The government wants more female candidates for the next federal election (“,” December 4-5). But this has little to do with respect for women’s abilities and perspectives,and more to do with finding a way to deal with the “woman problem” and to counteract the rise of strong,articulate,educated independent women (such as those being selected by the Voices movement as candidates in a number of seats). It has been reported that Scott Morrison would like Gladys Berejiklian to run in Warringah. Not only would she be parachuted in,but she has still not been cleared by the ICAC. Although she handled the pandemic in NSW very well,there are other issues related to her time in government. Undoubtedly,these would be raised in a campaign. In his desire to win the seat back,Morrison has not thought of the potential stresses the former premier might face. Rather,he is thinking only of winning the seat and is happy to use (and perhaps sacrifice) a woman to achieve that end. -Megan Jones,North Balgowlah
I cannot recall a more contemptible plan from the NSW Liberal preselectors that they are willing to nominate ex-premier Gladys Berejiklian to be their candidate for the seat of Warringah. Do they really think voters are that stupid to vote for a candidate who has a question mark over her integrity,memory and judgment? Or,is it a clever ploy to somehow influence the ICAC (not that the integrity body can be influenced) over their decision on whether Berejiklian did compromise her offices while transport minister,treasurer,and premier? I say,bring it on! Zali Steggall can be forgiven for laughing all the way to the polling booth at this nonsense. -Felix Orcullo,Wahroonga
More than words,please
I confess I am not looking for “revolutionary fervour and soaring rhetoric” in Australian politics (“”,December 4-5). I dread how such rhetoric can unhitch itself from resembling reality and morph into identity politics in the hands of the unscrupulous. If the alternative is a slightly bland set of politicians that tell me what they’re intending,have some competence in achieving outcomes for the betterment of the community and environment and recognise integrity is required in public office,then I’ll take that. As for a great set of words,I’ll turn to Shakespeare. -Marie Del Monte,Ashfield
I am looking for stability and soundly costed progressive policies rather than “revolutionary fervour” from an Albanese-led ALP. There is nothing shameless in “playing a dead bat” to counter Morrison’s penchant for prevarication and distraction. -Ron Sinclair,Windradyne
Illustration by Matt GoldingFairfax Media
I read Peter Hartcher’s piece hoping I would find a reason to reconsider my recent decision to not vote Labor this time around. For me,the final straw was reading how Labor is to dump any policy on the vehicle emissions standards. The party just doesn’t understand how the world is changing and what people want. Voters are crying out for policies that show a point of difference. We do not want a “carbon” copy of the Coalition. -Tim Douglas,Dulwich Hill
George Megalogenis’ warning about pandemics and recessions also puts us on notice that the PM is probably preparing to trumpet the old furphy that the Coalition is a better economic manager than Labor (“”,December 4-5). It is a claim not borne out by economic history and ignores the fact that the Australian economy in 2009 was the world’s best as a result of the Rudd government’s extraordinary success in managing the impact of the global financial crisis. The Morrison government’s politically slanted expenditures and record deficit suggest that the PM may find it hard going to sell the Coalition’s usual story. -James Moore,Kogarah
It seems a Coalition line from here to the election will be to beware of what Labor will do about climate policy when pressured by the Greens. I’m more worried about what the government won’t do under pressure from the Nationals. -Stephen Rayner,Westleigh
In Bingo hall patois,22 is ‘two little ducks’. No doubt,in the lead-up to the ’22 federal election,we will be treated to much quacking. The big question – to be resolved – is which of the two little ducks will end up roasted,and which will end up in charge of the duck pond. -Mark Walker,Kempsey
Trivialising aspects of abuse diminishes plight of victims
In her critique of Rachelle Miller (“”,December 4-5),Parnell Palme McGuinness is,I believe,legitimising and trivialising physical and emotional abuse. Yes,women sometimes nudge or kick men in bed to stop them snoring,but they don’t usually kick them physically out of the bed and premises with a torrent of abuse,and then maintain a pattern of bullying and coercive control,as has been alleged by Ms Miller.
