Federal politics: PM: raise standard of debate and leave legacy
Readers ponder what constitutes a true Liberal, and what constitutes a real Malcolm Turnbull.
Readers ponder what constitutes a true Liberal, and what constitutes a real Malcolm Turnbull.
Readers discuss environmental issues, including the gradual transition to renewable energy.
The HILDA report provides the evidence for what most of us recognise intuitively. The wealth, on paper, of Baby Boomers is increasing because they bought houses at a time of relatively stable unemployment and when speculation was not rife. Thus, much of their wealth has been gained through rising land values rather than economic growth.
Readers discuss Pauline Hanson and why One Nation's agenda may appeal to some people.
People such as Pauline Hanson do more to promote terrorism and hatred than any Muslim immigrant, mosque or halal certification.
Readers discuss issues of social inequity, including homelessness, how older workers are treated, and the gap between public and private schools.
Readers discuss the terrorist attack in Nice on Bastille Day.
When Michael Kroger writes that "the Liberal Party's No.1 brand equity is ... being better economic managers than Labor" (News, 10/7), he is actually highlighting the party's major weakness.
Readers have mixed views on China's actions in the South China Sea and also on how Australia should respond.
A reader hoped inanities such as 'we have a mandate' would cease after this election result.
Justice Minister Michael Keenan tried to defame the Labor candidate in the WA seat of Cowan, stating that Anne Aly had written a letter of support for a known terrorist. This statement was untrue and a blatant misrepresentation of the role of Dr Aly, who was acting entirely in line with his own government's policy on national security.
Readers reflect on big issues facing the government now the election result is finally settled.
With Barnaby Joyce's aspirational demands – from one to six – that the agreement between the Nationals and Liberals remain confidential ("Nationals hold cabinet cards close to chest", 11/7), it is clear democracy will be the first casualty of the Coalition government. Accountability is the fundamental of representative democracy. Elected representatives must be accountable to the citizens and citizens must hold the elected to account. Secret deals make it impossible for citizens to play their democratic part. Transparency and accountability are the two sides of the coin that is democracy. Transparency is already on life support following three years of ministerial refusals to tell electors about "on water" and "operational" matters related to stopping boats and jail conditions for people seeking asylum.
Readers discuss Standard and Poor's call for Australia to fix its budget, otherwise the rating agency may strip us of our AAA credit rating.
Thanks to a fragmented Senate, it is likely we will have another three years of the inadequate government we have endured for the past three parliaments.
Readers discuss columnist Piero Moraro's suggestion that we should grant more votes to younger citizens and fewer to older ones.
Readers discuss Britain's Chilcot report, which found the Iraq invasion was not justified.
As an Indi constituent for most of my life, I supported Cathy McGowan's campaign. Assisting her team at three booths in Wodonga on election day, I was disgusted to see large unauthorised banners at each of the booths screaming "A Vote for Cathy is a Vote for the Greens & Labor" accompanied by four false "facts". The AEC officer at these booths and other across the electorate ignored requests to remove these Liberal Party banners. The Liberals also sent misleading brochures with the same lies, but with no obvious link to the party, to voters throughout the electorate prior to the election. Imagine my disgust when I heard Malcolm Turnbull's hysteria about Labor's Medicare "lies" when his party had blatantly, strategically and comprehensively lied about Cathy McGowan in the lead-up to, and on, election day. Now Malcolm may need the support of that Independent to form government … you reap what you sow, Malcolm.
The AEC comes under fire for its handling of the voting process and outdated systems.
As the commentariat and chatterati dissect the result, an issue that dare not speak its name is ignored.
The program the Coalition offered not only does nothing to tackle the two greatest challenges our nation faces, but will continue to exacerbate them. Climate change is happening at an even greater rate than that predicted by the world's climate scientists. Yet in response the Coalition offers us its discredited Direct Action policy and continues to promote and massively subsidise the use of fossil fuels. Inequality in Australia is now greater than at any time since World War II; increasing inequality is surely the true story behind Brexit and the rise of Donald Trump. Yet the Coalition proposes $50 billion of company tax cuts, pandering to the ideologues who continue to espouse the long-discredited theory of trickle-down economics.
I am working in Britain. As someone for whom politics has always been my life blood, I was surprised at how disgusted I was with the whole procedure and the ludicrous half truths, writes one reader.
Not surprisingly, readers discuss the federal election.
The Brexit decision was a warning that people are beginning to understand the impact of globalisation – that their lifestyles, but not those of the born to rule, are being sacrificed on the altar of economic rationalism. The destruction of Western manufacturing and primary industries and the corresponding exploitation of workers in the developing world is a crime of profit put before people. However, the greater crime of globalisation is not the inequality between capital and wage growth and worker exploitation but the massive acceleration of pollution and damaging greenhouse gas emissions. It started with the US/Canada Free Trade Agreement in the mid-1980s and continues at reckless pace to this day.
Readers' cynicism about politicians here and overseas takes a witty turn.
Our readers continue to deliberate over the fall-out from Brexit.
Malcolm Turnbull claims the best solution for the potentially chaotic times ahead is the Coalition's steady hand.
Not surprisingly, readers have mixed views on Britain's decision to leave the EU.
Readers weigh in on the shock Brexit result and whether it has ramifications for Australia.
It is in knowing and being known that we find and embrace our humanity.
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