Pauline Hanson has damaged her political integrity

I doubt Pauline Hanson fully realises the damage she has inflicted on her party and her integrity. Many of her constituents voted for her to offset the alliance between Labor and the Greens, especially in Queensland.

These middle-class voters will be disillusioned by her siding with the thugs in the CFMEU, especially after the government had acceded to all of her amendments.

The actions of this union, plus excessive state government red tape and regulations add costs to every construction project in the land. She and the Jacqui Lambie have just handed the CFMEU a free pass to continue its disruptive agenda.

Peter Jacobsen, New Farm, Qld

There is more to Pauline Hanson’s about-face on the union integrity bill than union influence or concern about white collar crime (“CFMEU link to Hanson’s IR trickery”, 30/11). After her part in the election in Queensland, the Coalition would be unwise to take her for granted.

On farming, mining, electricity and water, she speaks for Queenslanders in language they understand, while the Coalition pays her scant respect. A change of government in Queensland next year will need Hanson’s support and some federal progress on those matters about which she is so passionate.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

Politics in Australia has become a dirty game. Pauline Hanson’s and Jacqui Lambie’s recent forays on the political stage have been little short of disgusting. I am all for negotiation but I am deadset against blackmail.

Crossbenchers are a threat to democracy, not part of democracy. Self-interest has taken over from honest negotiation. Unfortunately for the Morrison government, it must continue to play this game — the government should treat Lambie with kid gloves if it wants to repeal medivac. But by the time medivac is ever repealed there will not be one asylum seeker left on Nauru while potential trouble makers have been given free and open entry with or without medical opinion.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

What use is the Senate? Created as a house of review it has morphed into a farcical playpen for pathetic populists such as Pauline Hanson and Jacqui Lambie who spend their days galloping towards their next headline.

It’s flabbergasting that these two hold the balance of power and can dictate to all Australians on matters that directly affect their lives.

Julian Smith, Melbourne, Vic

The garment rending about Pauline Hanson’s “betrayal” over the Ensuring Integrity Bill is unnecessary.

When a Queensland organisation lobbies a senator to oppose a bill that the group believes is inimical to its interests, it demonstrates that our democracy is working. People get elected to parliament to represent the views of sections of the community, not as a rubber stamp.

Hanson gave good reasons for her opposition, relating it to the corrupt practices of banks being overlooked to make the activities of unions commensurately over-scrutinised.

Brian Sanaghan, West Preston, Vic

The defeat in the Senate of the government’s legislation to control unruly unions is most disappointing. It is, as Paul Kelly has indicated, an undermining of sensible and meaningful proposals by self-interested crossbenchers. These individuals do at times improve legislation but are often more concerned about preserving their power and their electoral base. The system for the election of senators is outdated as it is not conducive to the best possible government of the nation.

Michael Schilling, Millswood, SA

While the Coalition can now place Pauline Hanson into the never-to-be-trusted category, it should not be forgotten that the real culprit is the Labor Party for its allegiance with militant unionism.

Anthony Albanese could have taken a leaf out of Bob Hawke’s book who deregistered the militant Builders Labourers Federation. Instead, a directionless opposition, long on virtue-signalling rhetoric but short on anything constructive, has just condoned the actions of the CFMEU. Labor espouses the need for increased productivity yet they have just shown support for militant unionism that escalates construction costs and creates an environment where small builders and tradies are bullied every day

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic