George Brandis mourns the disappearing ranks of the liberal-minded within the Liberal party but fails to properly identify the cause (“Where have all the liberal Libs gone? This is a cue for Dutton to follow Howard”, December 16). Far from being the intended bedrock of inclusiveness, John Howard’s “broad church” concept has been the undoing of small-l liberalism within the party, cynically used as the welcome mat for extreme views that would otherwise never get a look-in electorally.
Behind the Liberal banner, reasonableness has been steadily squeezed out by doctrinaire intransigence and, with supreme irony, the breadth of its ranks has been shrivelled to exclude moderation, pragmatism, compromise and tolerance. The broad church has become a narrow but pervasive sect. And given his own hardline views about so much, Peter Dutton is unlikely to do anything to change that. Adrian Connelly, Springwood
John Howard (centre) understood the need for a Liberal “broad church”. Departing, departed and sidelined liberals of the party: Simon Birmingham and Paul Fletcher (left); Julie Bishop, Christopher Pyne and Julian Leeser.Credit: Graphic: Aresna Villaneuva
George Brandis bemoans the departure of moderate Liberals such as Birmingham and Fletcher from the party – hardly surprising, given its leap to the right and the Nationals being intransigent on most policies. Despite the success of the teals in the 2022 election, the Liberals still fail to recognise that many of their constituents have become disillusioned with the failure to address those policies that are important to them, namely climate change, anti-corruption and gender equality. Instead, Peter Dutton refuses to change the party’s direction in these areas and appears to have abandoned such voters as a lost cause. Therefore, at the election next year, it is likely that independents will make further gains at the Coalition’s expense. Peter Nash, Fairlight
Many followers of politics will be disappointed to see the federal Liberal Party lurch further towards the hard right. It is obvious that moderates such as departing MPs Simon Birmingham and Paul Fletcher came to the conclusion that there was little likelihood of them influencing the direction of a party led by Peter Dutton. The same thing happened in the Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher when “wets” (moderates) such as Mark Carlisle were purged from her cabinet. The absence of moderates from the party room may solidify Dutton’s leadership, but it will also abandon the fight for voters who prefer moderate social and/or economic policies. In the UK, these moderate voters were picked up by Tony Blair’s New Labor. In Australia, one suspects, they will gravitate towards the teals and other moderate independents. Their preferences may re-elect an Albanese government. Mike Reddy, Vincentia
George Brandis is struggling to find some consolation in the diminution of moderate Liberals in Peter Dutton’s Coalition. Of course anyone of true liberal values must be unhappy with the constant negativity of the present opposition. Might be time for a new party? Nola Tucker, Kiama
History shows what happens when small-l Liberals have undue influence over Coalition policies. With Turnbull as prime minister, the Coalition government lost 14 seats at the 2016 election. At the 2019 election, with the socially conservative Scott Morrison as leader, the Coalition won Labor’s “unloseable” election. Riley Brown, Bondi Beach
Sapping of energy
Once again, Ross Gittins reminds us that as a result of privatising our electricity, the National Electricity Market (NEM) is dominated by AGL, Origin and the foreign owned Energy Australia, whose sole interest is in profits for their shareholders (“Voters blame one man for rising energy bills while companies get away with gouging”, December 16). So much for privatisation, the mantra of economists over the decades, being good for the customer. Josephine Piper, Miranda
Marvellous Ross Gittins nails it again. How to get my blood boiling first thing on a hot, windy and humid morning. If this column doesn’t grab the attention of everyone with even the slightest interest in their wallet thickness and causes them to shout out in time to make an almighty ruckus before the federal election, we deserve the prices we pay for energy. Irene Wheatley, Bethania (Qld)
Dutton’s costings of his proposed nuclear power plan have been published and have received the imprimatur of none other than Barnaby Joyce and sundry notables. Might I be permitted to remind the Australian voting public of the Abbott/Turnbull debacle and catastrophe that is the NBN? Voters should never forget that Labor’s eminently practical policy of a national broadband connected to all premises via fibre optic cable was scuppered by the aforementioned Liberals and their party. As Andrew Taubman so cogently reminds us, we have one of the least efficient, most expensive NBNs in the world. With this foremost in our minds, why would any rational voter entrust such vast amounts of public money to another harebrained Liberal scheme? Douglas Broad, Yeronga (Qld)
About 35 per cent of power bills from companies like AGL are pure profit. Credit: Will Willitts
Lessons from Bali
Once they have recovered, Bali Five have a service to provide (“Bali Five fly home after 19 years jail”, December 16). They must visit as many schools as possible to share the confronting details of their experience. Surely there cannot be any better, more direct warning to those who might still be tempted to traffic drugs. They can also remind their audiences that two of their number will never come back. Jennifer Bacia, Newstead (Qld)
My darling brother, Robert Bridge, died from heroin in 1975 and my family was destroyed by it. I rejoice that the Bali Five are back in their own country and I sincerely wish and hope that they and their families will somehow be reunited as they all deserve a smidgen of happiness out of this whole sad and sorry saga. Wendy Kelly, Sanctuary Point
The release of the Bali Five could have been jeopardised by Michaelia Cash who was questioning the government and demanded answers. Should the Coalition win government at the next general election, they could learn the art of diplomacy from Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong, especially in our relations with China. Peng Ee, Castle Cove
Martin Stephens (left), Michael Czugaj, Scott Rush, Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen look on as Australia and Indonesia sign an agreement for their return home.