Palme McGuinness also criticises Ms Miller for failing to take responsibility for a “bad decision”. My reading of Ms Miller’s statements suggest that she has accepted responsibility for her role in the affair but has pointed out that the relationship was not equal and was,at times,abusive. Sadly,many women have willingly entered a relationship that subsequently became coercive,bullying or violent.
Contrary to what Palme McGuinness asserts,most domestic abuse survivors would not be insulted by accounts of abuse that is less physically severe than they may have experienced. Rather,they would be saddened that abuse of women continues in its many forms.
In terms of being held to account,I notice Palme McGuinness feels compelled to draw upon the views of “many” other women to bolster and legitimise her own in this matter. Perhaps she too should take personal responsibility. -Penny Farnsworth,Fadden (ACT)
Palme McGuiness is correct to reframe Bridget Archer as “ballsy” in her actions pushing for a real federal ICAC. But I do not think we interpreted it as an example of “female weakness” and I disagree that it was not bullying by the Prime Minister to call her in for “a word”. Palme McGuiness then criticises the actions of Rachelle Miller in outing aspects of her relationship with Tudge. Palme McGuiness is quick to designate Miller as an equal of Tudge – albeit one with poor judgment –and therefore accountable. Again the public deserves to know about this relationship of an elected minister with a staffer,an obvious power imbalance. -Jane Lawrence,Bathurst
Thank you,Parnell Palme McGuinness,for your article. You say what should be said in this day and age. I am a mature woman who has many discussions with my daughter and granddaughter about personal responsibility. Women’s Lib only addressed the issues and didn’t really solve anything long term,as we now know. Her comment that we should “own our actions” shows strength and hopefully,in the long run,maybe accountability too,so we can be on an equal basis with all interactions. Bullies and princesses will be obsolete. -Janet Scilly,Wollstonecraft
Coalition a worthy target for scorn
Your editorial (“”,December 4-5),which offers lukewarm support of the ALP’s climate policies,only briefly mentions the real problem – Scott Morrison’s unique ability to run often mendacious scare campaigns,designed to frighten uninformed voters and ensure no meaningful policy is ever presented. Isn’t it past time that this Coalition government is properly held responsible for the fact that we have no carbon price or meaningful emissions target,no federal integrity commission,no gender equity among government MPs,no decent housing policy to ensure fair home ownership,no fast rail infrastructure to relieve pressure on major cities,no policy to arrest flatlining wages or casualisation,plus the largest budget deficit in Australia’s fiscal history and the perpetuation of unreasonable population targets that rely on importing low-skilled workers susceptible to wage theft? Instead of criticising Labor,shouldn’t the government be called out for its negative reliance on egregious scare campaigns that perpetuate crony capitalism where governments retain power by favouring corporate boosters? -Alison Stewart,Riverview
In 2014,Coalition ministers gathered around a triumphant Greg Hunt (“”,June 26,2014) as they celebrated the end of the carbon tax,which had reduced Australia’s emissions by 18 million tonnes over its two-year life. Now,as he prepares to leave Parliament,I hope the former environment minister is looking back with shame at his part in this government’s climate negligence and his personal contribution to the catastrophes that a warming climate is bringing on Australians. -Sallie Moffatt,Coledale
Pay them properly
How we treat nurses and teachers,two professions on which we all rely at different times of our lives,says it all (“”,December 4-5). According to your graphic,they are rated respectively last and second last when their salaries are compared to various other occupations. Yet we,the public,have probably contributed to this lack of support for a higher pay due to a false perception they are adequately compensated. It’s about time we listened to both teachers and nurses instead of politicians and some sections of the media as to what level of pay they need to be paid. -Con Vaitsas,Ashbury
Along with the routine high working hours and heavy workload,the professional expertise of teachers is complex and rarely acknowledged. The pandemic saw teachers left to their own devices to research,create,experiment with and deliver,online learning. Recognition of,understanding and catering to the individual needs of students is challenging in the extreme. A few extra dollars a week or 2.5 per cent for this is disrespectful. -Vanessa Tennent,Oatley
