Have I got this right? Is Shaun Carney criticising the government for having stability? (“Scars of Rudd-Gillard leave PM untouchable”, October 24) Carney describes a lacklustre government out of touch with ordinary Australians, but ignores that Labor has reduced the inflation rate to almost half the 6.1 per cent it inherited from the Coalition. He criticises Anthony Albanese and Labor for the direction they are heading in, without acknowledging they have delivered two budget surpluses, wage rises, tax cuts for all and a reduction in childcare costs. Chalmers and Albanese accept that more needs to be done, but changing leadership horses in the middle of a race is not the way to do so. John Bailey, Canterbury
Columnist Sean Carney believes Anthony Albanese has too much power within his party.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Carney hits the nail on the head in his assessment of the federal Labor caucus’s failure to rein in their leader. Watching Albanese strut around with what, if the polls are to be believed, is surely a false sense of confidence, is nauseating. But equally galling is the lack of appetite among any of his peers to call him out. Given their history, what price disunity, they may well ask? But this is the wrong question at the wrong time. The right question is: what price defeat in the next election? Donna Wiemann, Balmain
Wake up, disaffected Labor voters, and be careful what you wish for. Labor may not be achieving everything you want and expect, but with the sensible teals, and even some of the Greens, they have a better chance of making useful reform than the Coalition, who in their hearts are still mostly climate deniers and so will only commit to window dressing the real issues. Are your memories so short that you have forgotten “climate change is crap” Tony or “I don’t hold a hose” Scottie, who both turned out to be hopeless. Their successor, Peter, is struck out of the same mould and has become the new leader of the same tired, old No-alition. Peter Kamenyitzky, Castle Hill
Tax talk a bit rich
Allegra Spender’s commitment to her community is commendable, but considering that Wentworth is one of the wealthiest electorates in Australia, it will be difficult to promote policies relating to taxation (“Spender backs minority vote on tax”, October 24). A push for more action on climate change will have considerable support, but changes to taxation rules such as negative gearing, capital gains, GST and superannuation tax breaks, threaten the wealthy. Her statement that tax is too high ignores the fact Australia is one of the lowest-taxed countries in the OECD, leading to inadequate social service payments and projected budget deficits. The happiness index places Australia well down the order, below countries with high taxes but better government services and hence lower inequality. The high earners in Spender’s electorate are no doubt happy after the recent overgenerous tax cuts, but meanwhile, thousands of Australians are living with food insecurity. Taxation must be raised if we are to reduce inequality in Australia. Geoff Harding, Chatswood
Divisive debate
Charlotte Mortlock, the founder of Hilma’s Network, claims “the Liberal Party is not a Trumpian Republican party” (“Labor attacks LNP over abortion as vote looms”, October 24). Really? Has she met Peter Dutton and his attack dogs? Is she aware of his major policy: negative wedge politics, exercised at every opportunity, aimed at the vulnerable in our society regardless of the damage it inflicts? Maybe this naivety explains her network’s lack of success in promoting women into positions of power in the Liberal Party. If she wants to see real political change for women, she might consider throwing her lot in with the teals. Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga
Charlotte Mortlock’s group, Hilma’s Network, tracks the number of Liberal women in parliaments.Credit: Edwina Pickles
Following her rise to prominence during the Voice referendum, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price seems to believe she is more influential than she really is, considering her recent comments about abortion. Just the fact that abortion is in the headlines tells us much about the nature of the Liberal and National parties. Clearly, within those parties, the Christian right is calling some of the shots and it is undeniable that, in part, there are attempts to employ similar populist manoeuvres as used by ex-president Trump. Apparently, there are some within the Coalition who have remained silent but if called on would support Price and leader Dutton’s attacks on immigration, along with his simplistic solutions to complex issues such as energy, housing and the cost of living, which are straight out of the Trump playbook. As suggested by your editorial (“Australia must not follow the US on abortion”, October 24) we must not allow ourselves to be deceived by Trump-influenced politicians. Ross Butler, Rodd Point
