Please explain

ORDINARY people need to have certain aspects of our economics explained.

The goods and services tax was introduced to rationalise the huge layers of taxation levied on all sorts of commodities and at the time there was much discussion. It was also expected to make the retail industry less difficult. For myself, I would not care if tobacco, alcohol and gambling related activities were taxed out of existence.

But I expect that would not be welcomed by those who get their living from those sources.

Maybe non-essential items, such as junk food classed as luxuries could be taxed heavily?

Another big issue that we need to have explained is how Australia benefits from free trade. Will free trade help create more development of Australian resources to produce more food for people?

Will it stop the loss of arable land to mining?

Mining is a once-only use of land. When the land is gone, it is gone forever.

Cropping is not a finite use of land and well planned would create employment.

If we have to pay other countries to care for the refugees refused entry, surely they would have been better employed in becoming Australians as others have done before. Some of my ancestors did not choose to be here but they had no choice.

JOAN BROOME, Toowoomba