Taylor and Hanson and co are wasting time trying to outbid each other for the biggest cut in migration when what Australia needs is well-thought-out plans to increase our economy and improve productivity.
asserted
needs → waste → productivity
This ridiculous numbers game steals the oxygen from any debate about important issues.
asserted
game → steal → issues
Bill Clinton’s memorable words years ago that “It’s the economy, stupid” are what we should be demanding these politicians focus on.
asserted
politicians → ’ → what
It’s time to grow up before we sink into an even worse political outcome where a rabble influences policy.
asserted
rabble → ’ → policy
Ian Ferrier, Long Jetty
It is an oxymoron for the Coalition to call for driving migration down as low as possible without damaging the economy.
asserted
Coalition → call → economy
It’s a fallacy.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Economic prosperity and the standards of living are directly related to the level of immigration, and if the numbers are slashed as the Coalition wants, it effectively is saying that previous governments of both stripes were foolish to have increased immigration.
asserted
governments → relate → immigration
The strange policy of number of housing built with the immigration numbers is just logistically impossible to implement.
asserted
policy → build → numbers
Once shadow minister Jonno Duniam was trying to work with the government to neutralise the One Nation attack but unfortunately, both major parties couldn’t come to agreement.
asserted
parties → try → agreement
If you want to be taken seriously, come up with a policy to increase productivity – not a one-liner about reducing the red tape, but the real implementation of a policy with a timeline.
asserted
you → want → timeline
It seems the political parties are in a race to the bottom in espousing racist and xenophobic mantras.
asserted
parties → seem → mantras
The frightening thing is that voting Australians appear to be lapping it up.
asserted
Australians → vote → it
It seems the Liberal Party in an attempt to remain relevant is following One Nation into the abyss.
asserted
Party → seem → abyss
I realise that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the economy.
asserted
I → realise → living
However, the entire planet is struggling under the same conditions as a result of Trump’s disastrous war on Iran.
asserted
planet → struggle → Iran
None of this is the fault of immigrants, and to blame them for the current state of the economy is a blatant lie – the same lie that was perpetrated in the 1930s by a European country with disastrous consequences for the group blamed and vilified.
asserted
that → blame → group
Barrington Salter, Elanora (Qld)
Angus Taylor’s final attempt to out-Pauline Pauline in his migration policy will lead, inevitably, to his replacement by Andrew Hastie as people value original and strong voices, while devaluing copies and mimics.
asserted
people → lead → copies
It is very disappointing the Albanese government and the opposition are reacting to One Nation in cutting back visas for backpackers and international students.
asserted
government → react → backpackers
These groups have brought major benefits to the Australian economy and are only a minor factor in the housing shortage.
asserted
groups → bring → shortage
Tony Simons, Balmain
The Coalition is surely joking about cutting migration to 100,000 per year?
asserted
Coalition → joke → year
Why shoot Australia’s economy in the foot just as we are entering a period of time anticipated to be a recession?
asserted
we → shoot → time
Our economy has only grown over recent decades because of immigration.
asserted
economy → grow → immigration
The Greens, under new leader David Shoebridge, are demonstrating yet again why they will not become a major political party (“Greens ‘shameful’ over Ukraine war aid”, October 6).
asserted
Greens → demonstrate → aid
His opposition to Australia providing military assistance to Ukraine is the latest walk in the proverbial fairy garden.
asserted
Australia → provide → garden
Ukraine is a democracy defending itself against invasion by a ruthless authoritarian neighbour attempting to reverse history.
asserted
Ukraine → defend → history
What exactly do the Greens expect it to defend itself with?
asserted
it → expect → itself
It appears they have learned nothing from the fate of former leader Adam Bandt, whose prioritisation of a range of progressive causes diluted the party’s central climate change focus.
asserted
prioritisation → appear → focus
It resulted in the loss of his lower house seat and that of two others.
asserted
It → result → others
Perhaps David Shoebridge’s energies would be better directed towards the conspicuous absence of major countries from the pre-COP climate meeting in Fiji and paying more attention to the German Greens Party, which has pressed the German government to increase its military support for Ukraine.
asserted
which → direct → Ukraine
Salvatore Sorbello, Campsie
Disastrous design change
Philip Vivian (“Town Hall Square is a legacy for future generations”, October 6) missed the point entirely.
asserted
Square → miss → point
The question is not whether there should be a square; it’s about the lacklustre design – an unmitigated disaster – currently proposed for Town Hall Square.
asserted
it → ’ → Square
A previous axial design composed of a high parasol shade along the southern edge and trees bordering Park Street on axis, symmetrical with Town Hall, was admirable and met user requirements.
asserted
design → compose → requirements
Council needs to explain the change in design from excellent to bad.
asserted
Council → need → bad
Philip Drew, Annandale
Philip Vivian makes a persuasive prosecution of the case for Town Hall Square, however imperfect it may be.
uncertain
it → make → Square
The problem is not the design per se, it’s the politics of the prevalent powers.
asserted
it → ’ → powers
Public space is, by its nature, common space where all citizens may gather and enjoy it.
uncertain
citizens → gather → it
An urban space, as the great urbanist and my mentor, Professor Jan Gehl, would remind us (I’m paraphrasing here) is to be a place for casual social communing, quiet reflection and a busy marketplace, as well as a place for celebration, and, when times and events demand, a place for protest.
asserted
times → remind → protest
Could the proposal for Sydney’s town square attract political criticism and backlash because it provides a much greater central arena for its citizens to gather for protest?
uncertain
citizens → attract → protest
Could the backlash of what is essentially a wonderful city-making project be a political backlash to the politics of our troubled times?
uncertain
what → make → times
The next time Chris Minns and Paul Scully say a proposed development will be subject to full consultation with the public before being approved, remember this headline: “Paddington luxury project approved despite objections” (October 6).
asserted
project → say → objections
…and 51 more, not listed.
The Aporia
