If Australia needs the Liberal Party as Kean claims, then why does he offer debasing comments such as ‘‘Labor’s high-taxing policy agenda’’ would be a ‘‘win for the green left’’. Where is the respect for those who question, read, discuss and make up their own minds? - Lilian Andrew, Mosman Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: I write regarding the opinion piece by Matt Kean. It gave me a good laugh. - Lucy Bal, Hornsby Despite the scare tactics included in Kean’s article, he is correct that Abbott is not a progressive. The people I meet in the area are crying out for social progress. After 25 years of Abbott, we need new ideas. - Graham Millar, Killarney Heights Kean’s glowing reference for Abbott omits a few glitches along the way, not the least was his despicable treatment of Julia Gillard. - Vicky Marquis, Glebe

Can we please clear up the matter of taxes? Kean repeats the myth that Abbott and the Coalition support ‘‘lower taxes’’. The government’s own budget papers demonstrate that each of the last six Coalition years have shown higher tax receipts than in every year of the previous Labor government and that those tax receipts have been steadily increasing. The debate should be about the fairest and most efficient way to raise and spend it and how fast to pay down government debt. - David Hind, Neutral Bay Thank you, Matt Kean, for your free election advertisement for Labor and other progressives, and for your insight into the quality of administration we can expect from your Berejiklian government for the next four years. - Jim Ayling, Kirrawee Re-building Notre-Dame a matter for all humanity What a magnificent gesture it would have been for Australia to contribute a few dollars to the rebuilding of Notre-Dame, truly a treasure for the world ("Scott Morrison rejects Turnbull's call for Notre-Dame rebuilding fund", April 17). It may have given the Prime Minister a few votes. - Michael Walsh, Ashfield What a narrow minded thinker the PM is to reject calls for a fund to aid the rebuilding of Notre- Dame. It is a piece of world heritage that belongs to us all as humans, not just France. His government can afford to waste $185 million on a photo opportunity on Christmas Island, but can't find it within their hearts to contribute to the rebuilding of Notre Dame. - Paul Pearce, Bronte

The PM does not represent our community's well-documented generosity to disaster relief. - Mora Main, Waverley I've long thought Morrison has no sense of history. Now he dismisses the idea that there could be a government authorised public fund set up to support the restoration of Notre-Dame. It's a cathedral that has survived for more than 800 years, despite Protestant attacks during the long years of the Wars of Religion, the vandalism of the Jacobins during the anti-clerical French Revolution and the two world wars of the 20th century. - Carolyn van Langenberg, Blackheath If the Sydney Opera House almost burnt down, how many of our local billionaires would cough up mega-millions to rebuild it? Hope we never have to find out. - Barry Ffrench, Cronulla Woe betide the poor restoration contractor if he or she is found to be responsible for this fire ("In five years Notre-Dame will be reborn, French president Macron pledges", April 17). Filling out an accident report for a paper cut is bad enough – imagine this. - Stephen Iacono, Rosebery Those despairing about the damage to Notre Dame cathedral can take heart if they consider that other iconic heritage buildings in Europe destroyed as a result bombing during World Wars I and II have been rebuilt. In time, Notre-Dame will be restored to its former glory. - Jennifer McKay, Ashbury

Shorten needs to detail tax on super plan When asked by journalists what were his long-term plans for superannuation tax policy Bill Shorten's responses were not satisfactory ("Shorten under pressure on super", April 17). Pressed by the journalists, he then ran out of patience and replied, "sure". Bill, you need to be more informative as to your plans for my life savings. - Eugene Kennedy, Mittagong Tax on superannuation is a mess and is constantly being changed by both major parties. One underlying issue that isn't addressed is the fact that taxes on superannuation are not comparable to taxes on income. Australia has a progressive rate of tax, where the more you earn, the more you pay. In essence, tax on superannuation is a flat rate of tax for everyone, with the tinkering occurring around the edges for higher income earners. The proposals by Labor are changes to the additional amount of tax a higher income earner may pay, but they are not new taxes. - Michael Blissenden, Dural Scott Morrison sides with the oldies and promises to "never, ever" increase taxes on superannuation ("PM not shy about pitching to the retiring types", April 17). No inter-generational equity there. Just as a predecessor's declaration that "there will be no carbon tax under a government I lead" did not survive the post-election circumstances, financial pressure from an ageing population will force future governments to wind-back the overly generous taxation support given to the retired class. - Maurice Critchley, Kenthurst The Prime Minister appears to have forgotten it was his government who caused nearly 300,000 retirees to lose their part pension a couple of years ago. At least Bill Shorten has given us ample warning on his franking credits policy, although as Opposition Leader he is failing to make it clear those on the pension or part pension will not be affected by the franking credits policy. - Robyn Lewis, Raglan

