Albanese should focus on playing the ball, not the man

John Spooner’s pertinent cartoon was a reminder that Peter Dutton has provided necessary moral clarity regarding the vexed issue of protecting Australia’s safety and social stability (Daily Cartoon, 20/8).

The accusation of racism levelled by the Greens and Zali Steggall is lazy and fails to appreciate the volatile nature of a region that is saturated with historical hatred for the Jewish people.

Labor has been unequivocal in its desire to paint Dutton as some sort of negative, hard-headed and cold-hearted beast who is indifferent to human hardship, but it conveniently forgets the salient fact that border protection is not for the squeamish or overly sentimental. It takes remarkable resolve and conviction of purpose, both of which the Opposition Leader, a former sexual crimes police officer, has displayed.

While security checks and biometrics such as fingerprinting can be carried out, how do you check for internal ambition or grievance? Past performance is certainly a good enough measure for Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to ensure their borders remain non-porous. As it stands, there is not a lot of love for the persecuted children of Abraham emanating from the Middle East.

Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn, Vic

Anthony Albanese, as Greg Sheridan notes, talks about himself “as Bob Hawke in modern guise” (“Cowardice marks Labor approach to national security”, 20/8). Indeed the leadership and moral clarity was evident in Hawke’s prescient words from decades ago: “If the bell tolls for Israel, it won’t just toll for Israel, it will toll for all mankind.” His scholarship also was on display when counselling that in Australia there was “no hierarchy of descent; there must be no privilege of origin”. On nuclear energy, Hawke said it “would be a win for the environment and an essential part of attacking global warming”.

Interestingly, Peter Dutton’s recent visit to Israel showing Australia’s solidarity with, and support for, the Middle East’s lone democracy was noteworthy; the Opposition Leader was the first Australian politician to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since October 7 last year.

Dutton’s opposition to the voice was principled, his primary concern being that it would “undermine our equality of citizenship”. And on nuclear energy, Dutton has called for a sensible discussion on repealing the ban and letting the market decide.

Albanese talks about being Hawke-like and claims to be a conviction politician. Clearly it is Dutton who walks the talk and, most important, does so without false declarations.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

It has been stated on many occasions that when Labor has its back to the wall on any sort of issue, its members begin to forget all about the ball and play the man. We saw this when Labor, in opposition, attacked the character of Scott Morrison before the defeat of his government, weaponising the Brittany Higgins saga.

We now have Labor with its back to the wall once again as a result of its atrocious arbitrary management of the migration of Gaza Palestinians into Australia. Given this situation, Labor is attacking the character of Peter Dutton. Fair-minded Australians would be well advised to ignore the way in which Labor quickly gets down in the gutter when it is in dire straits. To watch this character assassination of Dutton by Labor, the Greens and the sanctimonious teals is quite sickening. I ask myself constantly – is this the best our political leadership can do?

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Once again Anthony Albanese goes personal, playing the man, not the ball (“Albanese: ‘Dutton obsessed with trying to appear tough’ ”, 20/8). Well may he attack Peter Dutton for being tough, but in reality Dutton is attempting and succeeding in appearing strong, not tough; there is a difference. This is one reason Albanese’s government is floundering. Albanese is short on ideas and does not grasp what needs to be done to take this country forward. His ability to sense and understand public perceptions is all but non-existent.

He lives, I suggest, in a political vacuum. Dutton offers much that Albanese doesn’t: courage, street smarts, awareness, honesty and integrity, and he is void of arrogance. He plays the ball rather than the man, but he is not hesitant in calling out those responsible for flawed policy.

John George, Terrigal, NSW