Albanese’s success in America exposes Coalition’s lack of ideas

1 month ago 6

The prime minister might not have the charisma of former leaders such as Robert Menzies and Bob Hawke but, with his signing of the critical minerals deal and the progressing of AUKUS during his visit to the White House, he gets the job done as well as any (“Inside Albanese’s extremely successful Trump meeting”, October 21). Without being sycophantic, he has been able to get along fine with the unpredictable Donald Trump, strengthening our vitally important bonds with the USA. This is especially so in respect of crucial issues such as the threat China poses with its menacing actions in our region (“China hits back at Australia over ‘provocative’ air incident”, October 21). So, well done, Albo. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne

Almost a year in the making, Albanese and Trump met at the White House.

It’s really time for Sky News and the Coalition to let it go – all the faux outrage and pettiness about Kevin Rudd and Anthony Albanese’s successful visit to Washington is a bad look. Did they not read the bit where Donald Trump made up with Rudd after their awkward meeting (“Trump tells Rudd all is forgiven”, October 21)? Or how much he liked the prime minister, especially because he “doesn’t play games” (“Inside Albanese’s extremely successful Trump meeting”, October 21). Now there’s a hint. Australia is doing well on the world stage. Be happy about it. Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill

The conventions of diplomacy probably required Anthony Albanese’s invitation for the US president to visit Australia, but Trump would be well advised to decline. When President Lyndon Johnson came here in 1966, he was met with concerted anti-war protests that included demonstrators throwing paint and lying on the road to block his motorcade. Were Trump to come, he should expect levels of protest that would make the recent “No Kings” marches in America look positively docile. David Salter, Hunters Hill

Clutching at straws

Jonno Duniam, the opposition spokesman on home affairs, lamented the comments President Trump made to Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd during a press gathering at the White House (“Trump-Rudd exchange ‘excruciating’, says Duniam”, October 21). Wouldn’t you know it, an opposition person who could have praised the progress on AUKUS and the rare earth minerals agreement, took a negative approach to a meeting that Rudd engineered. But Duniam jumped the gun and looks silly because Trump is reported to have “forgiven” Rudd for past criticism. Could it be that Trump actually approved of Rudd’s hard work in setting up the meeting, and that it couldn’t have gone better? Yet again, the opposition seizes on the negative instead of the obvious positives in what were difficult circumstances. If this was the only comment the Coalition could come up with, it’s clearly not a credible alternative to the Labor government. William Tuck, Mosman

In typical fashion, the federal opposition glosses over the clear successes of Albanese’s visit to Washington and concentrates on the “awkward” Rudd moment. Egged on by the right-wing media, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has sensationalised the incident into a call for Rudd’s resignation as our US ambassador. Different leader, same old negativity. Rob Phillips, North Epping

Thank goodness Sussan Ley is not our PM after her comments about removing Kevin Rudd as US ambassador. Playing fool to Trump’s Lear, she would surrender our choice of ambassador in an attempt to assuage the US president’s petty grudges. We have done well to not kow-tow and second-guess what will make Trump look on us favourably – and that is the correct way to deal with a bully. Dale Bailey, St Leonards

Most adults would see Donald Trump’s outburst at Kevin Rudd as childish behaviour. For Australians who are committed to our alliance with America, he is like the relative you can’t not invite to family gatherings, but who you know is going to make everyone cringe with their rude and boorish behaviour. Terry Goulden, Wentworth Falls

Putin’s pal

Donald Trump’s proposal for ending Russia’s war with Ukraine is for each side to stop fighting and for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia (“Trump suggests leaving most of Ukraine’s Donbas in Russian hands”, October 21). This solution ignores the fact that Ukraine was a peaceful, democratic nation that was invaded by Russia, and rewards the aggressor in what is tantamount to appeasement. We all know how this played out with a certain other aggressor before World War II. Trump could supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles and change the course of the war, but I guess he does not want to jeopardise his relationship with his pal Putin. Leo Sorbello, Leichhardt

The US Navy launches a Tomahawk cruise missile.

