Value-hungry Aussies will benefit from even more auto brands, says BYD

Australia is already home to more automotive brands than any other country, making it one of the world's most competitive auto markets as well as one of the smallest, but Chinese giant BYD says value-focused local consumers will benefit from even more of them as brand loyalty disappears amid the cost of living crisis.
'Australia has the most brands available in any market, but I think what we're seeing is a shift in understanding as well,' BYD Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kate Hornstein told CarExpert.
'The walls are coming down to new brands. I think brand loyalty is somewhat disappearing, and I think Australians are very driven, especially in today's climate, by value and what their own personal family needs.
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'By being able to give them choice and more options, it's only going to be better for the customer.'
BYD launched in Australia in 2022 and has since announced it will bring its Denza luxury brand – which will play a similar role for BYD as Lexus does for Toyota – to showrooms before the end of 2025.
While it hasn't announced any others, BYD also has its Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands in China, and models from each are on the cards for Australia – although they will likely be sold as BYD or Denza models.
Other Chinese automakers have also brought several brands to Australia, including Chery which recently launched its Omoda Jaecoo brand and potentially has more to come.
The first Geely -badged model – the EX5 mid-size electric SUV – went on sale here in March 2025, adding to other Geely owned or controlled brand already present locally including Volvo, Polestar, Smart and Zeekr.
While many more are coming here, Australia currently has about 70 auto brands, despite the exit of several in relatively recent years including Holden, Daewoo, Daihatsu, Dodge, Chrysler, Citroen, Opel and Alpine, which will make a comeback in 2026 with the Alpine A390 hatch.
In the space of less than five years, Australia will have added about a dozen new Chinese brands, providing more choice for consumers than ever, but also forcing each automaker to fight over a relatively small sales pie – 1.2 million total sales across all brands in 2024.
That compares to roughly 30 million new vehicle sales annually in China, 16 million in the US, 2.8 million in Germany and 1.95 million in the UK.
Chinese automaker MG became a top-10 selling brand for the first time Down Under in July 2021. It's now firmly entrenched here and will launch its IM Motors premium electric brand here later this year.
IM Motors is to MG what Denza is to BYD, which previously stated plans to eclipse local market leader Toyota by 2027. Ms Hornstein says Denza will be another alternative to luxury marques primarily from Germany.
'When we look at Denza, the [luxury car] segment is largely populated by European brands and I think when we look at cost of ownership, initial outlay, cost of extended ownership, it's incredibly expensive for Australians just given where we are geographically,' she said.
'So I think what this provides is another option for customers to explore when they are in the market for a car.'