Abortion is a private medical matter. “The mischief from the Coalition” continues the long tradition of disempowering women. Inflaming the abortion debate is simply a divisive political tool. Repressive and powerful lawmakers know this. It is too easy to prey on the emotional vulnerability of young women who are feeling powerless, guilty and remorseful. It is lazy leadership. Patricia Grocholsky, Minto
Hair out of place
The storm in a teacup over whether Lidia Thorpe was correctly sworn in has put the spotlight fairly and squarely on the Senate and its fitness for purpose in the 21st century (“Coalition fury over Thorpe’s claim she swore allegiance to Queen’s ‘hairs’” , October 23). Thorpe may be regarded by some as a buffoon, but so are Senators Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts, Ralph Babet and Gerard Rennick. They got there on preferences or lost their places in the party batting order. Tasmania, with a population of 580,000, has the same number of senators as NSW (8.5 million) and Victoria (7 million). How is that fair? The Senate also seems to be the dumping ground for party hacks and rewarding time-servers – Mal Coulston anyone? Is the Senate our rotten borough? Nicholas Triggs, Katoomba
What does it matter that Thorpe, a Senator by a quirk of the electoral rules rather than great elector support, swore allegiance to the Queen’s hairs or heirs? Has no one noticed that in her pledge she also swore allegiance to the Queen’s successors? Surely, Charles must qualify not just as the heir to the throne but the Queen’s successor as ruler. In past ages, she would not just be sacked for such cheek, but given the “chop”. Brian O’Donnell, Burradoo
Lidia Thorpe claims she swore allegiance to the Queen’s “hairs”, instead of her “heirs”.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Now that Thorpe has revealed she did not swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II and her heirs, but to the Queen and her “hairs”, serious questions arise. Stumbling over the word “heirs” deliberately, to bamboozle the authorised person administering the oath, may constitute a false declaration. The Senator’s behaviour in this matter should be reviewed and appropriate action taken. Julian Bowditch, Croydon
Pay back unlawful service charges
Customer Service Minister Jihad Dib shouldn’t try to obfuscate with excuses about the “complexity” of refunding illegally imposed merchant fees (“Merchant fees collected despite legal warnings,” October 24). “Complexity” here means that it will be expensive to fix. The current government will have to pay to clean up the previous government’s illegal behaviour if they want to keep faith with the public. Those illegal merchant fees must be refunded, perhaps with an apology. Glenn Johnson, Leura
I was always annoyed at having to pay merchant fees demanded by Service NSW levied on all things motoring when paying online. If the fees were withheld, the transaction was deemed incomplete and your licence was invalid, as was your vehicle registration. Insurance liability was the reason we complied and paid, begrudgingly. The words “government blackmail” springs to mind. However, nobody in their right mind would jeopardise their life’s finances for 71¢. For me to pay by cash in person requires a 40-kilometre round trip. That is much more expensive than 71¢. Even most coffee shops demand such fees when electronic payment is used. David Sayers, Gwandalan
Preserve our old churches
It was devastating to read of the developer so casually dismissing objections to their plan to desecrate the sacred place that is Christ Church St Lawrence at Railway Square (“The 186-year-old church taking on Sydney’s ‘Trump Tower’ ”, October 24). This heritage-listed church is a sanctuary of calm in a busy city, a quiet space to sink into the presence of the numinous, whatever one conceives that to be. Light streams through the stained-glass windows, incense rises in clouds, a choir sings music that has been sung for centuries; all the senses are engaged. We must preserve and respect all sacred places in Australia, regardless of our beliefs. Christine McNeil, Ballina
Religion restricts
I really don’t see the problem with someone like Joe de Bruyn railing about abortion at a Catholic uni (CBD, October 24). After all, this is the position of the Church and Pope, so much so they appear to be backing Trump as “the lesser of two evils”. Don’t go to a Catholic uni if you don’t concur with their moral positions. The problem is, many of us don’t believe in their God or many of their moral positions. Many of us think women should be free (and helped) to choose abortion if required in this modern age, without restrictions. I’d also like it to be made easier to choose an assisted death should I feel the need, but thanks to churches and their political servants, I can’t do this. As the Hoodoo Gurus wrote, “follow your own creed, if my freedom’s guaranteed.” It’s time to rise up, folks. Kim Morley, Safety Beach
