James Massola is spot-on about the negative effect of Tony Abbott becoming Liberal Party president (“Abbot’s gung-ho style risks time in the shade for Taylor”, June 2). Remember his appalling and demeaning invective as opposition leader towards Julia Gillard? Verbal pugilism. There’s no chance of encouraging more women to stand as candidates under this misogynist. Incessant criticism and negativity towards the government will not impress the electorate, nor will pandering to the “core values” of John Howard (whatever they were). Rick Smyth, Narrabundah (ACT)
James Massola asks if Angus Taylor has made a fatal mistake by elevating Abbott. The question hardly needs to be asked – he was probably the worst of many bad Liberal prime ministers. But, in fairness to Taylor, we should look at his options: Abbott or Alexander Downer. He was on a hiding to nothing. Paul Fergus, Croydon
Hoping Angus and his sidekick Tony might have noticed the immediate success of the recent budget? Home clearance rates flatlining, prices dropping and minimal incentive for investors to compete with first home buyers. Not even their preferred opening bowler, John Howard, could remove middle stump as cleanly as that. Well bowled, Albo and Jim. Peter Willis, Orange
Correspondent Rob Mills wonders what women have to say about Tony Abbott’s comeback (Letters, June 2). This woman has nothing positive to offer. His desperate efforts to remain relevant and in the public eye hold zero appeal for me. His well-documented misogynistic views have alienated many women. Apparently, I live in a pocket of hardcore Liberal supporters. When asked what they liked about Tony Abbott, they all said, “he used to come to the polling booths and shake my hand”. After being so well looked after by independents Zali Steggall and Sophie Scamps, there can’t be too many people left who would be swayed by such a move. Considering he was dismissed from his own party, it’s astonishing he has been appointed as its president. He can lead the Liberals into oblivion before he gets my vote. Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights
In response to Rob Mills, where do I start? One of many glaring contradictions is Abbott’s well-known adherence to Catholicism while also rejecting the notion of climate change. This was the subject of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si (on care for our common home), a beautiful exploration of the problems of environmental destruction and global warming, its causes and effects and what our responsibilities are. Sorry, I forgot that Abbott thinks he knows better than everyone else, even the Pope. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown
What’s wrong with choosing Tony Abbott? Liberal Party president isn’t a particularly high-profile job, so having a former frontbench MP with a lot of experience seems reasonable. Talk about identity politics. The volume of hate seems out of proportion, so how about letting the new party leaders get down to their jobs, instead of damning them before they have barely started. As for Abbott, I didn’t vote for him as PM but I didn’t like Gillard much, either. I preferred Kevin O7, but that didn’t get far. I’m just waiting to see how the present mess turns out before passing judgment. Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh
Don’t worry, Angus – here comes Tony Abbott to the rescue. Abbott, the PM who lost not only the election but his own seat. Yes, he is the man to save the Liberal Party. Dear me, I bet if the Liberals had their time over again, they’d never have turned their backs on Pauline. But who needs Pauline when you have Jacinta Nampijimpa Price to have a go at Indigenous policy and migrants? As someone born halfway through the Menzies era, I never thought I’d live to see the death of the Liberal Party. At the moment, it is like the cockroach on my bathroom floor – flat on its back with its legs flailing in the air. Another spray of Pauline should finish it off. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill
So many letters bemoaning toxic Tony’s return to the spotlight. Without repeating the many objections, all valid, I think that most missed a very sobering comment by journalist Samantha Maiden a couple of weeks back on Insiders. According to her sources, Abbott is considering a political comeback, looking at potential seats that might be up for grabs in the lead-up to the next federal election. Angus Taylor should be very afraid. As should we all. Donna Wiemann, Balmain
This week’s virulently anti-Abbott letters show only that, like Taylor, Hanson and Canavan, Abbott is seriously unpopular with hordes of Herald readers (Letters, June 1). Meanwhile, other contributors think, somehow, that Albo, Chalmers and Bowen deserve ticks of approval. I think it’s called partisan politics. Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield
I was amused to see the predictable pile-on from your correspondents after the election of Tony Abbott as Liberal Party president, a man who secured a massive 53.5 per cent of the two-party preferred (and 90 seats) in the 2013 election. Can anyone even name the ALP president at the time, and what she achieved in parliament? Mark Latchford, Seaforth
I hope your readers realise that, having mounted the throne, what Tony really wants is a seat. Tom Mangan, Woy Woy
Misogyny target
Pauline Hanson claims she is ready to serve as prime minister. Would she be subjected to the same misogyny that Julia Gillard faced as our first female prime minister? Hanson certainly lacks the education, speaking skills and diplomatic qualities shown by Julia Gillard – which ironically might make her more acceptable to the misogynists. Robyn Lewis, Raglan
Too clever by half
In his misattribution of Mark Twain’s quote to Oscar Wilde, Barnaby Joyce demonstrates the problem with One Nation: it too often runs off at the mouth having given scant regard to the facts (“Joyce thanks Labor as One Nation claims new defector” June 2). Joyce and Pauline Hanson may think their mangled syntax and garbled explanations are folksy and authentic, but under scrutiny they will reveal an inability to grasp the subtleties and nuances of the matters with which governments must deal and consequently, their utter unsuitability to the Treasury benches. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield
Barnaby Joyce referred to Oscar Wilde when he said “news of [Colin Boyce’s] defection has been greatly exaggerated”. Well, that actually refers to a quote by Mark Twain along the lines of “reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Wilde did say, however, “I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I’m saying.” Paul Hewson, Andergrove (Qld)
I suggest if he wants to borrow lines from great writers of the past, Joyce should at least get them right. Those Liberals contemplating a switch to One Nation should try this one from Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself – everyone else is already taken.” Simon Pitts, Riverview
If Barnaby Joyce thinks Labor’s budget is a gift to One Nation, the reappearance of a pugilistic Tony Abbott into the political ring may turn out to be another. But chances are that the winner of the bout will not be the party with the two-headed leadership. Sue Ellyard, Epping
Prepare for AI-pocalypse
The Monash and NAB research confirms what common sense suggests – the AI onslaught has been postponed, not cancelled (“The AI jobs apocalypse hasn’t landed in Australia – yet”, June 2). Hiring has weakened in exposed occupations. Employment growth lags in vulnerable sectors. Wages have not fallen, but the warning signs are clear. Still, I remain optimistic. Companies adopting AI already see stronger earnings. The $155 billion data centre pipeline signals serious commitment to infrastructure. History shows technological disruption creates more jobs than it destroys. The catch is distribution. Productivity gains must reach workers, not just shareholders. Some jobs will vanish, others will transform, new ones will emerge. Policymakers should abandon the pretence that markets manage this transition alone. Retraining programs matter. Wage insurance matters. Worker adaptation matters. The AI revolution is coming – the question is just whether we shape it or let it shape us. John Kempler, Rose Bay
A step forward
The reduction in house prices proves the government’s actions on negative gearing and capital gains was correct. The gap between house prices and wages had made purchases difficult or impossible. However, the government needs to go one step further. Grandfathering needs to be limited to one property, with other properties to be disposed of within 12 months to avail of previous legislation, or be covered by the new legislation. The problem with our society is that too many people want to earn income by essentially sitting back and watching inflation work for them. It is only fair that all income be fairly taxed. It is also time for banks to step forward. When rates are increased, first home owners should be allowed to extend the loan period to maintain previous payments if there is ample time to do this. Barry O’Connell, Old Toongabbie
In 1990, Paul Keating announced the economic downturn was “the recession we had to have” to deflect blame from his government’s spending and economic management. The result? Seventeen per cent interest rates and 11 per cent unemployment. History is about to repeat itself. Labor cannot control its spending. Instead of cutting this spending, it will raise revenue with CGT and negative gearing changes. The result will be pain for many as house values collapse, leading to another recession. Surely this time the moniker should be “the recession we did not have to have”? Ian Morison, Forrest (ACT)
Sold a lemon
AUKUS was sold to Australians on the basis that we would acquire a cutting-edge nuclear-powered submarine along with two second-hand vessels (“Marles flags savings on downgraded AUKUS sub”, June 1). We now learn that we will not be given a new submarine but three second-hand ones. It is akin to ordering a new 2032 Lexus and then accepting a used 2020 model instead. One can only imagine Emmanuel Macron’s schadenfreude. Salvatore Sorbello, Campsie
Not sporting
As someone whose family fled from the “Reds” more than 100 years ago, I am appalled that Russian athletes are being allowed into this country given Vladimir Putin’s current actions in Ukraine (“Canberra urged to block Russian athletes”, June 1). No matter how you spin it, we are appeasing a rapacious dictator. Any student of history can tell you where that leads. Richard Payne, Urangan (Qld)
Road to the future
Some good news at last – a shipload of 5000 Chinese-made EVs arrives in Australia (“Giant cargo of EVs a ‘turning point’ for transport”, June 1). China will dominate this market for the next 10 years, as it already does with solar and wind. Australia, with a population of 27 million, still has a long way to go. Presently, only 2.2 per cent of our road vehicles are electric. Compare this to little Norway, population 5 million, but with 30 per cent of passenger cars already electric. The longest road trip in Norway is 2800 kilometres – more than the 2500 kilometres from Brisbane to Melbourne and Adelaide. But thanks to adequate charging stations, there is no “range anxiety” there. Now, will all the whingers – Angus, Barnaby, Tony, Pauline – please stop trying to scare the horses and let commerce run its course? John MacKay, Asquith
I could not agree more with Neil Ormerod about the hypocrisy of criticising Chinese-made electric vehicles (Letters, June 2). Every time the owner of a petrol car tut-tuts me about having a Chinese EV I remind them that they source much of their petrol from Saudi Arabia, a nation that beheads people in public, murders political dissidents, denies women the right to vote and has spread jihadist ideology across the world. Chinese companies like BYD, Zeekr and Geely don’t do any of these things, they just make the products we need to fight climate change. Where’s the negative in that? Ken Enderby, Concord
Correspondent Neil Ormerod demonises the usual suspects – China, Iran and Russia. A quick look at history, however, shows that the US has started most of the wars in the past few decades. With its unflinching support for Israel, the US is also fully complicit in the wars in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran. Finally, is Cuba about to suffer the same fate as Venezuela? The US is the main cause of war in the world. John Christie, Oatley
Role model
I watched Australian Story on Monday night featuring Mohamed Semra, the Sudanese-born mayor of Maribyrnong in inner Melbourne, and I was completely blown away by this inspirational young man. If this episode was shown in our schools, it might help Australian children mature into empathetic and tolerant grown-ups. It could also educate a growing number of ignorant, racist adults about the benefits of immigration and our multicultural communities. Helen Robinson, Killcare
Good day, sunshine
It’s good to see the Beatles are still upsetting the stuffy old suit-wearing establishment 57 years after they split up. Rather than blocking it, the Beatles actually made the sun come out (“There goes the sun: Beatles museum will block daylight out”, June 2). Peter Digwood, Kings Langley
Healthy profit
Bowling clubs are struggling financially and the knee-jerk reaction is to bring in pokie machines (“How a community lost its beloved bowlo”, June 1). A smarter choice would be to install pickleball courts. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in Australia. You can fit four pickleball courts into the area of a tennis court. Pickleball courts in Darling Harbour cost $50 per hour to hire. It really is a no-brainer. Joseph Lee, Belfield
Population pause
At last, more sensible and rational prospective parents are considering their children’s future and deciding to have none (“For many it’s time to have fewer children, or none”, June 1). With so many existential threats also causing major environmental issues, a bonus is that the planet will be better off with fewer humans. Karen Joynes, Bermagui
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