Bad news for our future, whoever wins
You can be sure that after the election there will be a list of bad news for our future, whoever wins.
Letters
Anzac Day protest was wrong, but Welcome to Country an insult
It is time for us to have a conversation about the Welcome to Country.
Sleepwalking our way into national security disaster
Renowned historian Geoffrey Blainey reminds readers that Australia was ill-prepared for war in 1941 and that we are making the same mistake in 2025.
Our voting system seems to be preferencing hung parliament
Compulsory voting adds disparity by including large numbers of first choice votes that are essentially blind guesses from people who really don’t want to make a decision.
Defence of the nation primary responsibility of our government
The first responsibility of a national government is the security of the nation. The Labor government has shown it is incapable of this and makes false promises of increased defence funding.
Polling campaign of fast promises rolling on
This election campaign promises bread and circuses. Unfortunately, the price of bread is rising and the circuses are moving offshore to get a reliable supply of cheaper power.
Preferential system has facilitated a spiteful, morally corrupt game of numbers
All Australians lose and the carpetbaggers, mostly overseas operatives selling our renewable future, are off with the heist.
Coalition the only ones getting serious about defence
For its wilful neglect of defence and all aspects of national security, the ALP deserves to lose this election on this issue alone.
Dutton can’t be afraid to be ambitious with important policies
It has been clear in last three debates Peter Dutton and the Coalition need to present much more strongly and not be afraid of offending some groups.
Pope Francis will be a hard act to follow on climate concern
Pope Francis described climate change as a “profound moral crisis” and recognised its effects on humanity, especially disadvantaged people.
Defence gets much-deserved focus during poll campaign
Commentators have rightly signalled the urgent need for increased defence spending. It is disturbing that the need for this reminder for both the government and the opposition should be necessary.
Voters must take stock of the government’s value delivery
Anyone who bothers to think about the nation’s defence will surely feel the chill winds of vulnerability starting to blow around their ankles.
Pope Francis was prescient in warning of ‘world war in pieces’
Pope Francis consistently warned that we were “close, almost, to a world war”, that the “third world war in pieces” was turning into a “real global conflict”.
Economy will bear the sorry results of high spending
What a shame that no member of the government, the teals or the Greens is old enough to recall the disastrous big-spending policies of the Whitlam Labor government that destroyed our economy.
No defence for a campaign that ignores nation’s priorities
The government’s major failings are these: defence and electricity supply failures are promised to continue; and quick declines in our standard of living are rendered invisible by blame games.
Easter reminder of the strife surrounding religious beliefs
We live in one of those lands where religious freedom prevails, so far, but even here we can have chills down the spine as we see some of the anti-Jewish rallies of recent times.
Last Post: Profligate spending will hurt nation’s future
All Peter Dutton needs to say is: “Are you happy for prices to increase further as they have during the past three years, plus future blackouts? If so, vote Labor.”
Voters must look beyond the Green-tinged horizon
It seems the media is signalling to the electorate to vote for minor parties, giving them a standing many do not deserve. Is this the means by which the government’s failings can be papered over?
What do the teals stand for and what have they achieved?
The two questions that can never be answered about the teals. Plus the Greens tail, energy policy, ‘a pity they can’t both lose’ and ‘Potato Head’ vs. ‘Air Head’.
Defence forces underfunded, unprepared for conflict
Geoffrey Blainey’s astute article is a wake-up call to review our preparedness in the event of direct conflict. He joins a host of others in condemning Australia’s defence capability as moribund.
Teals, independents don’t offer solutions to nation’s big problems
Chris Kenny is on the money with his timely analysis of the teals and the damage they are doing to our democratic process. Plus inadequate health services, Passover and Easter, negative gearing and nuclear energy.
Emerging security threats expose defence policy failing
Discussion in this week’s TV debate centred on social issues, including housing, immigration and climate change. But it will not help us if we are being coerced by adversaries on our doorstep.
Labor’s election fortunes are linked to the Greens
Anthony Albanese says he has ruled out negotiating with the Greens. Really? Why then is the ALP preferencing the Greens in most electorates?
Campaign goodies were flowing long before poll was called
The election campaign period has been orchestrated to include several public holidays guaranteed to blindside voters like rabbits caught in the headlights of a full-tilt diesel loco.
Unrealistic medical care promise
The election promise of free medical consultation is as far-fetched and unrealistic as free university courses promised during the Labor campaigns of the distant past.
Defence posture a sign of nation’s strategic weakness and delay
A credible deterrent posture must be visible, survivable and affordable. To achieve that, defence spending must accelerate to at least 3 per cent of GDP.
Free medical consultation looks more like a campaign myth
A free-for-all sounds like a last-minute election stunt. GPs are hardworking professionals. A free-for-all will swamp them and do little to better defray their escalating operating costs.
Put housing crisis in hands of experts, not profligate politicians
Resolving the housing crisis is not impossible but it will be if left to politicians who are used to wasting billions of dollars while offering very little for this nation.
Campaign exposes a nation of weak leaders
Anyone proposing Dutton’s team is not ready to lead the nation is being unreasonable. Those who believed three years ago that Albanese’s team was ready to lead would be sorely disappointed.
We need ideas, long-term vision – not more handouts
Both party leaders are promising billions of dollars. Yet we will soon be in debt to the value of more than $1 trillion. And what we are getting from either leader is absolutely nothing.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/letters/page/2