks to Georgie Armstrong for exposing this. Thanks also to the regular resident who escorted Georgie into the restricted area so she could attend the weekly residents’ games night. The housing and/or planning minister should insist that tenants of affordable housing in Georgie’s block be immediately given the same access to the swimming pool, rooftop garden and barbecue facilities, along with the same quality of pictures on the walls, plants, benches and carpets.They should also insist that affordable housing be scattered throughout future developments that receive concessions for providing a quota of affordable housing, not stigmatised on separate ″⁣affordable housing″⁣ floors.And they should remember that many of us are only a job, a partner or a health crisis away from needing affordable housing, which should be provided by government as public housing, not left to the mercy of developers.Rosemary West, EdithvaleAn entrance into ‘classism’Anecdotally, many of us bemoan the widening gap between the ″⁣haves and have nots″⁣: now it’s being highlighted by separate entrances and restricted access to facilities in apartments. Georgie Armstrong describes her experience of being segregated in her apartment building – because she has access to affordable housing among her wealthier neighbours – as ″⁣humiliating″⁣.While state governments are now emulating the US and UK trend of separating residents in apartment buildings according to their income status, international sociologists/demographers and even criminologists are reviewing the detrimental impact of this practice on low-income families being segregated. Of course, it festers resentment, as Armstrong describes the ″⁣classism″⁣ which makes her feel inferior.In London, this segregation is now being revisited with Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy exclaiming: “Separate doors for rich and poor tenants is not the Walthamstow way – how could you design such a thing and think it acceptable?“Indeed. Is seems it is now becoming ″⁣the Australian way″⁣ as governments, architects, developers adopt a process with scant regard for the sociological consequences.Sally Davis, Malvern EastSegregation of tenants is unconscionableGeorgie Armstrong’s piece made me sick because it highlighted the truth about Jacinta Allan’s much-lauded public-private residential developments. How dare the government expose the public housing tenants to such segregation. To have limited access to facilities and have second-rate fitouts is unconscionable.Based on Armstrong’s experience we, the smug middle class, should do what we can to stop the government’s decision to demolish Department of Housing’s high-rise buildings. I, for one, put dignity before development.Chris Morgan, NorthcoteTHE FORUMJustice for IslaSupporters for Isla Bell were at the Supreme Court on Tuesday (″⁣Isla’s mum says prosecutors have failed victims of crime″⁣, 15/7). They would not have had to have been there if the Office of Public Prosecutions had done its job. As an ordinary citizen I would like it explained to me how the OPP actually makes decisions because I cannot see how this case has been allowed to transpire into a fiasco. There seems no thought given to Isla, a young woman in her prime. We put faith in our courts and juries to carry out justice.I expect the law to do its job and treat Isla as a young woman, not a statistic, and let a jury decide. She did not kill herself and wrap herself in plastic and climb into a fridge. We want justice for her.Nola Cormick, Albert ParkAngry voicesOn the steps of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, angry voices were heard urging the politicians of this country, especially men, to step up and change the legislation that currently favours perpetrators of femicide. Victims’ voices are not heard in court. The downgrading or dropping of charges deny the rights of victims and minimise the consequences for perpetrators.The increasing number of women killed by men known to them is horrific and a statistic that should cause national embarrassment. Our legal system has denied these women justice. It is time for change. This story was front page news on The Age. It should be front page news every day.Marie Spokes, Ascot ValeChange prioritiesThe aim of a royal commission is not to bring about culture change (“Allan digs in on Big Build inquiry”, 15/7). It is about bringing to light the decisions, processes and systems that led to a disaster. The sum of $15 billion of public money, plenty of it in the hands of criminals, deserves the highest level of investigation possible and accountabilities apportioned. Only then can culture changes be effected.Tricia Bulic, HightonJust doing businessPeter Bartlett (Comment, 15/7) argues that we should have a royal commission to once again rid the state and country of corruption in the building industry as exposed by The Age’s investigative journalists. It was successful in the past and Bartlett thinks it would be successful now in bringing those responsible to justice. He probably is right if it can follow the money trail right to the top.I’m sure some union bosses and CEOs of construction companies and some politicians would be shuddering in their boots at the thought, but I’m not sure about the criminal bosses, who would see it as just part of the risk of doing business.Paul Chivers, Box Hill NorthEnhancing reputationJacinta Allan’s decision not to hold a royal commission into the Big Build is intriguing. Indeed, as Sir Humphrey in Yes, Minister would say, it is courageous. The opposition say they will establish such a royal commission if they win government and they will set the terms of reference. If the Labor government set this up now, they would set the terms of reference and appoint the commissioners. The premier has pointed to the Dyson Heydon royal commission into unions as proof that such inquiries achieve very little. There are many other examples of royal commissions achieving much more, such as the one into robo-debt. Surely, Allan’s reputation would be enhanced if she decided to go ahead and call the royal commission now.Pauline Brown, WoodendNo justifying vandalsReading columnist Shaun Hossack write on Melbourne’s graffiti vandals (Comment, 13/7) made me feel like I was living in a parallel universe. Somehow likening Rone and Adnate to the vandals on seemingly every flat surface in Melbourne (and virtually every lamp post in our city) seems to be drawing a very long bow. Hossack may think people come from across the globe to view our CBD laneways, but I have never seen busloads of tourists stopping on the Monash to photograph talentless taggers. It’s time we said enough