Most agreeable
What an inspiring woman! Louise Adler deserves great praise for her attempt to improve the state of declining public discourse (“Writers’ week to plumb depths of hot topics”, December 16). Her desire to confront difficult and complex issues in the interests of better public knowledge and understanding by reasoned debate is a refreshing departure from those who think these issues can be resolved by waving placards and disrupting normal community activities. Her attitude is a mature, adult endeavour to organise disagreement and debate on a sensible basis, with an effort to ensure that it is informed and respectful in nature. We need more of this type of discussion in the Australian community, rather than giving way to destructive abuse and accusations based on emotion and ignorance. Remember, one can disagree without being disagreeable! Derrick Mason, Boorowa
Choice of entree
I would not have been able to enjoy the food at Comedor had I known that the dignity of its employees was being violated to such a shocking degree (“Drunkenness, abuse and ‘death threats’: Inside the downfall of Comedor restaurant”, December 16). It is important to send this message to hospitality staff: Be not afraid to speak up. We, the customers, are with you in wanting reforms in your industry. We will vote with our wallets and, if properly informed, will bring our custom only to establishments that value their workers.
Cristina Corleto, Stanmore
In happier days - snapper crudo with salted green apple, grapes and furikake at Comedor. Credit: Jennifer Soo
College not broken so don’t fix
Why would the NSW government even consider changing the very successful Northern Beaches Secondary College structure (“Students vow to fight school shift”, December 16)? There is already a co-ed high school, a single-sex boys’ and a single-sex girls’ school, a co-ed senior school and a co-ed selective school in the college. All these schools are at full capacity and are achieving great HSC results with (non-selective) Balgowlah Boys High being one of the best performing schools in the state. If more of our politicians had their children at public schools then perhaps the NSW government would look at this college and try to implement some of its successful strategies at other schools, rather than dismantling this fabulous example of public education. Helen Simpson, Curl Curl
I read with dismay that the education department wants to change Freshwater Senior Campus. Go and fix the schools that need help. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Margaret Shipton, Balgowlah Heights
Principle at hand
Mike Kelly’s opinion piece on the war in Gaza and the Labor government’s response to it is the best article I have read for some time (“Australia damning Israel for fighting to survive is poisonous”, December 16). A former Labor minister with extensive military experience and historical knowledge, he effectively destroys any defence the government has made for its position, except that of political expediency. Where are people of both principle and expertise like Mike Kelly in the Labor Party today? I despair of the party’s future. Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh
Mike Kelly and Penny Wong.Credit: SMH
Thank you for publishing Mike Kelly’s article. Many are of the belief that Ms Wong has indeed caused much of the explosion of antisemitism here. Her decisions do not sit well with the average Aussie. Israel is a tiny democracy surrounded by enemies that are proxies of Iran. Many of us disagree with each stance that Ms Wong has taken and this will definitely be influencing my vote at the next election. Pamela Shepherd, Balgowlah
Mike Kelly’s article ignores the history of occupation of Palestine by Israel since 1948 and the increasing oppression of the Palestinian people, which led to the creation of Hamas. The world turned a blind eye to the murder of Jews in the Holocaust. It is now turning a blind eye to the genocide of the Palestinian people. Thanks to Penny Wong for acknowledging the horror of the devastation caused by Israel. We can no longer turn a blind eye. Anne Shay, Ballina
Mike Kelly does a very good job at skewing reality. He has created a one-sided sympathy for Israel by ignoring key contextual issues that would better enable a reader to understand the ongoing conflict. Kelly highlighted the rockets that have been fired out of Gaza without mentioning the catalyst for them. Israel has blockaded and laid siege to Gaza since 2007, this has restricted the movement and freedom of the Palestinian people living there and isolated them from the rest of the world. He has described Israel’s actions as “principled self-defence”. The siege of Gaza cannot be described as self-defence if you have condemned an entire population to an open-air prison. If Israel’s current actions were so principled their leaders would not have arrest warrants out for them and South Africa would not have taken them to the International Court of Justice to answer questions on actions in Gaza. Saba Mustafa, Punchbowl