Red letter day Congratulations to the Fullerton Hotels group. In an era when knock down and destroy anything of significant historical worth seems to be the mantra of developers, their understanding of the value of the old GPO is admirable ("New owners brush up Sydney's GPO after decades of grime and punishment", April 17). Many in Sydney may not have seen the beautiful stairway and cedar work in the old building nor have stepped over the Tank Stream in the basement. Not many have seen the GPO telephone exchange up those stairs where after six weeks of hard training young women sat answering and connecting calls. It will be wonderful to see the old girl emerge in her earlier glory. - Patricia Slidziunas, Woonona Out of touch I am pretty sure that if the Institute of Public Affairs were a political party running in this federal election it would not win a single seat in either house ("IPA urges Coalition MPs to sell the ABC", April 17). The Coalition will do well to ignore the IPA and their out of touch demands as implementation of any of these won't garner any further votes. - Paul Townsend, Narara The Institute of Public Affairs wants the Coalition candidates to commit to a royal commission into climate change data because it believes the Bureau of Meteorology "has manipulated data to make it appear as if the temperature is higher than it actually is". No need. I was here. It was stinking hot. There, job done. - Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga

Why is the right so worried about GetUp? From the size of donations to that organisation, it represents a large proportion of concerned Australians prepared to commit a little money to a heart-felt vision for a better Australia. But perhaps the complainers would like to disclose how many LNP MPs and senators are members of the IPA and how much that group influence government policy. - Shayne Chester, Potts Point Only tax can bridge the gap My out of pocket expenses for cancer treatment were well over $30 000, which stripped our savings (Letters, April 17). I had no option as public treatment was not available. Bulk billing is manifestly inadequate and not available for the majority and to use hospital emergency for minor medical issues only exacerbates the already overloaded situation. - Jon Hartley, Newcastle If you want the gap to be closed we have to agree to higher taxes and Medicare levy, for that is the only way it can be afforded. Yes, it's great that an ever increasing number of medications are included on the PBS and improved medical treatments are given Medicare costing codes, but they have to be paid for. Further tax cuts mean greater loss of services if we are to repay government debt, which has doubled under the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments. - Stephen Dunn, Bonnells Bay Medicare rebates need increasing, but when is a government going to take on medical specialists who charge several times the schedule fee? Legislation capping doctors' fees is in place in a number of other countries, and considering much of doctors' incomes come from tax in this country, this would seem to be a fair and reasonable thing to do. - Heather Phillips, Wahroonga

Pushing boundaries Paolo Totaro defines the essence of fascism as intolerance of diversity ("The signs are clear: fascism has returned", April 17). I would suggest intolerance of diversity from a group norm. The members of the fascist group give strength to each other such that they are not bothered by normal moral boundaries. They find the scapegoats they need to define their own shaky identity. The group membership is what gives fascism its virulence. I am not sure whether it has actually returned, or it has just never gone away. - Mark Porter, New Lambton Fair go for kids Scott Morrison keeps going on about a "fair go for having a go" ("Cut Catholic and private school fund, raise teaching ATARs: Grattan", April 17). By his logic, only the kids born into relative wealth 'have a go', because the kids of the less wealthy are certainly not getting a 'fair go' under his government's underfunding of public schools. - David McMaster, Cremorne

Shocking news for the Murdochs I was shocked to read the Murdochs have been victims of "rancid hatchet jobs" and" muck spreading" by media rivals ("News Corp chief hits out at tech giants", April 17). Next we'll be hearing of journos hacking celebrities' phones, going through their dustbins or targeting politicians they dislike by creating dirt files. - Nick Franklin, Katoomba This week's "Pot Calling the Kettle Black Award" has to go to CEO Robert Thomson. - Craig Forbes, Lewisham Rock on, Iggy The Opera House will never be the same after Iggy Popp's electrifying performance there ("Iggy Pop: grandfather of punk still a real wild child", April 16). This is a septuagenarian who still writhes around the stage as though he is a teenager, exposes his torso, sticks the microphone down his pants and sings the socks over any other rocker. He is still one of the world's most exciting singers performing. The Opera House will need to bring in a priest to exorcise and cleanse the joint after his departure. - Con Vaitsas, Ashbury

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