Last Post, February 21

Johannes Leak is a worthy successor to his father

The article “Zealots too quick to draw their long bows against cartoonists” (18/2) deserves wide distribution. In defending fellow cartoonist Warren Brown from uninformed critics, Johannes Leak again proves he is a worthy successor to his father Bill as a social commentator of the first order as both artist and rational thinker. But sadly the old Arab proverb holds true: “He who speaks the truth must also own a fast horse.”

John McRobert, Indooroopilly, Qld

Ah, Bill. Your spirit lives on in Johannes.

David Hill, Russell Island, Qld

By 2020, Senator Bernie Sanders will be almost 80. Running for president? More likely running dead.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, NSW

British Labour, as Troy Bramston notes (“Grab for the centre as parties pulled to the extremes”, 20/2), has class warfare and the politics of envy as its watchwords. Ditto the Australian franchise.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

It took less than a day before rumours, coming from within Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party, were being aired that the breakaway independent group, many of whom have cited anti-Semitism as one of their main reasons for leaving, is being funded by Israel.

John Dorman, Toowoomba, Qld

Well may Catriona Jackson of Universities Australia boast of the “vast” benefits of international students to her universities (”Study benefits”, 20/2). However, the balance has tipped too far as a visit to any major Australian university vividly reveals. Jackson’s universities have a responsibility to taxpayers and our national interest to educate lots more Australian professionals, as well as doing so for Asia.

Barry Fox, Blackburn, Vic

Why are so many people opposed to President Trump building his wall? It’s construction will create many hundreds of jobs. And once finished many more hundreds for the tunnellers.

Frans Bieber, Arana Hills, Qld

If Scott Morrison really wanted to keep the boats away he would tell the world that the medivac bill has changed nothing, even if he believed the opposite. But I guess that would be dishonest, wouldn't it?

Ben Laycock, Castlemaine, Vic

Wayne Swan was Labor’s most tenacious MP, but I mostly remember him delivering the Budget five times always claiming to bring it back to surplus, but to no avail. Happy retirement.

J. Buttery, Tennyson, SA

Trust BoM, Andrew Johnson? Are you sure? Very, very sure?

Mike Tsykin, Elsternwick, Vic