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Perth Now

2 hours ago

• Perth Now

2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive review

The new-generation BMW X3 lineup is here, and the range-topping variant is the X3 M50 xDrive. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert This six-cylinder sweetheart is the most powerful version in the mid-size premium SUV model range – for now, at least – and it's also the most expensive. So is it worth considering? And does it offer 'M' levels of performance for the price? Read on and find out. The flagship BMW X3 M50 xDrive isn't cheap, but it does offer a pretty impressive value for money equation if you're looking for a six-cylinder super-SUV. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The new-generation X3 is a massive step up in terms of interior design and finish compared to the previous model. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert The last one was pretty good, but this? In a lot of ways, it looks and feels genuinely premium… but even so, I noticed a couple of ill-fitting plastics around the console, and there has been a bit of criticism around the material finishes more generally. Is it a $130k car interior? Well, I think it's pretty good, but maybe not as good as it should be for that kind of cash. The design is neat though, with a really big focus on lighting and tech as the mainstays of this cabin treatment, and if that's your thing, it's got that bling. There's a head-up display, which is excellent, and a fully digital instrument cluster with loads of menu controllability. You can manage it via the steering wheel buttons – just note that the glossy finish on those controls can look a bit grubby over time. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert I'm not a huge fan of the reflective surfaces, but functionality-wise, everything's where you'd expect. You've also got cruise control and paddle shifters, including a Boost paddle that delivers maximum power when held down. It's pretty fun to use, let me tell you. There's also a 14.9-inch touchscreen media system which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus it has a heap of built-in functions, including cloud-based satellite navigation. The system is packed with menus, some of which you can unlock through subscriptions for extras like Audible, YouTube, and more. It's pretty intuitive overall, though some features might take a bit of learning, and I still found it a bit confusing for some of the things I wanted to see quickly, like a trip computer display (which, unless I'm wrong, can't be shown up on the driver info screen!). 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert There's also a drive recorder (though you'll need to be logged in to access it), a favorites tab, and a recently used panel for quicker navigation. Climate control is handled through a fan button that opens up further settings, including air direction and speed, so yeah, in that way it's like a lot of new cars with menus on menus to adjust simple things, but there is a voice control system that seems to get it right more often than not. Surprisingly, the ventilation system is one of the highlights. You get haptic sliders for fan speed and toggles for vent direction. It is a clean, clever design. Even the door-mounted vents have touch controls and adjust the airflow direction with motorised fins. Open the door, and you'll notice more thoughtful details: illuminated controls, memory seat settings, and even light-up hazard indicators integrated into the door and dash trim. It's impressive and adds a futuristic, high-end feel. You can option a textile dashboard made from recycled materials, but even the standard soft-touch finish feels refined. The seats are trimmed in high-quality synthetic leather. Convincing, soft, and comfortable – and if you want real leather, you can get it for an extra fee. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert The front seats are electrically adjustable, heated, and include driver memory settings as standard. There's a centre console area BMW calls the 'jewellery box', which includes a wireless phone charger, a second phone pad, USB ports, and dual cupholders. You'll also find an iDrive controller, which is a bit old-school maybe, but it's a great alternative to the touchscreen for navigating menus. The only downside is the glossy finish, which is a fingerprint magnet. You'll appreciate that there's a volume dial, drive mode selector, and quick-access buttons for your car settings. Switch to Sport mode, and the cabin lighting, instrument display, and even the character of the car change. It's a small touch that makes a big difference. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert There's also a shortcut to car settings, where you can disable lane-keeping assist or adjust driving characteristics. The central-screen camera system is fantastic, offering multiple views, including 3D mode, car wash alignment, and a reversing assistant. It's genuinely one of the best systems I've used. And it has the Reversing Assistant feature, which can back the car out of a situation you've driven into, if you're not confident you'll be able to do it (there's up to 50m of reversing possible!). You've got a toggle-style gear selector, electronic park brake, idle start/stop button, a decent centre console bin, and a fairly spacious glovebox. The door pockets easily accommodate large bottles. Up top, there are illuminated vanity mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, SOS call button, interior camera, and your overhead light controls. It all feels smartly designed and pretty posh. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert Now, to the back seats. With the driver's seat set to my driving position (I'm 182cm/6'0' tall), there was decent foot room, and the scalloped seatbacks help with knee space, but it's not the roomiest back seat in the segment. Headroom was also a little tighter than expected. But in terms of features, it's excellent for families. You get grab handles, coat hooks, overhead lights, map pockets, and ventilation with stylish controls. Rear climate settings and USB-C ports are there, too. There is a large transmission tunnel, so squeezing three adults across might be a challenge. But you do get ISOFIX child seat anchors on the window seats, three top-tether points, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders. The door pockets are big, and the doors have soft padded trim, keeping things comfortable and premium-feeling. The boot is bigger this time around, too. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert There's 570 litres of cargo capacity in the new-gen X3 with the rear seats up (20L more than the last version) and that expands to 1700L with the seats folded down (up 100L compared to before). A bonus thing to note is the rear seat has a 40:20:40-split folding design, so you can make the space more useable than in some other vehicles in this segment. There are numerous shopping bag hooks, a 12V port, storage netting and good lighting in the cargo zone. There is no spare wheel, though. Just a tyre repair kit, despite the fact there is a space-saver-style shape in the boot area. To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool As I've made clear, this one is the six-cylinder variant in the range, with petrol power and a whole heap of horses. