It’s no surprise that the Greens are on the nose (“Greens’ support drops as dislike of Bandt grows”, November 12). Once a clearly environment-focused party, it has morphed into a perfection-demanding group of political sooks more interested in blaring noise about pet causes than helping make music for the good of the country. Anything to get a seat in the ring but nothing to help run the show. They might have dipped in the latest public favorability stakes, but they win the trophy for cynical opportunism hands down. Adrian Connelly, Springwood
Greens leader Adam Bandt, flanked by senators Dorinda Cox (left) and deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi.Credit: Fairfax Media
Greens voters want an alternative to the policy decisions offered up by the bigger parties. If Bandt were to stay silent on world politics or support a two-state solution in Palestine, he risks alienating his key voter bloc. I’m not surprised the Greens’ likeability is tanking, but the more they present as a left-wing party, the more likely they are to hold on to the demographic they have always aligned most with. To those calling for moderation in order to get anything passed through the house – although I understand the sentiment – I worry about the increasing role of small parties on our right wing and think the Greens aren’t as radical as to alienate anyone who votes for them. Gabrielle Taylor, Hunters Hill
I never thought I would agree with Trump and his campaign (“How Trump exposed the Democrats’ mistaken identity politics”, November 12). The progressives’ attempts to change language to address abstract identity concerns such as “Latinx” and “BIPOC” compared to Trump’s brilliant campaign “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you” was inept. On the same day, I also read about support for the Greens falling and Bandt among the least popular. The Greens have espoused causes that appeal to narrow groups and “identitarianism”. The lessons from the US elections are clear; we need leaders to address our real concerns of day-to-day living and not introduce elitist slogans supporting small minorities and international concerns that have no real impact on most of us. Hopefully, Dutton doesn’t use this too successfully in the next elections. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy
It’s not surprising that Bandt and co. are getting the thumbs down. Over recent times the Greens have morphed into a party of self-absorbed attention seekers. Instead of contributing constructively to debates, they are divisive, obstructive and destructive. If they want to be taken seriously, they need to grow up. Navel-gazing and adolescent behaviour won’t impress the adults in the room. Graham Lum, North Rocks
Your correspondent wonders where the money will come from to finance the Greens’ $128 billion proposed HECS debt cancellation (Letters, November 12). It’s a no-brainer. Cancel the useless and wasteful $368 billion AUKUS nuclear underwater war machines and we’ll have $240 billion left over to address education, housing, health, and other needs of our people. Cancel Peter Dutton’s fanciful nuclear power station pipedream as well, and we’ll have even more to spend on the everyday concerns of Australians. Steve Cornelius, Brookvale
Sombre outlook
I applaud Ken Enderby’s positive approach to efforts being made to combat climate change (Letters, November 12) but find it hard to share his optimism. Here in NSW, our government is allowing large-scale logging of native forests in the area of its proposed Great Koala National Park, undercutting its stated goals. Our federal government is approving new fossil fuel projects while talking up investment in renewables, undermining its own emission reduction targets. On the wider stage, while the UN International Conference on Climate Change (COP29) begins its deliberations in Azerbaijan, a new and regressive administration prepares to take over in the US. Even if this COP were to reach any meaningful conclusions, and the track record is not good in this regard, there is every likelihood they would be nullified by a contrary US. At best, we are marking time when we should be striding ahead in our efforts to arrest global heating. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills
Double standard
Lidia Thorpe was roundly criticised for her outburst at King Charles – this week, we have Ralph Babet making horrendous comments on X, yet there is nothing from the PM or the leader of the opposition (“United Australia senator Ralph Babet posts racist, homophobic slurs”, November 12). This is a senator who received 4425 votes in the 2022 federal election, with his party receiving less than four per cent of the Victorian vote but enough for the vagaries of the Senate voting to see him elected. The silence from the major parties says as much about them as it does about him. Australians deserve better from our elected representatives. Tim Overland, Castle Hill
Senator Ralph Babet posted racial and homophobic slurs on social media platform X.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
I was tempted to welcome Senator Babet’s insistence on free speech by calling him Clive Palmer’s useful idiot, but on reflection, I couldn’t think of any use for him.
