We just want integrity. Barnaby Joyce could be in something (“Watchdog Will Handle Political Vision,” The Age, 7/6). Voters said we wanted an integrity commission, but what we really wanted was integrity. Existing agencies (Auditor General, Productivity Commission, media, etc.) have blatantly lacked it, so we voted against the government. If the new government remembers it, perhaps an integrity commission is unnecessary, as Joyce claims. Maybe just legislation to curb political donations and notorious election spending. Peter Greig, Colac
Seeing through the “vision” Most Australians can see through the “political vision” of Barnaby Joyce to maintain the status quo and voted in favor of a federal anti-corruption body to ensure a clear view of the processes and political decisions. Graham Cadd, Dromana
Strange Priorities Your article “Heritage Controls Shadow Over Solar Panels” (The Age, 7/6) is a reminder of how petty government can be petty. The city of Boroondara has undergone a massive redevelopment over the years, and especially not for the better, aesthetically or for the environment. Perfectly good houses and their gardens have been demolished to make way for the McMansions we now see on our streets. Wall-to-wall concrete and polystyrene columns, with standard white roses and possibly a fence if the developer feels generous. Both for the leafy eastern suburbs. And, of course, if a promoter gets a hit from the town hall, he goes to VCAT and voila, a tick and a rubber stamp. It’s really ironic that solar panels might be considered inappropriate, but monstrous concrete houses with just one tree to look at aren’t. Let’s think. Kate Read, Canterbury
Blinking view. We empathize with solar panel owner Richard Barnes. Boroondara City Council had a similar problem with the solar panels on our roof facing the street, as our house is in a heritage area. We had exhausted all the available space on the north-facing roof, which did not face the street, and when we wanted more panels, the only possibility was the roof facing the street. The panels used are very similar to the color of the roof and are flattened. We also went to the VCAT, and we were successful. The difference was that our house, even though it was in a heritage area, was only about 20 years old at the time. In general, the vision of the Council of Boroondara and that of some other councils is quite puzzling, especially in its main consideration of the vision of a house. from the front. There is an old house on a corner block in a heritage area of Boroondara with a roof covered with solar panels that are visible from the street, but it is allowed because the panels are not oriented to the front of the house. There are many modern additions visible. in homes that councils consider to be of no heritage value, including extensions, canopies, electrical cables, cars on roads, antennas, satellite disks, air conditioning units and skylights. Some houses have it all. People who look at homes are very capable of seeing their heritage value beyond their modern additions. Jenny Callaghan, Hawthorn
Easier to demolish It seems that town councils have a dual focus on heritage. Under current regulations, it would probably have been easier to demolish the house in question than to replace the solar panels. City councils need to be clear about their priorities and remember that there is a climate crisis. How Cormick, Albert Park
The owners are not charged. Your correspondent (Letters, 7/6) asks why the owners are not responsible for making the buildings more energy efficient. As investor parents convinced by our bank manager to become property owners about 10 years ago, we have experienced the replacement of mature and cooperative property managers by young and inexperienced staff. We are now paying for mandatory annual smoke inspections. detectors, gas and electricity audits, each at a high price. Fair enough. But when tenants do not do the basic maintenance of appliances and the house, we receive bills to unlock the sink, vacuum the heating fans, replace the shutter cable, etc., each of hundreds of dollars. When we were tenants, these were our responsibilities. Sometimes it seems like we are dealing with a business management agent and we pay the privilege. Don’t assume that all homeowners are living the high life. Name withheld on request
It was time for an audit. I was trembling when I read the story of life in the “ice house” of your correspondent’s daughter in Mitcham: no insulation and high ceilings. There are probably not many opportunities in the current market to find another better insulated rental. A good gift can be an energy audit. Renshade to reflect heat; bubble wrap for non-scenic windows; sealing around the edges of the board and at the top of the covers were ideas that were helpful in my place. The auditor found all the drafts and we were able to choose to do what we wanted. We just paid for the audit. Elaine Hopper, Blackburn
