Former PM Malcolm Turnbull’s book is bad timing

Our readers have their say on Malcolm Turnbull’s tell-all spree, the ongoing Virgin Australia story and the bravery of our frontline workers.

I HAVE been shocked by Malcolm Turnbull's tell it all – poor me, wounded soul – tirades via his book and TV interviews.

I can only think that so much time was wasted in his period of leadership – dealing with ridiculous factional fighting or perceived threats.

His leadership skills were seriously lacking.

He was buoyed by his own self greatness and his attempts at autocratic leadership led to a party unable to call him a true leader.

So many of us are happy with Scott Morrison who appears to lead and inspire confidence not only in his fellow party members but in the population at large at a time where any shortcomings would be exacerbated by the economic fragility Australians are currently bearing.

Not a good time to be pouring out contempt Malcolm.

Elizabeth Homer, Emu Park

LOVE him or hate him Malcolm Turnbull did succinctly outline the dysfunction of the LNP during those turbulent times in the LNP’s political history.

He is right describing the Abbott years as dysfunctional and chaotic.

Turnbull also had the audacity to be a little progressive, actually agreeing with the considerable evidence on climate change which irritated some in the party who just ignored the science and the significant push to take action by most Australians.

Turnbull always appeared professional and balanced in office but he was quickly undermined and sharply pulled into the power plays and the tribal nature of politics.

He will be crucified by the right leaning commentators but he held his head high but fell heavily in the end.

Politics is not a game for the weak hearted.

Tony Grigsby, Southport

Copies of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s autobiography.

AN EX-RAN mate of mine, (we served a combined 50 years in the navy), commented that it would have been hell on a ship if Malcolm Turnbull was the captain and distrusted the whole crew.

I couldn’t agree more.

A happy ship is an efficient ship, in war or peace, and a skipper who resonates with the ship’s company normally commands a happy ship.

HMAS Government, under Captain Turnbull, was rudderless flotsam.

Peter Corran, Wakerley

HARD LANDING FOR VIRGIN

LIKE others, I am not in favour of the federal or state government bailing out Virgin Australia, especially as it is 90 per cent owned by overseas interests, including foreign governments.

In any company failure, the shareholders take the brunt of the loss as their shares are now worthless.

The lenders, who in this case are estimated to be owed up to $5 billion will also share the pain.

However, I would support the federal government buying the Virgin Australia operations only, not international, at a bargain price without the huge debt hanging over the operation.

Unions and government would have to work closely together to make Virgin mark II a success.

We have very many astute business women and men in Australia who would be excellent in pulling this company together and providing a competitive alternative to Qantas and Jetstar.

Remember though, we have only 25 million people who live in this vast country and having three airlines – Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin might be a bit of a stretch.

Michael J Sargent, Runaway Bay

THE cumulative debt of $5 billion for Virgin could not have just happened over night.

And as I understand it, any publicly listed company which trades when technically insolvent is breaking the law.

Operating debt is one thing but repeated incompetence and bad management practices are another.

Obviously Virgin must have been regarded by our authorities as non-culpable in both cases.

Why?

Fear of loss of competition in our skies?

Perhaps too many job losses?

But now we read that Virgin Atlantic is also in financial do-do.

Sensibly, the Australian government has said “no thanks” to requests to bail Virgin Australia out (which would only prolong this very expensive death-roll).

But what should be learnt from the Virgin story?

Perhaps that Sir Richard and well-paid executives have been living the dream beyond their means?

Reality has now hit home hard courtesy of the coronavirus and the Virgin bubble has burst taking with it the precious livelihoods of so many good and loyal company servants.

To add to the misery, Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce must be now grinning all the way to the bank. And good luck to him.

He has done, and apparently continues to do, the job for which he is being so handsomely paid.

But it would be in the best interests of all Australians now for our federal government to make new laws to control what will be a monopolistic playground for Qantas.

The free market forces economic model must also be blown out of the sky. For after all, Mr Joyce and his board-members are businessmen with human frailties. Just like the rest of us.

Richard K Tiainen, Holland Park West

VIRGIN Australia into administration, finally!

Virgin across the globe have been on the financial borderline for quite some time now, not unlike any other cut price airline. Competition and a severe downturn not of their making has bitten them on the backside financially.

Cut price carriers of all modes have always run very close to the wind as their operating costs are high and profit margins low.

Asking for a government bail out is a tough call, as, despite them being very competitive on pricing, it still takes the same amount of people to run the ship.

Would I support an Australian government bail out?

Probably not, because when you look at the list of very wealthy offshore owners of Virgin, where are they in this time of financial crisis? Nowhere to be seen.

Will someone else buy Virgin Australia at a bargain basement price? No one from Australia has the wherefore and if the current form of Australian owned airlines is any example, no one will.

RIP Virgin Australia, there is a burial plot available next to Ansett and TAA.

Les Bryant, Durack

GOOD OLD DAYS OF NRL

NEWS that NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg (pictured) has been either sacked or resigned makes me yearn for the days in the 1980s when the NRL was so professionally administered by John Quayle and Ken Arthurson.

It’s all so amateurish nowadays when scandal upon scandal and hapless mismanagement at all levels is occurring within the NRL.

Eric Palm, Gympie

THANKS IS NOT ENOUGH

IN RELATION to Bravery of Nurses Still Shines Through (C-M, Apr 21), l have been waiting during the past few weeks for the state and federal governments to announce that politicians and public servants would take a 20 per cent pay cut for the next six months, so as to give our nurses, doctors and all our health workers a pay rise during that time.

You could also include teachers and our shop assistants and all essential service workers, all of whom are at the frontline so we can stay safe.

Thanks is not quite enough.

Mick Spencer, Alexandra Headland

WHAT ARE THEY APP TO?

WHAT is the problem with having an app on your phone to alert health authorities that you have come into close contact with the coronavirus and then them alerting you to seek testing?

You have to wonder what the objectors are hiding.

Surely we must get back to “normal” as soon as possible and this is the way to do it.

Wake up Australia.

Rick Littleboy, Arana Hills

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

I USED to spin that toilet paper roll like I was on Wheel of Fortune.

Now I turn it like I’m cracking a safe.

Send us your lockdown snippets for On The Lighter Side.

KEEP IT UP QUEENSLANDERS

AS A proud Malaysian and Vietnam veteran, who's forced to honour Anzac Day 2020 from his isolated balcony on Saturday, it was uplifting to read that finally there is a strong chance of lifting the arduous but apparently effective coronavirus restrictions sooner than expected.

In a remarkable and encouraging development on Monday, Queensland recorded “zero” new cases of COVID-19, a stunning first in 42 days close on the heels of just nine virus cases on Saturday and five on Sunday.

Gritty Queenslanders take a bow.

You're showing the world what it takes to flatten that vital curve.

This fantastic news commended by relevant authorities, has prompted Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) to congratulate Queenslanders on a “tremendous effort” and to announce with distinct optimism: “If we can keep this up over the coming weeks, I'm sure that that's going to mean that we'll be able to make some changes and ease some of those restrictions on the population”.

Hallelujah!

This will be one self- isolated veteran, who won't be looking so despairing and forlorn on Saturday.

Rudolf Bojtschuk, Brisbane