Your Say: week beginning June 2

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 June 2

A new insurer?

“Australian households are now being refused insurance in some areas, while insurers are continuing to increase their profit margins. Perhaps we need an actual competitor in the shape of a government-backed, not-for-profit insurer, providing lower-cost, no frills cover.”

Mark Walker, Kempsey, NSW

Conservative collapse

“It appears that far right conservatives have effectively sabotaged the Liberals and made them irrelevant and unelectable. Abbott, Credlin, the Murdoch media, Sky News and their commentators are sprouting a philosophy that the majority of Australians do not want. No one is listening.”

Brian Allen OAM, Warranwood, VIC

‘Just’ renting

“Renting is often regarded as second best compared to owning a house. Stop asking people if they own their home or are ‘just renting’. There’s no cause for stigma.”

Nancy Oosterhoff, Wentworth Falls, NSW

We are global

“I have been reading The Conversation from almost the beginning, but now I read your French and Spanish editions too. I continue to be amazed at the breadth and quality of international scholarship out there: such sanity and clear thinking in this time of world uncertainty.”

Brian Edwards, NSW

Tueday June 3

Go gas

“I’ve never received an answer from a climate activist: if a country can’t get gas from Australia, what do you think they’ll do? They’ll get it elsewhere and continue polluting. So why should Australia give up the economic benefit of selling this gas while another country gains it?”

John Oxley

No gas

“Woodside and SA’s Marion Council, which supports a new local Tesla factory, are both using the same excuse: ‘if we don’t do it, someone else will’. Using that logic, I suppose I can say that if I don’t shoot Australia’s last koala, someone else certainly will. What happened to the principle of setting a good example?”

John Peel, Woollahra, NSW

Local perspective

“It was a disgraceful decision to allow Woodside to build its gas plant on the Burrup in the first place. Remember, we bring in the gas via more than 100km of undersea pipelines, yet they wouldn’t pay the extra little bit to locate the plant further inland. The decision to extend its licence is further salt in the wounds of our Indigenous communities.”

John Roach

Wednesday June 4

Super fixes

“I’m a retired accountant with a self-managed super fund. There’s no doubt people in my position are hugely advantaged by the current super tax law. The new tax threshold should be reduced from $3 million to $2 million, but indexed. Unrealised gains shouldn’t be taxed either. Let’s hope the government can summon the courage to address these issues, but I’m not holding my breath!”

Tom Foote

Super sneaky

“Do not impose more penalties on the humble pensioner who has put money into super. Taxing unrealised capital gains is the sneaking socialism growing in our economy.”

David Lyons

Dear John, from John

“John Oxley says (Your Say, 3 June 2025) he’s never received an answer about whether gas purchasers will just go elsewhere if we stop producing gas. It’s basic economics: the more gas supply there is in the market, the cheaper it will be. This leads to greater consumption and less motivation for people to move away from polluting sources”

John Yesberg, Brisbane, QLD

Reading in the loo?

“I found the comparison of a smartphone to a parasite really credible. Holding a phone 24 hours a day, even when in the bathroom, seems the norm now. This article reaffirmed my worst fears and awakened me to think critically about the serious side of human evolution and our over-reliance on smartphones.”

Elizabeth Ross

Thursday June 5

Super wealthy?

“I am flabbergasted at the degree of opprobrium leveled at proposed taxation changes to super balances over $3M. Who even has a super balance over $3M? No one I know and almost certainly no-one in my demographic (50-something women). Anyone who does is likely able to pay the additional tax. It reeks of privilege, entitlement and the use of super as a tax haven.”

Raquel Bita

North West shame

“I have been a long time Labor Member and supporter. I am disgusted with Murray Watt, and the Labor Government’s decision to approve the North West Shelf extension is nothing short of hypocritical and abhorrent. I will be making as much noise about this issue as I can!”

Lana Sawyer

Longer articles, please

“I would love to see some longer, in-depth articles. Rather than just skimming the surface of a topic, I’d love to read more about it to get a fuller understanding.”

Jacqueline Whittaker