Last Post, February 23, 2019

Julie Bishop was a class act who made a dignified exit after losing the Liberal leadership contest.

Not only does Julie Bishop’s successor have stylish shoes to fill, she will have to follow in the footsteps of a great foreign affairs minister (“With the click of her heels, her place is back home”, 22/2).

Sheila Duke, Balmoral, Qld

Holy moly, the Libs are fast losing their sense of the sacred. First Bronwyn, now Julie, (two Bishops), leaving but a remaining Abbott.

Claire Jolliffe, Buderim, Qld

Julie Bishop could teach Malcolm Turnbull a thing or two. She was deeply upset by her failure in the August Liberal leadership ballot, but she didn’t immediately resign in a huff, forcing a damaging by-election. Her retirement speech, after 20 years of sterling service, was positive about her party and its prospects. She’ll campaign strongly for the Liberal candidate in her seat of Curtin.

Lindsay Dent, Campbelltown, SA

The many references to Julie Bishop’s shoes since her retirement announcement is a perfect example of how high-powered women are still not treated equally with men.

Con Vaitsas, Ashbury, NSW

It is good to advise Shorten, should he become PM, to retain the services of Joe Hockey (“ALP would be foolish to dump Trump ally”, 22/2). But even Hockey would struggle to get Donald Trump to forgive and forget the fact that Shorten, before the 2016 presidential election, described Trump as “barking mad”.

D. Cordes, Turramurra, NSW

Brian Fisher, a beacon of truth in the man-made global warming debate, has made it quite clear that Australia alone cannot positively influence the climate (“Come clean on climate targets”, 21/2). And if we try, the economic cost will be enormous. If only Richard Marles, Tanya Plibersek and all the Greens MPs could understand this.

Chas Barter, Lower Mitcham, SA

The unfairness in the franking credit fiasco is easily rectified by adding a clause to the bill that all federal parliamentary pensions and associated retirement perks are to be taxed at a flat rate of 30 per cent (“Retirees in the crosshairs”, 22/2). Then see which way the vote in the house of representatives falls: there would be no need to go to a vote in the Senate.

Alan Rogers, Clovelly, NSW

The only question to ask of your local MP is “Does this effect your benefits retirement package?”

Andrew Sharp, Pullenvale, Qld

If reports are correct, the noble game of squash will in all likelihood continue to be excluded from the Olympic Games but breakdancing and skateboarding bids will probably be successful. What will be next? Cheerleading?

Helen Jackson, Higgins, ACT