Congratulations to Sussan Ley (“Ley beats Taylor to become first woman to lead the liberals: Price withdraws candidacy” May 13). The expression “poisoned chalice” springs to mind, especially considering the likely prospect of leading a divided team including the defeated Angus Taylor. The notion of pursuing a nuclear agenda while dismissing, even denying climate change, contrary to voters’ emphatic election results, blasts a big hole in the Coalition boat. Once the crew of all-white Anglo males get restless, as they do, commanding a sinking ship might lose its appeal. As for Jacinta Price jumping ship after Taylor’s leadership defeat, was anyone really surprised? Her lifebuoy was no doubt conveniently close at hand. Coalition-style politics, it would appear, attracts “team members” whose loyalty is wedded firmly to self-interest. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why
Credit: Cathy Wilcox
At last, the Liberal Party has acknowledged that women do have a significant role to play in Australian politics, but watch your back very carefully, Sussan Ley. Those stale, pale males will already be stalking you. Richard Watson, Pyrmont
Sussan Ley’s election will bring the Liberal Party home. Bells will ring over Albury and the great organ at St Matthews Church play in celebration of her election as head of the Liberal Party, which is more than a personal win but a great thing for her hometown. Sir Robert Menzies, who founded the Liberal Party in Albury just around the corner from Sussan Ley’s office, would be heartened that the ideals upon which he built the party will have a new lease of life under its first female leader. Sussan is a patron of the St Matthews Albury Bell Tower in a church rebuilt after being destroyed by fire. One of the legacies is the mighty pipe organ. Renowned American concert organist Colin Andrews will open his concert with a celebratory fanfare that will blow the cobwebs from the Liberal Party defeat and show the parish’s support for Sussan Ley. Rector Peter MacLeod-Miller, Albury
Sussan Ley would do well to reflect on her time as Abbott’s deputy when in opposition. Ley sat quietly while her cohorts, egged on by the very vocal media led by the now disgraced Alan Jones, treated Julia Gillard, the prime minister of Australia, in the most disgraceful and appalling manner. I doubt Ley will be subject to the same vitriol. Pradip Devalia, Castle Hill
Ley wouldn’t have been my choice as a strong, principled and resilient leader, but then neither would Taylor. There are talented people within the Liberal Party, but they chose not to put themselves forward right now. Sometimes, when you wait for a more propitious moment, it’s gone with the wind, never to blow your way again. Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield
Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley and her deputy, Ted O’Brien. Credit: James Brickwood.
After 50 years looking at elections, I can’t remember a time when the coals have been so thoroughly raked over and the defeated side given such a relentless pasting. I reckon everything that could be said has been said. Please, can we draw a line under all this and move onto some more interesting topics, such as the fate of Katoomba, bike paths and noisy morning birds? Ross MacPherson, Seaforth
Kapterian captive
The very narrow win for Liberal Gisele Kapterian in Bradfield is sad news for many in the electorate (“Libs Kapterian seizes seat on a razor-thin margin,” May 13). Nowhere in Kapterian’s campaign material was the word “environment” mentioned. She failed to turn up for a meet-the-candidates meeting organised by environment and climate groups across the electorate. At the end of the day, she is just another member of the Liberal Party who will be even more indebted to the nuclear, anti-renewable energy Nationals. Back on track? Back to the past. Carolyn Pettigrew, Turramurra
Congratulations to Gisele Kapterian. No doubt some voters may lament that the seat did not fall to the teals as in the neighbouring seats of Warringah and McKellar (and Wentworth across the harbour). In the words from the epic poem by Thomas McCauley Horatius at the Bridge, about the Etruscans attacking Rome: “With weeping and laughter, still was the story told, how well Horatius kept the bridge in the brave days of old.” Kapterian has kept the bridge. I hope she will prove to be an outstanding MP and help rehabilitate the opposition to become a credible alternative government, which is so necessary in a democracy. Dennis Bluth, Cammeray
Gisele Kapterian (right) narrowly won Bradfield for the Liberals, defeating teal Nicolette Boele (left).
