Liberals squabble as ship sinks

Parnell Palme McGuinness says the Liberals are on life support (“It’s time for a deathbed conversation”, Sun-Herald, October 19). What was just a broad church has gone beyond life support. The teals have replaced the Liberal social conservatives. The Nationals have taken the right-wing rural vote. Hastie and co have siphoned off the anti-immigration, “leave the country like it was in 1950” crowd. The economic arm has discovered that a centrist Labor Party is not that bad. What remains are the dregs of various groups, more interested in being the captain of a sinking ship. I don’t think a deathbed conversation is going to prolong life. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea

Can the Liberal Party ever recover from its landslide defeat in May?Credit: nna\KCampbell

McGuinness goes to great lengths to examine the death throes of the Liberals, a party, in her own words, “on life support”, partly blaming the moderates who, by wanting to adopt a net zero by 2050 policy, “have embraced the populism they usually decry”. The problem with this assertion is that net zero, a necessary goal to combat catastrophic climate change, is hardly populism, is it? Also, “backing aspiration” isn’t, as she would have us believe, the prerogative of the Liberal Party and their supporters. The important social changes and progress made by those whose politics is further to the left (think same-sex marriage, for example) must be seen as being aspirational for a better, more just and fair society. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

The Liberal Party could certainly do with a think tank because what they have now is a stink tank, as they are certainly on the nose with the Australian public. They are an example of too many individuals rather than one solid team. RIP Liberals, you fought one fight too many. Peter Miniutti, Ashbury

Riley Brown, please remind me what Tony Abbott ever achieved that was useful for the country (Letters, October 19). Peter Kamenyitzky, Copacabana

Byron on the map

Eryk Bagshaw writes Byron Bay has been a “tourist hotspot” since the 1890s (“Justin Hemmes wants to conquer Byron Bay. A primary school is in his way”, October 19). I grew up in a country town about 80 kilometres from Byron Bay. During my childhood in the 1950s, the only tourist attraction in Byron Bay was the slaughtering of whales. Our family of seven would pile into the Kombi as soon as word got around the bush telegraph that a whale was being slaughtered and off we would head to Byron Bay to watch and smell the blood of whales being spilled. Little did we know that one day all would be forgotten and forgiven and that Byron Bay would be much prized by the rich and famous. Helen Russell, Leichhardt

How wonderful that Justin Hemmes is declaring his love for Byron Bay and its community. Are the good burghers of Narooma aware of this new north coast romance? He has invested heavily there and changed the face of hospitality in that beautiful South Coast town. What a shame the man-bunned, Birkenstock-wearing restaurateur cannot develop such an affinity with western NSW. Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke and Lightning Ridge would welcome soy latte or almond mocha, a plate of smashed avocado and feta on sourdough served with some juicy eastern suburbs gossip. Peter Snowden, Hawks Nest

Iemma’s call to action

In the midst of a housing crisis, I don’t know why Morris Iemma’s meetings with the premier or ministers, disclosed or not, is a big deal (“How Morris Iemma opens doors for Sydney property developers”, October 19). We need leaders, politicians or businesses to drive the building of houses expeditiously. Providing more homes has been a talkfest for years, but we need urgent action by any means. Former premiers and ministers from both sides have been involved in several businesses and lobbying on behalf of their clients. It is nothing unusual and Iemma is not doing anything wrong. If he can get thousands of homes built in the next two years, he should get a gong. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

The next time the Minns government boasts about its determination to urgently solve the housing crisis, everyone in NSW struggling to rent or buy a home might reasonably ask how exempting any developer from a rule to prevent a significant loss of existing dwellings can possibly be consistent with that commitment. Ross Duncan, Potts Point

Like so many ex-politicians of all persuasions before him, Morris Iemma has taken to the well-trodden road of self-enrichment by selling his political connections to the highest bidder. While not illegal, it’s no wonder people are increasingly losing their faith in politicians and the system. If only they would take a leaf out of Julia Gillard’s book and keep a low profile after politics. Paul Duncan, Leura

Running wild

Footage of sections of the crowd on Everest Day at Randwick doing their best to replicate the behaviour and crude language of the worst-ever Year 12 farewell after-party didn’t make me yearn to be young again, it made me cringe with embarrassment at what major raceday carnivals have become (“V’landys looks at next step after Everest proves a bonanza”, October 19). With zero interest in the horses or in horseracing itself, people’s focus has shifted to seeing and being seen so that innumerable posts can be uploaded onto social media, and inexplicably, to booing the best horse in the race and arguably in the world. George Zivkovic, Northmead

I’d wager that those ladies attending the Everest at Royal Randwick did not get too far in those shoes. Ouch! Kath Maher, Lidcombe

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