Reaction time
The Australian parliament’s teal independents are right to oppose the opposition’s plan for seven nuclear power plants around Australia (“Teals unconvinced by Dutton’s nuclear plan as Chalmers cites $4 trillion loss to economy”, December 16). The Smart Energy Council estimates that the proposed nuclear reactors would provide only 3.7 per cent of Australia’s electricity demand by 2050. According to the CSIRO, electricity from nuclear energy would be at least 50 per cent more expensive than solar and wind. The Coalition claims that the first reactors could be operating by the mid-2030s. However, expert analysis indicates that the first reactors could not be built until the 2040s. There is currently a ban on nuclear power in Australia. Premier David Crisafulli has said the ban will not be lifted in Queensland, where the Tarong and Callide power plants are proposed. Mr Dutton has a lot of work ahead to realise his nuclear dream. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin (ACT)
The case for nuclear power is presented as an economic advantage by the Coalition, which claims it knows more about sound economic management than almost everybody else. These are the parties that led us into the AUKUS agreement and robo-debt, two poorly thought-out schemes. One has given the country a massive debt for the future and the other punished the poor for being poor. These parties have less training or experience in nuclear power generation than they have in economics and the skill in the latter is not evident. So why believe them? Australians will make their mind up when they stop laughing.
Adrian Tabor, Point Lonsdale (Vic)
National security remains a major blind spot for the Coalition. On their last watch, we had the Darwin port leased to the Chinese, a Chinese naval base almost developed in the Solomon Islands and our strategic oil supplies located in the US. Nuclear power stations and waste dumps in Australia would be high-priority targets for any future domestic terrorists or overseas belligerents. No longer would a nuclear missile be needed to effect atomic devastation in our country.
Perhaps this consideration is a key reason Singapore has no nuclear stations despite their superficial attraction. Michael Britt, MacMasters Beach
It has become apparent over many past projects undertaken by governments that the initial proposed cost of any project should be doubled, multiplied by 10 and a billion or ten added just in case things turn pear-shaped. It is no wonder voters don’t believe the costings of the Coalition’s fission fantasy policy. Then there’s the cost of maintenance or mothballing or rejigging the size of the reactors if they are built overseas and not fit for purpose, just like the train carriages, tracks and ferries. Merilyn McClung, Forestville
So would you rather die slowly or quickly?Credit: Cathy Wilcox
The then-Coalition government announced the Snowy Hydro 2.0 in 2019. It was originally going to cost $2 billion, but it has since blown out to $12 billion, a figure that is still going north. This is the time of year when a lot in the community suspend rational belief and embrace various improbable beliefs; it was an auspicious time for Peter Dutton to release his costings for the nuclear solution to fix our energy woes. Joe Weller, Mittagong
One pro-nuclear correspondent suggests that Australia could earn lots of money by “hosting” the nuclear waste from other countries. What a ludicrous euphemism for letting other nations dump their nuclear pollutants in this country. Even Peter Dutton is not crazy enough to include this madness in his fantasy nuclear plan. Rob Phillips, North Epping
How does Dutton intend to inhibit the take-up of EVs and rooftop solar? Does he intend to take a leaf out of the Trump playbook and introduce tariffs? Tony Lewis, Mount Victoria
I would suggest that the LNP has no real intention of building any nuclear power plants unless there is a miracle reduction in their cost in the future. This policy is aimed solely at shoring up the votes of coalminers and the towns that rely on their income and farmers who don’t want any new power lines across their property. Brenton McGeachie, Queanbeyan West
Punctuation: full marks
There it was in all its glory, emblazoned across page one in large bold type. Yes, the often under-used or not-employed-at-all apostrophe. (“Bali Five fly home after 19 years’ jail”, December 16). What a Christmas present for all us pedants and those of precise English grammar. For all of us, may many more years’ enjoyment radiate from this newspaper. Paul Hunt, Engadine
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