Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s intention to live at Kirribilli House is inherently problematic (“Albanese mocks Dutton plan for Kirribilli HQ if Coalition wins”, April 1). Prime ministers operate out of Canberra because that’s where everything is, by design, since 1927. A PM primarily operating out of Kirribilli would need to shift significant numbers of staff to Sydney, despite advances in communications. There is little room at Kirribilli House as it’s a relatively small dwelling on very sloping ground, which means Dutton will probably have to increase the prime ministerial office space currently located in the Sydney CBD, and install all the communications and increased security that go with those staff. There will be an increase in travel costs when department heads and senior staff are called into a meeting with Dutton in Sydney. How could a prime minister who is preaching about saving on public service expenditure and plans to cut thousands of public-sector jobs look us in the eye and say he’s going to move into Kirribilli rather than The Lodge, a stone’s throw from Parliament House? Unless, of course, part of the Dutton prime ministerial plan is to schedule fewer parliamentary business days. Hypocrisy, not democracy. Bill Brown, Holt (ACT)
Peter Dutton would move into Kirribilli House if he were to win the election.Credit:
Many people can’t afford to buy a home and others are homeless, but Peter Dutton lets us know in no uncertain terms about his choice of housing options if elected to the top job. His snide remarks comparing the harbour views from Kirribilli House to the Lodge’s Adelaide Avenue are insulting to Canberrans, many of whom have been pioneers of Canberra, while others have come from all over Australia to make their home here. Dutton seems to be ignoring the wishes of one-time Liberal Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, who is renowned as an advocate and supporter of the development of Canberra as Australia’s capital. Geri Badham, Waramanga (ACT)
I don’t think Anthony Albanese needs to kiss too many more babies; Dutton is winning this election for Labor. He wants to work from home at Kirribilli House and build nuclear power plants. The prime minister can relax. Noel Mills, Avalon Beach
Counting his seagulls before they hatch, perhaps. Norelle Dixon, Burradoo
Trump’s poodle
I agree with David Crowe’s assessment of the political mood (“Voter concerns rise over Trump effect”, April 1). Anthony Albanese’s strongest asset is Peter Dutton. On major world issues such as Israel/Gaza and Ukraine/Russia, Dutton continues to blindly support Donald Trump. Albanese has gone more along the European Union’s stand on these issues. If Dutton is elected prime minister in May, he will be the “lapdog” Trump is looking for among democratic countries. Dutton will be a laughing stock in the international community. This will be a total disaster for Australia’s hard-earned reputation. Bala Superamaniam, Queenscliff
While agreeing with 60 per cent of voters who feel the Trump victory has been bad for Australia, I think it could also be a blessing in disguise. Apart from it exposing the narrow economic, political and strategic emphasis that we kept on the USA, like its other allies, our training wheels are falling off as our cousin has withdrawn its hands from steadying our bikes. Like a family member, the US knows a lot of our secrets, both defence and strategic, and when family turns foe, there are no barriers. The sooner we connect with Europe, China and some parts of Asia, the better. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy
I had a dream last night. Peter Dutton was announcing policy after policy, all with no details or costings. Then a stentorian voice boomed, “Give us the details. Where’s the money coming from?” It sounded remarkably like Sir Robert Menzies taunting the Liberal leader, as he did the Labor Party all through the 1950s and ’60s. On reading the Herald this morning, I fear my dream has come true. If Dutton wants any credibility and our votes, he needs to answer Menzies’ simple requests (“give us the details”) and questions (“where’s the money coming from?“). Ted Hemmens, Cromer
I note, in his increasingly dubious efforts to denigrate Anthony Albanese while trying to avoid offending anyone else, Peter Dutton recently called the PM “weak as water”. Mr Dutton, have you noticed what water is currently doing to your home state of Queensland? There are a lot of words for it but “weak” isn’t one of them. Nick Carroll, Newport
Instead of seeking a third term, which the US Constitution does not allow, President Trump could copy the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada and declare himself “president for life”. After all, he has a lot of similar tendencies (“No joke, third term is an option for me: Trump”, April 1). Rajend Naidu, Glenfield
I presume it was just a coincidence that Trump’s statement about a third term coincided with April Fool’s Day? Margaret McCabe, Bawley Point
Against the Green
