The whole of the upper Blue Mountains is a heritage disgrace, from the historic 1878 Imperial Hotel in Mount Victoria to the Paragon Cafe in Katoomba (Litter, graffiti, neglect threaten to put the ‘tomb’ in Katoomba, May 10). This is arguably the most significant tourist destination in Australia, yet successive state governments and local councils have a do-nothing attitude. Governments need to be armed with the powers to enforce sales or renovations of heritage-listed properties that are wilfully neglected by their owners. Also, the roads are a bad and with so many semi-trailers passing through these villages and towns, all the main-road cafes and businesses are doomed to oblivion. The tourist and financial potential of this World Heritage area is being lost. Tony Lewis, Mount Victoria
Rod Stowe, at Mount St Marys Convent, laments the disrepair that has befallen much of Katoomba’s heritage.Credit: Janie Barrett
On a recent trip to the Blue Mountains, we had a lovely stay in the Hydro Majestic. As part of the trip, we paid the obligatory visit to Echo Point but parking was a problem. It was expensive and hard to find. We then tried to have a drink at the Carrington Hotel but we couldn’t find a nearby car park so we gave up and went to Blackheath. If Katoomba wants to attract tourists to the shopping precinct, provide plentiful and cheap parking. If tourists can’t park, they won’t stop. Geoff Lindsay, Thurgoona
Your picture of Katoomba is far too rosy. In recent years, the area has lost not just the Paragon but also the Explorer’s Tree and Leura’s toy museum, two of the other attractions that form part of so many memories. This must be the only tourist destination in the world where there is less to see now than there was 30 years ago. Michael Duffy, Blackheath
Once Katoomba was the place to visit, an elegant town thriving with interesting cafes and of course, the Paragon. These days, it’s a sad place with little to recommend it. Maybe the prolific parking meters have something to do with it. A good way to discourage visitors from staying and exploring. Wendy Crew, Lane Cove North
Faction friction
First Paul Keating and now Gareth Evans, luminaries from Labor’s past, have condemned the ousting of Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic from the new ministry in a factional power play (“Albanese faces more Labor fury over axing ministers,” May 10). Many media commentators agree. It didn’t take long for the gloss of Labor’s electoral win to wear off. ABC commentator Laura Tingle calls it “tawdry” and like many others, she decries the lack of any intervention by the prime minister. In the first caucus meeting, Albanese referred positively to the many forms of diversity evident in the room. This rings hollow with the removal of two experienced and principled ministers of Muslim and Jewish heritage, immediately reducing cultural and religious diversity in the ministry. Levane Abdoolcader, Padstow Heights
Doesn’t take long, does it? In come the votes, out come the faction warlords’ knives (“The brutal 8.30pm phone call telling Mark Dreyfus he was dumped,” May 10). The government I voted for had Mark Dreyfus and Ed Husic in its cabinet. In fact, they were two of the ministers I most admired. Nobody in the course of the campaign, which was all about soul-baring honesty and transparency as much as mentioned Sam and Daniel whoever. Watch out, Albo: the electorate will be as bored and disaffected by your numbers games as it ever was by the Coalition’s. It’s old politics. It’s what we voted against. Stephen Clarke, Summer Hill
I agree with Paul Sakkal that sacking two competent ministers over a factional issue compromises Labor’s election victory (“Marles a ‘factional assassin’, Husic says in attack after ministerial coup,” May 11). I am just a small-town punter but I enjoyed the victory too, probably not as much as long-time Labor stalwarts. However, the decision left a bad taste in my mouth and I hoped that Albanese would regret the decision and find a way of re-installing the two ministers. I would think that most people who voted for Labor would not give two hoots about factional entitlements. Already the cracks are appearing with Ed Husic biting back. So much for Albanese’s emphasis on party solidarity. You’ve made your bed, PM, so lie in it. Helen Russell, Leichhardt
I am still bewildered that the Labor Party dumped Dreyfus and Husic from cabinet. What negative message does this send to their fraught communities, and what message to others about the inclusive spirit of Labor. The message is we don’t care as long as the factions are appeased. If ever there was a time for Albo to exert his newly won authority it is now, otherwise this will bedevil his government throughout his term, just like their mistake over Fowler. Ross Coleman, Glenbrook
I believe a major factor in Labor’s election win was the Coalition’s hostility towards renewable energy. A large number of voters have rooftop solar; many also have storage batteries installed and the numbers will no doubt increase with Labor’s proposed initiatives. Together with the uptake of EVs, some of which can also be used to augment domestic electricity usage, it seems quite obvious that the average voter is far more attuned to our future energy needs than the Coalition ever was. Sadly, one of the ministers responsible for driving Labor’s energy policies, Ed Husic, has been banished to the back bench in an act of political bastardry. It is acts like this that can make people who recently voted for Labor change their minds at the next election. Stephen McDonald, Goulburn
Abbott’s habits
I find it hard to believe that when our multicultural nation has just delivered a resounding vote for inclusiveness and unity, with a repudiation of divisiveness and negativity, Tony Abbot sees this as “essentially a war against Anglo-Celtic culture” (“Where to now for the Liberal Party?” May 10).
