Last Post: Welcome to the lazy country, if unions have their way

If unions are successful in their push for shorter working weeks and more holidays (“Shorter hours, not tax cuts”, 21/7), we can say goodbye to our “lucky country” name tag, and be prepared for our new nickname, “lazy country”.

Judy Kellaway, Urangan, Qld

It takes a special talent to walk a tightrope and sit on the fence at the same time, but Albanese seems to be managing it.

Roseanne Schneider, Toowoomba, Qld

Another ludicrous election result: Liberals win 14 seats and Labor nine, but they cannot form a government. Isn’t it time we got rid of preferential voting and set results on first past the post?

John McBratney, Lancefield, Vic

Nick Cater has cast reasonable concerns about lowering the voting age to include 16- and 17-year-olds (“Sorry, votes for the kids won’t help democracy”, 21/7). A better option would be to introduce studies on the nature and functioning of our democratic system in our education curriculum. This would give our first-time 18-year-old voters a better understanding of the importance of the vote.

Peter Clarke, Corinda, Qld

Trump’s on-again-off-again threats about trade sanctions and questions about the long-term support for security for Australia are worrying. Hopefully, common sense will prevail sooner rather than later.

John Houghton, The Gap, Qld

Peter Dutton, to his detriment, pushed Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Andrew Hastie, James Paterson and Tim Wilson into the background. Sussan Ley appears to be following a similar pattern, and unless the next generation of Liberal politicians are allowed to come to the fore, they can forget any thoughts of winning back power.

Ian Porter, Subiaco, WA

An invisible and ineffective opposition gives Albo the illusion he’s doing a good job.

Alex Cleave, North Fremantle, WA

As anti-Semitism surges across Australia, Albanese’s inaction is telling. Leadership demands more than vague condemnations. Words are not enough. We need action, now.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, NSW

Jason Clare demonstrates the government’s poor understanding of anti-Semitic behaviour on our streets, in our institutions and online. Note the speed with which the Glastonbury chant was added to the aggressive calls for violence that are a regular occurrence. Clare should consult Julian Leeser, among others.

Viera Eichel, Bondi Junction, NSW