Colin Stokes, Camperdown
GPs’ guiding light
GPs are the unsung and underappreciated heroes of medicine (“Doctors’ fears over change to referrals”, November 12). It is too easy to be misled by the word “general” and think that GPs aren’t at the same level as their more godlike colleagues, the “specialists”. In fact, however, GPs not only have as much specialist training in their field as any other specialists have in theirs, but they are also the only specialists who know a lot about a lot when compared to other specialists, who actually only know a lot about a little. It’s the GPs who are the co-ordinators of the care of their patients and are able to oversee all that is happening with each, including the complex totality of treatments, medications and recommendations of any other professional colleagues involved in each patient’s matrix of care. What we should be doing is giving GPs their actual title of “General Practice Specialists”, whom we could therefore regard as the irreplaceable GPS of the health system. Anne Ring, Coogee
GPs are the most efficient and essential arm of our health system. They are the last “generalist” who have a handle on the holistic health, including social and emotional factors, of their patients. As such, they are the ideal gatekeepers and referral agents. So why are people reluctant to see them? Because of cost and/or difficulty getting an appointment. Decades of neglect of general practice by federal governments have led to this crisis of undervaluing and underpaying GPs, which has led to declining medical student interest and bulk-billing corporate clinics with an emphasis on quick consultations. A dedicated, thorough family GP cannot financially survive on bulk-billing. So the answer is simple. Double the medicare rebate to $80 for GPs but also increase the minimal consultation time to 10 minutes and appropriately fund longer complex consultations. And don’t further undermine and deskill your most valuable medical asset with these Band-Aid solutions. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle
Keep up appearances
I couldn’t agree more with Caroline Zielinski on how little effort many Australians put into how they dress (“Nothing like a Dane, Australians are just fashion slobs”, November 12). I, too, have a Polish background and my glamorous mother taught her daughters about style and quality dressing. I’ve lived in Italy, where there is wonderful middle-market fashion for women (and men) of all ages. I’m now in London and relishing the chance to dress well, and I just don’t understand why Australians don’t get the pleasure and fun of smart presentation. Fast fashion looks as cheap as it is and only leads to more landfill. Jennifer Bacia, Newstead
Stylish Dane. Queen Mary of Denmark in Melbourne. Credit: Pool
Early start
I can only sympathise with your correspondents regarding the Americanisation of Christmas and add my own despair of how early the stores start selling Christmas decorations; it gets earlier every year (Letters, November 12). I swear this year they were out before the football finals had started, never mind Father’s Day! Garret Jackson, Mortdale
IDK about all the IDV Americans (and DT doesn’t care)
Trump didn’t win with a landslide, according to the national vote numbers. By far the biggest turnout was for the IDV (I Didn’t Vote) Party, which totalled more than 90 million, followed by Trump at a distant second with 75.03 million votes, and Harris a close third with 71.7 million votes. There were another 20 million people of voting age but not eligible to vote as they were illegal immigrants or felons.
That voter turnout is almost as big a joke as the Electoral College itself when Trump manages to win with just 30.6 per cent of eligible voters over Harris with 29.3 per cent. I expect there is already some buyer’s remorse on all sides of politics, especially among the IDVs. That contrasts with Australia’s compulsory voting, although it is compulsory only to attend, have your name marked off and take a ballot paper, which you can deface or submit incomplete if you like. Peter Kamenyitzky, Castle Hill
Donald Trump would not need to trash the Constitution to be elected for a third term. That precedent was set by Franklin Roosevelt during World War II when he was granted a then-unprecedented third term for his brilliant wartime leadership. Donald Trump is no FDR. Coral Button, North Epping
On a visit and tour through Arlington Cemetery in Washington a few years ago, my strongest impression was of the enormous respect held by ordinary Americans for their armed forces, their veterans and war dead. How, then, have they elected a president whose rich father paid a doctor to have him dodge the draft for bone spurs, who said that John McCain was not a war hero because he had been a prisoner of war, and who called war dead and disabled veterans “suckers and losers”? In France for the commemoration of the Normandy landings this year, President Biden spoke graciously and lovingly to each of several wheelchair-bound veterans who were receiving the Legion d’Honneur. I could not help thinking that Donald Trump would have been unable to relate to those very old men. Ruth Barwick, Hornsby
