Niki Savva paints a disturbing picture of Peter Dutton borrowing from Donald Trump’s playbook in his bid for our top job (“Dutton may rue his copycat routine”, February 6). It’s bad enough having one unstable, whim-driven thought-bubbler in office in a usually friendly country who delights in making it up as he goes along. So far, we only risk being caught in the slipstream of those unhinged antics and I hope that’s the worst we have to endure. But the idea of a home-grown version, elected to office merely on the strength of similar populist pandering, angry platitudes, vague promises and ridiculously unworkable ideas, doesn’t bear thinking about. Adrian Connelly, Springwood
Niki Savva, as usual, provides us with insight into Canberra politics with her prescient details. The opposition leader hasn’t been challenged effectively by media scrutiny of his policies and smartly keeps changing the landscape with pure politics. This should scare voters but apparently voters seem to like him as a “strong” man of politics. As Savva says, if there are a couple of interest rate cuts by the RBA, the dial will shift away from Dutton to the government. Luck will run out for Dutton and his team as they are incapable of facing facts. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill
Credit: Cathy Wilcox
Elections are usually won by a combination of fear and promise. Fear of what the other side might do, and a promise of what your side will achieve. “Donald” Dutton has thrown out the promise and is relying purely on fear. The best path for Albo is to keep pointing out the lack of promises. Turn the fear around and point out that Dutton has no policies. “If you don’t know, say no.” Wait, haven’t I heard that somewhere before? Neville Turbit, Russell Lea
Once again, Niki Savva gets to the heart of all that is wrong in Australian politics: the sneering at those who are experts in their fields, the “licence to politicise every occasion”, the “culture wars” that are so tiresome and dangerous for those caught in the crossfire, the secrecy around policy and the dodging of scrutiny and the obstinate sweeping of the climate crisis under the rug, as if dealing with rising sea levels and unprecedented fires and floods can be ignored or postponed. Let’s hope this way of doing politics, the “brutish strategy” on offer from Peter Dutton and his colleagues, is seen for what it is by voters here. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown
Niki Savva, as usual, succinctly and sensibly cuts through the political BS: Dutton is very happy that Trump was elected president, with small-minded copycat promises, criticises the likes of Penny Wong, who at all times do their job with dignity and integrity, and offers short-sighted energy plans. Dutton stands for very little that will make this country great. But the most beautiful/frightening description? “Dutton tries to avoid scrutiny from sharp people”. Niki for PM. Lisa Williams, Dulwich Hill
Congratulations to Niki Savva for being an experienced political journalist with the courage, capacity and perceptiveness to see through the Peter Dutton charade and announce that this “would-be Emperor has no clothes”. As Savva notes, Dutton has no policies, no costings and no stated solutions. However, Dutton has had the softest run of any would-be PM by simply pouring out mini-Trump vitriol, negativity, nastiness and scorn with little to no scrutiny. This honeymoon situation has existed since the Voice referendum but maybe the voting public has awoken from a long period of hibernation and is starting to ask questions. As Savva concludes, “maybe treating voters like mugs will end as badly in 2025 as it always has in the past”. Warren Marks, Richmond (Tas)
The article by Niki Savva points to the dangers of a Dutton-led Coalition government. There is no doubt that if the Coalition wins the election it will drag Australia back. A la Trump, fighting climate change will again be put on the backburner. Cutting the public service will lead to inefficiencies. Limiting immigration dramatically will worsen skills shortages and damage the education sector. The attack on diversity and inclusion will have negative consequences for non-mainstream groups. Housing will be left to the market and the crisis will deepen. The plan to cut taxes will worsen inequality, impact on services and the budget, etcetera, etcetera. It is difficult to come up with one positive. Alan Morris, Eastlakes
Niki Savva has excelled herself with her brilliant insight into Peter Dutton. Everything that has enraged me about Dutton has been addressed and expounded so much better than I could have done, but the sentiments mirror mine completely. From the attacks on Penny Wong (our best foreign minister ever) to her demolition of Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan for Gaza, Savva has shown us what kind of leader we would get with Dutton – I, for one, would hate to see us dragged along in the wake of the lunatic now occupying the White House. Jan Bohan, Eastwood
Isn’t politics fascinating? How is it that Peter Dutton – a climate denier, a man who stokes division on every subject under the sun, has no regard for the feelings of Indigenous Australians, is completely lacking in social and economic policy, whose understanding of economics could be summarised on the back of a postage stamp and is a supporter of Trump – could even be in the running to be the next Prime Minister of Australia? Phil Peak, Dubbo
Gravy train
To all of those pollies on the gravy train (“Haylen’s unforced error reveals hubris. Voters have taken note”, February 6), and many yet unchecked: Ted Mack. Marie Healy, Hurlstone Park
Your correspondents’ compassionate perspective on Jo Haylen’s use of a government car for personal reasons shines a light on how society is too quick to find fault (Letters, February 6). The overtime hours incurred by Haylen would almost certainly have covered the cost of the driver. Her only error was not asking permission in advance in lieu of hours worked. We need to be reminded to look for the good in people and give them the benefit of the doubt. Elizabeth Maher, Gordon
Poor role model
Sam Kerr outside court on Monday in London.Credit: Getty Images
I shed no tears for Sam Kerr (‴Upset’ officer’s motive challenged”, February 6). Her behaviour and actions left much to be desired, and it’s about time professional, high-profile, highly paid sports stars behaved to earn our respect and admiration. She’s supposed to be a grown woman at 31 and a role model all over the world. Regardless of the outcome of the trial, she should not captain Australia. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill
Rail refunds