is enough and start to take this illegal vandalism more seriously. Most people hate this blight on our city so let’s stop trying to justify it. And let’s begin by banning all spray cans now.Neale Meagher, MalvernSmart investment neededIt is not surprising that our wages and productivity are declining in real terms (″⁣Australia’s real wages slump one of the worst in developed world″⁣, 10/7). We have been relying on rapid population growth to solve all our problems. It certainly ticks all the boxes for government and big business: increasing tax income, suppressing wages and increasing demand for goods and services, without having done anything to improve productivity, explore innovation, increase workforce participation, or improve education and training outcomes. Instead, more of our environmental assets are being trashed, inequality is super-charged and climate change ignored.Our quality of life is deteriorating. Germany and most Nordic countries have superior GDP per capita with slow or declining population growth; sustainable investment in natural and human resources is critical if we are to have a future to look forward to.Jennie Epstein, Little RiverIt’s not entertainmentWith some clubs now realising that ″⁣ticketed″⁣ matches are deterring fans from attending, they could attract more by ditching the US-style hoopla and confected ″⁣excitement″⁣ by ditching overly loud music, flashing lights, and announcers screeching into the microphone ″⁣make some noise″⁣. I know people who don’t go any more because of this ″⁣entertainment″⁣.George Djoneff, MitchamThe safer codesSoccer and basketball each have many more participants in Australia than Australian rules football. With the number of dangerous tackles in AFL matches being cleared by the AFL tribunal in 2026, parents will decide the future of Australian rules.John Hennessy, MontmorencyNo vision to see hereFurther to your correspondent’s AFL metaphor of One Nation and Pauline Hanson (Letters, 14/7), Hanson has really taken on the dual role of captain-coach. That style of leadership went out of fashion at about the time when Australia embraced multiculturalism in all its richness and diversity in terms of religious observance, cuisine, language, fashion and, dare I say, soccer as the world game. Hanson’s nostalgic view of Australia is a haven for those who feel threatened by the Australia of today and want to drag it backwards. Where’s the vision in that?Nick Toovey, BeaumarisThere’s no comparisonYour correspondent (Letters, 14/7) suggested that Pauline Hanson was acting more like a grandmother than a politician.I am a grandmother.I acknowledge and respect the traditional owners of our land, say thank you for our multicultural society, believe that most workers do their best, support maternity leave and child care, am pro-choice, appreciate the solar panels supplying renewable power to my home and the electrical vehicle that takes me where I need to go. I make decisions based on science and facts and believe that climate change is real.My values, shared with my children and grandchildren, are underpinned by the belief that we should treat others the way we want to be treated. I have also learnt that wealth does not guarantee happiness nor wisdom.Please do not compare me to her.Sophie Cuttriss, InverlochTrump in dire straitsSo if I understand this correctly, prior to the US and Israel striking Iran in February, the Strait of Hormuz was fully open to all shipping. No fees or charges were applied to shipping using it.Once the war started one of Iran’s retaliatory acts was to close the Strait. In addition, they announced that they would impose a fee on ships transiting the Strait once the war was over.Those advising US President Donald Trump warned him of this potential development prior to the US/Israel strikes in February. This advice was ignored.Now, with the war continuing, Trump outlined his plan to open the Strait and impose a 20 per cent fee on ships using it. This fee would be imposed because the US is protecting the Strait for the rest of the world. He has now ditched that idea.The great negotiator and “leader” of the free world proves once again he is truly a genius.Jack Morris, KenningtonStrange decisionGiven our high consumption of berries for their health benefits, what possible reason could the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority have for allowing such potentially dangerous levels of a pesticide known to have adverse health effects (″⁣Experts slam plan for berry ‘forever’ chemicals″⁣, 15/7)?Banning or significantly reducing the use of forever chemicals seems like a no-brainer.Vikki O’Neill, AshburtonCaught offsideI must disagree with your correspondents (Letters, 14/7 and 15/7). Barnaby Joyce should be ineligible to play as he is clearly offside.Russell Kidd, CarnegieGood for a chatFor the federal government to work out what the proposed Office of AI should cover, I presume they will ask ChatGPT?John Murray, Hawthorn EastAND ANOTHER THINGVictoriaI tend to agree with Jacinta Allan. From my observation, most royal commissions are time consuming, expensive, become a lawyers’ picnic and ultimately achieve very little.Phil Alexander, ElthamJacinta Allan, Victorians aren’t interested in your ″⁣new hospitals promotional tour″⁣. They’re worried about their living costs, repair of country roads and how you will pay down Labor’s near-$200 billion debt.David Cayzer, Clifton HillWhat’s wrong with Victorian government school teachers being the best paid in the country? It may still not be adequate but it would set a precedent (″⁣State school teachers vote to strike for 24 hours in pay row″⁣, 15/7).Suzanne Palmer-Holton, SeafordTrumpIs this a new record for TACO? Twenty per cent shipping tariff in the Strait of Hormuz one day, zero the next. Way to go, Donald Trump.Graham Fetherstonhaugh, North FitzroyThe Middle East is “hurtling back towards full-scale war” (″⁣Trump restarts blockade, flags toll″⁣, 15/7). Our long-term transport fuel security cries out for majority renewable energy, generated in Australia.John Hughes, MentoneFurthermoreMany millions of people would not understand the meaning of the word trillion. Indeed few people can grasp the concept of a trillion dollars. Just think how it could make a billion people millionaires.John Walsh, WatsoniaJudging by the way they roll around in agony every time they fall over. Soccer players must feel pain a lot more than AFL players.Ron Mather, MelbourneFinallyI would like to suggest some field work for archaeology students: dig down into the rubbish along our highways and use carbon dating to see how long it has been there.Tony Blackshaw, OfficerFrom our partners