Peter Hartcher’s view that “Australia is an outstanding example of an open economy that prospered under the system” is debatable (“Trump’s trade war on the world”, April 5). In the 1970s and 1980s, there wasn’t much Australia didn’t make. We were a resourceful nation that was close to self-sufficient. Now, we virtually make nothing. Our businesses needed some level of protection because we had fair pay scales and minimum wages. Suddenly, we had to compete with countries that had no such concerns. Now, Australia has an unsustainable economy that relies on high immigration for consumption (all the while not being able to keep up with housing and infrastructure), foreign students to fund our universities, and backpackers to work our hospitality industries and pick our fruit and vegetables. We are also totally reliant on foreign countries, mostly China, for just about everything that we buy. This is precarious and not an economically healthy or “prosperous” way to be. Our lack of nuanced, or simply naive, use of “free trade” is to blame. I’m not suggesting Trump is right here, but some tariffs had a legitimate role to play. Andrew Cronin, Robertson
Credit: Badiucao
Trump’s tariffs have established a possible method where the US president could acquire enormous personal financial benefits. Without proper oversight, as now exists under this administration, Trump could easily accept bribes from national leaders or their representatives to have tariffs either removed or reduced. Once nations commence this corrupt practice, it will certainly create a race to the bottom in international trade. Mark Berg, Caringbah South
Who’s afraid of Donald Trump? Hopefully, not everyone. If the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia and other so-called friends collectively stand up to this bully as well as others like China, then Trump, like most bullies, will need to back off. I’m sure the penguins on Heard Island will join the chorus demanding America act responsibly in restoring world economic stability. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach
I understand economics and I have read as much as I can on Trump’s economic plan. I agree with Ross Garnaut that it is “catastrophic”. Graham Russell, Clovelly
Is boycotting America worth a try?Credit: Getty Images
It would come as no surprise to me if many countries affected by Trump’s tariffs call for the US to be dropped as a co-host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Canada and Mexico would be asked to accept the extra competition games. In truth, the US has put out the unwelcome mat to the world’s diverse population, and travelling to the US has become problematic at best under the present administration. To cancel America’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup would send a small but justified message. David Goldstein, Balgowlah
I note that the Trump tariffs have extended to the penguins on the Heard and McDonald Islands. Could this be an opportunity to start a “Go Fund Me” for the penguins to send Trump 10 per cent of their daily output? The similarities of their output and his are quite obvious. To my mind, he’s welcome to the whole 100 per cent. Gerardo Prietto, Stockton
Can we please have a reciprocal tariff on those stupid big American utes? At the very least, they should be excluded from the small business tax write-offs that make them attractive to tradies. Alan Stanley, Upper Corindi
Tired of party games
Kerryn Phelps (“Independents’ power of balance”, April 5) correctly highlights that voters have become sick of the party games being played in Canberra at the expense of the issues they feel strongly about. If voters believe that a candidate from a major party will make a difference in their electorate and represent their concerns, they are mistaken, as these party members must vote as they are directed by their party. The community independents truly represent their voters’ interests and they value honesty and integrity. If they hold the balance of power, we might finally get some certainty on energy policy, truth in political campaign advertising and see some progressive, forward planning policies, instead of politically motivated games and temporary cash offers for votes. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
Kerryn Phelps says, “The Greens could retain or lose the seats they gained at the last election. I would not be surprised if Adam Bandt is left on his lonesome in the House of Representatives again.” This could well be the case, as the three seats the Greens gained in 2022 from the major parties in Brisbane represented a protest vote against aircraft noise from the opening of the airport’s second runway in 2020, with a lot of rusted-on voters of the two major parties changing their votes. It will be interesting to see if it occurs again. David Lawrence, Annandale
Promise kept
I agree with most of what Bronte Gossling wrote (“Slips and misses: Exaggerations from Albanese as Dutton gets lost in the Trump tariff blitz”, April 5),but I take exception to one point. Anthony Albanese did not promise to lower electricity prices by $275; he was careful at all times to say that the modelling that Labor commissioned showed that if they were able to implement all of their policies, he was confident that electricity prices would fall by $275. We all witnessed a real broken promise when then Treasurer Josh Frydenberg boasted that we “are back in black” and that he would deliver three consecutive surpluses. We all know that, in fact, he delivered the three largest deficits to date, increasing our post-GFC net debt from $260 billion to the $626 billion inherited by Labor in 2022. Barry Harrod, Fig Tree Pocket (Qld)
Self-reveal
When Peter Dutton split open a cameraman’s head, it was obviously an accident (“Dutton accidentally leaves cameraman’s forehead bloody with a footy kick”, smh.com.au, April 5). However, his immediate response to this – clapping hands, laughing and telling the victim, “That’s your exclusive vision” – tells voters much about the real Peter Dutton. People’s authentic self shows in times of unexpected crises when there is no time for a planned response and is off-script. The missing ingredient for Peter Dutton is empathy. I suspect this “exclusive” vision will haunt Dutton for the rest of the campaign. At least Scott Morrison didn’t rejoice when he tackled the little boy in Tasmania. Toni Lorentzen, Fennell Bay
“If the prime minister kicked it, he would have told you that it didn’t hit anyone, and you’re imagining something, that it just didn’t happen,” Peter Dutton said. A repugnant remark from typical Dutton; like Trump, Dutton just can’t stop himself from denigrating others. David Gordon, Cranebrook
Wrong direction
