Last Post: Farewell to a legal giant and Daniel Andrews’ Iron Curtain

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “a little lady, a legal giant”. RIP.

Tony Brownlee, Sydney, NSW

It is not a Ring of Steel that surrounds us here in Melbourne. It is Daniel Andrews’ version of the Iron Curtain from which, like communist Eastern Europe, there is no escape, just glimpses of freedom over the top.

Tim Gillespie, Camberwell, Vic

Kevin Skinner (Last Post, 19-20/9) muses on the “bun fight for 2020 Australian of the Year”. I’ll tell you who it definitely won’t be — a white, middle-aged, conservative male.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

John McVeigh resigns for personal reasons. Former premier Campbell Newman should be nominated for the Toowoomba-based federal seat (Groom) and the by-election held the same day as the Queensland election.

Susan O’Keefe, Rose Bay, NSW

May I make a suggestion for the next Newspoll? Include the question, “Do you want to get rid of all state governments?” I reckon the response will be very thought provoking.

Stuart Henderson, Burleigh Heads, Qld

Once the national cabinet has the pandemic covered, perhaps it could turn its attention to what it considers to be appropriate for a federal railway gauge system?

M. F. Horton, Adelaide, SA

Congratulations must go to Alan Joyce and other CEOs who have taken big drops in their salaries in accord with community expectations (“Covid’s corporate wake-up call: cut from the top”, 19-20/9). However, I’m sure Joyce will make do on

$1.7 million a year.

Helen Scheller, Benalla, Vic

The most telling point in Paul Kelly’s excellent article was that when it comes to a coal-fired plant, “the brutal reality is often overlooked — no state government would approve it” (“Old King Coalition steps on gas”, 19-20/9). Perhaps it is time for the federal government to step away from domestic energy policy (the National Energy Market) and let it revert to states and territories. Victoria and South Australia would then be solely responsible for delivery of their generous renewables targets by 2030. If that requires importing power from other states it would be for those governments to negotiate.

Greg Perryman, East Melbourne, Vic

The disastrous second COVID wave was caused by the failure of the Victorian government and the Victorian people have paid a heavy price to recover from this failure. We now live in a Stasiland where simple pleasures such as a walk in the fresh air are doled out in small doses as a reward for good behaviour.

Alan Woodward, South Melbourne, Vic