I nearly choked on my porridge when I saw the letter from Mergen Mongush of Moscow (Letters, October 20). Is this the first time in recent years that the Australian mainstream press has allowed a Russian opinion to explain a general difference between the “west” and the “east”? More balanced reporting and less from Cold War warrior journalists would put that avoidable disaster in Ukraine into better perspective. Patricia Novikoff, Collaroy

Wisdom before beauty

In a beauty contest between presidents Xi and Trump, as Peter Hartcher writes, only one might prevail (“Pivotal moment for Xi, and China”, October 21). But, in a world that doesn’t have the resources to sustain us all, there can be no winners if they go to war to prove who is the fairest of them all. Perhaps instead we should encourage them to show us which of them is wiser. Ian Bowie, Bowral

Indies rock

Much is made of the financial war chests provided to independent candidates by Climate 200 in this year’s federal election (“The independents who raised the most money at the election”, October 21). But let’s not overlook the most vital of statistics – 33,000 concerned citizens donated to Climate 200 in 2025, up from 11,000 during the 2022 election. The real power of the independents lies in their volunteer army of foot soldiers, not just their war chest. It’s about community, real representation and hope. Climate 200’s fund-raising arm gives independents the resources to stand up to the big party machines and makes it possible for ordinary Australians like me to be part of an ever-growing movement making positive change. Joy Nason, Mona Vale

Independents offer voters the chance to make positive change.

How can it be in Australia’s supposedly transparent democracy that independent candidates are held to account over the provenance of their donations and the major parties are not? On Monday, the AEC released all the dollar amounts raised by independents and teals, but nothing for Labor and the Coalition. Even when their donation figures are finally released next February, there will be no visibility as to how much they spend on each electorate – they presumably spent significant sums trying to save Peter Dutton and other key players at risk. Nor will we see revenue figures from their other fundraising activities such as expensive tickets to dinners, where individuals with a barrow to push can sit with our nation’s decision-makers. Amanda Durack, Mosman

Hospital malaise

Thank you, Marie Healy, for telling it as it is (“My sister and I witnessed care collapse at a public hospital”, October 21). Over decades, the resources at public hospitals have shrunk as the population grows. We are in a dangerous position now in healthcare, risking lives with no extra capacity for disasters that may come. My admiration for staff in this situation is huge, yet they face burnout. We need more nursing staff with time to nurse, as well as enough beds and doctors to keep the public hospital system working safely. Please. Dr Catherine Errey, Mortdale

I despair after reading the opinion piece by Marie Healy about the state of our healthcare system. I’m a registered nurse who has been out of the public hospital system “for too long” to be considered for any role. The exception is if there’s another pandemic, in which case they will willingly take me temporarily to roll out a vaccine because I have my vaccination certificate. Perhaps NSW Health needs to consider doing another campaign and spending the money on retraining nurses, rather than paying expensive agencies to staff our hospitals. Pauline Byrne, Longueville

Marie Healy’s sister experienced kindly but fragmented care, previously called task-oriented care, where there was a nurse for wounds, another for medications and another for personal care. Less fragmentation and more personal attention might flow if a nurse were allocated to a number of patients for total care. Personal care and comfort is a basic nursing role, and we need to support our nurses in providing it. But it’s the same old story – we just don’t employ enough of these dedicated men and women to cope with the demand. Anne Eagar, Epping

I feel great pity for patients who do not have a family member to advocate on their behalf. They sometimes lie on a trolley for hours with no pain relief, struggle to reach a bottle to urinate in, or even to open their tightly sealed meals. What vulnerable people in hospital need, apart from medical treatment, is some gentle kindness and reassurance that their human needs will also be taken care of. Nursing and medical degrees have come a long way educating trainees in treating the whole person, but there is still a long way to go. Patients should not have to rely on the kindness of other patients and family to survive a hospital stay. Irene Nemes, Rose Bay

The public hospital system is in desperate need of more funding.