This culture of the Liberal Party seems not only toxic, but well past its use-by date. Jim Pollitt, Wahroonga
Credit: Megan Herbert
According to Liberal leadership hopeful Angus Taylor, the Coalition “must bring in new talent that reflects modern Australia, especially more women” (“NT Nationals weigh retribution against Price for defection to Liberals,” May 10). The Coalition will need more than an advertising campaign to show they’ve changed. Jacinta Price, Taylor’s running mate, said of abortion last year: “Late term is anywhere past the [first] trimester as far as I’m concerned … Full-term becomes infanticide and I cannot agree with that.” Her stance challenges laws that make abortions accessible until at least 20 weeks in most states and territories. After that, pregnant women generally require approval from at least two doctors, but doctors say these make up just 1 per cent of abortions in Australia. Now mentored by such luminaries as Tony Abbott and Peta Credlin, Price has further divided her own party. She appears to represent exactly what Australians seem not to like: divisiveness. In this age of geopolitical instability, climate crisis and increasing wealth inequality, we need a collective effort – a quality Australians are great at – not the backward-looking, individualistic, culture war agenda that the far-right seeks to promote. Fiona Colin, Malvern East
Since the elevation of Abbott to leader of the Liberal Party in 2009, the party has turned its back on women and the centrist voters who once supported it. Cultural wars, a lack of policy and men, men, men driven by the extreme ideology of Abbott became the modus operandi. It is unfair to blame Peter Dutton solely for the fall of the Liberals. The toxic masculinity with an overtone of religious fervour was an Abbott trait passed down to Scott Morrison and Dutton. It is no surprise that Abbott was an “adviser” to both. It has now been reported that he was also the “adviser” to Jacinta Price. Until the Liberal Party distances itself from the Abbott wrecking machine and realises that he is not an “elder” but really just an angry white male and as most astute political commentators would say, the worst Australian PM ever, in a tie with Morrison. Dan Connor, Black Head
The Nationals would be greatly strengthened with Matt Canavan as their leader. He is practical, passionate, dedicated and hard-working – a family man and an experienced former cabinet minister. He is also articulate, a proven media performer and he can condense a complex policy or issue into a concise, readily understandable form – a rare talent in politics today. They should not hesitate to endorse him. John Shailer, East Lindfield
As a so-called “keyboard warrior” I accept the condolences offered by Roger Cedergreen in relation to the early retirement of Peter Dutton (Postscript, May 10). Life has been wonderful during the past week and there has been no trouble in finding another politician to target. The media has already found someone else to keep the “keyboard warriors” busy. Jacinta Price has received well-justified criticism (Letters May 10). Robyn Lewis, Raglan
Questions in bulk
Angus Thomson’s article exposes an interesting angle to the decisions on bulk-billing incentives made by Health Minister Mark Butler (“Albanese sold his big health promise to the people. The fight isn’t over yet,” May 11). If he’s been pictured with the CEO of a large chain of corporate medical clinics, who is excitedly now planning to open 50 more in outer metropolitan and regional areas, is it possible lobbying has been at play? Where is the support for urban GPs like me doing complex extended consults and having pressure now to bulk bill more when our quality model of care makes it impossible? Where also is the equity for the underprivileged in urban areas whose GPs have been offered much less incentive than their outer suburb or rural counterparts? And for that matter, where is the pressure on specialists to bulk bill? We need support for quality primary and secondary care for lower income groups, no matter where they live. Simply filling the coffers of often low- quality corporate general practices should ring alarm bells. What’s to stop overservicing – “you need to come back every day this week so I can check in on you and don’t worry, it’s free”? Lucy France, Cronulla
People-powered MP
