Reduce dependence and spend substantially more on defence
Trump deserves credit for cajoling the Europeans into spending money on their own defence. Australia too should substantially increase its defence budget.
Letters
Last Post: Journey back to Stone Age with net-zero madness
What on earth are we doing to ourselves with the net-zero madness, obviously unachievable but in the process sending us into darkness and, if the loonies have their way, back to the Stone Age?
Silent majority fed up with erosion of multicultural values
The silent majority are fed up with the racism that is damaging our country’s reputation as a welcoming cohesive society. Political leaders must act decisively to restore order.
Dutton must end net-zero ‘cult’ and rescue our future
Dutton should save our countryside from the hideous blight of windmills and solar panels, and allow our agriculture to thrive. He has an opportunity to take a winning stance.
Inflation challenging leaders’ ability to explain economic woes
The ever-present threat of inflation rears its head again, more as a convenient explanation for the nation’s economic woes than as a credible phenomenon that requires serious thought.
Bracket creep seems to be a deliberate revenue raiser for Labor government
That the average Australian worker paid $3500 more tax last year than before the Albanese government was elected demonstrates the destructiveness of bracket creep on our living standards.
Forcing political opinions on students shows extent of decline
Imagine that activists wanted to turn a Western country into a Marxist republic. It would be in their interests to brainwash young people into believing their country is an illegitimate entity for whose existence they must continually apologise.
Last Post: Law degrees, Mickey Mouse, Trump in plain English
My lecturers must be turning in their graves at news of the blatant politicisation by Macquarie University of a course nominally in legal studies.
Energy crisis a ‘red light warning’ for national security
This further round of price hikes was inevitable, confirming the view that ‘Australia is a lucky country run by second-rate people who share its luck’.
We mustn’t sweep our ‘authoritarian’ Covid response under the mat
Why did Scott Morrison abandon, without explanation or justification, our national pandemic plan?
Is that you, Tony Abalone?
A masterful cartoon by Johannes Leak at the weekend, with Donald Trump’s PA calling Anthony Albanese ‘Mr Abalone’. I think ‘Tony Abalone’ has a certain ring to it, and morphs nicely to ‘Tony Baloney’.
Last Post: Bowen looks like Labor’s best bet for a poll win
It is only a matter of time before Chris Bowen snaps under the strain of pre-election politics and advises voters that if they don’t like Labor’s policies, “Don’t vote for us”.
Energy bill pain will make voters reflect on broken promises
Chris Bowen’s disingenuous comments denigrating coal-generator outages and breakdowns is sleight of hand and unworthy of being uttered by the government.
Police inaction stands out during the wave of anti-Semitic incidents
We know that Labor has chosen to compromise Australia’s support for Israel to boost the Muslim vote in crucial seats – a kind of transactional politics that is beneath contempt.
Trump fickleness or Labor ideology: both hurting us
Anyone blaming Anthony Albanese for the tariffs imposed on Australian steel and aluminium is putting their blame on the wrong person.
Coalition must present its pre-election policy agenda to public
Election campaign strategy is a mysterious dark art about which most of us know little. One wrong move and the game could come to an abrupt end.
So, it’s down to Kevin and Malcolm?
So this was Australia’s charm offensive team: Kevin Rudd (‘Trump is a village idiot’); Anthony Albanese (‘Trump scares the shit out of me’) and Malcolm Turnbull (‘Trump is rude, chaotic and abusive’).
Last Post: Trump wielding the stick as a matter of policy
Trump’s behaviour is, literally, straight out of the book, the Dictator’s Handbook, and that should make us all truly afraid. Worse behaviour may follow.
New generation of leaders needed to deal with changing world
A huge information deficit is wedging voters into Australian self-destruction. Neither major party has any potentially great leader.
Labor to blame for us being in Trump tariff firing line
Australia was behind the eight-ball long before the tariffs decision. The fact that the Prime Minister never got on the phone or went to America to plead Australia’s case is a sure sign of poor leadership.
Last Post: Tariffs wait made worse with Turnbull comments
Malcolm Turnbull, with his ill-timed comments on Donald Trump, has only made the US President cross, which we could have done without, especially when there is a decision looming on tariffs.
Major parties have a reform opportunity to ensure stability
Apart from effectively sidelining the Greens and teals for 18 months, the strategy suggested by Joel Fitzgibbon would refocus the government on proceeding with much-needed reform agenda.
Turnbull assessment of Trump’s tariffs an unnecessary incursion
Turnbull’s regular criticisms always appear to be aimed at the Liberal Party opponents he believed plotted his downfall as PM. His assessment of Trump doesn’t help Australia’s national interest.
Last Post: Alfred meets Covid lockdowns, Trump & Turnbull
In criticising the heavy-handed actions of some councils during Cyclone Alfred, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli brought back the nightmares of Covid. It could have been worse.
Now we’re talking of importing gas – can the renewables failure get any worse?
Labor remains conflicted about gas, allowing its energy policies to be driven by the virtue signallers.
Alfred shop closure overreaction ‘costs hundreds of millions’
Your report on the economic impact of Cyclone Alfred drastically underestimates the cost of southeast Queensland shutting down on Wednesday when almost all workplaces could have stayed open until Saturday evening
Donald Trump or Dan Andrews?
I enjoyed the thought-provoking article by Henry Ergas on Donald Trump’s hubris. I read a chunk to my dear wife, only to learn that she thought I was talking about Daniel Andrews. Fellow Victorians will understand.
Business as usual won’t secure the nation’s prosperity
Business as usual is not good enough in the face of declining living standards, weak economic growth, cultural division and social inequity. The electorate is crying out for reform and a compelling national narrative and vision.
Unwise to draw federal parallels over WA election result
We shouldn’t read too much into Labor’s election victory in Western Australia at the weekend. Most Australians know the difference between the responsibilities of various levels of government.
Last Post: Europe must act to bring Ukraine war to a swift end
If Britain and France want to help Ukraine they should provide it with the means to rapidly defeat Russia, or co-operate with Trump and Zelensky in bringing the war to an appropriate end.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/letters/page/3