Price’s attention-seeking has no place in Australia’s politics

Better to axe Jacinta Nampijinpa Price entirely from the Liberal Party, as the last thing this country needs is more MAGA mendacity (“Ley had no choice, but sacking may cost her”, September 11). If only this belated step heralded the demise of a deeply divisive politician. It should, with backers such as Tony Abbott, himself roundly rejected by the electorate. But doubtless we will be subjected to pages of coverage as Price, elected with a mere handful of votes, will now toss her hand grenades from the backbench. Perhaps the best way to deal with her is to ignore her. Leave her and her hateful commentary to late-night fringe interviews. Alison Stewart, Riverview

Price may well be the “darling” of a certain cohort of grey hairs, but to this grey hair she equates with less of a darling and more of a dead weight, not only to the Liberal Party but to politics in general in this country. Spruiking what she likes, when she likes; abandoning all vestiges of intelligence, commonsense and diplomacy; providing no creative or meaningful policy ideas, other than words designed to divert attention from the substantive issues of the day: these are her stock-in-trade. It’s anathema for the country that will, hopefully, see her voted out of office altogether. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is finding that Trump-style politics does not go down that well in Australia. Facts continue to matter. The irony is that Trump would take one look at her and declare her a DEI hire. Neil Ormerod, Kingsgrove

The Price is wrong. Bill Forbes, Medowie

Senator Price is good entertainment, for those who like that sort of thing, and, over the years, conservative politics has seen plenty of sideshow acts. But they can never be the basis of a political party that is serious about wanting long-term power. Big donors might have affection for Price, but it would be a mistake to confuse that with her capacity to be part of serious politics. Joe Weller, Mittagong

Senator Price is proving too costly for the Coalition. Goes to show you how “unrepresentative” the Senate really is. It brings to mind Paul Keating’s comment. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

Senator Price meant what she said, which is a window to her character and genuine beliefs. A subsequent apology is meaningless, no matter how sincerely delivered. You can’t put the genie back in the bottle, and that dreadful excuse of “I mis-spoke” doesn’t work either. Price, I suspect, has engineered her own sacking so she can join the band of Ley leadership destabilisers. Like Abbott, Joyce and Dutton before her, she only knows what she doesn’t want, which leaves a leadership vacuum if people like that get into government. Peter Kamenyitzky, Castle Hill

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says she will continue to speak out against mass migration. Pauline Hanson said the same thing. Hanson is all but forgotten. Let us hope that Price’s bleatings from the bottom of the dustbin will also go unheard. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill

Unfortunately for the Liberal Party, an apology to the Indian community following Price’s negative comments won’t heal the hurt of racism that was hinted at. I can assure the Liberals that it takes time, and that even by the next election, due in 2028, it might not be time enough to win over the Indian community’s confidence. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury

This Price episode has been an interesting case study in her political immaturity. Price claims that Kos Samaras said 85 per cent of Indian Australians voted ALP instead of Coalition (as they once did) because they perceive the Coalition to be racist. Price’s own-goal action has proved them correct, and now the other 15 per cent know as well. Leo Sullivan, Haberfield

At last, some good news. Vicky Marquis, Glebe

If anyone could give Jacinta Nampijinpa Price a masterclass on how to inflict maximum damage from the backbench it would be Tony Abbott (“Senator pays the Price over Indian migrant comments”, September 11). Watch your back, Sussan. Julie Robinson, Cardiff

With friends like this …

The US knew Israel was going to attack a key US ally and did nothing to prevent it, nor warn that ally (“Israel blows up peace talks, makes mess for US”, September 11)? Then it issues a limp “unfortunate” muttering that means nothing. We call ourselves a US ally. It tells us that we are a key one. We are paying billions for the privilege – submarines and tariffs, etc – yet our PM keeps getting snubbed, our PBS is under attack, our environmental prudence and social media governance likewise, the list goes on. Actions speak louder than words. Being an ally means something different to us than it does to the US. We are wise to keep building alternative alliances.Mark Sapsford, North Turramurra

The fact that Israel has once again violated international law with its attack in the sovereign state of Qatar is hardly newsworthy. Since when did Netanyahu’s far-right government abide by international or humanitarian law? Israel’s supreme arrogance stems from its ability, with Trump’s absolute, endless and even reluctant support, to act with impunity. As a result, it has become an out-of-control, rogue state and a threat to world peace. Bernard Moylan, Bronte

Despite President Trump’s best efforts, he seems to have made a poor choice in backing Israel come what may. Thursday’s cartoon by Cathy Wilcox really said it all. Any excuse to bomb other countries as long as it keeps Netanyahu out of jail. What will you do to save the world, Donald? Nola Tucker, Kiama

Justice v revenge

Our exceptional police have once again thought and planned, searched and found. Australian criminals and overseas interferers have their fingers in many of the reprehensible attacks on Jewish people and property (“Two arrests over antisemitic attacks”, September 11). Antisemitism is evil, and its presence in Australia must be actively resisted. However, it is not antisemitic to denounce the actions of the current Israeli government against the Palestinian people. Equating antisemitism with such opposition is an insult to the great majority of people in the world who are not antisemitic, but who can distinguish truth from lies, justice from revenge and the essential remembrance of a past genocide from a present murderous land and power grab. Sister Susan Connelly, Croydon

Cracking the formula

UNICEF’s warning (“UN’s warning over child obesity”, September 11) that Australia’s food and beverage legislation is “failing to protect children from … aggressively marketed products” is timely. I hope, as a retired health professional, that the new legislation will include expensive toddler formula in its review. The World Health Organisation stated in 2013 that formula for toddlers is “highly processed and unnecessary”. As Professor Louise Baur, a child and adolescent health expert at the University of Sydney and former president of the World Obesity Collective, notes in the article: “It is not about … parental choices” but governments “protecting children”. This review will, by necessity, be targeting an influential multimillion-dollar industry – but a glass of water is free and more nutritional. Joy Heads, Wollstonecraft

Gun-barrel democracy lives on

Commenting on the shooting of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk (‴⁣⁣Charlie Kirk is dead’: Prominent MAGA activist assassinated in university shooting”, smh.com.au, September 11), former US president Joe Biden said, “There is no place in our country for this kind of violence”. If only this were the case. Sadly, American society and its politics have long been characterised by exactly that “kind of violence”. Prime Minister Albanese has also at various times declared there is no place for violence, extremist violence, antisemitism, hatred or discrimination in Australia. Such pronouncements have become meaningless cliches. Let’s be honest and admit to the grim place that social problems have found in our society – and instead of offering thoughts and prayers, as is often the case, let’s look at reality and seek long-term solutions. Irene Buckler, Glenwood

Jamie Raskin, a member of the US House of Representatives, was asked recently what the US needed. It turns out that we in Australia already have what Raskin wished for: a social contract. Here in Australia, we honour our social contract through the ballot box. In America, the citizens have just seen a political assassin use a gun as a Conservative “silencer”. America may well be losing its democracy, but its Second Amendment rights have already cost the people the privilege of being called an enlightened civilisation. Trevor Somerville, Illawong

Charlie Kirk’s final words included blaming transgender people for the majority of mass shootings in the US. “Thoughts and Prayers.” Grahame Marks, Manly

Koala comforts

Amid all the depressing news in the world these days, I was moved to tears by the beautiful story of the University of the Sunshine Coast developing a vaccine for chlamydia, a disease that has brought so much destruction to our koala population (“Koala chlamydia vaccine is ready to remedy”, September 11). It is a triumph for the university and for federal investment in the Saving Koalas Fund. Along with the declaration of the protected koala sanctuary on the North Coast, it has been a good week for koalas. Toni Lorentzen, Fennell Bay

An image keeps surfacing in my mind of anti-vax koalas taking to the streets with banners held aloft with the war cry ringing through the air “No more mandates”. This would be particularly so if those conspiracy theory koalas come from the North Coast. Denis Hannigan, Toowoon Bay

Tracking west, please!

Several critical devils in the detail are hidden with the possible new rail plans (“Secret rail update plans”, September 11). T3 Inner West Line: Liverpool via Regents Park services are being cut to just a shuttle between Liverpool and Lidcombe. Former Sydney rail executives including Ron Christie warned in 2015 that 19,000 commuters in the west of Bankstown would be cut off from Sydney without a direct train to the City Circle through Lidcombe. Transport for NSW is also disrespecting the recommendation from the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the Sydenham-Bankstown line conversion (2019) that all stations west of Bankstown be provided with a direct train to the City Circle via Lidcombe. This is far from a plan for new services, but a renewed attack on south-west Sydney, with the closure of Birrong and Yagoona stations, along with the removal of direct services to the city from Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood and Carramar. Residents near the nine stations west of Bankstown have fought to keep the stations open for the past 12 years, and the NSW government can expect a fight if it proceeds with derailing our services. The proposed conversion of the Cumberland Line into a three-carriage Metro (unlike the current Metro) and the removal of the Merrylands-Harris Park Y-Link (built with Commonwealth funding) must also be subject to public scrutiny. Roydon Ng, Berala

So rural and regional areas are to remain backwaters in the future. We pay taxes, the same as city populations, and expect similar considerations regarding transport upgrades. The road across the Blue Mountains is still early 19th century in character, as is the rail line. When will we see the same upgrade philosophy applied to the forgotten communities living west of that barrier called the Blue Mountains? Alternatively, we could form a New State of inland NSW. It appears to be the only alternative. Bruce Clydsdale, Bathurst

How the wheel turns. The Carlingford line was privately built to serve the orchards and market gardens of the Hills district. When the company could no longer run it the government took it over, later having an intention to swing the line from Clyde towards Parramatta, then connecting with the Main North line going to Hornsby. The line was recently replaced by a tramline from Parramatta to Carlingford, but now it appears that the earlier plan for a railway towards Hornsby might be revived. Donald Hawes, Peel

Classroom with a view

In fifth class primary school, one day aeons back (Letters, September 11), I was staring out of the window at the general activity kids preparing the field for the school athletics. Our teacher chided me: “Would you rather be out there than in here, Jones?” When I somewhat unthinkingly answered, “Yes”, he sent me from the room, punishment on his mind. In sixth class, I managed to be dux of the school. The comprehensive system was already reflecting the broadness of life, little did I know it at the time. Brian Jones, Leura

Buzzed off

Where are the bees? I have been looking out for them, but there are none to be seen. This time last year, I was outside the Padstow senior citizens’ polling place for the council elections, and we were swarmed by bees. A year or two earlier, during the height of COVID restrictions, definitely not socially isolating, a swarm of bees settled one street away at Clemton Avenue, creating much awe and wonder. So where have they gone? Garry Dalrymple, Earlwood

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