Prospect of Labor power share with Bandt a genuine risk

I wholeheartedly applaud the sentiments of so many letter writers envisaging a potential Dutton victory (“PM writes off Dutton’s counter-revolution at his own peril”, 6/1), and also agree with the sentiments expressed by Tony Abbott (“To take power, conservatives must resist tyranny of officialdom”), Angus Taylor (“Labor’s profligacy is draining our sources of prosperity, talent”) and Nick Cater (“Brown’s Greens wouldn’t recognise their own party under Bandt”) in Monday’s paper (6/1). However, I am extremely concerned that winning 21 seats is a real mountain for Peter Dutton to climb and that if he succeeds in getting, say, 17 or 18, we are destined to suffer three years of a minority Labor government being dragged inexorably to the extreme left by a dominant Adam Bandt. What horrors can this hardline Marxist impose on this nation by 2028?

So if you were a disenchanted Liberal voter who supported a teal last time because of their seemingly laudable environmental credentials, or one who felt Scott Morrison needed to be punished for his thoughtless “I don’t hold a hose, mate” comments in 2022, please return to the fold and give the Libs your vote once again.

John Clark, Moss Vale, NSW

Tony Abbott is correct in all he writes, but I would add one more piece of advice for Peter Dutton’s Coalition. As I recall, one of Abbott’s slogans in 2013 was “if you want to change the government, you have to change your local member”. To that I would add, “if you want to change the government in any meaningful way, you have to change the Senate”.

The Coalition needs a long-term strategy for winning, and holding, the Senate. That could begin by selecting well-qualified, high-profile Senate candidates such as Warren Mundine well in advance of the election, and giving them the resources to campaign on national issues throughout the three-year election cycle. No point introducing your new Senate candidate at the start of the campaign.

Peter O’Brien, Kiama, NSW

Tony Abbott is correct when he says Liberal “frontbenchers (should) provide a detailed blueprint of what needed to change to make a difference in their portfolio area” before the election. Apart from substantiating its “smaller government, bigger citizen” policies, it will also be crucial to back up the argument that the Liberals are better economic managers, as the only remnants in Canberra from the best Howard/Costello days may be “a leftist establishment” and “unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats”.

A second obstacle to a Dutton victory could be the Liberals’ nuclear power policy, which could be portrayed as at odds with the smaller government philosophy.

Clay O’Brien, Mosman, NSW

As a conservative voter, I can honestly say my political philosophy is much the same today as it was when John Howard became prime minister in 1996. At that time, both the Labor and Coalition sides of politics were closely aligned to the political centre. I dare say the manifesto Peter Dutton will reveal in coming months will adhere to the traditional centre-right philosophy. In contrast, since 1996 we have witnessed mainstream parties of the left in democracies lurch ever further to the left. There is no doubt this departure from the centre in favour of “progressive” politics is the root cause of much of the divisiveness so evident in Western countries. In November, voters in the US comprehensively rejected this lurch to the left, as have voters recently in Germany, Italy and France. I expect voters in Australia will follow this trend in a few short months.

John McLeod, Sunshine Coast, Qld

Should the Coalition win the forthcoming election, it might seem we are in for a “no pain, no gain” period to clean up the mess. This was what Jeff Kennett did for two terms in Victoria before announcing going into the third election he would loosen the purse strings. He was defeated by “Mister Nice Guy” Steve Bracks and Victoria has experienced a downward spiral ever since. Tony Abbott emphasises the need for oppositions not to be frightened of draining swamps. There should be evidence, even in the short term, of considerable gain as our taxpayer dollars are redirected to more worthy and productive causes, and the private sector is re-incentivised. No pain, much gain would surely be a compelling prospect to the majority of us.

Nick Palethorpe, Turramurra, NSW