The Rail Tram and Bus Union must think the travelling public are a gullible lot (“Refund for chaos or we’ll go slow: Rail union makes further threats”, February 6). Asking the government to refund fares is just taking money from one pocket and putting it into another – it’s all sum neutral. You can’t fool us. If the union really wants to do something to benefit consumers, perhaps they might consider reimbursing travellers from union coffers, as opposed to government funds, but somehow I can’t see that happening. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth
Trump plays Putin game in Gaza
It seems the US president’s plan for Gaza mirrors the Russian president’s plan for Ukraine (‴Riviera of the Middle East’: Trump vows Gaza takeover”, February 6)? I await the outrage, the embargoes, the offers of help for victims, the UN condemnations and international aid to support the resistance. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield
Is it possible for anyone to come up with a more bizarre proposal for a foreign country? I wonder if Donald Trump knows where Gaza is? Gaza ... Greenland ... a new world of golf courses, beaches and maybe precious metals? Of course Netanyahu looked pleased; just as a famous Australian once said, “You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime.” Nola Tucker, Kiama
An unintended side-effect of Trump’s plan for Gaza has united the world. Who knew his power to bring nations to speak together with one voice? Unfortunately, Trump doesn’t seem to be listening, nor does he realise how isolated US foreign policy has become. I don’t know if my heart can cope with this heady rollercoaster of a ride where every day brings new developments. It would be better than any TV soap if only lives didn’t hang in the balance. Diane Dennis, Epping
Now that Donald Trump has thrown down the gauntlet over the rebuilding of Gaza, let’s see what other plans can be put on the table. There’s unlikely to be a rush to put the capital up for rebuilding when your investment is only a few minutes away from an Israeli air strike. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills
We all wait with bated breath for Trump’s “takeover” and “owning” of Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia etc, in order construct newly peaceful rivieras wherever they may be required. Real estate opportunities clearly abound. Bigly. David Baird, Burradoo
You are a genius, Donald Trump. Convert the Gaza Strip into a tourist park; call it The Garden of Eden and let the dollars roll in. Ferdo Mathews, Robina (Qld)
The Garden of Eden, perhaps soon returning to the Middle East. By Pieter Paul Rubens.Credit:
Will the new country be called “Trumpania”? Bruce Graham, Waitara
History 101. Wealth offers zero protection in areas of instability and inequality. By 1959 Havana was known as the Las Vegas of the Caribbean. Fast-forward 20 years to Beirut, the Paris of the Middle East, and the petrodollar-fuelled glitter of Tehran. I can’t think of two less reflective leaders than Trump and Netanyahu, looking as smug as the imperial Shah. Peter Farmer, Northbridge
What is the difference between appropriating Gaza to be the “Riviera of the Middle East” and turning Sydney’s Sirius building into the most prized city crash pad for the super-rich? Patricia Grocholsky, Minto
Recently, vulnerable people were being evicted from their inner-city boarding house to allow a developer to make way for four luxury apartments. Trump now wants to do something similar but on a massive scale. He wants to evict 2.3 million destitute Gazans from their Strip to who cares where to allow for the creation of the Riviera of the Middle East. Are we to see Trump Towers lining the Mediterranean Sea, not to mention Greg Norman-designed golf courses? Once a property developer, it seems, always a property developer. Bernard Moylan, Bronte
Oxygen for hospitals
While a 12 per cent rise in Commonwealth funding for public hospitals is very welcome, it will have little effect on the decade-long unconscionable and worsening waiting times for elective surgery and outpatient specialist consultation (“PM throws $1.7b lifeline to save hospitals”, February 6). The only figure that matters is 50 per cent, the original Medicare proportion of public hospital funding which the Commonwealth must re-establish. Out-of-hospital care, mostly for the less severe end of the disease spectrum, is funded by the Commonwealth and uncapped. Public hospital care, mostly for severe disease, is funded by the state and capped. Not a clever country. A single funding authority would provide a solution. Graeme Stewart, Avalon Beach
Late for school
Redfern families are not the only ones unable to access the Inner Sydney High (“Parents angry at changes to school catchment area”, February 6). Students from Pyrmont peninsula were never included within its catchment. Our students have to try to get on the 501 bus to reach Rozelle, then wait for the bus to Balmain Junior High School. Recent advice is that our kids are significantly late for school almost every day as they can’t even get on the 501 in the morning peak. It would be so easy to access the Inner Sydney school by light rail, which is reliable and frequent. All lobbying for a new secondary school has fallen on deaf ears, despite the proposed huge second phase of population growth proposed for the peninsula. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont
Parents’ worst fear
My heart goes out to the father who left his child in a car (‴Dad was screaming’: Neighbour heroically tried to save toddler”, February 6). Once, 32 years ago,
I did something similar – I left my baby son in the car travel cradle on the footpath next to the car thinking I had actually put him in the car. I didn’t realise I had done it until I returned home 20 minutes later and found a policeman on my doorstep.
I still feel ashamed of my actions. Thankfully, my mistake did not end in tragedy but it made me aware of how easy it is to make a mistake and put a baby in jeopardy. Olga Stosic, Gordon
I cannot imagine the pain and distress of that one-year-old girl’s father. Nothing will resolve his guilt or anguish and I do hope there is no additional punishment, either legally or socially. He needs support and understanding because we have all been forgetful or even negligent without intention when tired, stressed and busy, but not had to suffer such horrendous consequences. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle
Born in sin
It was God, he started it
Your correspondent (Letters, February 6) is right that God is the creator, but it was humans who created religion and the inter-religious hatred he decries. Dermot Perry, Mount Keira
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