How beneficiant of our “devoted and loving father” premier to ship hope to our kids by his “future fund” (“Consider your children, vote Liberal: premier to attraction to folks”, March 12). The preliminary cost of $400 would accumulate with future taxpayer contributions matched to parental deposits into the fund. No downside for these on the type of salaries that the premier and his spouse earn, maybe. However what about those that day by day make selections about whether or not they can feed their kids or pay the lease; those that can not discover the price of faculty uniforms, books or excursions; these households who’re locked out of dwelling possession as a result of properties grew to become funding properties? The premier’s future fund for youngsters seems like a toddler of the superannuation scheme – aka the tax avoidance scheme for the rich which is able to make sure the hole between the haves and have nots widens even additional. Wendy Michaels, Northbridge

The premise that we would like our kids to have “higher alternatives than we did” as espoused by our premier is a double-edged sword. Methods to do it with out coddling the little ones and guaranteeing they don’t turn into entitled and out of contact with actuality, an arguably widespread state of affairs as we speak. A few of us in fact grew up with poor alternatives, however is that this only a widespread generational aspiration or are we attempting too exhausting and lacking the purpose? Perhaps we should always cease worrying a lot about our children and launch them from our expectations. Judy Finch, Taree

As soon as once more a scheme that can benefit those that can already afford to make such funds. These battling to place meals on the desk and pay lease haven’t any “spare” cash. One other instance of “middle-class welfare” whereas we ignore the pleas of the unemployed and single-parent households for actual help. Why will we decide some individuals as much less deserving than others? No matter occurred to “the land of the honest go”? Jan Kent, Farmborough Heights

Untapped assets

Jacqueline Maley will not be alone in being shocked that there’s been no improve in Australian ladies’s full-time workforce participation fee during the last many years (“PM’s happy with single mum. Will he put his cash the place his mouth is?”, March 12). It’s much more surprising if we contemplate what which means: provided that the general participation fee of ladies has doubled in 60 years, it means the entire of that improve consists of ladies working part-time. I counsel Maley’s catalogue of ladies’s precarious work conditions applies not solely to all part-time but additionally to some full-time jobs. Perhaps the chance for girls to take part has elevated over time, with the provision of extra part-time choices, however the threat components and boundaries when ladies do take part have additionally elevated – and that’s surprising too. Workforce surveys invariably establish a major proportion of under-employed ladies who want or need extra work. Those self same surveys typically concentrate on the necessity for elevated migration to plug workforce gaps. It’s time the federal government inspired the labour market to recognise and make higher use of the untapped assets already out there. Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale, (Vic)

Bureaucrat broom

I hope that Chris Minns wins the election, if for no different cause, than to sort out the burgeoning senior workers in most Public Service departments (“Chris Minns’ plan to chop the general public service doesn’t add up”, March 12). We now see an inverted triangle the place departments are overloaded with prime brass, typically contradictory determination makers and never sufficient workers to do the precise work. This lengthy overdue change is not going to solely see an enormous saving however hopefully lower down some crimson tape that has existed for many years. Daniela Catalano, Haberfield

Good America

Your columnist Parnell Palme McGuinness argues that Australians can’t deal with the reality (“When the road of responsibility meets the road of fireplace”, March 12). She claims that the Herald’s collection Pink Alert, tells it like it’s and it’s about time we confronted as much as it – “it” being the sturdy chance that we’ll be at struggle with China in three years. The US Senate Choose Committee on Intelligence, and the Home Everlasting Choose Committee on Intelligence each sat in Washington late final week and each issued their Annual Menace Evaluation Reviews. Neither report talks of imminent struggle with China and even remotely discusses the likelihood. Each studies are detailed and nuanced, and I need to say, an exquisite reflection on the simply how good the US may be. Michael O’Brien, Armadale (Vic)

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