Fact from faction
Your correspondent concludes with “politics is a brutal business that (hopefully) extracts the best talent available” (Letters, May 13). I am concerned that the people who come out on top may be those whose best talent is factional warfare. I’m not sure I want such people to be guiding the country and making decisions about peoples’ lives. Bill Irvine, Goulburn
Am I alone in experiencing a sinking feeling, as in Canberra factions, ministries and policies form and reform, completely in isolation to the voting we did last week? Is it only me who watches ideas such as tax and gambling and renewable energy reforms softly and silently vanish as voters are told to “go into the next room to play” while the “adults” discuss important things without us. Why do I suspect we will see no action until asked to vote again in three years’ time? Will this again be the triumph of hope over experience as the politicians ignore the people who elected them? Allan Kreuiter, Roseville
E-scooters a menace to pedestrians
As a walker, I spend a lot of time on shared paths. I walk in fear of cyclists approaching from behind me with an alarming swoosh as they pass close by. I now learn that e-scooters are to be added to the shared path traffic (“Clear and legal path ahead for e-scooters,” May 13). With the questionable balance of those of senior years, much as I try, I cannot be sure to walk in a straight line. It seems only a matter of time before I’m bowled over by a set of wheels. Walking used to be such a peaceful form of exercise. Bridget Oquist, Redfern
On Monday evening as I was walking in the dark along the Darling Street footpath in Balmain, an e-scooter travelling at over 30km/h with no lights or warning bell passed me from behind. It scared the hell out of me. The driver was a young man with no helmet and was gone before I could offer him my suggestions. It’s fine to say this behaviour is against the law, but who will enforce it? When was the last time you saw a police officer walking the beat? The first person injured should sue the premier. I just hope it’s not a small child. Ross Elliott, Balmain
Unlike every other road user, there is no suggestion regarding the licensing, registration, insurance or road tax for e-scooters. If someone is knocked over by one, how do they identify it? The less-polluting aspect is a positive, but there are obvious problems that need resolving. Maybe that’s why Melbourne has banned them in the CBD. Greg Thomas, Annandale
An e-scooter rider alongside a concrete mixer.Credit: Scott McNaughton
You’ve got to be kidding me. The state government is making e-scooters legal on shared pathways, streets, roads. Who is going to supervise and enforce what appear to be open-ended and unenforceable rules and regulations? Will the operators of these potentially lethal vehicles be licensed and have compulsory third-party insurance, like motorcycles? Having already experienced “close encounters”, I can only envisage the outcome of legalising their use as a catastrophe for elderly pedestrians with mobility issues. Surely it’s a very, very dumb decision. Graham Tooth, Kings Point
Here in the Bankstown area, where many of the footpaths are too narrow for two pedestrians to pass each other comfortably, how will this great plan work? I have nearly been knocked down on numerous occasions, so how will a 10-15km/h limit stop us from being injured? Part of the recommendations must be licences, driving tests, registration and insurance. Footpaths were originally intended to take pedestrians out of the way of horse-drawn vehicles. Now we will have motorised scooters/bikes competing with pedestrians. Again we see Premier Chris Minns caving in to another lobby group – this time the bike lobby – to the detriment of pedestrians. Robert Pallister, Punchbowl
Spare a thought for overworked police dealing with drug crime, home invasions, violence and traffic accidents. As it is, they don’t have time to worry about cyclists with no helmets, riding on footpaths and going through red lights. How are they meant to police e-scooters speeding on footpaths? I was nearly bowled over by a trio of early teens who appeared round a corner doing at least 40km/h on the footpath. In the US parents can be held responsible for gun crime committed by their children. What about parents here who buy e-bikes and scooters for their kids and must be aware of illegal modifications to allow excessive speed? Eric Scott, Bondi Junction
Compass check
The “question that must now be asked” is why Richard Flanagan chose to batter Labor with his curmudgeonly assault after its great victory (“The left’s on the brink of irrelevence,” May 13)? The Albanese government has already begun to implement policies in areas like health, aged and disabled care, schooling, housing, the environment and public service provision, which benefit the whole nation, especially our least well-off. It has made clear more of the same must come – that better needs to be done on issues of equity like tax reform and First Nations assistance. If that is centre-right what, pray, is centre-left? The government’s agenda differs markedly from the Coalition’s retrogressive mindset and the unaffordable offerings of the Greens. As the government struggles to maintain a promising progressiveness in times of global turmoil, it could do without the unflattering fallacies of “friends” like Flanagan. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne
Richard Flanagan’s article would have had more impact if he could have given some examples of what Labor could do to make it more relevant to its roots – such as courage to tackle the inequities in the taxation system. Gillian Baldwint, Windradyne
Jumbo perks
So inured have we become to the ethical and moral wasteland of the Trump administration that the gifting of a Boeing 747-8 jumbo valued at $620 million from the Qatari royal family, and outfitted to serve as Air Force One, is just another day. (“Trump jet gift sparks concerns,” May 13 ). When he leaves office, this flying palace will become Trump’s very own. There is no point in saying that this violates the US Constitution since Trump rules by executive decree and the Constitution is a dead letter. Democracy is dying the death of a thousand cuts. Bernard Moylan, Bronte
The Qatari royal family has gifted a Boeing 747-8 jumbo valued at $620 million to the Trump administration.Credit: BOEING
Things must be pretty crook in South Canada if they cannot afford their own presidential jet. John Hyde, Ashfield
I would get my rosary beads now. When Trump finds out about this there will be a 150 per cent tariff on the Vatican (“Thanks to the Pope, Trump no longer the most important American in the world,” May 13). Neville Turbit, Russell Lea
GPs bear the brunt
Discussion of doctor’s fees and the demand that GP visits should be free brings to mind the adage that there is no such thing as a free lunch (Letters, May 13). Recent correspondents, and the public in general are perhaps unaware that the Medicare legislation forbids private health funds from refunding more than the difference between the Medicare rebate and the schedule fee for specialist visits. The specialist colleges have routinely raised their fees annually in line with the consumer price index, hence the increasingly large specialist gap fees. Health funds are also forbidden from paying anything at all for GP visits. Medicare rebates generally, but more pertinently for general practice, have risen since the inception of Medicare at a fraction of the annual CPI. This, coupled with the incessant pressure for GPs to bulk-bill, has led to an inexorable decline in GP incomes, to the point of unsustainability. Small wonder that GPs are quitting practice, and that fewer and fewer doctors are entering GP training. Neither circumstance would have come to be had Medicare rebates been linked from the start to the CPI. Peter Craig, Dulwich Hill
Survival plan
Your editorial lists serious issues requiring urgent attention by the new Labor government (“Ambition, fresh talent feature in fresh cabinet,” May 13). While few would quibble with housing, productivity, First Nations issues, etc, the most important challenge is not mentioned. Nothing is more important than sustainable ecosystems, including climate systems, which are essential for our survival. As Ross Gittins has said: no environment, no economy. Thousands of scientists have sent warnings to humanity, and yet humans are degrading our ecological life support at a terrifying rate. Surely the Herald could acknowledge this as a priority task for government. Alan Jones, Narraweena
Heritage overlooked
Sadly, Katoomba has indeed become a bit seedy over the years. There is one building I have seen decline into a bedraggled, crumbling mess that really bugs me – the gloriously over-the-top Italianate renaissance building circa 1910 that was once a convent school. Whoever owns it now has neglected it for years, no doubt because it sits in a prime location and will eventually have to be demolished so they can build a modern monstrosity. Its potential for cultural uses is enormous. But what do politicians care about history, heritage or culture? John Grinter, Katoomba
Many of the store fronts and heritage buildings in Katoomba are falling into disrepair. Credit: Rhett Wyman
Forgotten people
The proverbial elephant in the room has been overlooked again. Peter Hartcher ignores an issue that could cause major friction in our relationship with Indonesia – West Papua (“Albanese set to land in a changed and changing Indonesia”, May 13). I’m sure the bilateral talks will include the usual topics of trade, defence, China, Russian planes possibly being based in Biak and, of course, terrorism. I doubt human rights will be on the agenda, despite ongoing allegations of violations committed by Indonesian security forces. We understand the need for good relations with Indonesia, but these should not be at the expense of the West Papuan people, one of our closest neighbours. Joe Collins, Mosman
Ceilings and flaws
I am relieved to learn of the Amish belief that “one should leave a tiny flaw in any piece of work in case one thinks one is God” (Letters, May 13). This explains a lifetime of imperfectly executed projects and tasks, which I now realise has been due to humility, not incompetence. Coral Button, North Epping
Some years ago I took my three young sons to an exhibition of Amish quilts. I told them there would be a flaw in each quilt as the Amish believed only God was perfect. This kept them busy checking for flaws while I enjoyed the exhibition. Judy Dyson, Bowral
Scratch that stitch
A New York magazine based on Madison Ave has suggested that eight-times-married Mrs Jones could claim her wedding dress as a uniform when completing her tax return. Steve Gambling, Waverton
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