Response to the letter by Dave Cox, ‘‘Trade does no favours’’ (Mercury, August 17). The criticism of the free-trade agreement with China seems to be another excuse to attack Prime Minister Abbott with smear and misrepresentation.
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However, I think Mr Cox has a point with regard to China just doing what they want in our country with little respect for us. But there are a number of problems:
(1) The China FTA with Australia has been in negotiation for almost 10 years, and Labor was in office for six years.
(2) China is a powerhouse economy and it is difficult to avoid doing some type of deal with them.
(3) Agreements with other countries can build more than good trade relationships and assist in diplomatic matters.
My problem with China is not so much in trade deals but allowing our country to be sold off, and I feel a growing number of Australians are concerned about this matter. If you want Australia to be more competitive while being more self-reliant, then remove penalty rates, have coal or nuclear generated electricity as a stable energy source and market our own top quality produce locally ‘‘first’’ which would help our farmers and producers.
Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow
The letter from John Young expressing concern over the widespread lack of interest shown by tradespeople in doing small jobs certainly hit the nail on the head. The problems affecting trades and practices across Australian industry, arises from out-of-touch rules and regulations by federal and state governments.
Before a tradesperson can offer any services, they must first be qualified and licensed, must have company registration, Workcover insurance, public liability insurance, product liability, vehicle registration and insurance, and superannuation plus pay rent and advertising costs to tell potential customers what he/she does.
It used to cost me $45 an hour before I even walked out the door.
High cost overheads are killing the game before it begins.
Australia is definitely not open for business, compulsory costs have shut the shop. Little wonder that tradies are picking the eyes out of work they do. It’s not trade unions that are forcing costs up, it’s ridiculous regulations and charges.
Dave Cox, Corrimal
The electorate is becoming very sceptical about our federal politicians, both Liberal/Nat and Labor in the ‘‘Feral’’ parliament.
Neither Liberal nor Labor have any policies to deal with the serious economic problem our nation is facing as the result of globalisation that has seen China flood world markets with cheap manufactured products that no western nation can compete with.
There is only one solution, that is until China, an oligarchy, becomes a democracy and lets its workers have trade unions and good pay and conditions comparable with Western democracies. Western nations should bring back tariffs and protection for their manufacturing industries.
Tony Foot, Unanderra
The quality of our elected parliamentarians is at its lowest ebb.
Tony Abbott is an example. There is something wrong with an electoral system that elects a government that ignores the people’s will, replacing it with their own selfish interests.
Reg Wilding, Wollongong