I was horrified by Dr Healy’s rather shocking description of the Sydney hospital her sister was admitted to. But what also struck me was the absence of any anger, or abuse, directed towards anyone, rather, a loving but sad revelation of her sister’s suffering owing to the inadequacies of our health system. June Zentveld, Newrybar

Cost to mothers

On reading your article (“Breakthrough in cancer protection”, October 21) and the early version of the Nature journal article, the focus is on lactation-associated mammary gland remodelling and immune cell-mediated protection against certain types of breast cancer, which is potentially profoundly important for developing future treatments. However, the paper doesn’t report specifically on age of first pregnancy and lactation, which has been considered important, specifically that protection seems conferred if this occurs before the age of 30. If these findings are augmented by breastfeeding, usually for at least six months, this has important implications in today’s realities, with countless women having no choice but to return to work postnatally within time frames that truncate these reported protections. Just another negative impact of our unaffordable housing disgrace and the associated cost-of-living pressures. Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville

Vexed by vaccines

It is worrying to read the statistics for the rising number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases (“Anti-vaxing fuels flu surge, GPs say”, October 21). As an ardent supporter of vaccination, I was surprised to learn that the cost of the RSV vaccine, which is recommended for high-risk groups including older adults and pregnant women, can range from $120 to more than $300 if you don’t qualify for the free program. Although we are being encouraged to get vaccinated, this price tag is well above the means of many. Without change, RSV will continue to flourish. Robyn Lewis, Raglan

Checks and balances

While reading of the extraordinary behaviour of Helmy et al in the ICAC investigation (“NSW official took bundles of cash totalling $686,000”, October 21), what is not reported is how the systems of checks and balances within the Transport for NSW bureaucracy can allow this to occur, and for so long. In most well-run institutions procurement staff are internally relocated regularly to prevent corruption taking hold. Management clearly has a case to answer here. Bruce Hall, Avalon

Ditch developers

While it may be true that some councils are holding back development (“Councils must stop holding back development” 20 October), there are other factors at play. Major developers’ annual financial reports document how they “land-bank” to maximise revenue (profit). If governments at federal, state or local level want more housing, they need to become developers themselves and build the new developments where and when they want, instead of where and when developers want. Peter Marshall, Captains Flat

Wild ride

It is apt that our ferry called Narrabeen is named after the beach where Australian surfing became world-famous (“From scrap heap to a fresh start for large Manly ferries”, October 20). In the historic big swell of 1987, it was hard to starboard at the heads, bow on to break through three 40-foot peaks covered in spray, tilted almost vertically, then hard to port with engines screaming, picking up a towering swell and surfing it into Manly. All the while I was sitting alone outside on the very back seat looking up at the huge walls of water which for all the kilometre-plus ride looked about to engulf us. Cowabunga! Andrew Cohen, Glebe

The Narrabeen in dry dock for maintenance earlier this year.

Darwin’s note

Thank you, Bradley Wynne, for reminding us of Charles Darwin’s visit to Sydney in 1836 (Letters, October 21). As a former keen bush walker I always enjoyed doing “Darwins Walk” from Wentworth Falls village to the falls. Darwin did the walk, admired the Jamison Valley and noted that the area “was well worth visiting”. That’s still true. John Crowe, Cherrybrook

Purple reign

Alan Rosedale wonders where the jacaranda flowers are this year (Letters, October 21). If this had happened in my day, thousands of university students would have no idea when to start studying for their exams. In the 1970s, word had it that if you weren’t already deep in your books by the time the blooms appeared, it was too late to bother. Phil Armour, Yass

If I can add to Alan Rosendale’s observations about jacarandas, my Christmas bush is flowering so early now that its blooms have faded and been eaten by cockies weeks before the festive season starts. Nature responding to climate change? Gordon Lambert, Kiama Downs

The non-flowering of jacarandas? My wife would say there’s a man around who has no idea when to prune. Brian Jones, Leura

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