Petro Georgiou, the right man on the left of the Libs Credit: 20060423
Petro Georgiou (“The ‘conscience of the Liberal Party’ dies at 77”, April 5) wouldn’t recognise today’s Liberal Party, which has lurched to the right without any Liberal principles and has become just opportunistic. Georgiou was indeed one of a kind. The Liberals will be hard-pressed now to find one who would have Georgiou’s strong commitment as a voice for diversity and champion of Indigenous Australians, underdogs and outsiders. In fact, these traits would be considered negatives for anyone wanting to stand on a Liberal ticket. The space is now taken over by the teals. Vale, Petro! Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill
Green Square? Greed Squared
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and NSW Premier Chris Minns say citizens of high-density Waterloo and Green Square deserve access to open space (“Turf war dividing eastern suburbs”, April 5). They want to take it from Moore Park golf course, accessible only across a cavernous multi-lane highway. Why did planning for those suburbs not include substantial new open space? Just another example of failure of planning across our city and suburbs. Suburbs transformed by high-rise buildings jammed together with no open space for their occupants. Sue Ellyard, Epping
Moore Park, how many people can it hold?Credit: Sydney Morning Herald
Moore floated this proposal quite some time ago, claiming the Green Square development needed more recreation space. The almost unfettered overdevelopment of this precinct has occurred under her watch. Now she has hoodwinked the premier into agreeing to her proposal to rebalance the “open space to residents” ratio, which was never considered when pandering to greedy developers. The premier is now party to taking away a vital, viable and affordable area that is being used to the hilt. What does he now tell those thousands of users? Not being a golfer gives me more reason to say that, irrespective of one’s interests, all people should be treated with respect and equality. It’s a shameful chapter that blots the state government’s copybook and it’s another stain on Sydney City Council. Michael Doumani, Randwick
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully says “the Moore Park Collective’s plan has some holes in it”. Seriously, minister? Pull the other one. Of course, it does – 18, to be precise. Peter Thornton, Killara
Hey, big spenders
I believe your correspondent (Letters, April 5) nailed it. We don’t have a cost-of-living crisis at all. We have a cost-of-spending crisis: “I can’t pay the rent this week. I have to get the new big screen television or my new iPhone or my new tattoo.” As soon as we have money in the pocket, we can’t help but spend it. You see it everywhere. I see parents with their kids at the local coffee shop ordering breakfast before school. How much could you save there? I don’t see any headlines that the big retail stores are suffering a downturn in revenue. Some people are just compulsive spenders and don’t plan for their future. Graham McWhirter, Shell Cove
Awake to ‘woke’
Your correspondent’s comment on “woke” is on the money (Letters, April 5). I am also proud to be described as woke as I try to be aware of racism and unfairness in our society, and I care about what is happening to others around the world. When did being “aware” become so toxic? Surely, knowing what is happening around you is better than being the opposite, which is to be ignorant. Is this what the anti-woke MAGA set here and in the US wants? Do they want us to be oblivious to the evidence and facts around us? Is that why I’m still hearing “Trump is the smartest person in the room” even as he crashes US and world economies? Andrew Searles, Anna Bay
Many of us waited for decades to find the right word for people who, for example, make humbug out of their concern for non-discrimination, who like to be as restrictive as possible on the practice of freedom of speech and who take a common leftist position of grossly exaggerated criticism of almost everything a conservative says or does. Suddenly, such people gave us the word – “woke”. Handshakes and thanks all round. David Morrison, Springwood
Capital ideas
Can anyone explain what Peter Dutton has against Canberra and Canberrans? If he becomes the prime minister, he does not want to live in Canberra. He has targeted Canberra as the only location where public servants must not work from home. Now the question is why does he want to work in Canberra. Hopefully, voters in his electorate of Dickson and beyond will decide his future based on his dislike for Canberra. Robyn Lewis, Raglan
I saw a woman in Engadine wearing a T-shirt that said: “Good morning to everyone except Peter Dutton”. Loved it. Glenda Taylor, Stanwell Tops
Blissful ignorance
Your correspondent (Letters, April 5) reminded me of when my twin and I, in 1953, were enrolled at a primary school in New York soon after our arrival from Australia. As it was midterm, the enrolling staff wondered out loud where to place us in the fifth class roster. In a flash, it came to the principal that because we had “picked up the language so quickly”, we should go to the advanced class. Joseph Whitcombe, Bronte
American education, or lack thereof, seems to have a lot to answer for, but ignorance is not solely confined to the US. I remember arriving in New Zealand in 1968 as a child with refugee parents after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and being asked if I had ever tasted chocolate or if we had electricity in the house. Questions about kangaroos as pets or modes of transport to school are a perennial favourite for my daughter teaching in Britain. Jane Jilek, Castlecrag
The school bus?Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
My in-laws had a similar experience to that of your correspondent while working in a southern state of the US in the 1970s. Dee mentioned to a colleague what an expensive job it was packing up all the family’s belongings to go back to Australia. Her co-worker was puzzled “why don’t you just go by train?” I do not recall if Dee was able to enlighten her. Nola Tucker, Kiama
Perhaps the geographically ignorant teacher also taught the Canadian gent we met on a tour of Canada who assumed we used American currency. Joan Brown, Orange
Fromage homage
Say cheese, Your MajestryCredit: iStock
He once delivered cheese to the Queen (‴We wanted to do something big’: The Australian scientists helping build the key to synthetic life”, April 5). What could possibly go wrong? John Berry, Cammeray
Saints preserve us
Thank you, Thomas Keneally, well said (“St George Pell? Now there’s a miracle”, April 5). Arthur Hennessy, Gymea Bay
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