Awards make mockery of those who have delivered true service

Awarding the Companion of the Order of Australia to Daniel Andrews has tarnished the award and undermined previous recipients (“Time to stop giving top honours to populist pollies”, 11/6).

Andrews was given this honour “for eminent service to the people and Parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”. This is an absolute travesty.

Under his direction, the most draconian Covid lockdown laws in the world were imposed, while faulty administration resulted in the unnecessary deaths of many people; so much for health. Victorians are suffering the highest debt level of any state in Australia, exacerbated by the cost of cancelling expensive projects; so much for infrastructure and development.

Gary Vial, Glenelg East, SA

The King’s Birthday Honours list has hit a new low. What was always intended as an award for those whose work was above and beyond the call of duty has now become blatantly politicised.

Former premier Dan Andrews left a legacy of debt and destruction in Victoria. To give him an award is a slap in the face for those who suffered, and still do, after what the citation describes as his “eminent service”.

Similarly, incoming governor-general Samantha Mostyn is another Labor stalwart who, while “deeply respecting the institutions of state”, is an avowed republican who disowns the King she is supposed to represent. If the awards are not bestowed in the manner they were intended, it is time to discontinue them.

Graham Pinn, Maroochydore, Qld

Daniel Andrews received a King’s Birthday honour for services to health in Victoria. There were reports of countless incidents of ambulance ramping, inconsistency during Covid lockdowns that favoured workers doing Victorian government projects, ongoing pay disputes with paramedics and nurses lasting more than 12 months, lack of staff and cancelled surgeries. Obviously the health “service” bar is set very low.

Megan Brooks, Melbourne

Hamas to blame

Predictably, the brilliant Israeli military operation that resulted in the rescue of four hostages is already being criticised for inevitable Palestinian casualties. Morally, and in a sane world legally, every single death, Israeli or Palestinian, resulting from Israel’s efforts to rescue those hostages and destroy those who perpetrated the atrocities of October 7 must be laid at the door of Hamas.

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld

Bring on austerity

With major items such as the NDIS, Snowy Hydro and net-zero projects being completely beyond projected costs, there is a screaming need for restraint (“Liberals tell Dutton to embrace austerity”, 11/6). When the low-cost housing initiative can spend $30m without building one house, then the government should be able to see the urgency to stop wishful and wasteful spending and return to funding the essentials only, and at a sensible market price.

Tony Hennessy, Casino, NSW

A vision for austerity? Let’s hope so. We’re witnessing reckless Labor governments, desperate to cling to power, plunge budgets into record debt. The Victorian experiment has headed north and the model is remarkably similar: offer sweets and treats to the electorate to gloss over long-term scandals, leadership failures, spin and crime waves. The conseq­uences? Just look at the mess in Victoria. These temptations load up future generations with a burgeoning debt. This is a monumental failure of responsible government and it filters through to many voters that government debt doesn’t really matter; we’re partying today and leaving the mess for generations not yet born. Perhaps we need a warning before all elections: beware of Labor governments bearing gifts.

Glenn Marchant, Pascoe Vale, Vic

Abolish focus groups

Troy Bramston accurately assesses the leadership woes of our major parties (“Deficit of leadership crippling our nation”, 11/6).

While the respective agendas of parties at the federal level are not helped by a three-year cycle, they ascribe too much importance to “bread and circuses” popularity and too little to the grudging respect associated with sticking to your values and principles at all times. If there is one readily identified symptom of leadership woes, it has to be the addiction to focus groups. Why are they needed if there are established values and principles? Think of the money and effort that could be saved if those dreaded focus groups were abolished altogether.

Bob Miller, Leederville, WA