At last, a journalist turns the blow torch on Peter Dutton’s hollow carping and lack of any real policies (“Dutton gets less scrutiny than Albanese but complains more. Time to toughen up”, February 28). The mainstream media as a whole has been soft on Dutton for too long, giving his constant negativity the headline treatment, continuously repeating his claim that Anthony Albanese is “weak”, with scant critical analysis of his only three “policies” – long lunches for businesspeople, the catastrophic nuclear policy and the copycat version of Labor’s Medicare reforms. Albanese’s purchase of a single property at Copacabana was mercilessly lambasted as “out of touch” with the current economic realities. Dutton’s history of $30 million in property speculation, and his buying bank shares at a time when the federal government was deciding to support the banks during the global financial crisis, have been treated very leniently. Let’s hope other responsible journalists follow David Crowe’s balanced approach. Rob Phillips, North Epping
The media has been soft for too long on Dutton and his lack of policies, says a reader.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, Getty Images
David Crowe laments that the election will not be a contest of ideas and suggests it will be a “brawl over character”. In the spirit of unchecked “free speech”, it is more likely to be a contest of lies, distortions and outlandish claims. The Coalition’s claim that nuclear power will reduce energy prices by 40 per cent is an example. But the lies and distortions on both sides will be endless. Genuine ideas will run a sad second. Most “teal” candidates focus on policy and evidence, however. It is not surprising that voters have and will turn to alternatives to Labor and the Coalition. Alan Russell, Unley (SA)
I’d rather vote informal than for Peter Dutton. However, why all the fuss about his property portfolio? If he bought his first house at 19, it shows he didn’t waste his money like a lot of young people do. If all of his property and other assets are listed and declared correctly on parliamentary registers, he’s done nothing wrong. Jealousy, perhaps? Barbara Grant, Castle Hill
Advance Australia. Where?
By having to ask what AUKUS means, Donald Trump reflects the relative insignificance of Australia in the minds of most Americans (“Asked about AUKUS, Trump replies: What does that mean?”, February 28). Writer Bill Bryson, in doing research for his 2000 book Down Under, found only rare references to Australia in the databases of US newspapers. In 1992, when teaching at a university in the US, I was sometimes asked how long it took me to drive there from Australia. Findings from my survey of more than 100 students included: Many to most agreed that Australians frequently saw crocodiles, kept kangaroos for pets, spoke English as a second language and that the Sydney Harbour Bridge linked Australia with New Zealand. The only name given for any Australian prime minister was Margaret Thatcher. If we think our success in some fields, such as sport, has an impact on most Americans, we are kidding ourselves. Paul Casey, Callala Bay
Please, Anthony and Sir Keir, have an urgent meeting about how to get out of AUKUS and get our money back, now that we know Donald Trump doesn’t even know what it is. Then go and have a nice chat with Emmanuel. Levane Abdoolcader, Padstow Heights
For a man whose highest priority is to return Americans to drinking from plastic straws, it’s no wonder Trump has forgotten all about the nuclear submarine deal he has with Australia. Tony Lewis, Mount Victoria
As I read through David Crowe’s opinion piece (“Trump has sent a wrecking ball through old alliances”, February 28), I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone from either side of politics will be extending an apology to Paul Keating any time soon. Keating’s constant warnings of over-reliance on American support in our time of crisis demonstrates all too clearly that he’s still sharper than either of the current contenders to the throne. As we kiss goodbye the $800 million down-payment on AUKUS stupidity and become yet again a colonial outpost, Australia can only hope that the vagaries of Trump’s personality discovers a bit more to love about Down Under than he has with the rest of his long-term allies. Terry Flanagan, Wagga Wagga
Ukraine’s ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko speaks at the opening of the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday. The war will be the main topic of the session.Credit: AP
Balancing the ledger
Your correspondents have reflected on Trump’s demands for compensation from Ukraine for US aid in the war against Russia (Letters, February 27). Apart from the other countries mentioned in the letters, should Australia expect a Trump compensation demand for “saving” us in World War II? If it comes, the response should be to bill the US for the accommodation costs of General Douglas MacArthur and his troops in Australia for much of that period. Then there are the rental charges for Pine Gap. Indeed, upon reflection, our list of demands could be very long. Brian Kidd, Mount Waverley (Vic)
I would disagree with reader Chris Gresham’s statement that the USA was once a beacon of freedom and democracy (Letters, February 28). It was actually a beacon of commercial self-interest and, in fact, interfered with the freedom and democracy of many countries around the world to further bloat its coffers. Even now, it seeks to support the freedom and democracy of Ukraine only to get hold of its mineral wealth. Neil Reckord, Gordon (ACT)
Presidents Trump and Putin have, it seems, come to an agreement on how to bring everlasting peace to Ukraine. Putin gets to keep the almost 20 per cent of Ukraine that his troops now ruthlessly occupy, and Trump will get a huge portion of the rare earths and minerals sitting under Ukrainian soil. That’s got to be the most one-sided agreement ever made. Matt Kaarma, North Nowra
Hume’s way or the highway?
Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume just doesn’t get it that climate change is going to have a dire impact on life as we know it. She seems more concerned with a vindictive response to the admirable efforts of Matt Kean, who is doing something to alleviate our challenging future (“How Andrew Constance helped boost $1m teal fundraising blitz”, February 28). Daft responses such as this are par for the course for this seemingly uninformed Coalition frontbencher. Remember the oft-mouthed view that government spending caused our inflation, and her inability to see the savage hit to future taxpayers of allowing people to dip into their superannuation well before it matures? I shudder to think that this person may be in charge of finance if the Coalition was to win government. James Tulloch, Westleigh
It is obvious that the Coalition has telegraphed its intention to disband the Climate Change Authority if elected at the coming poll. Jane Hume is quoted as saying, “I cannot imagine we possibly maintain a Climate Change Authority that has been so poorly, so badly politicised”. I get it, Jane: if the Climate Change Authority does the vital work of meticulous research in looking at the evidence and then makes recommendations that challenge Coalition policies on climate change, then it is “politicised”. Oh, and there is another authority, the CSIRO, which does vital scientific research to inform our governments. Should we dispense with it, too? Leo Sorbello, West Ryde
Climate change remains a big concern for the electorate.Credit: AFR
Climate anxiety
Indeed, that almost 3000 Australians supported Climate 200 just this week is evidence that climate change remains a big concern for the electorate (“Climate: the hot-button election issue”, February 28). The Coalition needs to come clean on their climate and energy intentions. Their nuclear fantasy has been exposed by the Climate Change Authority as a pollution disaster. And, reportedly, a Dutton-led government will also approve a “bucket load” of new fossil gas projects. So, what are the Coalition’s climate intentions and targets? And how do they intend to achieve them? Australian voters deserve to know. Sarah Brennan, Hawthorn (Vic)
Offshore exercises
Jennifer Parker’s article is a wake-up call (“If we panic about these Chinese ships, Xi wins the propaganda war”, February 27). While China may have every legal right to operate warships in international waters, I can’t help but wonder why an Australian vessel was not shadowing them. China disputes the rule of law in the South China Sea and uses its might to harass and in some cases ram other vessels in recognised international waters. Why were the Chinese vessels free to roam around and conduct live firing without the Australian navy shadowing them? If we did, then at least Defence and the prime minister would have up-to-date information on any live firing events. I suspect we did not have a vessel nearby, as it was probably out of service or simply unable to keep up. Warwick Spencer, West Pymble
Peter Hartcher rightly says, “We need leaders who are prepared to prosecute the actual agendas, as well as declare publicly to the country what the problem is” (“‘We’ve been exposed’: China’s ‘act of intimidation’ – and why Australia can’t complain”, February 27). Political and media reaction to Chinese navy exercises close to our coastline is missing the broader explanation of why this is happening. We need to understand China’s plan to become the dominant naval power in the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans, the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, replacing the US. By 2049, the centenary of Communist Party rule, China intends to achieve dominance of these waters, and of the western Pacific as far east as its navy can operate while staying well away from the US island state of Hawaii, with its naval base at Pearl Harbour. We must learn to live with this new reality, just as we are learning to live with a new reality in the United States. We cannot stop it militarily, but we can and must use diplomatic efforts to stand up for our interests in a strategic situation undergoing far-reaching change. That includes keeping onside with Pacific Island nations. Harry Creamer, Port Macquarie
Chinese warships off Sydney forced planes to divert.Credit: SMH
The Chinese ships have got the sword rattlers all fired up (“As Wong and Dutton exchange fire, the Chinese flotilla laps Australia”, February 28). A nuclear submarine is “likely” to be with them, the ships strayed into our “killing zone”, and so on. The thought of China having territorial eyes on Australia is very far-fetched. The possibility that we could defend ourselves, with or without assistance from an ally, is even more unlikely. Bill Forbes, Medowie
Chinese warships have been parading up and down the Tasman Strait, seemingly invisible to our government and our defence forces. Luckily, a sharp-eyed Virgin pilot gave us the heads-up about their live-fire exercise. As a part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing arrangements, I would have thought the US would have its satellites and signals apparatus zeroed in on the Chinese and have fed us the information promptly. Or maybe … Alan Phillips, Mosman
Adding insular to injury
Denis Suttling says the northern beaches is a forgotten area for government spending (Letters, February 28). Residents have only themselves to blame for the lack of investment. I lived there for 25 years, and no matter what improvements were voiced, there were always protests against them. It was called the insular peninsula for a reason. That, coupled with major support for the Liberal Party over many years, assured that money would be spent elsewhere.