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert There is a much more affordable four-cylinder variant (the X3 20) with rear-wheel drive, and the mid-range plug-in hybrid X3 30e is a lovely vehicle too, and it has AWD if you need it. But this one is a honey. However, it's also the thirstiest version in the range, with a claimed official combined fuel consumption figure of 8.2L/100km. On test, I saw above that – with a mix of driving returning a still-respectable 9.3L/100km. It needs premium 98-octane unleaded, so that'll add to the running costs, and the fuel tank capacity is 65 litres. To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The straight-six turbo-petrol engine in the M50 is a cracker, with a huge amount of shove and some serious theatre to it, too. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert There's a lovely engine note, and it amasses speed with such effortlessness that you will need to be mindful of your licence. It's seriously fast. What I love about the drive experience in the more aggressive drive modes is that the assertiveness of the transmission when it upshifts is fantastic. It's a very involving experience, and properly forceful. You can take matters into your own hands if you want to, of course. There is a set of paddle shifters but, honestly, I don't think you need them. This eight-speed auto is a winner. It's so predictable and smart in the way it shifts – and speedy, too. I really, really like this powertrain. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert The M50 does have adaptive M suspension to set it apart, and it feels super sporty in the way it behaves. It's not necessarily punishing in its firmness, but it's a little less forgiving over sharp edges and bumpy bits. This is particularly noticeable around town, where it can feel a little bouncy over bumps and lumps in the road, and pogo-ey through slow-speed, offset intersection moments. The steering is excellent, too – it has a bit of a weighty feel, but it's not too heavy, and it's very manoeuvrable in low-speed situations as well. There's no silly all-wheel steering here, either, so it is a more natural and pure drive than some rivals. You can really feel the rear-bias of this powertrain. It definitely eggs you on, and certainly lives up to the notion of it being an M-Lite car. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert It brakes beautifully as well, with positive and enjoyable responsiveness, and you can really trust the pedal action in this vehicle. It is tuned to be enthusiastic, but it's not overbearingly sporty. The only real downside is that, on country roads or over really coarse-chip surfaces like some parts of the M4 motorway in Sydney, it can be a bit loud inside. Sports over luxury, in that instance, then. To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Here's a rundown of the standard equipment across all three grades currently available in the G45-series BMW X3 lineup. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 20 xDrive equipment highlights: 19-inch alloy wheels Run-flat tyres M Sport package Adaptive suspension Adaptive LED headlights BMW Iconic Glow illuminated kidney grille Acoustic glazing Power tailgate 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Operating System 9 BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant BMW Digital Premium (90-day trial) Remote software updates Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto DAB+ digital radio Six-speaker sound system Wireless phone charger Head-up display Tri-zone climate control Anti-dazzle exterior and interior mirrors Comfort Access and Digital Key Plus M Sport leather steering wheel Anthracite M headliner Veganza upholstery Power-adjustable front seats Heated front seats X3 30e xDrive adds: Fixed panoramic glass sunroof Roller blinds for rear side windows Heated steering wheel Ventilated front seats Heated outboard rear seats 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert X3 M50 xDrive adds: 21-inch alloy wheels Metallic paint M-specific kidney, mirror caps and aerodynamic elements Quad exhaust outlets M Sport Pro package M braking system with red calipers Privacy glass M Shadowline headlights and extended contents 15-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system M seatbelts If you're shopping up to this grade, you can also accessorise it a bit, with a choice of a few different wheel finishes, interior trims and more. The towing package costs $2200. To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool There's still no safety rating from Euro NCAP or ANCAP for the new-generation BMW X3. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert However, it has a host of standard safety technology and equipment, including the following highlights: Autonomous emergency braking Blind-spot monitoring Lane departure warning Steering and Lane Control Assistant Adaptive cruise control with stop and go Surround-view camera Parking assistant Reverse Assistant Drive recorder Tyre pressure monitoring system Other tech includes a speed sign recognition system, but thankfully it's not frustrating, and nor is most of the active safety tech, making this a rather agreeable vehicle to live with. To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool BMW Australia offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert The German brand doesn't have set service intervals for its models; instead its vehicles have 'condition-based maintenance' requirements, meaning the car will tell you when it's time for a service. Typically, you can bank on it being every year or so, and there's a five-year/80,000km prepaid service package you can choose, for $2475. The X3 comes with three years of roadside assistance included at no cost, too. To see how the BMW X3 stacks up against the competition, check out our comparison tool There is no doubt the BMW X3 M50 xDrive is a dynamic and joyous thing to drive in the right situation, and it's the sort of SUV that encourages you to go and find that situation, too. 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive Credit: CarExpert More than just a family-friendly luxury SUV, it's a fun one. And I think it's well worth the money for someone who's looking for exactly that. Interested in buying a BMW X3? Let CarExpert find you the best deal here MORE: Explore the BMW X3 showroom Terrific engine Delightfully potent Decent value for money Some interior fit and finish qualms Bouncy ride in urban driving Complex and layered media menus Power: 293kW Fuel Type: Premium Unleaded Petrol Economy: 8.9L/100km CO2 Emissions: 204g/km ANCAP Safety Rating: Untested

