Don't blame the system, just offer more to voters

Sydney Morning Herald

23-05-2025

Shane Wright makes a valid point (' Politicians take note: Australians can't stand sore losers ', May 23), that those who whine about our fair preferential voting system are those who feel their preferred candidate might not hold the endearment of the majority of people in their electorate. Not only is the system a better reflection of the overall wishes of each community, but, in seats like Bradfield, it makes for exciting suspense. Donald Hawes, Peel
Well said, Shane Wright. Many 'sore losers' believe preferential voting was to blame. What nonsense. The electorate had its say and it clearly endorsed Labor's policies and voted accordingly. Our democracy may not be perfect but it's certainly fair and it has stood the test of time. The losers should look beyond the voting system and offer voters better alternatives if they, once again, wish to be winners. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach
Australia's voting system ensures a full democracy. To tamper with preferential voting in anger would be a Trumpian disregard for the election results. A Menzies conservative coalition would respect and protect the institution. The elements of our democracy are extremely fragile when they are at the whim of political self-interest. We must stridently protect democratic integrity. The depth of choice in preferential voting reflects the depth of Australian culture. Anne Eagar, Epping
The reason for the truckload of sour grapes and conspiracy theories being dumped post-election is that there's a strong born-to-rule sense among conservatives that they are 'the natural party of government'. It is this entitled failure of humility, breeding complacency and hubris that will keep them from government. No one is entitled to govern; it must be earned by banishing stubbornly outdated policies and actually listening to voters. Accept that Labor won in a landslide and move on. Alison Stewart, Riverview
Thank you, Shane Wright, Australians don't like sore losers. Preferential voting has worked in this country for more than 100 years. Politicians and their supporters who question its value for achieving the best results only need look in the mirror for someone to blame. When you're out of touch, it is usually reflected in the results. Reflect on that. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Of course, winners are grinners. Losing is part of life. Some of us 'can't accept that voters didn't see the world through their prism'. The losers in Australia are the slow action on climate change, victims of domestic violence and the homeless. We hope policies will improve life for them and the environment. When playing sport or cheering for your team, winning is joyful and you are on a high. Losing, you shrug your shoulders, learn a little and try better next time. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong
I was not very surprised that after the reversals of the federal election, the Liberal and National Party Coalition agreement has broken down. Such things are historically predictable. For example, the leaders of the famous Burke and Wills expedition, finding themselves lost in the uncharted wilderness and with irretrievable but unexplainable differences, also decided that it would be better for their parties to split up and go their own ways. Now how did that end? Garry Dalrymple, Earlwood
Ley the lone adult
After taking his bat and going home, David Littleproud has come back with his bat and he has asked if he can still play (' Heat on Littleproud after Coalition U-turn ', May 23). Just like a spoilt child, who used to be pampered, for him, by Peter Dutton, he tried to stamp his feet but only got sore feet. Sussan Ley looks like the only adult in the room. How can this rabble have ever expected to be our next government? I think Ley should take her time and follow her instincts that the Liberals need to reform and be a centralist party. That is its only future. It's time to jettison the Nationals dinosaur unless they agree to reformation too. Don't hold your breath. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle
It made me laugh reading that David Littleproud was planning to shift people from the Nationals' 'front bench to their back bench'. Were they going to call themselves the opposition to the opposition, or opposition lite? Bridget McKenzie's coyness on ABC TV's 7.30; the party's continued obstruction to climate mitigation and decarbonisation in the face of constant 'unprecedented' extreme weather events; and its constant U-turns have left them with very little to be proud of. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
David Littleproud needs to live up to his name and swallow his personal pride and return the Coalition to at least the semblance of an effective opposition. A government is only as good as an opposition that is able to keep it on its toes. As two separate parties, the Nats and the Libs have little hope. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill
Can it be that the Labor Party is about to have its early Christmas present removed ? Whatever the outcome of the next round of 'will we join them, will we leave them?', the question of coalition unity has been trashed and no amount of reassurance from them will eliminate the feeling that what they are presenting is a facade. Lyn Savage, Coogee