Peter Hartcher asks about the “lessons learnt” from the US election (“Trumped! It’s the democracy, stupid”, November 12). It’s a question every Labor MP in Canberra needs to ask before taking action to avoid a similar result. Thanks to Trump, the Coalition is cock-a-hoop at their current prospects of re-election, and no holds will be barred in the divisive, polarising, fear-inciting campaign they will run. It’s time to wake up, Labor. Donna Wiemann, Balmain
It’s the democracy, stupid.Credit: Dionne Gain
The most frustrating aspect of the next four years will be watching those greatly vexed by the re-election of the president of the US spending every moment of their news day whingeing and kvetching and feigning surprise at his every outrageous and predictable act while spending absolutely zero time working to ensure his kind has none and Buckley’s of ever being elected again … just like they did last time. Peter Fyfe, Enmore
Peter Dutton and Gina Rinehart openly support a convicted felon and rapist. It is scandalous, disgraceful and deplorable. The media can’t seem to muscle up the guts to ask them about it, though. Why is that? Sam Kent, Hunters Hill
In recent days, it appears the more boorish men in the US have been emboldened in their misogyny. As we seem to import the worst US trends, perhaps all women here and abroad should be inspired by Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. It may be as relevant today as it was when it was written. Brett Bujeya, Coffs Harbour
The unholy union that is Donald Trump and Elon Musk may have its advantages. Musk wants to send a manned spacecraft to Mars, Trump craves being in the spotlight, so … Phil Rodwell, Redfern
Note to Joe Biden: steer your judicial and government appointments through the Senate while you still have a majority. John Bailey, Canterbury
Let us not forget Winston Churchill said, “Americans can be counted on to do the right thing after they have exhausted all other possibilities”. Ian Johnstone, Armidale
Low fertility, high reward
Australia’s low fertility rate of 1.5 births per woman might be helpful in today’s world (“The mortgage or the baby? Fertility dropping to record low”, November 12). Fewer births mean less pressure on vital resources such as water, energy and food, which can help address climate change and pollution. Maintaining a low fertility rate would eventually alleviate housing shortages. With fewer people, we would use less energy and not need to fund new infrastructure.
A slower population growth would allow Australia to focus on quality instead of quantity, investing more in sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy and better healthcare and education systems. This shift would improve people’s quality of life and make the country stronger against future environmental and economic challenges. If we accept claims by scientists that climate change is almost an existential threat to the planet, we should welcome a low fertility rate.
John Kempler, Rose Bay
Cervical cancer heroes
Self-testing for cervical cancer is certainly a big step forward in detection, encouraging those reluctant to have the procedure performed by a doctor to participate in screening and improving access for those in more remote areas (“This cancer is preventable, but not enough women are testing for it”, November 11). However, the game-changer in the elimination of cervical cancer was the development of the vaccine targeting variants of the human papilloma virus known to cause cervical cancer. Involved in this were our very own scientists at the University of Queensland, the late Dr Jian Zhou and Dr Ian Frazer, the latter winning Australian of the Year in 2006 and gaining well-deserved recognition.
Louise Dolan, Birchgrove
Professor Frazer personally administering shots of the HPV vaccine in 2006.Credit: File Image
For whom the toll bugs
Tolling motorways and other pinch-points such as river crossings are distorting the management of traffic (“Sydney drivers face tolls until 2060. Here’s why that might get longer”, November 12). This encourages motorists to use local road options, which increases the safety risks to residents, pedestrians and traffic. It encourages the allocation of resources for transport to projects that maximise return on investment rather than their benefit to the community and the vehicle owner.
The current mode of tolling is an 18th-century practice, and road funding needs to be brought into the 21st century. Mandate smart odometers in all vehicles. Toll vehicles to pay for the building and maintenance of roads in accordance with distance travelled each month and bill accordingly to a debit card. Tolls could be set, for example, by the day and time of day of the journey, size and purpose of vehicle, generated pollution, exempt or discounted use. Renegotiate current tollroad contracts so that the owner receives just payments for removing the present toll collections. Interstate or vehicle renters could be offered the option of a modem or payments by their smartphones. John Woodward, Ashfield
- To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
- The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.