Peter Dutton led in the polls a few months ago and it went to his head (“March woe hints wheels are falling off for Dutton”, March 22). It released the vanity in him. The idea to abolish public sector jobs, the idea of a referendum over a paltry issue and questions to be put in the citizenship test about antisemitism show he has lost the plot. He will need to develop some actual policies now. John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA)
One-liner of the year? “Dutton is fast becoming a legend in his own mind.” Why not skip the deluge of anti-Dutton material? Just a daily reminder of your correspondent’s line. Harold Kerr, Millers Point
James Massola refers to Peter Dutton as “the man who destroyed the Voice referendum”. Dutton was certainly vociferous in his opposition to the proposal but his was only one voice of many who were opposed. The AEC results show that 60.4 per cent of Australian voices were opposed. Alan Slade, Dover Heights
Is this the start of a slippery slope?Credit: Bloomberg
Fear is Peter Dutton’s button. It’s the one he reaches for every day in his efforts to convince Australians that he is the only leader who can keep this country secure. He wants to wrest power from the judiciary to enable federal ministers to deport dual citizens found guilty of heinous crimes; he will protect us from foreign aggression simply by replacing a “weak, limp-wristed” prime minister with himself, a former police officer who knows a thing or two about being a tough guy who can stand up to bullies. The only person to support him openly this last week was Andrew Carswell, a former adviser to Scott Morrison. Think hard before you vote in May. Donna Wiemann, Balmain
Much has been said about Peter Dutton’s proposal to hold a referendum to allow ministers to order the deportation of criminal dual nationals. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, it’s seen as a distraction, just like the Voice referendum. But there is a more significant difference between Dutton’s proposal and the Voice referendum. It is the subject matter. The Constitution is seen as the pinnacle of legislation in Australia. Any changes to it should be equally fundamental. The Voice proposal, being about the descendants of our nation’s first inhabitants, met that requirement. By contrast, Dutton’s proposal is just a grubby political machination to show that his side is tougher on immigrant criminals than the other. Although Dutton denies it, this is what Trump is doing with his deportations. Any referendum to change the Constitution should be above the political fray. David Rush, Lawson
Dutton’s thought bubbles, in lieu of actual policies, are often quickly walked back by those around him. His referendum to empower a minister to deport criminal dual nationals will probably go the way of his own Voice-lite referendum, which was abandoned days after he announced it. His Trump-lite adoption of Trump policies also shows a lack of imagination, vision and forward thinking. I’m waiting for his announcement of a department to reduce government waste, perhaps called the department of desperate groundless imitation equivocation, or DODGIE. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
With the Coalition matching government policy announcements, such those made over Medicare and the PBS, the latest statistic differentiates the main parties: the lack of pre-selection of women candidates for the election. Leopards don’t change their spots. Michael Blissenden, Dural
Any casual observer of the Herald Letters page could be led to believe that Anthony Albanese is a living saint and Peter Dutton is the devil incarnate. Why bother even speculating on an election result when surely it is a foregone conclusion that good will triumph over evil? Which planet, then, do bookmakers and betting agencies live on, as in contradiction to the combined wisdom of correspondents, they have Peter Dutton as favourite to be the next prime minister of Australia? Rob Sinclair, North Sydney
Nuclear plan will be a debt
Your budget article (“Budget ‘deficit’ an illusion”, March 22) omitted a big elephant in the room: Peter Dutton’s proposal for a 100 per cent state-owned, taxpayer-funded nuclear power industry. It goes straight onto the national credit card. Even if we accept their indefensibly low costing of $331 billion (and that’s only to 2051), that amount of money would build the NBN six times over, or fund an east-coast high-speed rail line three times over, or enable us to build and run 40 Sydney Olympics. And nuclear power would not be an “asset” but an ongoing liability. All cost blowouts would be funded by taxpayers. The costs of storing high-level nuclear waste for thousands of years would be funded by taxpayers. The costs of keeping coal plants open longer would be funded by taxpayers. And the government would have to sell nuclear electricity way below cost to compete with solar and wind, creating a growing operational debt funded by – you guessed it – the taxpayer. Brendan Jones, Annandale
Every time a big-spending measure involving millions of dollars is announced by the government, the opposition immediately says it will match it, or “won’t stand in the way”. When asked how this gels with their policy of reducing spending, they point to the public servants they’re intending to sack if they achieve government. Just how much are these 36-thousand government employees earning? Richard Mason, Newtown
In the middle of our phony election campaign and seeing Donald Trump in action, perhaps our leaders should remember that in politics, as in medicine, the first principle should be “do no harm”. Viv Mackenzie, Port Hacking
Climate change is a clear and present danger. Necessity abounds. We can rapidly reduce transport, home, building and energy generation emissions by electrification today.
