Last Post: Bandt’s blackmail, Shaq, John Howard and Meghan Markle

Our parliament is again being sabotaged by a minority party (“Bandt jobs summit threat”, 27-28/8). Even though some people argue Labor only won the election because of preferential voting and doesn’t have a mandate, it has the right to govern. Peter Dutton would do us all a favour by allowing the summit agreements to pass, making the Greens irrelevant.

Ross McDonald, Gordon, NSW

If Adam Bandt has policies he considers would be of benefit, he should present his ideas to the jobs summit together with their merits for debate. He should also be ready to debate other ideas presented. By effectively blackmailing the government to do what he wants rather than debating what is best for Australia, he is abrogating his responsibility as a parliamentarian.

Marian Hinwood, Elsternwick, Vic

Peter Dutton’s only contribution to the jobs summit is the comment that Sally McManus is a “throwback to the 1970s”. So, too, is Dutton, the 1870s.

Ross Hudson, Mount Martha, Vic

Regarding Janet Albrechtsen’s “Howard v Markle: let’s put true authenticity into focus” (27-28/8): Dear Janet, I hear you.

Marie-Antoniette Assenza, Weetangera, ACT

Thank you, John Anderson, for your voice of reason against destructive woke ideology (“Why we must fight back against the forces of woke”, 27-28/8). To quote: “The buzzwords of this Great Awokening, ‘inclusivity’ and ‘diversity’, turns out in reality to mean their exact opposite.”

Fran Durand, St Ives, NSW

Janet Albrechtsen’s comparison of John Howard with Meghan Markle is worthy of the Pulitzer Prize. It will go into my personal memorabilia collection.

Peter Sesterka, Hawker, ACT

Anthony Albanese’s purely political inquiry into Scott Morrison shows him to be a small man. But his recruitment of an irrelevant foreign basketballer to promote his voice proposal takes this to an amusing new low.

Burt Bosma, Surrey Hills, Vic

Why should Australians care what an American basketball legend thinks about an Indigenous voice to parliament? The influencer effect in action? Perhaps one of our footy legends could visit Joe Biden and offer policy advice?

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

Shaquille O’Neal is a top bloke, but Anthony Albanese using Shaq’s skin colour in this manner does not strengthen the PM’s argument for the voice.

Peter Black, St Andrews, Vic