Forget female quotas, Libs should focus on solving our problems

When I read the headline, “Women problem could kill off the Libs” (27/6), I thought, excuse me, what has gender got to do with fixing the innumerable problems our country now faces?

What is relevant are the policies you propose to introduce to ensure the up-and-coming generation, who have already been short-changed with their education, have a future they can look forward to.

Right now, all we are seeing is a clueless government and a useless opposition seemingly intent on sending our country down the drain with spiralling levels of debt and into irrelevance.

Glenys Clift, Toowoomba, Qld

Liberal supporters would have thought Sussan Ley would have used her appearance at the National Press Club to address more substantive issues confronting both the party and the nation rather than prioritising gender quotas.

Most Liberals look at Victoria to see how this has played out. Gender ideology is deeply entrenched in Victorian Labor and is reflected in the cabinet dominated by women. Females are also strongly represented as ministerial advisers and CEOs of government agencies.

Yet the Victorian government is a shambles. Monumental debt, deficits, an unprecedented crime wave, service delivery failures in health, roads and education, a complete lack of transparency and accountability, and big troubles with the bush characterise this government.

Go woke, go broke applies to political parties as much as businesses. Integrity, merit and ability should form the basis of the party selection processes, not quotas. The Opposition Leader needs to offer Australia a much more comprehensive vision for the future.

Martin Newington, Aspendale, Vic

Why would any thinking person vote for someone simply because she is a woman?

Not sure if some of the present women in parliament got there on their merit or because of quotas, but surely it’s insulting for a woman to be elected simply because of her gender?

Sheila Duke, Bulimba, Qld

Win against wokery

Shaun Turner, the Melbourne street sweeper victorious in his unfair dismissal claim against Darebin City Council over his sacking for objecting to a mandatory acknowledgement of country at every weekly toolbox meeting, should be given a ticker-tape parade for his heroic defiance of ridiculous and oppressive, bullying wokery (“Wrong to sack street sweeper who baulked at Country practice on repeat”, 26/6).

Susan Caughey, Glen Iris, Vic

How can I meet Shaun Turner, sacked by the Darebin Council for objecting to acknowledgement of country? I want to shake his hand and stand beside him.

Peter Wynd, Burwood, Vic

Brake on economy

The report about the CFMEU once again shows how this union is a handbrake on our economy (“Strike it rich: CFMEU assets hoard revealed”, 27/6).

Its links to the Labor Party put all those who have to deal with it behind the eight-ball.

The union’s war chest and assets are proof as to the squeeze put on members and construction sites’ workplace practices. We are snookered.

John Partridge, Mosman, NSW

Energy ‘policy’ farce

Imagine the Australian Olympic Commission saying to Gout Gout that he could only compete in the hammer throw and he had to pay $1m to compete. And he couldn’t refuse to compete.

Same for Ariarne Titmus. She would compete in dressage and 20km walk. And it would cost her a compulsory $2m. Outrageous? Unfair? Unthinkable? Yes. But that is precisely what Australian governments are doing with their “energy” policies.

They are taking away the best options – coal, gas and, in the future, uranium – which have proven to be the most reliable and affordable and least environmentally destructive, while being plentiful and supportive of a 21st-century society.

Helen Dyer, Ferndale, WA

Defence levy

Those with super funds exceeding the threshold have done it lawfully and are entitled to the benefit. Instead of an insidious tax on unrealised gains, introduce a badly needed defence levy and include all superannuation funds.

Include the industry funds as well, so that all of us will have our shoulder to the wheel on defending our country. I think we could live with that.

Graham Wheeler, Gulliver, Qld

PM’s empty words

Our Prime Minister is definitely not living up to his big statement about Made in Australia, when the government sends a floating oil platform overseas to be decommissioned (“ALP’s Future Made in Denmark”, 27/6).

LM Silbert, West Leederville, WA