Based on media reports this week, David Littleproud has little to be proud of. In stark contrast are the glowing remarks by Sussan Ley's colleagues of what a wonderful and remarkable woman she is. A role model for young women, no less, and with an amazing background. Which reminded me of her remarkable, but far less impressive, conduct as Scott Morrison's environment minister. In the Federal Court, her lawyers downed a group of teenagers and a nun to assert that the government owed no duty of care to them or their futures. With the decision her way, she approved another coal mine and took no responsibility for addressing the catastrophe that is facing us with rapid climate change. When travelling to the people, to listen to them, to have multiple conversations with them, care must be taken to avoid intermingling expenses for public service with private interests. Howard Charles, Annandale
If the Coalition is sort of back on, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price did not get the deputy job in the Liberal Party, will she jump back to the Nationals? She might be after David Littleproud's job. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea
I read that one of the non-negotiables for the National Party is a guarantee for phone and internet access in the bush. A case of 'Farmer Wants a Wi-Fi', perhaps? Graham Fazio, Cootamundra
Stop posing and act
While the Nationals argue with the Liberals, the Mid North Coast of NSW is flooded and there have been some deaths (Letters, May 23). Why isn't Littleproud on the ground with all the Nationals voted in around that area instead of 'posing' on TV and carrying on with the Liberals? Get out there and support the unfortunate people who voted for your party. Ken Pares, Forster
Waiting at the station
Could your correspondent (Letters, May 23) please describe a train, and do they still have steam engines? I have been waiting on the planned Narrabeen Station platform since premier Robert Askin promised a rail line to the northern beaches in the 1960s. I have been expecting my train to come for 55-plus years, but some ungrateful commuters whinge about a few hours. Gavin Williamson, Narrabeen
Jaundiced view of terrific terrace
Sydney often claims to be a multicultural international city, except apparently when it comes to paint (' Council sees red over yellow paint ', May 23). This authority that councils everywhere have given themselves to direct what colour a property may be painted is patently big brother authoritarianism. Let the colour, vibrancy and light shine, and allow an owner to paint their property as they see fit. Matthew Boylan, Leichhardt
With so much bleak news, and bleak weather, how Grinch-like is Woollahra Council to put the kybosh on Michael Fegent's attempt to let a little sunshine into our lives by painting his restaurant such a cheerful yellow. And, incidentally, highlighting all that building's lovely heritage features. Anne Ring, Coogee
I am shocked at council's decision to disallow bright yellow on one of our best restaurants. I used to live in Avalon, a stone's throw from where Sali Herman, a well-respected Australian artist who brought Paddington to the notice of the masses with his paintings of the suburb's wonderful terraces of many colours. As we socialised with the Hermans, I now have a collection of his Christmas cards displaying his works. I am willing to provide these to council's heritage officers to demonstrate that bright colours, including yellow, have always been a historical part of Paddington heritage. Perhaps the only colour that should be allowed is the current fad of soot black, harking back to the burning of coal and coke in the times when Paddo was considered a slum. Robert Hosking, Paddington
Woollahra Council would go berserk if they dropped in on the island of Burano in the Venetian lagoon, where the brightly coloured houses are a major tourist attraction. Joan Brown, Orange
The picture of the Five Ways terrace painted vibrant yellow that so offends Woollahra Council shows it bracketed by two drab terraces, which are apparently the council's preferred standard. Allen Greer, Sydney
How jolly that terrace looks in its bright yellow skin. One would hope others would get the idea and move from so-called 'good taste', aka dreary conformism, to a fun and lively look. What a bunch of negative Nigels and Nancys the council is. Let councils focus on things such as high-rise overshadowing, green spaces, traffic management, parking and the public amenity. Tom Mangan, Woy Woy Bay
Hardly enhancing
The 'enhanced' games are not only unfair to clean athletes, but they attract publicity that is likely to encourage copycat behaviour (' Pioneering? No, it's cheating and it's dangerous ', May 23). This news is devastating. 'Roid rage is common and does increase violence against women as it's generally the insecure blokes who use intramuscular testosterone and now peptides. These same men then lose it under stress, so the partner wears the anger. Between artificial intelligence and modern psychedelic experimentation, the young folk will have their hands full. Or will these prove advantageous? It seems like too much for immature brains. Ashley Berry, Wollongong