As a reader of the Herald I find myself in a minority who deeply oppose the Greens. Their position on Palestine and strong stance against Israel is too much for me. But their opposition to defence spending and their desire to defund the ADF is the main reason I must vote Liberal, as a Labor government will be in bed with the Greens. Peter Williams, Sylvania
Credit: Cathy Wilcox
Another round of snake oil promises from our esteemed prime minister on his visit to Perth. He needed the support of West Australians to move into The Lodge, and now needs us again for that privilege. To reward this loyalty, it looks like he’s going to jump into bed with the Greens, which will send our agriculture industry and rural communities into oblivion. Again and again, his government has backed away from supporting the powerhouse of this nation – farmers. Go home, Albo, you have done enough damage. Mal Taylor, Ardross (WA)
Transport trouble
Former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance is trying to win the marginal seat of Gilmore. His track record is unimpressive. There were the ferries on which passengers could not use the upper decks in case of decapitation when travelling under bridges, and trains bought that were too wide for platforms going to Lithgow and Katoomba. His past form makes him seem like a duffer (Crucial seats, key players, April 1). Bea Hodgson, Gerringong
Captain’s call
As a former ship’s captain, it is difficult for me to understand why the recent visit of Chinese naval ships to Australian waters should cause so much concern (“Australians are clear on our biggest threats. But our leaders don’t want to discuss it”, April 1). At any one time, there are dozens of Chinese merchant ships travelling our coasts and visiting our ports, and berthing at Chinese-operated terminals and, in one case, Chinese operated ports (Darwin). Many of these ships are very large and equipped with sophisticated technology. During the Cold War, when we still had our own fleet of merchant ships travelling the world, let me just say that we sailed “with our eyes open”. Bryan Hayes, Dunmore
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea asserts ships, both civilian and military, can transit international waters and straits used for international navigation. Australia’s participation in the “freedom of navigation” exercises within the South China Sea, most recently with HMAS Hobart and P-8A Poseidon aircraft, appears lawful under the terms of this convention. Peter Hartcher takes a different view of the perfectly legal navigation by the Chinese navy in our area, describing it is a “task force of intimidation”. Hartcher must have been included in a Chinese Signal Group by mistake. How else would he know that Xi Jinping has advanced his “plans for the domination of Australia’s near approaches with a survey ship”. Graham Cochrane, Balmain
Nuclear hazard
Peter Garrett raises a very important, and not often thought of, issue in relation to Dutton’s nuclear plan – the risk of terrorism (“Nuclear folly has echoes of Trump,” April 1). Australia is a soft target for terrorism, as evident by the number of foiled plots by ASIO and the AFP over the years, and the recent spate of organised anti-semitic attacks. Australia is a big place, plenty of room for terrorist cells to foment, plan, and hide after an attack, and a damaged nuclear power plant leaking radioactivity into a populated environment, or a meltdown, would be catastrophic. As well, Australia does not have the technical expertise or infrastructure at present to be able to safely develop a nuclear industry, and no one has yet solved the waste disposal problem. Australians need to realise that Dutton’s plan has so many drawbacks, financially, environmentally, and safety wise, that it is just not feasible. John Frith, Paddington
Traditonal owners oppose the Kimba dump site in South Australia.Credit: AAP
Garrett’s appraisal of Dutton’s nuclear folly shows it is untenable as a plan and extremely dangerous for our country. Dutton, our newest admirer of Sydney Harbour views, seems to think he is the deal maker to free us from the dangers of being Trumped. Garrett rightly raises the spectre of that deal involving our pristine outback being used to house US nuclear waste. I am sure it’s already on Trump’s agenda, he’s just a little busy taking over the world. The overwhelming volume of expert commentary against nuclear reactors for Australia provides strong economic, legal, defence, unsuitability and common sense reasons to show it is a bad idea. Such a bad idea that Dutton seems to be distancing himself from it as well. Renewable energy and batteries are the most economical and sensible option to pursue and that penny hasn’t dropped for Dutton. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Oil levels low
To all the people who are rubbing their hands together with glee at the prospect of a lower fuel excise: Before you sell your vote, write a letter to your future great-grandchildren to apologise and explain why we allowed the world’s oil reserves to be used up so quickly. Why we couldn’t sell the stuff fast enough, and gave no thought to what life in a world without out oil would be like. So many chemicals, drugs, paint, plastics, and clothes are derived from oil. Will your great-grandchildren go back to wearing cotton? How will wiring be insulated? Will there be wars fought over the last of the oil? Global leaders should be co-operating to make the remaining oil resources last for hundreds of years to come, but no, much easier to buy votes by keeping the price down. Global warming, crop failure, rising sea levels, starvation, who cares? We’ve built a land of McMansions with three bathrooms, four TVs and four cars full of short-sighted people whingeing about the cost of living. David Davis, St Clair