Sydney Morning Herald

9 hours ago

• Sydney Morning Herald

Chalmers must realise any reform relies on trust

Peter Hartcher acknowledges the media needs to give Jim Chalmers the space to consider the many possible changes needed to, among other things, our tax system, to prepare our democracy for the future (' Gentle Jim levels path to reform ', June 21). Chalmers says those changes will be viewed from the centre, that is, with no inherent political bias but with the country's needs as the guide. If that is the case, we will expand the GST to cover all items including food and increase it, acknowledging that is how you tax the rich. We will fairly distribute GST between states rather than buying votes of smaller states by robbing from larger ones. We will consider including the family home in the assets test for the pension if it exceeds, say, $2 million, and we will tax superannuation in retirement if that becomes necessary. If Chalmers can tell me he will at least consider all those things, then he may be a worthy successor to Paul Keating. If he can't, he shouldn't waste our time with grand speeches. Brian Barrett, Padstow Peter Hartcher's refreshingly positive look at our treasurer's vision for Australia prompts this old-timer to look back as well as forward. I would urge Jim Chalmers to focus on two traditional turns of phrase used affectionately and ironically. The first is 'a fair go'. We love thinking of ourselves as open-minded in the land of equal opportunity, but are the exorbitant tax privileges of just 80,000 of the richest people in the world proving a fair go is a joke? If so, how can we reinvent it with pride? Our second phrase is 'she'll be right, mate'. All too often, though, it reflects a dismissive apathy afflicting Australia and the West from the effects of globalisation and bullies wearing tin stars. The government's goal should be to inspire a genuine fair go until it can say 'she'll be right' and mean it. Peter Farmer, Northbridge I find Hartcher's take on Chalmers' proposed new superannuation tax on balances over $3 million to be confounding. Hartcher should realise it's not the increase in tax that's the problem but the taxing of unrealised capital gains and the lack of indexation that has made this legislation unprecedented and unfair in the minds of many Australians, and rightly so. Jock Weir, West Wyalong Chalmers is right to ask whether Australia still has the appetite for meaningful reform. It's a fair question. But if he really wants the public to come with him, he'll need to show more care in how these reforms are shaped. Take the proposed superannuation tax on balances over $3 million. It's not the lift from 15 per cent to 30 per cent that's causing alarm — most retirees can see the logic and could plan for that. What's concerning is the move to tax unrealised gains. That's not income – it's just a value on paper; it's volatile and it may not persist. So a policy change which could have been accepted without fuss has become the 'sheer ventilation' Hartcher describes. Reform depends on trust – on people believing the process is fair, measured and transparent. By making unreasonable demands like this and framing them for minor tweaks, Chalmers risks the very consensus he's asking for. Marina Cardillo, Beecroft Chalmers deserves support for his plans to rejuvenate our faltering economy. If the naysayers, big business, the conservative press and the Coalition, torpedo his efforts, they will be forever condemned for their negativity. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer If Chalmers wants to improve productivity through tax changes, start with housing. Australia puts too much investment into housing, reducing investment in skills, equipment, transport et cetera. Many people spend two hours-plus a day commuting as they can't afford to live near their work. Meanwhile, housing completions decline, rents increase and house prices accelerate again. House prices took off after John Howard and Peter Costello introduced the capital gains tax 50 per cent discount in the late 1990s. Reduce the discount to 25 per cent on housing. Exempt the first house for small investors. Put the additional tax received into construction trades training, more pre-apprenticeship courses, skilled migration and incentives to builders. If politically necessary, 'grandfather' existing investment in housing or take it to the next election. There'll be more homes built so prices and rents will level and productivity will improve. Have courage. If not now, when? Kevin Fell, Cooks Hill Pipes and poles Treasurer Daniel Mookhey startles with the budget (' $120b for new 'pipes and poles' in the budget ', June 21). Water and power services for new housing are not government budget funded. They are budget 'taxed'. Only the rural-based Essential Energy, Sydney Water and a few other urban water authorities belong to the NSW government. All our pipes and poles companies are commercial entities that borrow money to fund capital investments. State government-owned utilities pay 'tax' to the state government equivalent to what they would pay the Commonwealth if privately owned. In saying water and power will be a priority for the foreseeable future, the treasurer is effectively saying infrastructure is not a priority of the government. Public sector wages remain its priority. Peter Egan, Mosman When Mookhey says spending on infrastructure over the next decade will be defined by 'pipes and poles', I hope the emphasis will be on pipes, including the orange ones for underground power distribution. Many Sydney suburbs already have more than their quota of ugly poles and wires, especially on major roads, where they are both a safety hazard and an eyesore. