Your say: week beginning October 27

Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.

Monday October 27

Not much love for negative gearing

“I absolutely agree with others on negative gearing. It is so damned obvious. And if it weren’t for the wealthy investors in our country who conveniently ignore the housing crisis, something would be done to get rid of this elephant in the room. Negative gearing feeds the wealthy and deprives the average worker from ever owning their own home. Come on politicians; listen to common sense and give the younger generation a chance to find affordable housing.”

Jennie Clarke

Crime capital?

“The article on Melbourne being regarded as the crime capital looks at the overall crime rate, but that is not what people mean when they say there is a crime wave. They are referring specifically to knife and machete use, home invasions, store theft, carjacking, car theft, high speed dangerous driving to avoid police pursuit and tobacco war fires. Have these increased to wave proportions?”

Graham Pilkington

Lisztomania

“I am a great great granddaughter of Franz Liszt. His effect on people as he played has been widely written about. It was when he played his own compositions in concerts that resulted in huge emotional responses from his audiences. Not just women. Men would shout, call for encores and loudly stamp their feet. Maybe Liszt did capitalise on his popularity, but in the end it was his brilliance both in composition and playing that stood out and brought them all to their feet.”

Name withheld

Tuesday October 28

Not so negative (gearing)

“Stop wasting oxygen and ink on inane comments about negative gearing (above). I understand the frustration caused by the housing shortage but singling out housing rental businesses for more onerous tax treatment will not increase housing supply. There are many, many steps we can be taking to increase supply and make housing more affordable. Bring on some real discussion to prompt some actual progress.”

Gundars Simsons

Helping family

“As a Greens member I’m opposed to the idea of negative gearing but when my husband and I arrived in Sydney and found a house, it seemed like it could help us create homes for our kids later. It certainly has helped them. At the moment I am renting out my old house to struggling families for a very fair rent and may be pushed to sell it in order to help my son buy. I worry about where the young family will find a pool and garden for so little if I have to sell to help pay millions of dollars for anywhere my family wants to live.”

Liz Thornton

Legislation limits

“The Your Say letter about negative gearing got me thinking about the life of legislation. It’s brought in to deal with a situation. Once that situation no longer exists, the legislation needs to be repealed or amended to fit the current circumstance, surely?”

Peter Horler