Integrating solar, EVs, community, utility and home batteries with smart grid technology creates the potential for a citizen-centric power sector. Place batteries at sub-stations as grid buffers and localise variability. Don’t have solar? Your neighbour does, at a fair price. Flip off fossil fuels fast and take power into our hands. David Sargent, Seaton (SA)
Remember Howard’s way
I have a slight disagreement with your correspondent (Letters, March 22). I don’t think Dutton’s attitudes were entirely formed in the Queensland Police Force. I think they came from his studies of Conservative methodology under the guidance of John Howard. Their reaction was consistently not to discuss the enemy’s words but to denigrate the person who spoke them. And I use the word ‘enemy’ advisedly, for the opposition had to be portrayed as enemies trying to destroy our society, not as people still trying to do their best for their country, just with a different perspective. Peter Bourke, Rockdale
John Howard, the ghost of policies pastCredit: The Age
Your correspondent raises a good point about whether the home country of the serious criminal might refuse to accept their citizen. With America tightening its rules on who to allow into the country, and Trump being a convicted felon, perhaps he needs to think carefully whether his own laws would prevent his return. If he was rejected, heaven forbid where he might go. Not here. Bill Johnstone, Blackheath
Patriarchy is still alive
Gabrielle Appleby’s article (“An insult to women as lawyers embrace disgraced judge”, March 22) is a sad revelation that patriarchy is still alive in the upper echelons of our legal world. Cora Moore, Strathfield
Entry-level transport solution
Lucy Hughes Turnbull brings to our attention the fact that Redfern-Waterloo now has more capacity for development because the Metro has been extended to Sydenham (“Housing fix is hiding in plain sight”, March 22). Looking a little more widely, the inner-south is well-endowed with stations. From Surry Hills to Mascot to Banksia to Lewisham, there are at least 15 railway stations. Many still have a centralised entrance from the era of station staff punching cardboard tickets. Entrances at the two ends and middle shorten the walking distance and expand the catchment area of a station capable of supporting higher density development. The cost of extra entrances is low, except for the Sydney Metro, whose stations are so deep. The opening of the Metro from Chatswood to Sydenham has yet to result in much of a dividend in the form of bus resource savings. Few routes have been changed to feed bus passengers to the very frequent Metro trains, and many bus routes needlessly cross the Harbour Bridge. Bus services crossing the Harbour could be reduced to just one – the B1. Peter Egan, Mosman
Are the Metros in the right places at the right times?Credit: Nick Moir
Congratulations to Lucy Hughes Turnbull on her article about the need to adequately integrate public facilities when housing density is increased. She may, however, be disappointed to know that the regular direct bus route from Pyrmont to the local shopping centre in Broadway, which was requested in 2001, is still not available. Manuela Epstein, Pyrmont
Lucy Hughes Turnbull’s excellent article caused me to revisit the published details for the proposed redevelopment of Waterloo. Affordable housing is restricted to 20 per cent of homes, and social housing to 30 per cent. Given concerns relating to the inability of many young families to find accommodation, the NSW government must increase these quotas, reducing the number of apartments available for higher income families. In addition, it would be interesting to know how plans for necessary infrastructure are progressing. Waterloo has the potential to be an award-winning example of a successful mixed development suburb, with, of course, excellent public transport. Penelope Graham, St Peters
Imagine if, rather than spending $5 billion on Rosehill racecourse, the money were spent on high-quality social, affordable and some private housing on public land around Redfern-Waterloo and Surry Hills. A 70:30 split (30 per cent private housing) could provide well-located housing for thousands of low-income households and ensure at least part of the city retains a social mix. Alan Morris, Eastlakes
Unleash bird-dogs
Angus Taylor says protesters are bad for democracy (‴Bird-dogging’ revival to disrupt campaigns”, March 22). It may have escaped his attention that a citizen’s right to protest is the most basic form of democracy. Lynne Poleson, Kingsford
Supermarket check
Your correspondent (Letters, March 22) who can shop in supermarkets more cheaply overseas than in Australia and believes “Australia doesn’t need to import any supermarket items” should check the “Made in” or “Produced in” labels. Australia might once have produced fruit, vegetables, cereals etc here, but this is no longer the case. The number of Australian companies that are owned overseas is alarming. And do not get me started on the aisles stocking “Made in China” essentials. We are all being taken for dimwits. Glenda Ellis, Drummoyne
Regarding the high cost of groceries, my question is: Why does an ordinary packet of supermarket-brand chocolate covered almonds that cost $2 a year or so ago now cost $4.15? How is this hike of more than 100 per cent explained, besides simply because the duopoly can, and they’re plain greedy? Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown
It is hard to beat the service one can get by shopping locally. At my smaller, friendly supermarket, when it came to paying the bill, the cashier asked if I would like her to do up my shoelaces. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Vicky Marquis, Glebe
Show more for Lismore
Pine Street community homes in Lismore. Credit: Louise Kennerley
It may be an unpopular view, but I believe it is a disgrace that Labor Premier Chris Minns, is vowing to bulldoze homes in Pine Street, Lismore, at present housing formerly homeless people (“Building better could lower premium costs”, March 22). When you are homeless, any kind of housing is acceptable, and these people have taken advantage of the only option available. Judging by reports, they have made these buildings liveable and have established a sense of community that should be admired. The failure of flood relief promises simply highlights the case for the squatters. Instead of jumping in and vowing to bulldoze these homes and make the occupants homeless again, Minns should have indicated his government would find these tenants alternative homes. These squatters are far more comfortable and safe where they are than sleeping in their cars, in tents or under a sheet of corrugated iron. Show some commonsense, premier, and above all, with your so-called Labor credentials, some compassion for the homeless. Derrick Mason, Boorowa
Laughing (without) gas
With eastern states soon to face gas shortages, I still don’t see a great effort by governments to get people to go all-electric (“Imported gas may be only option to plug east-coast supply shortages”, March 22). That’s what I did two years ago, and it has not only reduced pressure on the gas supply, it’s saved me a considerable amount. Even if I did not have solar panels, I would still be paying only a fraction of what I was when I was using gas. And the cost of having my gas meter turned off? A grand total of $11. Now that’s what I call a good deal. Ken Enderby, Concord
No need to show off
It is interesting that Norway alone among Scandinavian countries is missing from the top five happiest countries in the world (Letters, March 22). After a recent, very enjoyable, visit to Norway, in which we found the Norwegians a little dour, if highly hospitable, I suspect they are just as happy as everyone else in Scandinavia; they just don’t like to admit it. John Croker, Woonona
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