Letters: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claims Labor is the underdog in election stakes

Today readers have their say on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s claim that Labor is the underdog to win the next state election, England’s incredible third cricket Test victory and playing the race card.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during the Queensland Labor State Conference. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk claims Labor will be the underdog at the next state election (C-M, Aug 26).

An underdog team is a team that hasn’t been winning and is not expected to win.

In football parlance, they are just outside the eight with very little chance of getting into the finals.

No doubt, at the end of the forthcoming football season, there will be a clean-out of non-performing players and possibly coaches.

With the coming election, voters will clean out the current team (government) and elect a new coach.

The fact the Premier recognises her team is not performing is an indictment on the leadership and the egos below her, who think they are bigger than the team.

Since there is little chance of winning, why not blood the reserves to replace the current non-performing Cabinet members?

You never know, one or more of them might save the day.

Peter Haslett, Cashmere

AGAIN the voters are being treated as mugs.

The Labor Party wants voters to believe that after losing the election because of their opposition to coal, they are now embracing coal.

Pull the other one. This new belief will last until Labor can con enough voters to win the next election, then it will revert to its core beliefs.

Meanwhile, the state Labor Government continues to show contempt for voters with its total disregard for the rules.

Col Dicker, Bracken Ridge

IT’S fascinating to listen to the Premier tell the media that she supports her deputy Jackie Trad.

Despite Trad’s behaviour, the Premier has changed her tune to a position where she originally said she might have to adopt an individual approach to one of supporting her.

It smells like politics to me.

Ralph Burge, Petrie

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk said at Labor’s conference on the weekend that Labor is unstoppable when they work together.

Come election time next year, voters will stop Labor in its tracks.

They will show their discontent at a leader who is weak and hasn’t governed. 

Lizzie Haydon, Runcorn

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England’s Ben Stokes at the third Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia. Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP

ENGLAND PULLS OF CRICKET MIRACLE

THE word “incredible” doesn’t seem adequate when describing the last overs of Australia’s humiliating defeat in the third cricket Test at Leeds (C-M, Aug 26).

All out for less than 70 in the first innings and at one stage just two for 15 in their second innings, yet England were able to steam home in a classic finish in what only can only be described as miraculous.

In taking nothing away from England’s Ben Stokes nor Jack Leach, one has to ask how did that happen?

It’s a certainty that the fourth and fifth Tests are guaranteed to be bums-on-seats in capacity numbers and, for the promoters, that’s what it’s all about.

Richard K. Tiainen, Holland Park West

FOR those of us lucky enough to witness the Ashes Test match win on TV on Sunday night, we saw a bottom-end batsman take a Test by the scruff of the neck, give it a shake and win the game for his side and country.

Ben Stokes did that in the third Test. He was on a mission, on his game, on his day, and succeeded.

Cricket at any level is a battle between bat and ball. Stokes did just that, attacking the ball in a memorable innings, something one only witnesses probably once, twice or perhaps three times in a lifetime, although a little bit of luck did come into play in the dying moments of this game.

Like any other competitive sport, the game or race is there to be won.

Well done to the Poms. We now have a squared Ashes series, with more entertaining action set to come. The Aussies will dust themselves off, reflect a bit, and live to fight another day.

Les Bryant, Durack

IT WAS a timely and well-deserved Test win for England.

The World Cup was decided by an umpiring error.

This Test was won off an umpiring error, even though we squandered chances.

One hopes, though, that the Ashes will not be decided on another umpiring error.

Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads South

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RACISTS OF MANY COLOURS

I DON’T always agree with Andrew Bolt, but he is just about on the money in his column regarding racism (C-M, Aug 26).

Legitimate arguments or accusations can so easily be labelled racist in an attempt to stifle debate.

It is glaringly apparent in every facet of media, with one common denominator – only non-coloured people can be racist.

The sooner this obvious discrepancy is addressed and changed, the sooner some accusations might be stifled.

I have made many friends of different race, colour, creed and disposition during my lifetime, and am still friends with many of them.

Aboriginal, African-American, Asians, all manner of islanders and Europeans, and I have never encountered the level of vitriol

that is being displayed around the world today.

Bolt is correct with every example mentioned in his column, for which he will undoubtedly be labelled a racist.

Peter Corran, Wakerley

READING Andrew Bolt's column made me think that it is inane to play the “race card” as we all belong to the same race – the human race.

Skin colour varies from pale beige to extremely dark brown, and this should have no emphasis on integrity as this is only a colour.

I do not have a “race card” but I do have a Blue Card, which means I am safe to work with children.

Lesley Brandis, Camp Hill

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