High price of loyalty
With headlines this week about insurers and their loyalty to customers (“Do promises really mean anything? Australia’s largest insurer sued over false promises on discounts”, October 23), perhaps it’s a good time to provide a reminder of a remark in a recent ASIC report: overseas regulators have introduced rules to ban a loyalty charge known as “price walking”, which gradually increases the price of insurance for those who renew with an insurer year after year. Is it too much to ask for similar regulations in Australia? Col Shephard, Yamba
Value of home care
Having just read the moving article about the value of the hospital in the home service that enabled Denise Bartlett to die at home, I wanted to add my praises to this wonderful service that also benefits people with non-terminal conditions (“Kevin Bartlett’s wife Denise had a single wish after brain cancer treatment: to come home”, October 22). The one provided by the Prince of Wales public hospital swung into action after my husband landed in hospital with a badly broken ankle. After a couple of days, he was able to come home after an occupational therapist assessed what sorts of equipment we would need and organised a free loan for as long as required. Once home, he was brilliantly supervised and helped by nurses and physiotherapists, who visited regularly until we were able to manage. He made an excellent recovery. From our perspective, this is a great way of reducing the need for hospital beds. Anne Ring, Coogee
Home care can be a better experience for patients, while taking the pressure off hospitals.Credit: iStock
The idea of home care should be supported (“Turning homes into hospitals to save billions”, October 23). I was recently hospitalised in the US with pneumonia. The hospital’s chief of infectious diseases saw me on my first day and strongly advised me to take a prescription for antibiotics pills, instead of the hospital drip, and return home immediately. I left after one night, with a bill for $21,000. Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy
About 15 years ago, my dad stayed at home and died peacefully in a hospital bed in his bedroom, with palliative care stepped up as needed. It’s a great solution as long as we can attract more nurses and other carers for home care – perhaps an incentive such as a realistic salary for these hard-working people. Margaret Grove, Concord
Cyclists pay their way
It will evidently surprise some of your correspondents to learn that the vast majority of cyclists over the age of 17 also have a driver’s licence, pay car rego, tax, etc (Letters, October 24). It’s one of the reasons we can readily identify when car drivers break the road rules by not indicating, not giving way and driving within one metre of a cyclist. Dean Fraser, North Balgowlah
If we are going to mandate fluoro vests for cyclists, why not helmets for drivers of all motor vehicles, lifejackets for all beachgoers and perhaps even body armour for teachers? Is this the end of our carefree lifestyle? Richard Tainsh, Potts Point
Royal restrictions
Your correspondent asks if there are real advantages in changing over to a nominal head of state (Letters October 22). Yes, there are. The head of state would be an Australian citizen and could be a Catholic, an Indigenous Australian, a Jew, a Hindu, a Muslim and so on. At present, the head of state can be none of these and is even forbidden to marry a Catholic. Apart from the anachronistic nature of monarchy, it is also inherently discriminatory. John Lees, Castlecrag
People power
After my own recent experience with officialdom, I would strongly advise residents of North Sydney to get involved with Crows Nest resident Simon Berry’s campaign against parking rip-offs (“The man who took on North Sydney’s parking meters and the 8.25% service fee”, October 22). After enjoying regular sessions at an exercise class for the elderly, the 700 aged participants were told the class had been cancelled by South East Area Health (SEAH). The decision was made despite well-documented evidence of how effective this course had been in keeping seniors out of hospital. We were outraged at a rude and dismissive letter from SEAH and mounted a very effective community campaign against the cancellation. I’m happy to report we have our exercise class back. Aged and enraged people-power definitely works. Lynne Poleson, Kingsford
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