Peter Pocock, Hornsby
Problems with buses in the north shore and northern beaches suburbs date back to the previous Liberal/National Coalition state government. They were the ones who hurriedly signed a contract with private bus companies on the eve of a state election. They let down their own constituents in a most cynical way. Is it any wonder these same constituents now vote for the teals or other independents? Bruce Welch, Marrickville
Residents on edge
I see the state government has fast-tracked construction of a 22-storey residential tower in Edgecliff (“Sydney is getting 18 fast-tracked housing projects. James Packer is backing one”, February 27). Has anyone any idea how traffic is going to flow through Edgecliff either going north, south, east or west? It’s already becoming almost impossible, and especially in peak hours and school pick-up times. Heaven help us if Clover goes ahead with the bike lanes in Oxford Street. Lesley Brown, Paddington
(Shock)-jocking for position
So our prime minister has criticised Marty Sheargold’s radio comments. Is this the same prime minister who was happy to attend Kyle Sandilands’ wedding and reception in 2023? Just in case he is not aware, Kyle Sandilands broadcasts disgusting, vulgar and misogynistic comments on a regular basis. Please explain. Caroline Davies, Annandale
Sole destroying
If you think Birkenstocks and socks are bad (Letters, February 28), my daughter in London sent me a photo of fashionistas wearing Tabi shoes, which make your feet resemble camel toes. I thought I’d never dislike a shoe more than the ubiquitous Croc, but I was wrong. She explained that this footwear is like a “reverse thong” and is worn “ironically”. I suggested the results look more “unicornally”. Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne
Vale, Gene Hackman
I was sad to read that the wonderfully talented actor Gene Hackman has gone, and with him those superb performances in The Conversation, Unforgiven, The French Connection, Narrow Margin and so many more (“Gene Hackman and wife found dead”, February 28). I wish we could both be young again, so I could relive the peerless artistry of the unique Gene Hackman. Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield
Postscript
With a federal election around the corner, Labor will be pondering the Resolve Strategic poll this week that showed voters had swung heavily towards Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. The results were cause for concern to reader Rob Firth, who warned Australians to be careful what they wished for. “Americans voted for a change at last year’s election and now people around the world, and indeed many Americans themselves, are shocked at what they’ve got to live with. The reality in Australia is that Dutton is a largely unknown and untested quantity, with very few original policies other than expensive and unnecessary nuclear reactors.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s perceived weakness is a large part of Labor’s problem, with voters seeing Dutton as a better candidate to stand up to fellow strongman, US President Donald Trump. For Ron Sinclair, this is a false perception. “Dutton has managed successfully, as the Resolve poll shows, to characterise a restrained Albanese as weak. Being bombastic is unfortunately being seen as strong.”
Last month, Dutton told supporters, “an issue close to my heart is restoring the dream of homeownership”.
Turns out he’s been living the dream for 35 years and has made $30 million worth of property transactions since he bought his first house at the age of 19, making him one of the country’s wealthiest-ever contenders for prime minister.
Labor seized the opportunity to accuse Dutton of being out of touch in a housing affordability crisis. Neil Buchanan agrees. “Owning your house is now a bad dream, a delusion, and politicians should not peddle this as an aspiration,” he wrote.
As a seasoned property investor, Dutton would know that it’s all about “location, location, location”. One might think that Trump, first and foremost a developer, would know that too, but in trademark fashion he has torn up the book and released a glitzy video promoting his latest idea of paradise – the Gaza Strip. Featuring shiny tower blocks reminiscent of the Gold Coast and a large gold statue of the man himself, the video is hard to take seriously, but a worried Chris Gresham has this to say: “Trump’s perverse AI vision of the Gaza Riviera makes one wonder what sort warped mind is running a country that was once a beacon of freedom and democracy. The horrifying thing is that this is only the beginning.”
Ivan Hemens, letters desk
- To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
- The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.