Coalition parties’ issues must be resolved before next election

In a clear indication of post-election malaise, the initial decision by the opposition that the Liberals and Nationals will not unite before the next election, if such a decision is allowed to prevail, will be the worst of the bad news about our future governance.

We need a bit more historical humility as there’s no evidence yet that the significant failures of the woke Albanese Labor government won’t be repeated at scale, if there is no effective opposition. Don’t presume Australia won’t sink in unproductive government chaos as many high-achieving nations have in the past.

Given the reported interpersonal and ideological rifts between the people involved, the Liberal leaders could use the negotiation neutrality of colleagues such as Senator James Paterson, assisted by the wisdom of previous prime ministers Tony Abbott or John Howard, who have weathered similar storms.

For the sake of the nation, all must strive for some humility and stable change or reform.

Betty Cockman, Dongara, WA

It is quite appropriate for an organisation that has suffered a major defeat to comprehensively review all its policies to ensure it presents a stronger case at the next election in 2028.

The Nationals fared much better, retaining most of their supporters with a more innovative agenda. The difference on energy policy from the Liberals was, in my opinion, the major issue. However, one also should note the differing personalities of the two leaders, who do not seem to have respected the other person’s need to maintain solidarity within their own partyroom. However, I am confident Australians will all benefit from the opportunity for a stronger Coalition re-formed before the next election.

Peter Lorschy, Killara, NSW

It is imperative that the Coalition split be reversed sooner rather than later. Both parties should heed the sage advice of Peta Credlin (“Ley walks away from decades of precedent”, 22/5), who writes from a perspective of close personal experience with political party management and strategy.

As she says, “the longer the two main centre-right parties remain apart, the harder it will be to bring them back together again”. Anyone who has gone through a marriage bust-up would be able to relate to that advice.

Peter Austin, Mount Victoria, NSW

Voting system costs us

The recent election and the way it was conducted have signalled that Australia is forging a path unlike anywhere else in the Western world.

The preferential voting system, till now seen as the fairest way not to get the government unwanted by the majority, has now been gamed to produce a win for a party not favoured by two-thirds of voters. Issues being confronted and debated in other Western countries are seen here as settled and non-negotiable. The future of Australia has never been more uncertain.

Julie Winzar, Palm Beach, Qld

Albo ignores floods

As prime minister, Scott Morrison was eternally excoriated by the media for a delayed response to NSW bushfires.

On Wednesday, at the height of the devastating floods in Taree and adjacent regions, No-Show Albo was gladhanding members at Canberra’s National Press Club, indulging in ALP campaign manager Paul Erickson’s panegyric to his electoral success. A good chance to grab an Australia-wide audience to at least acknowledge those suffering in the floods was entirely overlooked.

Susie Boswell, Port Macquarie, NSW

Productivity hurdle

Every time Australian businesses and, indeed, governments attempt to improve productivity through capital investment, they are stymied by the unions (“Productivity? You fix it, business told”, 22/5).

Just ask BHP and Rio Tinto about the responses to proposals for automating mining logistics and transport in the Pilbara over the past decade, or the current and past NSW government experiences with driverless trains in the past five years.

It will be instructive to see how the federal Labor government will build and implement its much-heralded artificial intelligence capability, which will inevitably face union opposition as AI, machine-learning and robotics begin to replace large numbers of public servants performing repetitive tasks everywhere.

Patrick Gallagher, Wyongah NSW

Uni leaders’ cowardice

I find it extraordinary that Sydney University feels the only way to “protect” Jewish students is to hide them rather than take a stand and get rid of the threat (“Uni slammed over segregation plan”, 22/5). This is euphemistically referred to as a “risk strategy”. Surely, it should be getting rid of the risk.

This is not a demonstration of leadership. It is a demonstration of cowardice.

Ruth Franklin, St Ives, NSW