As a local councillor and deputy chair of the Riverwood Community Centre, in the heart of the Banks electorate, I want to stress that Zhi Soon is not an accidental MP. His win is living proof that grassroots politics still matters (“Low-key locals wore out shoe leather to snap up Libs’ seats,” May 10). Zhi’s victory was the result of genuine, people-powered campaigning. He defeated a high-profile cabinet minister by knocking on over 15,000 doors, speaking directly with voters and building trust through face-to-face connection. Grassroots politics is about showing up, listening and being engaged — long before elections are called. Communities respect this kind of politics because it reflects commitment, not convenience. This is more than just one candidate’s win – it’s a clear message to all political parties: people respond to authenticity, not spin. I heard again and again, “Zhi knocked on my door – he listened.” The result in Banks proves that genuine engagement still beats political machinery. If parties want to win, they need to start by turning up. Karl Saleh, Punchbowl
Labor member for Banks Zhi Soon with PM Anthony Albanese.Credit: James Brickwood
Salute Ms Needham
What a wonderful and inspirational article in today’s paper by Rob Harris about Ms Needham (“Thank you, Mrs Needham, for leading me here,” May 10). The sad part is that teachers today are hamstrung: the curriculum is too big, parental demands are too great, discipline is too difficult or non-existent. However, most importantly, teachers cannot “give ... of [themselves]” or share their lives, opinions, quiet rage or loyalties, as Ms Needham was able to. Schools entered the realm of political correctness a long time ago and the students now miss out. I certainly hope that some teachers fail to toe the line (and keep their jobs) and instil the qualities that Rob Harris has picked up from his inspirational Ms Needham, as without this, journalism will be very boring. Renée Butcher, Killara
I suspect every teacher will have an emotional response to Rob Harris’s article. I can only hope that I was a Ms Needham to someone and on behalf of teachers, past present and future. I thank him for his inspiring words. Margaret Jones, Bathurst
Yes, Rob Harris, you did Ms Needham proud. By conjuring up the essence and ongoing influence of a “true teacher”, you tapped a well of emotion and recognition. “My” teacher was Mr Cowell, whose influence became lifelong and who died three years ago. Sharon Howe, Centennial Park
Terrifying Trump
Donald Trump’s disregard for basic laws has made the US a no-go zone for many people (“Trump ‘actively looking’ at suspending the right to challenge detention in court,” May 10). It would seem that a person can be swooped on, locked up and deported to a foreign country without any type of trial or appearance before a judge. This is terrifying and it has so many overtones of a dictatorship. Trump “washes his hands” of being involved in the decisions by saying: “I don’t know. I have lawyers who work for me.” They say that history repeats itself, but we do not want a repeat of this. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland
Once were allies
The reporting of Victory Day in Moscow invariably lacks historical context. Whatever the state of our relations today, Britain and the Soviet Union were allies during World War II. Dismissing the solemnity of the occasion is absurd. Despite the obvious conflict between our nations today, we should avoid the risk of airbrushing history. Norman Broomhall, Port Macquarie
Russian soldiers at the Victory Day military parade in Moscow on Friday.Credit: AP
South of the border
Google has recognised Donald Trump’s name change from the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America”. Google should also honour the wishes of Canadian PM Mike Carney to rename the US as “South Canada”. Peter Juocys, Rooty Hill
Terminal condition
The airport arrivals clown show in Australia is just another addition in what seems to be an increasingly large incompetence bucket of infrastructure (“You are running a clown show’: Inside Australia’s airport chaos,” May 11). There are more questions than answers from Eryk Bagshaw’s expose: the most telling is who’s accountable for the debacle? Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has been to Singapore. He knows what airport brilliance looks like. Instead, Australians are getting lies, shoulder shrugs and outdated technology. And we have the nerve to call other countries “developing” or “third world”. Ted Bush, North Epping
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