The Liberal Party has become a site for sore losers
The Liberal Party would best be served by working out what it stands for, rather than trying to get a byelection in Bradfield via the Court of Disputed returns. Put another way – why would they risk another electoral defeat on their (yet to be reformed and reinvigorated) existing policies? They owe it to Australian democracy to become a credible opposition, to avoid the malaise of a one-party state. By the same token, the ALP has a once in a generation chance of embedding fair policies and legislation so that the conservatives would dare not repeal them in the future. Oh, for the likes of Robert Gordon Menzies, Ben Chifley and John Curtin to govern us all. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga
Another reason not to vote Liberal: they're sore losers. Are they hoping a court battle over one seat will distract the electorate from issues that do need attention and action? The wild weather this week is an unmissable reminder that our home planet is not happy with how we humans are treating it. Sharon Warner, North Turramurra
Why? I would have thought the Liberals would be focused on developing a candidate and policy package that would recapture those voters who have left them (like me). Instead they seem to want to keep re-running the May 3 election, with senior members speaking against gender quotas and continuing to condemn Labor's energy policies. And now they are keen to have a byelection in Bradfield. Talk about a boy thing. My ego is bruised. I am not giving in. Michael McMullan, Avoca Beach
This is the conservative way, from the Trump manual. Go to a court until you get the answer you want. Peter Bourke, Rockdale
Good luck, Sussan Ley
What self-respecting woman wishing to become an MP, even one of conservative bent, would want to join a Liberal Party in which the likes of Morrison, Abbott and Taylor wield influence (' Ley leads party that is anti-women ', July 2)? I admire Sussan Ley's political guts. Her story shows admirable aspects of character that enabled her to combat the sexual abuse she experienced and to get to the top of a menagerie of macho-macho men. I wish Sussan Ley well, yet I share Jenna Price's scepticism about how difficult it will be for her to alter or even modify ingrained attitudes of male prejudice, especially against talented women so capable of leadership roles. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne
The wives and also many daughters of stalwart male Liberal Party members drifted away from the party some decades ago when they got sick of making suppers for male-dominated branch meetings and organising Miss Young Liberal balls. Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT)
Safety in childcare
Evidence increasingly points to serious flaws in staff management in perhaps many childcare centres (' Childcare abuse claims raise tough questions ', July 2). Yet again, we must ask whether safety considerations in childcare are so important that the risks are too great when profit is the primary motivation for owning and operating a childcare centre. The current government has taken giant steps to make childcare as affordable as possible, allowing parents to be gainfully employed. However, the substantial monetary support for the sector has created a 'honey pot', seemingly attracting individuals and corporations who may not be as diligent as required in recruitment, training and supervision of staff in their centres. Recruitment of quality carers is difficult due to low wages and there is a heavy reliance on casual staff, resulting in unstable work teams. To an outside observer, the fact that the accused worker in Melbourne worked for 20 centres over eight years seems to be a red flag. As the significant funder, the federal government needs to step in and strengthen the childcare sector so that no parent will have any doubts about their child's safety. Ross Butler, Rodd Point
In addition to the trauma suffered by the families affected, who must be devastated, this will inflict damage on the whole childcare sector and those who trust and depend on it. I feel a special concern for young men who have found or aspire to a career in childcare, some of whom I know personally. I hope these criminal allegations will not be met with prejudice, stereotyping and assumptions to cast aspersions on the suitability of males to work in early childhood education and care. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills
Trump v adults
Well said, Graham Lum (Letters, July 2). His 'psychoanalysis' of Donald Trump is spot-on. In fact, I really can't understand why genuine leaders of the 'free world' persist in subjecting themselves to Trump's treachery and malevolence. I would love to see a situation where leaders of the world's major democracies send Trump 'to Coventry'; expel the US from NATO, cancel any treaties such as NAFTA and AUKUS, and announce that they will not be dictated to by Trump regarding their defence budgets. And on that subject, discontinue any defence purchases from the US. In short, treat Trump as persona non grata in world affairs. Let the adults run the show. Martyn Yeomans, Sapphire Beach
It should be trivial for Australia to get an exemption from Trump's tariffs. All we have to do is to threaten to evict American troops from Darwin. If that's not enough, add Pine Gap. That's the kind of deal that he respects. Robert Fabian, Leichhardt
Commonsense ruling
Perpetuating 'age-old tropes against Jewish people', Wissam Haddad's (' Preacher's lectures ruled to be racist ', July 2) lectures being ruled as racist by the federal court would readily resonate with broader multicultural Australia. It is reasonable to argue that hate speech breeds fear; and that fear is a big impediment to harmony and peace. This is a commonsense win against hate speeches and intolerance, which are contrary to the notion of striving to live together peacefully in modern Australia. Hats off to the court decision that is firmly in line with the majority, and reasonable, public opinion. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood
