State chaos risks serious damage to Liberals’ federal hopes

No state division of the Liberal Party is immune from internecine wars. When they are protracted, the consequence is electoral oblivion. Bob Hawke’s famous quip, “If you can’t govern yourselves, you can’t govern the country”, is relevant to both major parties but it’s clear where the damage is being done right now to Peter Dutton’s chances at the next election (“NSW Libs turmoil risks federal poll”, 16/8).

In NSW, the most populated state, there are 47 seats up for grabs. The Coalition is at a high water mark in Queensland and is dead in the water in Victoria and South Australia. It’s possible that in Western Australia two seats may be salvaged from the 2022 train wreck but there will be no gains in Tasmania or the Northern Territory. It is critical therefore that the NSW division gets its act together and in quick time. It had a similar mess-up in the 2019 federal election and managed to hold the line. It’s clear a repeat will be necessary in 2025.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

At the last council election in 2021 I was standing in the queue to vote and there were three candidates from the major parties handing out “how to vote” cards. I asked a question relating to the local issue of privately owned restaurants doing business on the sands of Bondi Beach. The Labor candidate answered my question directly. The Liberal candidate replied with a smorgasbord of nonsensical words and the Greens candidate just stood there unable to say anything. For the first time since Bob Hawke was prime minister I voted Labor at an election. The latest stuff-up of the Liberal Party hierarchy failing to meet the deadline for nominating up to 140 candidates demonstrates the problem isn’t so much the candidates but the people responsible for selecting them.

Riley Brown, Bondi Beach, NSW

IV shortage defies logic

As suggested by The Australian’s editorial (“IV fluids crisis should not occur in First World nation” 16/8), the current shortage of IV fluids in this country is indeed scandalous. For a commodity that is produced from two basic and inexpensive components, water and salt, to be in short supply demands considerable scrutiny. It rather suggests that someone in the administrative side of the health system has been asleep at the wheel.

It appears that the limiting factor in the supply chain is the actual production process in which plastic bags are formed and then filled with fluid without interruption, referred to as the “blow-fill” process. Surely it is not beyond the wit of a nation with our level of technological sophistication to ensure that local production of this vital component of our health delivery system will meet local demands and thus avoid dependence on global supply chains.

Perhaps the Albanese government could be persuaded to divert its attention from more exotic goals such as quantum computers, green hydrogen and solar panels to this more mundane but essential commodity.

Bill Pannell, Dalkeith, WA

Curious, Australia apparently is the only country suffering from a worldwide shortage of IV fluids.

We shouldn’t be surprised when we’re facing self-inflicted short­ages of electricity, gas, doctors, nurses, tradesmen, housing, hospitals, building materials and so on. All this despite three layers of government, a huge public sector, independent institutions and regulators, industry groups and so on.

Anyone seriously think some sort of inquiry could unravel this mess?

Bruce Collison, Banks, ACT

Basics haven’t changed

NAPLAN results demonstrate that student outcomes are not commensurate with the enormous funding and technology investments in education. The folk of my generation think this is astonishing. Our technology consisted of slate and chalk, followed by ink and blotter, fountain pen and finishing with biros.

Yet most reached intermediate and leaving levels, securing responsible jobs in banking, public service, retail and the trades. Perhaps today’s educators should revisit the regime of yesteryear. Despite large class sizes, teachers were respected and discipline was maintained.

The curriculum was comprehensive, with an emphasis on numeracy and literacy. Regular student testing was undertaken and a frank annual report was issued detailing subject test results against class averages. Students could be made to repeat a year if failing to reach standards.

Teachers were subject to regular inspection. We honoured the flag but were never welcomed to country. Remedial classes were non-existent. The only handout was free milk.

There was no indoctrination of students by activist teachers, and educational bureaucrats were unknown. This regime produced happy, well-rounded students adequately equipped to enter the workforce without the investments that are provided today. Perhaps the fundamentals of education don’t change.

Martin Newington, Aspendale, Vic