I read with interest that Jaqueline Maley infers that Christopher Pyne is part of a group of "left-wing government schemers" ("Abbott revels in Cherry bomb fall out", Comment, 27/6). I wonder how many of this group identify as "left-wing". More than 70per cent of Australians agree with same-sex marriage; this is a centrist position, as well as the position of many on the right and left. If Christopher Pyne is of the left, then Tony Abbott and Cory Bernardi are not hard right-wing conservatives. They are in the centre.
Chris Larson, Oakleigh
Call them what they are: reactionaries
I would like to suggest that journalists writing about politicians such as Cory Bernardi or Tony Abbott resist the lazy definition of calling them conservatives. A conservative, as I understand it, is a person who is averse to change, holding traditional values. Both Mr Bernardi and Mr Abbott clearly want change – a return to the past. In my view, they are better described as reactionaries. They favour a return to what they believe was the previous political state of society that possessed characteristics such as discipline, respect for authority etc; they believe these are negatively absent from the status quo. Wolves in sheep's clothing should be called wolves, not sheep.
Michael Ryan, Balwyn North
Party factions: a curse on all their houses
Malcolm Turnbull speaks of his "outstanding" ministry amid internal party calls to sack the perennial self-advertising Christopher Pyne. Meanwhile, Bill Shorten sententiously censures the Liberal Party's factionalism while ignoring many years of fatuous ALP factionalism and associated branch "stackathons". When did Walter Mitty become the "leadership" archetype for both sides of the party playground?
Frank Carleton, Longwarry
Factional chaos in Labor and Liberals
We had three Coalition members robustly express opinions over the sentencing of terrorists. All three apologised to the Victorian Supreme Court in a cowardly display of their convictions. Now, Christopher Pyne apologises to the right-wing factions of the Coalition for robustly and honestly expressing his opinion on another issue. This says a lot that a senior minister is afraid of others in the Coalition. The factional chaos in the Coalition ranks as bad as, or worse, than in Labor ranks.
Tibor Majlath, Greensborough
The internal conflict within the Coalition
Christopher Pyne's position on same-sex marriage being questioned by the Liberal Party? Perhaps its right faction should question its position in relation to global trends in this sphere. Such resistance to confront issues of a rapidly changing world highlights a profound point of conflict within the Coalition. The very definition of conservative is "averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values". On the one hand, Malcolm Turnbull talks of the age of "innovation". On the other hand, we witness internal party friction over Mr Pyne's sentiments. Is it any wonder that, given the chronic inertia on 21st-century issues, voters have low confidence in the government.
Damien Peters, Brighton
Black is the new conservative
Which colour represents Australian conservatives? Red, blue and green have already been taken. Try black?
Jan Hale, Torquay
THE FORUM
A wonderful surgeon
Sadly, surgeon Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann has died (The Age, 29/6). Patrick was one of a large team of dedicated medical staff who saved my husband's life in March at Epworth Eastern hospital. My husband arrived from another medical facility in very poor condition, with no chance of surviving for more than a day or two. Patrick offered him two choices: don't do anything and you will die; or agree to surgery and you have a chance – "but it's risky".
The entire medical team pulled out all stops and, after nearly three months, pronounced my husband fit for rehabilitation. Our family owes so much to the skill and dedication of these people. Patrick's family lost a loved husband and father, and unknown future lives will be lost because he is no longer available. We, along with many other patients and families, are grieving.
Phyllis Coffey, Croydon
The right to safety
The death of Dr Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann is an outrage against yet another unsung hero. Health workers' jobs are hard enough without the daily dangers they face. They are anchorages of selflessness working in a sea of under appreciation. They do their invaluable duty to heal and save lives. A behaviour code (both implied and explicit) applies to patients, visitors or bystanders who are in or near a hospital, because that hospital may one day save your life. As part of society's "honour system", you give up anything (aggression, menace, hostility) that goes against human sacredness in a medical sanctuary – just as Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann gave his oath to save people.
Dr Arthur Giannopoulos, Norwood, SA
A prime case for APRA
Some years ago, I looked at various retirement villages with my mother. As a researcher who specialises in complex financial products, I did not expect that their contracts would tax my ability to analyse. They did. I realised they are cunningly disguised insurance contracts, whereas most people think they are buying real estate. Retirement village contracts should be regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority, not by state governments.
Dr Timothy Kyng, senior lecturer, department of applied finance and actuarial studies, Macquarie University
Helping our homeless
Filthy Rich and Homeless (SBS TV) points out the underlying reasons why many people are homeless and destitute. Looking after our refugees is important, but giving our homeless a roof over their heads, food and opportunity is also important. Treating them with judgment and disdain – some have been referred to as a scourge on the image of our pretty city – is appalling. Many of the most amazing people I have met in my career of working in drug and alcohol rehabs for those with addiction and their families, and who have been given a go, have made the most significant difference to others. Changed attitudes is the start of social change.
Anne Iversen, Ringwood
Seeking some answers
The burning question – raised by many people but avoided by politicians of all persuasions – is: Why is our population growth at the current rate beyond our control? The census has brought this issue to a sharp focus. Let us take just one related story (The Age, 28/6). It is bewildering that Eva was granted a 457 visa to work as an investment analysis with a wealth management firm "that caters to Chinese investors looking to buy Australian assets". Are there really no Australians with adequate financial qualifications, and why would we want our assets sold to more overseas investors?
Richard Kasperczyk, Brighton East
Saving our languages
The census recorded 300 different languages, including Indigenous, spoken in Australia (Comment, 28/6). But how many of these are Indigenous languages? The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies reports that at the time of European settlement in 1788, more than 250 Indigenous Australian language groups covered the continent. Today, only about 120 of those languages are still spoken and many are at risk of being lost as elders pass away.