Concerns for enhanced athletes such as James Magnussen are well founded, even under medical supervision. But the real concerns are for our young and middle-aged men, in particular, without medical supervision, who train daily while taking products to enhance their performance. As a mother, I can remind my adult children of my concerns, but fail in making any difference. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
Dear James (Magnussen), having a hit of heroin or smoking a joint may make me 'the happiest I've been in seven years', but it still doesn't make it good for my health. Nick Walker, Springwood
Fitz: I couldn't agree more. The likening of James Magnussen's steroid-fuelled ventures to that of OnlyFans is chilling. Sad, sordid unreality in action. What kind of society have we become? Judy Finch, Taree
To counter the Enhanced Games, could we also have a Lazy and Fat Games? Instead of training and taking drugs, you would have to prove you have done no training for a minimum of one year, have a really bad diet, drink a lot of beer and be at least 20 per cent overweight. Mark Anderson, Coogee
Dumping to dumping
The amount of rain and the speed and height of the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter floods are terrifying and hard to imagine (' More rain on way amid flood disaster ', May 23), especially when there is a record drought down south. As the chief executive of Natural Hazards Research Australia, Andrew Gissing, said: 'A warmer atmosphere holds more water, leading to a greater likelihood of intense flood-causing downpours' and people are in 'a constant state of disaster recovery under climate change'. Recent ocean temperature maps show that unseasonably warm waters off the coast of NSW point to the problem. As David Attenborough said at the end of his latest film, Ocean, 'If we save the sea, we save the planet'. It's unfair that ordinary people through no fault of their own are suffering like this. It's time to stop dumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and eventually the oceans. The big polluters should be paying for the damage they cause via a carbon levy, as Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims have suggested. The Labor government has the mandate to act. Ray Peck, Hawthorn (Vic)
It is moments like these days of rain that make you realise how out-of-touch with equality we have become. The homeless are living tough with no fault of their own, while others can purchase a house costing millions. It is a sad, sorry place we have arrived at. Zuzu Burford, Heathcote
While bouquets are being given, and rightfully so, for the many fantastic efforts and contributions in relation to this week's NSW flood disaster, let's throw a few brickbats at our enabling state legislators. The latter are seemingly steadfast in failing to ensure our state has fit-for-purpose planning and environment laws for new housing developments that would seek to minimise risk to life and limb. With apologies to the late Professor Julius Sumner Miller, why is that so? Col Shephard, Yamba
The wrong stuff
If it's rejection you want (Letters, May 23), try publishing poetry. Keith Russell, Mayfield West
Postscript
So, the election has been and gone, the results are almost in, the corflutes have been struck, the Liberal Party has sobbed in fury and found a new leader, what could be left? Funny that you should ask. This week, the Coalition suddenly de-coalesced, leaving both sides composing their stiff upper lips and being terribly brave about an unfortunate situation.
The letters writers, if no one else, enjoyed this hugely. Many thought this was a wonderful opportunity for the Liberals to renew, reform and repower, to cast off the chains of the Nationals and move to a future without that annoying assumption of being the natural party of government. However, no one could see anything good for the Nationals. Without the Liberals, are they just going to wander in their rural wilderness until they disappear, or join another party for strength?
In the middle of this was the great Sydney train breakdown, after a live wire fell onto a train on Tuesday, causing waves of disaster to flow out through almost the whole system. The echoes sloshed on for the rest of the week, in the pouring rain, and the people taking hours to get home were not happy. Neither were ride-share drivers after the biggest company put a cap on push pricing.
The letter writers were not finished with the Nationals, however. As the floodwaters rose on the Mid North Coast, writers were pointing out that a party that does not accept climate change is on a hiding to nothing. Then breaking news came that the parties may come back together again, after all. This caused more laughter and mockery.
The lighter side of the week was discussion about Anthony Albanese's hat, worn to the Pope's inauguration, much of which was held outside in the rapidly warming Roman spring. Opinions were sharply divided, though strongly in favour of the titfer as being both sensible and appropriate (and, anyway, you should have seen what the clergy were wearing!). The few naysayers thought it was cringeworthy. Sometimes, it seems, you can win an election but not every heart and mind.
Harriet Veitch, Acting letters editor