If the petrol excise is cut for a year, then much needed funding for essential road maintenance is also going to be cut. If this happens and people realise what they voted for, I can see Dutton being nicknamed Pothole Peter. The budget cannot be a magic pudding – if you cut government income you also need to cut government spending. Doug Steley, Heyfield
Pocock’s proposal
May I suggest those commentators and correspondents who advocate banning politicians from owning residential investment properties have the wrong end of the stick. If the Parliament accepted Senator David Pocock’s proposal on this issue the problem would be solved immediately - not just for politicians but all so-called investors who take advantage of what is nothing less than “welfare for the wealthy”. Pocock’s proposal is to limit negative gearing to one property only, and for capital gains discounts to apply only to new builds. One can only hope enough independents are elected in May to see this very sensible tax reform adopted. Martyn Yeomans, Sapphire Beach
Adam Bandt, Peter Dutton and David Pocock.Credit:
Charge your batteries
I’m with Gavin Gilchrist on EVs (Letters, March 21). Two of us drove to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney two weeks ago in an EV purchased two weeks earlier. Because of Cyclone Alfred we drove north via Tamworth and Tenterfield, spending two nights in each town. We had a bit of minor range anxiety but there were no problems, and we had the added bonus of meeting and chatting with people at chargers. A bit like taking your dog to the dog park and meeting new people. EVs have many benefits, personal and for the environment. Sue Young, Marrickville
Does Gavin Gilchrist not realise that eventually there will be a new government tax to charge EV drivers for the use of the roads (probably per kilometre) to make up for their lack of fuel excise receipts? So the amount he mentions it cost him to travel to Melbourne will definitely increase. EV owners are getting a bit of a “free ride” at the moment. Rosalyn Millar, Moss Valet
Lego lifestyle
Economies of scale reduces product cost, so why doesn’t the building industry get on board and embrace lego-style construction, where components are factory built and brought to the site flat packed or even complete (“The Sydney homes that go up ‘like a Lego kit’,” April 1)? A friend recently bought an off-grid four-bed, two-bath home, which arrived on a truck and was installed in hours - quick, cheap, eco and gorgeous. Tailored houses built on site will always be the slowest most expensive option. Time for smart 21st century solutions to this pressing problem. Anne Matheson, Gordon
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is nothing new to any viewer of Kevin McCloud’s Grand Designs. As we know, even those well-manufactured builds don’t always go to plan. It will also be interesting to see if Mr Rosselli’s experiment can overcome Sydney’s shortage of tradespeople and provide a solution to Sydney’s housing crisis. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls
I applaud the use of carbon-laminated timber in the manufacturing of new terraces in Bondi Junction. With the manufacture of buildings contributing to one third of Australia’s total carbon emissions (Infrastructure Australia, July 15, 2024), it’s morally uplifting to see a carbon-absorbent material being implemented to reduce carbon emissions. Personally, I would love to see it be implemented outside of Bondi Junction, particularly because of the decreased building time. Jasmine Iraninejad, Baulkham Hills
Architect Luigi Rosselli is building four terraces in Bondi Junction to test the cost and climate impact of cross laminated timber.Credit: Edwina Pickles
Eyes on the ball
To the correspondent who asserted that pickleball was not a fad and was here to stay, I’d like to ask if she remembers when every suburb had a squash court (Letters, March 31)? John Bailey, Canterbury
Pet gripes
Well, Tim Parker, using speaker phones in public may get your vote for the ultimate noise nuisance, but personally I would vote to have leaf blowers banished to Siberia (Letters, April 1). James Duggan, Hunters Hill
I would vote for any party that promised to abolish ads on SBS. Ian Aldridge, Goulburn
Alternative truth
Hillary Clinton’s reference to wokeness and the Pentagon’s decision to remove images of the Enola Gay allows me to speculate on what the White House in its wokeness will do about Camp David. Gill Furey, Wollstonecraft
It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that Trump has renamed that historic bomber the Enola Guy. David Baird, Burradoo
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