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills There is not one mention of any spend for rural and regional communities in this account. Says it all. It's as if we do not exist; that is until the city complains about the cost of food all transported at increasing cost from 'over the mountains' on 'dog tracks' for roads. A tunnel under the mountains, nah, the spend is on tunnels under Sydney; you will have to put up with a single lane climb up Mt Victoria, then a track festooned with Christmas tree traffic lights and changing speed zones for the next 60 kilometres. Bruce Clydsdale, Bathurst Nature under attack Reading reports of fossil-fuelled environmental disasters such as the algal bloom affecting South Australian waters leaves me in despair (' The South Australian algal bloom the rest of the country should be worried about ', June 21). People can move from areas affected by bushfires, droughts, flooding and sea level rise but flora and fauna can't. Where is the justice that allows government-approved fossil fuel exploitation to continue unabated at the expense of the natural environment? In addressing this question, the crux of the proposed environmental protection laws must be inclusion of projects' impacts on climate change. Roger Epps, Armidale Courage of gang rape survivors Bravo to Karen Iles for speaking up (' I survived gang rape. We need to talk ', June 21). I am also a survivor of a gang rape – in 1966. I was also 17, and the headline in the paper was almost identical to the current one, almost 60 years later. The perpetrators were not 'others', children of migrants. They were five 'good' Aussie boys. This crime transcends ethnic boundaries. The police would not believe my claim when I reported it. Not until a very invasive test by a doctor, with various other people present, watching with salacious glee, proved I had been a virgin. In those days, if I hadn't been, then there would have been no case. I had asked for it. Still, the defence lawyers managed to make it look as if I had invited and enjoyed the encounter. In the end, some got off and the others got a slap on the wrist. In hindsight, I would not have put myself through the court case. But I had thought it would make things easier for future victims. The local gossip mill at the time remained in overdrive for years after it happened. Yet here we are, more than half a century later. The case being held in an open court meant there was no control over who heard and interpreted the proceedings. My heart goes out to this girl. All I can say is that you can survive and overcome it. My proof is my four kids, 10 grandchildren and a loving husband who did not judge when I told him about it. Name and address supplied I am staggered after reading Karen Iles' article. Like many octogenarians, I have completed a memoir including my involvement in the ferment of the 1970s Women's Movement. I described the era of my youth when publicity of sexual assaults on women resorted to judgmental terms like the ones Karen Iles mentions. Back then, reports lacked any wider objectivity, which could include questioning the man's behaviour. Why have we made so little progress despite the evolution of behavioural science? I really want to know. Glenda Gartrell, Newtown I cannot imagine the horror of what you went through, Karen, but I am so glad that you survived and speak for those who cannot. It needs to be said. Bravo. Michele Sharp, Bondi Beach How brave of Karen Iles to speak out about the horrors of gang rape. This shocking crime must be suitably punished and laws should reflect the severity of the crime. The brave girls and women who report these crimes must have the total support of police and the justice system to encourage others to come forward knowing they will be given all the help they need to survive a harrowing criminal justice process. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach Karen Iles is to be applauded for tackling a subject we shrink from. One aspect shines a spotlight on the sheer brutality inherent in rape. It is all too often employed in times of war when an invading army uses rape to terrorise and subdue a civilian population. Misogyny is a term that almost sanitises rape – it is an act of pure hatred and utter contempt. If a bunch of rugger buggers ever thinks it might be fun, Chris Minns has an opportunity, indeed an obligation, to come down harder than ever before on the crime of rape. Margaret Johnston, Paddington Dead reckoning My son recently came upon a poem that I think is as apt today as it was in the 1930s. From The Book of the Dead, by activist Muriel Rukeyser: 'What three things can never be done?/Forget. Keep silent. Stand alone.' Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne EVs' energy boost With petrol being the 'single biggest weekly expense for most households' and the global oil market so volatile, an EV is a wise investment (' There's no crisis in oil markets yet − but your bowser bill could creep up', June 21). Secondhand EVs are as cheap as chips, due to largely unfounded claims about battery reliability. By saving on weekly fuel costs, it's possible to pay off a good used EV sedan in about three years. New EVs are increasingly affordable as Chinese models flood the market. It makes a lot of sense for the government to encourage EV uptake for our energy security when petrol prices are unreliable. On top of this, transport contributes more than a fifth of our domestic emissions. Perhaps the biggest benefit would be a reduction in our pollution levels. Anne O'Hara, Wanniassa (ACT) Hurtful words I am outraged, and more (‴ ⁣⁣Fungus bench' should outrage school parents ', June 21). And I'm not even a school parent. Also, I am alarmed for the good public servants dismissed by their boss as 'oxygen thieves'. What a lowlife wordsmith Anthony Manning is. What happens next? Jennifer Fergus, Croydon Barking madness It's hard to find anything more self-indulgent than the growing cult of treating dogs as mini humans, not the domesticated animals they are (' From 'puppitinis' to pooch-only high teas ', June 21). In a city where food banks are stretched to the limit and children live in poverty, it appears that some think it makes sense to indulge in their fur baby's unnecessary 'dog-lato'. Michael Berg, Randwick Years ago I went to a hardware shop to look for a self-assembly dog kennel kit. One of the older staff helping me look for it asked me why I wouldn't just let the dog sleep in the space under the house. It made total sense. Another pet shop owner told me, not too long ago, people have too much time on their hands when I asked him if he had a toothbrush and toothpaste kit for my dog. He said he could sell it to me but questioned the need for it. When I read about the pooch-cafes I only want to say, 'Really?' It is anthropomorphism gone barking mad. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy Homme de plume Dear Doctor, I seek advice on transitioning to become an emu. I'm completely turned off by the dangerously nutty humans I see on the news and don't identify as one any longer. I want a simple, peaceful life without any politics, warmongering or religion. I have long skinny legs and beady eyes, so feel my choice is appropriate and the species-affirming won't be too much of a problem. Dave Watts, Avalon