Do tenants want costs? We have had rental property for about 18 years. The existing tenant when we bought the property has been there all this time. The tenant hopes to live there “forever,” and we would like to keep it. However, residential rental reforms are making this increasingly difficult for homeowners. No one wants to rent an unsecured property, but we are now required to conduct gas and electricity inspections every year, at a cost of more than $ 700. If we want to maintain our income, the rent should increase by about $ 14 a week. If the gas inspector finds that the distance between the stove and the top kitchen cabinets is two inches smaller in the ’70s house, we should remodel the entire kitchen (as has happened with other owners). The rent would be increased to recoup this cost, but we would rather sell than spend this effort and effort, leaving a rental property available. I applauded the state government’s efforts to provide more security and certainty of tenancy to tenants, but the reality is that it can have the opposite effect on tenants. Louise Kloot, Doncaster
Be careful with the tiger. In response to Peter Hartcher (“Offer Friendship, Reverence,” 7/6), Defense Minister Richard Marles is wise to bridge the nuclear gap by quickly building other means of defense. Australia has few resources in its security capacity. It needs to be better prepared as China continues to try to gain more prominence in the Pacific region through provocative means. There’s an Indian saying, “Watch out for a roaming tiger, because it can catch you without realizing it.” Glenise Michaelson, Montmorency
Bamboo Power A bamboo-framed bike may look like a humble machine (“PM takes off socks and walks around diplomacy,” 7/6), but add electricity and they are anything but. They can even humiliate the famous electronic car in sustainable active transport mobility. We hope Melbourne City Council will take note. Michael Oxer, Fitzroy North
Technical Tip: “Restaurants have reached a technological turning point” (The Age, 7/6), last week I had lunch at a local bar, ordering (for the first time) my meal from a food ordering platform. I was offered the option to provide a tip as part of this ordering and payment process, i.e. before food arrives and before any significant interaction with staff. I’m in favor of tipping for friendly service and good food, but that seemed beyond anything. Fiona White, Alfredton
Deepest Problem of Cosmetics Testimonial problems in cosmetic surgery are not just on the skin (“Testimonial Warning for Cosmetic Surgeons”, 7/6). They go much deeper. The very nature of the vast majority of cosmetic surgeries is disconnected from any real pathological process, with the important exceptions of patients presenting with actual deformities or disfigurements that may be congenital or acquired. In other words, most patients who want cosmetic surgery are driven by ideas or feelings that some part or parts of their body are not as they would like them to be. It seems that it is a peculiar phenomenon of the 21st century that medicine has entered this area. The other side would surely be a little more acceptance of our natural physical self and a little more focus on various forms of self-improvement or self-acceptance that can come in non-surgical ways. Dr. Larry Hermann, South Yarra
Barriers to Diagnosis: Where is the Benefit of Educating Students to Recognize the Early Warning Signs of Endometriosis (“Students to Talk About Endometriosis,” 6/6) If Our Medical Profession Doesn’t Have the Same formation? Our daughter’s eight-year journey was not caused by our ignorance or inactivity. Young women need doctors to be educated to treat endometrial symptoms and, most importantly, better research and intervention techniques. Current laparoscopic procedures do not always find endometriosis. And that means finding a gynecologist who is willing to do a laparoscopy, and you can afford to pay for it. Name withheld on request
Once they were terrified, Kerri Sackville’s insightful article (“I’m with Kate, some kids won’t be domesticated,” 7/6) recalled the visit of three rebellious children to my (last) husband’s dental surgery. Its stormy nature and rebellious and noisy actions made us cling to what we could to keep it intact. Her parents sat and read the magazines. Years later, these three young people are a merit of the community. Good workers, exemplary manners and a pleasure to meet you again. That Prince Louis mutinied does not mean anything. Anne Kruger, rye
And one more thing
Illustration: Matt GoldingCredit:
Barnaby Joyce, speaking after his removal from the National Party leadership, said Barnaby “was a burden on his shoulders”. The public answer could be: we also lose weight. Hugh McCaig, Blackburn
Foreign policy Of course, Albanese should go to the G20 and tell Putin what civilized people think of his disgusting …