Even though the ALP caucus would want to avoid another Rudd-Gillard prime minister merry-go-round (“Albanese’s achievements? Er...” , October 10), some members must be wondering if there is a minister who could do a better job as leader than Anthony Albanese. Much of the government’s slide in the polls is down to Albanese, who championed the small target agenda and who has been shown as vulnerable in several areas. The PM has been unable to show he can engender confidence, clearly communicate his party’s vision and objectives, and neuter the opposition. Your editorial (“Albanese’s gaffe points to a man under pressure”, October 10) claims the prime minister is “under pressure”, however, that is surely a constant state for any PM. Albanese’s ill-disciplined outburst earlier in the week exposes a weakness in using language to encourage, enthuse, motivate and, where necessary, to attack, put down or discredit. Fortunately for Albanese, the current caucus talent pool is not deep, otherwise it could be expected that some serious numbers counting would be taking place at present. Ross Butler, Rodd Point
Shaun Carney’s penetrating questions about our political system and lamentations of major party small targets prompted thoughts of opportunities to improve our country and win an election. Cumulative HECS debt in Australia is a staggering $80 billion, with the average student not debt-free until their early 40s. Which party is bold enough to give an amnesty on this economic burden while embracing support for slipping university standards and underfunding within a free tertiary education future? Such a policy unlocks an unnecessary economic burden on the young and confers smart country competitive advantage. Funding sources could be an effective mineral resource rent tax and ending fossil fuel subsidies. Who is brave enough? Ken Boundy, Thirroul
To blame or not to blame? Anthony AlbaneseCredit: Alex Ellinghausen
Shaun Carney, consider the festering sores Albanese faced. John Howard’s capital gains changes fuelled housing speculation, the Nationals still think climate heating is crap, and Tony Abbott’s grab for power killed the carbon price. Left to drift under 10 years of Coalition government, housing, climate and the need for energy transition require first steps, and Albanese’s team has delivered them. They need to have a second term. Sue Young, Bensville
Shaun Carney, those who complain this is a “do nothing” government are beneath you. By promoting this myth, you do yourself and the Albanese government an injustice. The woes besetting our people and economy are a direct result of the lack of policy and vision from 10 years of Coalition incompetence, and it will take more than one term for this competent government to overcome those obstacles to economic and social reforms. Tony Heathwood, Kiama Downs
Shaun Carney’s analysis of the Albanese government imitating a small to medium business, with our prime minister acting as a general manager, is spot on. Managers come and go and rarely leave a legacy. Leaders leave their mark, even if they risk unpopularity. Paul Keating’s name will forever be associated with superannuation; other PMs have also changed Australian society for the long term. Albanese, in trying to not offend anyone, has offended many. Playing it safe may work in a small business but the dangerous world we live in today requires more than mere platitudes and weasel words. Despite your correspondents’ general condemnation of Dutton’s criticism of the PM’s October 7 statement, this is an example of his general approach to leading our country. Sit on the fence to avoid losing votes. Such tactics may work when times are good, but citizens expect more amid cost of living pressures, a housing crisis and a potential world war. Irene Nemes, Rose Bay
It seems a long time ago, since the days of Paul Keating, that we were inspired by a politician. Shaun Carney correctly points to the lack of inspiration from both sides of the house, resulting from the attitude of voters who penalise governments for any thoughts of reform which may be good for the country but not amenable to the individual. Peter Dutton is following the Tony Abbott playbook by saying “No” to everything while Labor, still scarred from the 2019 defeat, stays on the middle ground. Not inspiring but boring. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne
Beneath all his naysaying and fearmongering, I fail to see how Peter Dutton has any coherent vision for the future of Australia. If he achieves the prime ministership I doubt he will know what to do with it. I have been disappointed by many a perceived hesitance in the Albanese government but am terrified by the alternative. John Constable, Balmain
Shaun Carney asks what is the point of government. Casting back to the Hawke regime is casting back to a time when people took a longer-term view of life. Now it is all, “I want it now.” Deficits can be pushed into the future. Industries of the future can wait for the next decades. Infrastructure to benefit the population in ten years’ time is too expensive. A government that tries to make decisions that have no immediate impact get voted out. Don’t blame Albo, blame ourselves. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea
Castigated for his admittedly mindless Tourette’s gaffe, criticised by Shaun Carney for not being associated with a “big” political initiative (despite having done much in critical areas like aged care and health care), clobbered by cost-of-living problems, and pounded weekly by Dutton for being “weak”, it would seem that our mild-mannered prime minister cannot take a trick. I doubt I am the only one happy that Albanese is not so nastily divisive as Dutton, so attention-seeking as the Greens’ Max Chandler-Mather, and that his government is doing so much to help business, foster positive climate change policy, boost jobs and alleviate inequality. Mild-mannered and moderate surely merit more than malice. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne
A motion divided
The inability of parliament to reach a consensus on the October 7 anniversary cannot be sheeted entirely to the opposition leader (Letters, October 10). The prime minister’s motion was clearly inappropriate for the anniversary of a massacre instituted by a terrorist organisation. Riley Brown, Bondi Beach
The October 10 Letters page had 13 letters critical of Peter Dutton’s stand on the condolence motion put to parliament by Albanese, with many correspondents drawing a parallel to his opposition to the Voice referendum. They seem unaware of his request in both cases to separate the two concepts in the motions. Does Albanese not take some responsibility for this? He could have agreed to have split the motions, in which case we would have had the recognition of Indigenous people in our constitution and a meaningful condolence for the horrors of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks. Alan Slade, Dover Heights