David Williams, Alphington
Please, stop calling me
Thank heavens we have reached the end of the financial year and with it, I trust, an end to the veritable barrage of requests for donations to charities which had to have my money by the deadline. Since receiving a robocall, I have resorted to not answering the phone: machines can talk at my machine rather than at me. And the donations I have made in the last couple of weeks have been to charities that have not asked for them.
Christine Duncan, Surrey Hills
Farewell, Mr Abbott
Note to Tony Abbott. Loving your work, Tony. As a Labor supporter, I am almost inspired to vote Liberal – just to make sure Malcolm Turnbull gets back in with a working majority. Hopefully by then, you will be going somewhere.
Dewi Williams, Ascot Vale
A double standard
So Tony Abbott has decided to "make Australia work again". Can we assume he now thinks we should have a car industry after all, or does it only apply to handing a billion dollars to Adani?
Peter Goonan, Cranbourne West
Irrelevant distractions
When will the media stop quoting Tony Abbott? He is yesterday's man. The Australian people are sick and tired of his rhetoric. His disruptions have to stop. What is wrong with his party? Why does it allow this nonsense from a back bencher?
Patricia Norden, Middle Park
Family-friendly jobs
Jacinta Tynan's article about school holidays not suiting working parents (Online, 28/6) omits to question why workplaces are structured as they are. Could it be that in times past, workplace culture developed because married women were not allowed to work and therefore could care for children, leaving men to work long hours and continuously? It is long overdue for all parents to experience family-friendly workplaces, where child care is seen as an important role shared by both parents, and is enabled and encouraged during school holidays and illness.
Marianne Dalton, Balnarring
Farewell, Naked Man
We are rather deflated at the demise of Naked Man in EG. He kept it up for so long. An upright citizen who worked hard for society. Perhaps if he stiffened his resolve, we might still have him. We must gird our loins and tackle things head on. God speed, Naked Man, and rise above it all.
David Manallack, Hampton
Battle worn, but tough
"But must the bollards be so ugly?", asks Matthew Leung, citing "chipped corners, discolouration, uneven surfaces, unexplained holes" (Letters, 27/6). That is not ugliness; it is experience. These bollards have been around a bit, seen action. And I would rather leave the defence of the realm to these fine lumps than any new, clean-cut bollards, even if they have been especially flown in from Berlin.
Barry Miller, Kyneton
A knee-jerk response
For every area protected by a bollard, there are a hundred others that remain open. In any case, they are irrelevant when lunatics can drive down streets or run into crowds with hand weapons. The bollards do not make me feel safer; they fill me with a sense of dread as if I were in a war zone. Worst of all, I feel spineless because we are sacrificing Melbourne's character and amenities to the terrorist threat with a knee-jerk reaction.
I am livid with anger at Victorian MPs who have resorted to "security theatre" that cannot be as effective as they claim. I understand we walk a fine line between freedom and safety, and I do not mind making sacrifices so long as they are calculated and sensible. The bollards are a failure on both counts.
Greg Keogh, Cheltenham
Convenience visits
As a GP of 30 years, I am disappointed at the predicted gloom propagated by the after-hours doctors services if Medicare item numbers are adjusted (The Age, 27/6). They do provide a good service, but patients often call them because it is convenient and marketed as "free" – when each visit actually costs taxpayers $130. Patients cannot fill scripts during the night, and there is not much treatment that can be administered at the bedside that would prevent a hospital visit – eg, pain relief, anti-vomiting drugs. The study published in the June issue of Australian Family Physician demonstrated there was no fall in emergency department attendances after the introduction of after-hours locum services, but a huge increase in billing "urgent" item numbers. There is not unlimited money in the health budget to fund convenience visits.
Dr Joe Garra, Werribee South
Street performers?
Any cyclist who can ride in traffic while using a hand-held phone does not deserve a $476 fine (27/6). They deserve a job with a circus.
Geoffrey McNaughton, Glen Huntly
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
I find it hard to believe the Liberal Party has a left-wing that Pyne is supposed to belong to.
Stephen Bickell, Mount Evelyn
Pyne apologises? What is he really up to?
Sheridan Rodgers, Berwick
A case of humble Pyne?
Harry Zable, Campbells Creek
All politicians should say sorry.
Brian Moynihan, Castlemaine
The union of "the fixer", Pyne, and "the mad monk", Abbott, is not a marriage made in heaven.
David Kerr, Geelong
Turnbull must be sorry he contributed money to save Abbott at the last election.
Colin Jones, South Melbourne
Anthony Abbott's greatest moment: knighting Prince Philip.
Bill Walker, St Andrews Beach
Can no one rid us of this meddlesome Abbott – legally?
Brian Kidd, Mount Waverley
Brandis' overhaul of the AAT? More like an overtake.
Jenny Wilkins, Ascot Vale
Richard Di Natale, I'd rather be a watermelon than a "tree-Tory".
Chris Murphy, Hurstbridge
Furthermore
Yer a bloody sassenach, Bill Freeman (29/7). Yer supposed tae hae yer porridge wi salt – nae sugar!
David Mitchell, Moe
Aveo: a foreign investor making a fortune from the life savings of elderly Australians.
Irwin Faris, Torquay
By getting rid of red tape, we have given the green light to exploitation.
Corrado Tavella, Rosslyn Park, SA
According to the census, 66.7per cent of us were born here and 26.3per cent were born overseas. This confirms that 7per cent were born under cabbage bushes.
David Jensz, Power Templestowe