Last Post, February 20

Was this Malcolm Turnbull’s cunning plan all along?

You have to hand it to Malcolm Turnbull. All this time I thought he lacked political nous. I was wrong. By refusing to support the Liberal candidate in the seat of Wentworth he shortened the odds for Kerryn Phelps, who went on to win the seat. Then Labor blindly supported her medivac amendment. This, in turn, has given Scott Morrison a boost in the polls. Well done, Malcolm. All is forgiven.

Gerard Abrams, Cherrybrook, NSW

The ALP is desperately trying to shut down debate on the effect of its softening of asylum-seeker policies by arguing that if any new asylum-seekers arrive it is the fault of the Government for daring to mention the likely effect of the ALP’s softer policies. The Monty Python crew could do wonders with this logic.

Brian Barker, East Brisbane, Qld

Legendary 1930s American writer H.M. Mencken believed that under democracy one party spent most of its time and energy trying to prove that the other party was unfit to rule, and that both usually succeeded. Sound familiar?

Rex Condon, Ashwood, Vic

The House of Representatives is plunged into darkness and hackers search for intelligence in the Liberal and Labor parties. It’s certainly a time for mixed messages.

Peter Barnes, Revesby, NSW

Those worrying about the threat to the black-throated finch from mining incursions should realise that their habitat extends to Cape York. A more noble cause would be for them to direct their grief to the carnage being wreaked on all birds by the ever-growing number of wind turbines.

Rex Womersley, Cairns, Qld

Looking at the photos of the vast drought-affected areas of the outback, one can't help feeling many of our fellow countrymen own a block of desert and have to pretend it's a viable farm.

William Mapleston, Ashgrove, Qld

Why do we have to wait four years for funds to be found for essential improvements (“NSW’s pre-poll cash spash”, 19/2)? If we know hospitals need upgrading and more nurses are required, why hasn’t the money for this been found and spent progressively over the last four years by the current Government?

John Clark, Burradoo, NSW

I see Chris Bowen, the Opposition’s treasury spokesman, has written a letter criticising Terry McCrann’s views of Labor’s franking credit policies (“Labor has a defence to make on the fairness of its tax policy”, 19/2).

Surely this is a sign some in Labor Party ranks are getting nervous, especially of Bowen’s policies and comments.

Jeff Stokes, Largs Bay, SA