Palaszczuk’s win on back of retirees and bureaucrats

Why is everyone so surprised at the Labor victory in Queensland? If you understand the voting public you would know that the main seats are in Brisbane, which is full of an ever-increasing public service and their families who know where their bread is buttered. And a large retirement community who accepts that a government debt is just that, a government debt. They’re not really worried about it and gladly accept that the Premier has saved their lives. Don’t worry about the economy, jobs or tourism. ScoMo will solve that problem. History will be kind and blind.

D. Adams, Toorak, Vic

The Queensland LNP is as of now a basket case: the federal Liberal and National parties need to wind up the LNP and do so as fast as possible or else we will see this fiasco repeated at the next federal election. Will the LNP executive go along with this? Of course not — it would rather hold on to office than act in the interest of the Liberals and Nationals federally.

Peter Murray, Bellbowrie, Qld

The so-called franking-credit retirees of Queensland who put Scott Morrison into power just did the same for Annastacia Palaszczuk out of gratitude for keeping them safe by closing the borders. They are also grateful the Palaszczuk government will complete the law reform process for voluntary assisted dying early next year. Baby boomers are used to being in control of their lives and they overwhelmingly want choice at the end of life.

It is no coincidence the Labor vote peaked in parts of the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Hervey Bay, where many retirees live. The needs and wants of the ageing population is a growing factor in Australian politics. That is why Scott Morrison will need to fix the aged care debacle before the next election.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

The Queensland Labor government won the election and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk triumphantly declared it a win for democracy and closed borders during the pandemic.

The win is no doubt cheered by the 400 privileged AFL personnel and Victorians who were given special dispensation to enter Queensland. But it is not a win for compassion. My heart goes out to the poor young Canberra nurse who was refused permission by Palaszczuk to see her dying dad in his final days while the AFL 400 were in the same city. Although in hotel quarantine she was denied permission to attend his funeral or be with her grieving family members.

As Christ said, when you do it to the least of my creatures, you do it to Me. Elections come and go, but the shame of a politician’s heartless actions is remembered forever.

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights, Vic

Former senator Graham Richardson was the architect of Labor’s policy to preference the Greens ahead of the Coalition; and entering into a government alliance with the dark green left. Consequently, as the ALP coasted remorselessly to the left — and there is little to differentiate Labor from the Greens — the LNP was right to preference the Greens ahead of Labor in certain Queensland seats.

The Coalition can unseat Labor parliamentarians such as Tony Burke and Chris Bowen by preferencing away from the sitting member, and running dead, in heavily progressive inner city seats. If Labor wants to harvest Liberal preferences to save seats, the Libs should demand meaningful concessions, in parliament, for critical infrastructure and fossil fuel energy. But if Labor insists on emulating the Greens’ anti-business platform, the Libs should cease helping to get ALP candidates elected.

Greg Jones, Kogarah, NSW

Annastacia Palaszczuk can keep playing her political games with the unconstitutional closure of the Queensland border. I and many others have decided that all we need and want is here in NSW, and we won’t be heading north again anytime soon.

Alexander Haege, Tamarama, NSW

Last month, incumbent Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won her election in New Zealand, as did incumbent Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk win in Queensland on the weekend. And so, too, incumbent President Donald Trump must win this week in the US. While our region and our country will survive the leftist voting decisions of the land of the long white cloud and the sunshine state, it is highly unlikely our broader Western world will if the land of the free follows suit.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW