Pesutto’s failure as Lib leader may have federal implications

Last Friday may well go down in history as the day the Victorian Liberal Party lost the 2025 federal election for the Coalition, with the incomprehensible vote on readmitting Moira Deeming to the party. This confirms John Pesutto’s complete unsuitability to continue as leader. He defamed Deeming, refused a very reasonable settlement offer and still refuses to apologise to her. Even the most amateurish of political students knows such a tight vote is in reality a loss and will inevitably lead to Pesutto’s removal. Sadly, half the party was more interested in fighting than providing a clean resolution of this affair, which has dragged on for more than two years because of Pesutto’s incompetence. Peter Dutton will have to clearly disown the Victorian branch and emphasise his support for women.

Alan Hayes, Currumbin, Qld

As a conservative voter in the once-great state of Victoria, I say to John Pesutto you will never have my vote. Go now or let’s all form an alternative party that has honesty and integrity and, dare I say, ensures the state’s welfare as its hallmarks.

Geoff O’Brien, Eltham, Vic

Not since the days of John Gorton and Bill Snedden have we witnessed a Liberal Party leadership as terminal as John Pesutto’s. For the sake of the Liberal Party in Victoria, and for the Liberal Party nationally, the Victorian Opposition Leader should resign his position. It is the only way to salvage any semblance of credibility following Moira Deeming’s successful defamation action.

Riley Brown, Bondi, NSW

Dreaming of reform

Paul Kelly appropriately acknowledged the role former Labor Party leader Bill Hayden played in shaping the economic direction pursued by Bob Hawke and Paul Keating after Labor’s 1983 election victory (“2024: The Year Australia Lost Its Way”, 21-22/12). It was Hayden, as treasurer in 1975, who started to instil some financial discipline into the big-spending Whitlam government. Then as opposition leader he set about adopting realistic policies for the next Labor government, with the right people in the right roles. He appointed Keating shadow treasurer and Peter Walsh as shadow finance minister. The structure was there for Hawke to build on after his 1983 win. As a Queenslander, Hayden may not have been the darling of the NSW Labor Party, but his foresight and grit were crucial in laying foundations for subsequent economic reforms.

Peter Kennedy, Mt Lawley WA

Lex’s story

Lex Marino availed himself of a voluntary assisted death and died at home, immersed in love and surrounded by family. He was able to choose the time of his inevitable death and avoid the final cruel ravages of terminal cancer that most likely awaited him. His family noted the humour that “had glinted behind (his) eyes for a lifetime refuse(d) to dull.” What a beautiful, indelible memory for his family to treasure. Tragically for many other families, the eyes of their loved ones exude pain and suffering or a vacant stare masking all signs of the unique individual they had known and loved. Thank you to Lex’s family for so selflessly and courageously sharing the last intimate and intensely personal moments of his life.

Jane Morris, Glen Iris, president of Dying With Dignity Victoria

Call this independent?

By incremental intrusion, the Albanese government is trespassing into more and more areas of society. So it was interesting to read Peter Varghese’s justification for some recommendations in his review into funding for strategic policy work (“Breathe easy over think tank review, the sky’s not falling”, 21-22/12). He claims that having a government observer on the ASPI governing council will not compromise its independence. But it could surely serve to constrain the thinking of council members. Also questionable is how an observer will contribute to the work of ASPI, given that Varghese asserts that when it comes to funding, ASPI will be judged “entirely on how well it does its job”.

Philip Temple, Larrakeyah, NT

No comment

Surely there’s a strong case for the Reserve Bank to revert to the practice of declining to provide comment on future interest rate adjustments. The experience under Philip Lowe’s regime showed just how damaging guidance can be when a combination of global pressures, currency movements, changes in fiscal policies and changing geopolitical events serve to completely negate such guidance. The motive by the Chalmers-initiated independent review has to be questioned when one reviewer now sits on the key Monetary Policy Board. The Albanese government could well assist the RBA to lower the cash rate by moderating their rampant spending and trimming immigration.

Gary Tait, Ormond, Vic