Last Post: A warning for the deputy PM

Michael McCormack lost because Barnaby Joyce is perceived to have more mongrel in him. In these testing times, most sensible people are looking for this attribute in those who lead, fight or represent us.

Kim Hennessy, Cremorne Point, NSW

C’mon, Troy Bramston, you’re losing your punch, please tell us what you really think of Barnaby Joyce (“Joyce’s rash quest for leadership a Nationals disaster”, 22/6).

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

Your editorial (“Back to the future with Barnaby Joyce”, 22/6) should have taken into account the three Hail Marys which Barnaby was bound to have said in penance and thus won absolution.

Chek Ling, Corinda, Qld

Someone should remind Barnaby Joyce that for all his bravado the Coalition governs with the combination of the two parties. If Joyce wants to live in the past on the opposition benches he will take the Libs with him.

Murray Horne, Cressy, Vic

And let that be a lesson to any aspiring young Nationals politician to not be too much ahead of themselves or even contemplate change.

Henry Herzog, St Kilda East, Vic

We can only hope that ScoMo never leaves us alone again.

Ian Dewar, Subiaco, WA

John Anderson should run as an independent in the next federal election. Snubbed by the stupid Nationals, he would walk into a Senate seat.

A.J. East, Cootamundra, NSW

The last reef China had anything to do with it turned into a military airfield in the South China Sea (“China-led ‘ambush’ on the health of the reef”, 22/6).

Paul Haege, Darling Point, NSW

Time to leave the UN.

Mike Young, Swanbourne, WA

The problem with international laws and rules, and even the UN and its agencies, is that China correctly perceives them to be largely Western nations’ constructs, and not applicable to Beijing. The so-called “rules-based order”, or the “international order”, was sort of fairly designed and well-intentioned, but meant Western influence and dominance.

Rod Matthews, Fairfield, Vic

Bruce Pascoe’s emu is completely plucked.

Brian Barker, East Brisbane, Qld

The era of postmodernism is dead and has been replaced by post-truth.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, NSW