Last Post: Jim Chalmers’ overconfidence and Penny Wong’s UN vote

The confidence of Jim Chalmers is quite concerning if he thinks inflation can hit the
2-3 per cent target band by December (“Mission accomplished on CPI by Christmas”, 13/5. Unless, of course, he already knows that most Australians will be so skint by then they won’t have much left to spend.

Ross McDonald, Gordon, NSW

Given that Treasurer Jim Chalmers is planning to reduce income tax and significantly increase government spending, it would indeed be a surprise if Treasury’s inflation forecast for year’s end was met.

Bob Miller, Leederville, WA

The RBA is using high interest rates to stop people spending but simultaneously the budget will give money to people to spend, which makes little or no economic sense.

Paul Haege, Darling Point, NSW

The huge geomagnetic storms are not only producing spectacular auroras around the world. If the government’s cowardice in the face of China’s aggression and the recent shameful UN vote on Palestinian statehood are any guide, they also appear to have knocked the government’s moral compass completely out of kilter.

John McLeod, Sunshine Coast, Qld

It was sinful for Australia to back support for Palestine’s membership of the UN. Why? Hamas and its proxy belligerents are opposed to the very right of a democratic Israel to exist. Democracies do not fight democracies. Hamas has voided any flowering of liberalism in its ill-governed territory. It is the private nightmare of diplomatic policy.

Mike Fogarty, Weston, ACT

Judas sold his soul for 30 pieces of silver. The Albanese government sold Australia’s for a handful of politically sensitive seats and power.

Bruce Collison, Banks, ACT

What’s it like to be seen as a fair-weather friend? I must ask Penny.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

The chancellor of Melbourne University, Jane Hansen, declared that “there are many different forms of racism” (“Melbourne Uni head a master in equivocation”, 13/5). What’s different is the way in which some races, notably Jews, are being treated.

Roseanne Schneider, Toowoomba, Qld

I have every sympathy for the farmers involved in the live exports decision but also overwhelming sympathy for those poor sheep.

Penni Seignior, Mudgeeraba, Qld