So,the number of prospective teachers admitted to education degrees with an ATAR of less than 50 has increased five-fold over the past decade. I taught for 40 years;a score below 50 means that a student has attended school,finished year 12,and shown little interest or ability in learning. This does not bode well for a successful teaching career. -Steve Ellis,Hackett (ACT)
Complacency kills
It’s concerning that a general malaise is emerging with the Omicron virus. Outright fear of COVID-19 has been replaced with a “she’ll be right mate” attitude. I’m more in the camp of the head of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyden,who says,“prepare for the worst and hope for the best”. We are on a war footing with Omicron,and the media,health officials and government all are now lulling us into a false sense of security. We can’t drop our guard now. Furthermore,we can avoid further lockdowns if we take a leaf out of Germany’s playbook and mandate vaccines. The government aims for a 95 per cent vaccination rate but close enough is not good enough. Would you bungy jump or abseil with a rope that was 95 per cent effective? -John Partridge,Balgowlah Heights
Playing hard but fair
Pat Cummins has declared his respect for former New Zealand cricket captain,Brendon McCullum (“”,,December 4-5). McCullum,a fine batsman and wicketkeeper,insisted as captain that his team play hard but fair with none of the schoolboy sledging and infantile antics that were the wont of other national teams. The New Zealand team is now reaping the benefits of playing sport in the right spirit. Our new skipper is looking in the right places. -Brian Jones,Leura
Jail no place for kids
Like Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds,I was appalled to see that a 10-year-old child is being held in the notorious Don Dale Youth Detention Centre (“”,December 4-5) but the disgrace of children,particularly First Nations children,in detention is nationwide. Attorneys-general have come up with a proposal to increase the age of criminal responsibility from the present 10 years to 12. This is not good enough. It should be at least 14 years to take it out of the earlier vulnerable years of childhood. This needs to go hand in hand with alternatives to incarceration,including youth justice conferences that allow offenders to be confronted with the consequences of their actions. -Andrew Macintosh,Cromer
Million-dollar gap
Here is a thought experiment:imagine the amount of money parents were allowed to spend on a child was capped at $1 million. That includes everything:school fees and clothes,music lessons and holidays,gifts and inheritance. Now consider how different our tax and policy settings,which are heavily influenced by people who spend a lot more than that,would be. Properly funded public schools? Fewer tax loopholes? And a housing market that is designed to help people into homes,not investments? The gap between children born into families that could never spend anything like $1 million on them,and those who win the birth lottery,is increasingly unconscionable. -Elyse Sainty,North Sydney
More time with family
If old pollies retire to spend more time with their families,does that mean new political aspirants want to spend less time with theirs? -Andrew Taubman,Queens Park
A Chant missed
Is NSW having its own Peng Shuai moment? #WhereisKerryChant? Perhaps Premier Perrottet could release an online photo of Kerry with her family at a local restaurant to assuage our concern (“,” December 4-5)? -June Scott,Beecroft
Powerless in the Shire
We’ve recently purchased our first battery EV and were planning a trip to visit family in the Shire (Sutherland Shire,but that would be a tautology). Curiously,I’ve discovered that the Shire is a no-go zone for fast EV chargers. As in none (according to PlugShare). Oh,I get it – the federal seat of Cook is the spiritual home of the weekend,boats,trailers and our PM. Seriously? -Norman Shapro,Black Head
How good is Christmas?
Australia Post is now selling postage stamps featuring Christmas Island,complete with a snorkelling Santa. Will this be the first of a detention centre series of postage stamps and is this what the PM means when he proclaims “how good is Australia”? -Di Roche,Leichhardt
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
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FromBirdman:“As a parent of three school-age children,I support the teachers’ proposed industrial action. On top of the huge workload,we are constantly shocked at the behavioural challenges that teachers these days have to manage. For that alone you should have a significant pay-rise.”