In climate war, we know the drill
How many catastrophic weather events will it take to jolt politicians into saving our planet (‴ Bomb cyclone' set to intensify, 5m people told to take shelter ', July 2)? The latest list of unseasonal and catastrophic weather reports would presumably include the 'vigorous coastal low' stretching from the Mid-North Coast to the Illawarra, the long-running toxic algal bloom killing many marine species at South Australian beaches (both events attributed to sea temperatures about 2.5 degrees warmer than usual), as well as Europe's first wildfires and lethal heatwaves of the northern summer. Inconvenient as it is, the impact of climate change is now with us every day, in every corner of the globe. Can Prime Minister Albanese please assure us that, with all the political hot air that's happening about Australia's defence expenditure, his government is still committed to the war that is happening right now, namely the war against climate change? And that, notwithstanding the government's inexplicable approval for a 45-year expansion of the North West shelf gas project – and the current review into gas market regulations – will he really deliver the promised transition to renewables, which contributed in no small way to Labor's landslide election victory in May? Rob Firth, Red Hill (ACT)
In cutting off the Australian access to satellite data on Antarctic sea ice, Trump has gone one better than shoot the messenger. It's now don't let them have a message. More seriously, this is part of a pattern of covering up the science on climate change to support the 'Drill, baby, drill' rhetoric. Steve Bright, North Avoca
I certainly do not consider myself a conspiracy theorist, but I speculate that two items have a sinister link. Trump's cutting crucial satellite data, reflecting the scale of global warming, is a predictable ploy, thereby legitimising his climate change denial. However, the reported mysterious disappearance of a satellite that monitors the highly effective greenhouse gas, methane, is simply too coincidental. Responding to Trump's 'Drill, baby, drill' imperative, oil and gas drillers will inevitably, in the process, produce considerable quantities of methane. To obfuscate this pesky problem, simply initiate the disappearance of the monitoring satellite! Roger Epps, Armidale
Trump seems determined that his ignorance should be enforced on the rest of the world. The only upside of his satellite decision is that Mar-a-Lago is only one metre above sea-level. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)
Why, other than out of spite? What is the point of the satellites being there if not for scientific research? It's not as if they need to be reserved solely for defence purposes. Defence of what? Are they needed to monitor enemy bases in Antarctica? Presumably, somebody at the Pentagon has worked out the cost of providing this data to scientists. Has anybody worked out the cost of not providing this data? David Rush, Lawson
Work-AI balance
Your correspondent (Letters, July 2) suggests that one of the upsides to AI may be reduced working hours for the workforce. This attractive idea has always been put forward as a potential positive outcome for adopting the latest technology. Unfortunately, in the real world, reduced working hours also tend to mean reduced wages, unless our generous and enlightened employers are happy to keep paying the same salaries to the workers. A wonderful idea, but probably utopian. Rob Phillips, North Epping
Worthy gambits
A correspondent recommended chess as a hobby (Letters, July 2). Given its feats in the Indian village of Marottichal, chess does indeed have masterful capacity to transform people's lives. In the 1980s, a returning former resident disrupted the village's malaise, born of communal alcohol and gambling addiction, by introducing chess. With those problems now banished, some 4500 people, or 75 per cent of its residents, including children, are proficient and passionate players. Blind resident Gowrishankar Jayaraj, a teenager who visualises the board from verbal commentary, is an emerging national prodigy, sweeping towards the realm of grandmasters. Marottichal is now known as the 'Chess Village of India'. What other pastime brings such extraordinary provenance, and is said to have belonged to all civilisations on earth, from the Chinese to the Etruscans, Persians, Egyptians and beyond to modernity? Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic)
Parkrun, a free, safe hobby, is available to all, every Saturday, around the world. You don't need to be a runner; walkers are very welcome. You can't come last (there's a volunteer 'tailwalker'), and the vibe is friendly. Andrew McDonald, Menangle
Seriously? You're just not trying if you can't find a cheap hobby. A ukulele or a harmonica only will cost about $40. Kenneth Smith, Orange
Bell ringing? Now there's an interesting hobby. Just curious, though, could you actually ring out AC/DC's Highway to Hell over the rooftops? John Swanton, Coogee
Your correspondent enumerated the joys of bell ringing but omitted its major downside. One becomes known as a campanologist. Rob Clifton-Steele, Chatswood
Pen is mightier
Your correspondent's (Letters, July 1) frustration in dealing with automatic, multi-choice telephone answering systems is shared by anyone who has ever had to deal with any kind of bureaucracy, government or business. One simple solution, at least in non-urgent situations, is to revert to pen and paper. Write a brief letter (to the CEO or department head if you're really upset). Nine times out of 10 you'll get action. Phil Rodwell, Redfern
Centre holds
The Coalition has yet to realise that Bob Hawke positioned Labor firmly as centre right – think privatisation of Qantas and Telecom, removal of protective tariffs and floating the dollar (Letters, July 2). Long term, Labor is probably more vulnerable on its left than its right.
Michael Britt, MacMasters Beach
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