Comments for Policy Forum

Comment on Podcast: Housing in a changing climate by John Elliffe

John Elliffe — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 05:18:55 +0000

Hi Sharon and Arnagretta,

I was hoping would you have a series based on housing. It seems to me that housing issues have not been taken seriously, by all levels of government, for far too long.

We have created an environment where people who already own property have “earnt” more from land re-evaluation than they have from wages. As a result young people are almost unable to purchase their own properties. You touched on this in the podcast with Barbara Norman. I’m sure federal tax settings (negative gearing/CGT) have an influence on prices but planning policies have a much bigger influence.

It is important that more housing is built and built in the right way in the right places. These are state and council issues. In Canberra we have large houses on large blocks near commercial centres where people work and new suburbs have small blocks and apartment buildings. We have managed to get this the wrong way around.

Obviously it will not be easy to reverse this as we cannot just evict people from inner suburbs but we should have a plan for moving in this direction. Auckland is apparently showing the way by allowing 2 houses per block but personally I would go further. I also feel that heritage listing is often just a tool to resist change. As Barbara was saying, creating a vibrant, liveable, sustainable city takes time so the sooner we start the sooner we will get there.

I am looking forward to more pods in this series.

Cheers,
John

Comment on Australia’s ‘doNation Building’ project by Bradley Carron-Arthur

Bradley Carron-Arthur — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 06:53:26 +0000

Interesting read. I’d never contemplated the homogenous nature of DGR status. I wonder if there’s merit to creating tiers of DGR status where higher tiers have greater tax benefits and the way to make it in to one of these higher status tiers is by demonstrating impact (proper evaluation – radical ideal) aligned with gov agreed priority issues. Maybe even link to wellbeing economy outcomes.

Comment on Transforming Sri Lanka by Richard Barlow

Richard Barlow — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 14:27:17 +0000

Enjoyed reading this Jeevethan. A very sorry state of affairs. I hope Sri Lanka has the ability deep in itself properly to turn a corner and build a brighter future.. Best wishes, Richard

Comment on Australia needs to learn to listen in Asia – literally by Raghbendra Jha

Raghbendra Jha — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:31:34 +0000

This is an interesting article. I wonder why the author did not consider Hindi to be an important Asian language to be learnt. Reports are that Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world – after English and Mandarin.

Comment on Is coal reliance a barrier to gender equality? by Ross Young

Ross Young — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 00:47:50 +0000

We know that gender equality does not exist in a majority of homes with women providing the main caring roles and provision of essential services in the home.
With the likely blackouts that will come with increased drain on the grid as more people begin to charge electric vehicles.
The transition away from fossil fuels is complex both technically and politically.
Social and human behaviour changes are essential. We need to consume less, bring an end to end warfare. But these are not likely outcomes it seems.

Comment on The ticking time bomb at the heart of the National Disability Insurance Scheme by Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 08:30:57 +0000

With ndis, I have had invoices that don’t match the structure and billings where monies should go from the people who don’t want a fake friend getting 50 or more an hour out their plan and going into these so called workers, as it’s not going to the people who are people like me.. There is a rough with handover workers who you don’t hear much from and then u get placed off to another. This is costing government more then the individual who needs a life. And most activities of daily living . What if people don’t see your disability. Assume that you be OK an leave you hanging. No, it promotes more unstable thoughts to people with disabilities more seeing a rough for these so called support workers a bloody joke and for me personally. My core supports money could be used in homing myself, having art classes and doing things like normal people do with out having the support worker reeping the benefits instead really for the individual who can utilise the funding better with a broader understanding that will help that individual who understands and knows and can compass themselves towards helping themselves without losing government funding, making an individual feel like shit. I don’t need to pay for a friend..and although it was explained ,it’s not my money but the government’s, I’m quote aware of that and makes me angry as they ,these support workers get more money than the individual could utilise their lives better with the funds then to pay them.. I’m seeing a very easy way how government is scammed and people like me who is not as mentally fragile to see this and speak out ,in which so it’s for many who feel the same, I’m speaking for all the people with disabilities who could have the funds for their use. Not in pockets of support workers and cut them back so we can use the monies for things like ADLs , housing affordability as centerlink is shit. I’ve been on wait list over 10years and now homeless and ndis can get me housing where all my near supports would be. If my car is need of a service, money should go into that then pay how much an hour to workers who get payed more then user drivers , and I get funds to fix the problem an use the money better in ways which will improve my life. Not what I can and can’t do which is so limited and basically fed to the support workers who to me are like payed friends I don’t need . The point I’m making is that ndis funding is a joke. Support coordinator u hardly see has another in which I can google what I want and I can’t get unless they get there 17000 for what where I can do things myself an used the money better and invoices that be changing lives then for people some of us who don’t need as much coordinating. Art classes for instance is a core support. For me. I get told a person come to my friends place which isn’t my home where whom this person who isn’t really a teacher be no help as my core is to get me out the walls and with people of my own level.

Comment on Pacific Wayfinder: The development and dangers of social media by Dorothy Wickham

Dorothy Wickham — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 22:25:06 +0000

Yes, I agree with the views shared in this piece. We are underestimating the influence of Face Book on our fellow pacific islanders. And as seen in the US, those who are not up to speed on economics and do not understand how government systems work, can be easily misled by misinformation and disinformation. It is a growing concern. As some foreign governments and groups are also misusing these tools to play their games in the Pacific.

Comment on Indigenous women’s struggle for forest rights in India by Sheena rajan

Sheena rajan — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 15:00:29 +0000

There are many barriers that women must cross every day, but to get to the top, they must walk on a river of challenging scenarios. They must battle for their position and work twice as hard as any male. The problems that women face is exacerbated by the prevalence of gender prejudice and stereotypes, and even today the industries lack female executives. When it comes to India, the country that regards women as goddesses, at the same time people want to keep them behind the walls they’ve built. Still you have woman who has overcome all these obstacles in her life with a strong mindset and genuineness. Superb read and couldn’t agree less

Comment on Why PNG’s 2022 election is facing controversy by Michael

Michael — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 12:26:37 +0000

Thanks Terry, points you’ve raised have been covered in details by many.

Comment on Why PNG’s 2022 election is facing controversy by Michael

Michael — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 12:24:23 +0000

Hi Jason,

At this stage there’s very little anyone can do, except hope that nothing worse than what’s been reported in the couple of days happens. Going forward, the government has to treat elections as a process. Common roll Update, census, review of laws, adequate funding etc., needs to be prioritized. It has to be a five year pre-occuption.