Swastika debate
There is a world of difference between a neo-Nazi displaying a swastika flag and a pro-Palestine protester using a similar flag to protest the actions of the Israeli government (“Backlash as restaurateur charged over rally swastika”, October 10). The first is to be in league with what the Nazis stood for. The latter is to suggest that the policies of the Israeli government have some similarities to the Nazis’. It is not the swastika that should be banned, it is the use of it to promote the ideology it stands for. John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA)
RBA fell for same trap as the Fed
Have economists learned nothing (“RBA’s $200b boost helped house prices, not business”, October 10)? Banks, like all businesses, want risk-free profits. When the US cut taxes believing it would stimulate business, the recipients overwhelmingly bought government bonds instead, thereby transforming public debt into private assets. Now our Reserve Bank has fallen into the same trap. In Australia, real estate is virtually the only game in town for easy profits to banks. Justice requires that the Reserve Bank should put the inflated price of real estate caused by its actions into the superannuation accounts of renters. Brenton White, Mosman
To improve affordability, the Productivity Commission recommends lowering design standards by allowing rooms in apartments to be built without direct sunlight and cross ventilation (“Fury at move to scrap unit ‘solar access‴ , October 10). The impact on residents’ physical and mental health needs to be taken into account. The premier must consult more widely and consider advice from sectors beyond the building industry. Slums are not the answer. Judith Campbell, Drummoyne
Political preferences
We keep hearing that election polls are showing that Labor and the Coalition are neck-and-neck, but of the 13 letters published on October 10, 12 were in condemnation of Dutton and the other one was saying that the negativity of it all would destroy Australian society. The last thing we need in this country is a Trumpian leader – hopefully the views of letter writers to the Herald are better indicators of election results than the polls. Peter Nash, Fairlight
If the contributions to Letters 10 October is any guide, Labor is a shoo-in at the next election. Twelve letters condemning Dutton’s response to the government’s October 7 statement, and not one admonishing Albanese for his use of a serious disability description to criticise his opponents. Mike Kenneally, Manly
The Albanese government should do what’s right in the public interest. How refreshing that that voters are “warming to” an overhaul of negative gearing and capital gains concessions (“More voters warming to negative gearing overhaul”, October 10), but policy should not be about getting elected, nor appeasing vested interests such as the Property Council. According to the ATO, just over 2 million people are property investors – about 8 per cent of our population. It is time for Albanese and his ministers to show some fortitude and act for the other 92 per cent caught up in a housing crisis born of lousy policy, political self-interest and the wicked influence of the lobbyist sector. Marie Healy, Hurlstone Park
Tunnel vision
The biggest money pit aroundCredit: Fire and Rescue NSW
Are we now to add tunnel engineering to the nationals skills shortlist? Surely diligence – say, geological core sampling or some such – should have highlighted the potential problems being experienced on Sydney’s M6 road project (“Sinkhole to delay motorway for years”, October 10)? Doubtless there will be an accounting of the errors, financial and otherwise, but this latest infrastructure calamity adds to the sorry litany of snafus that the public seems to deal with at almost every juncture. One recalls the recent farce with a tunnel-boring machine getting stuck as part of the Snowy 2.0 scheme. Civil leaders will bathe in the glory of such infrastructure achievements. But they will ignore the lost opportunity for much-needed services where tunnel-cost overruns have drilled needlessly into the public purse. Bradley Wynne, Croydon
Uni funding flaw
Tertiary institutions relying almost entirely on revenue from high-fee-paying students will never achieve high ranking in teaching and research reputation (“NSW universities slide as bleaker times loom”, October 10). Most students are effectively selected primarily by their ability to pay, thus prejudicing academic achievement. High staff-to-student ratios, necessary for financial reasons, further compounds the problem. Research facilities will be compromised by lack of funds and a dearth of highly qualified research supervisors. Research students are often drawn from the stream of graduates, and again are less likely to be high achievers. Many European governments regard universities as an essential service and both the institutions and students are funded accordingly, thus ensuring a highly educated workforce that can contribute significantly to their economies. Geoff Harding, Chatswood
Party time
Senator Payman (“Payman launches new party, light on policy”, October 10) claims to have consulted “some” Indigenous people about naming her party “Australia’s Voice”, but more importantly, did she consult John Farnham? Seppo Ranki, Glenhaven
Urban birdsong
If only koels were magpies, how melodious life would be (“Koels thriving in our cities, but not everyone is happy”, October 10). Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill
Writer’s block
Just say No to the Send keyCredit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
I often pen a missive to these columns (Letters, October 10), but to avoid the disappointment of not being published, I don’t press “send”. That works. Vicky Marquis, Glebe
Songs of our time
Amy Winehouse, a sign of your timesCredit: Mmag TV Pics
Knowing Beatles lyrics only indicates one or two age groups (Letters, October 10). For younger generations, it is the lyrics to Meatloaf’s Bat out of Hell (1970s), followed by Run DMC’s version of Walk This Way (1980s) then on to Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit (1990s), moving on to Rehab by Amy Winehouse for this century. Then I lose touch with what the kids are singing. Andrew Brown, Bowling Alley Point
Young and wise
My brother and I have our favourite sections of the Herald (Letters, October 10). I check the weather pages to decide on my school holiday activity for the day. My brother reads the Trading Room to see how his shares are going. Then we meet at the puzzle page to take on our daily challenge to solve This Way & That. Dom (14) and Isaac (16) Pudney, Collaroy Plateau
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