Sydney Morning Herald

10 hours ago

• Sydney Morning Herald

The Libs have been handed a golden opportunity. Now watch them stuff it up

One of the great entertainments of political commentary in Australia over the past decade and a bit has been speculating on what new and inventive way the Liberal Party will find to comprehensively bugger itself up. I can't help thinking this must have crossed Treasurer Jim Chalmers' mind as he fronted the National Press Club this week to announce that he will undertake a process to develop a new productivity agenda. Chalmers' speech was solid, but so it should be after so many have said the same things so often to so little avail. His words and aspirations have been written for him many times over, sometimes with hope, other times with emotions ranging from dull rage to despair. Sometimes even by the Coalition. We need productivity reform, politicians all know we need it, the media all know they know we need it, yet no-one ever does it. There's a simple reason for that: it's hard. The treasurer dwelt in his speech on why it's hard. Reforming an economic system requires trade-offs. Some choices will cost some people. They may or may not be recompensed in the rejig. Chalmers doesn't want the media to simplify economic reform by explaining it in terms of 'winners and losers', as they do after each budget, but there will be winners and losers in the short, medium or long term as a result of any new tax system. And, naturally, the opposition will do what the name says on the tin. It will oppose. Given the last years of Liberal shenanigans, the real question is how it chooses to do that. In one scenario, Sussan Ley leads a team which analyses and criticises the government's productivity proposals to ensure the best outcome for Australia and Australians. Should they choose this version of their own adventure, there will be plenty of material to tackle. The prime minister has already shown that he has no instinct for making business more efficient or even any understanding that a healthy economy relies on the private sector, creating new wealth instead of just shifting existing money around. In the first term of the Albanese government, the size of the public sector grew relative to the size of the private sector, so now each private employee is supporting more public sector salaries. Loading Then-employment minister Tony Burke passed through an industrial relations bill which makes it harder for businesses to scale up without locking themselves into costly arrangements. Meanwhile, the 'Future Made in Australia' slush fund has been 'picking winners' (code for government making decisions on industries it poorly understands) by investing in bringing in an overseas quantum technology firm rather than backing existing quantum technology firms – ahem – made in Australia. Labor is even trashing its own legacy by changing rules on the superannuation system it forced people to contribute to, undermining trust that the money you lock away for retirement is really yours for later. It's hard to see how a government which made policies of this sort a priority and prefers the public to the private sector will back a productivity agenda which turns Australia around. But one of the great paradoxes of politics is that sometimes you need the party which is seen to be the touchy-feely side to deliver hard-nosed decisions. Think Labour prime minister Tony Blair in the UK, Democrat president Bill Clinton in the USA, or chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Germany, all of whom delivered welfare reform in the face of their countries' badly designed benefits systems which were creating disincentives to work.