Being the PM and dealing with the paradoxical art of strategic defeat

A prime minister shouldn’t need to be stubborn (“PM’s fatal flaw spooks his colleagues”, August 14). They need universal appeal. That’s what Albanese was seeking by appearing on Bush Deep. And how easy it should have been to bat away all the innuendo in the interview while still remaining witty and likeable. The fact that he couldn’t shows (large) gaps in his social and emotional intelligence. The lack of apology (yes, there was innuendo in his melon “joke”) is compounding that. James Massola recommends that Albanese learn the art of strategic defeat. Most of us are thinking that it’s too late and/or the brief is too big. A PM doesn’t have to be perfect, nor barren-dry formal. But when the ego takes over, it’s the beginning of the end. For me, Albo’s always been that way. Ted Bush, North Epping

James Massola, in the context of the prime minister’s Melongate dilemma, advises that Albanese “needs to learn the art of the strategic retreat”. I suggest that he should avoid ever being placed in a position of having to use this skill. The prime minister is not an entertainer. Leave that to other politicians – no names. In negotiating the media minefield, where every misstep becomes a public gaffe, he should treat each question as a “verbal Rorschach test”, where each response will be analysed by political commentators of all persuasions from every possible angle. He needs to be more prudent both in the media company that he keeps and his attempts at humour. Paul Casey, Callala Bay

And what of the media adviser(s) who no doubt counselled it would make Albo look cool and an “ordinary bloke” if he went on that podcast? As for strategic retreat, when do politicians actually think strategically? James Mahoney, McKellar (ACT)

James Massola nails Albanese’s fatal flaw, but where we part company is in his assertion that it’s probably too late to apologise. Yes, the longer we take to apologise, and the more we justify our actions, the harder it is to apologise. But the harder it is to apologise, the more respect you gain when it’s done. It’s never too late. And so it is for the PM, regardless of all his obfuscating over recent weeks. The list of people he embarrassed during Nikki Osborne’s podcast is endless, but the political pain will be endless, too, unless he shows a bit of courage and decency and acknowledges his error. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point

One aspect overlooked in the melon debate is how the melons passed quarantine. Keith Masnick, Woollahra

A haiku titled Melancholy:
So embarrassing
Aussie obsession with boobs
Maintain dignity.
Neil Reckord, Gordon (ACT)

I have always admired politicians – not all, but a great many over the years. Their job is highly scrutinised and, when compared to chief executives in the commercial world, poorly remunerated; the hours are long; and the workload is unforgiving. Governing responsibly is a serious task. Our representatives are elected to stand up for all Australians – not to perform stand-up. In my view, sharing “fruity” asides with a precocious podcaster is a waste of time that could be spent addressing significant issues. Then again, I’ve been watching the political cycle for many years. Maybe I’m just feeling a little melon-choly. Janet Argall, Hurlstone Park

Surely it’s time, especially for the Coalition, to take a few breaths, get a grip on itself, and drop its carping hype on this topic. Albo’s comments may have been in poor taste but they were hardly a hanging offence. If you ask me, Taylor et al are making a mountain out of melons. Edward Loong, Milsons Point

James Massola calls our PM’s inability to admit to missteps “stubbornness”. I’d call it ODD – opposition defiance disorder. Melongate was far from a minor misstep, far more serious than prevarication over slipping off a stage. Thankfully, our Japanese friends have gracefully excused his discourtesy. Brian O’Donnell, Burradoo

Gourd, what a week. The ICAC wrestled with amnesia while the House suffered from melon-oma. Les Shearman, Darlington

Please, don’t appease

In the words of the African-American Nobel laureate, the late Toni Morrison, “The very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.” This is happening now, with One Nation running the agenda (“Labor plan migration cut in visa crackdown”, August 14). Against the intensifying right-wing siege, we see people striving to defend migrants’ contribution to Australia. Plus, the PM plans a crackdown on so-called undocumented migrants via “farms, hotels, restaurants and construction sites”, where their work input is obviously needed. Who will replace them if there is an ICE-style hunt and expel program? Dr Abul Rizvi, a former immigration department official, stresses the costs would “run into many billions”. What of the human consequences for these disadvantaged people and the families they support? Before any such exercise to appease the Hansonites, Australia should learn from the cataclysmic damage in the US. Bruce Springsteen catalogues this in his protest song Streets of Minneapolis, where “King Trump” and his “private army” of federal ICE “thugs” targeted “black and brown” people, with two protesting Americans killed: Renée Good, a mother and poet, and intensive care nurse Alex Pretti. Barbara Chapman, South Yarra (Vic)

Dog gone

It is indeed good news that the whistleblower David McBride has been released on parole after two years in prison and is now looking forward to seeing his dog (“Whistleblower released on parole now faces battle with lung cancer”, August 14). I hope he doesn’t have the same luck as Odysseus upon his return home after 20 years away: his dog Argos died as soon as he arrived. More importantly, as with many, I’ve been greatly disappointed by the Labor government not passing any substantial laws to protect whistleblowers, as it had promised when in opposition. It is a disgrace that whistleblowers could face years of prison for exposing corruption. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury

Regardless of what we think about the whistleblower laws, why should the power to release on parole be in the hands of a federal politician? Michael Blissenden, Dural

Last may be first

Stephen Bartholomeusz’s article (“Wall Street firms to chip in billions for Nvidia AI bonds”, August 14) on the extraordinary financial acrobatics that are happening in the AI sector to keep it afloat is enlightening. It makes you wonder if Australia is too late to “take advantage” of our “strategic” position. Maybe we should be grateful that we were one of the last to be tapped on the shoulder by Big Tech, and make a subtle but hasty exit. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

Confidence trips

It seems to me from emails and courtroom behaviour that the Reformers went about their grubby business with the usual confidence of young men raised to believe their privilege is a result of merit. Sadly for these would-be political conspirators, the ICAC has instead exposed a sorry band of bumbling amateurs (“How McInerney went from helpful to hot under the collar”, August 14). Colin Stokes, Camperdown

Fishing for COD

Once bitten, twice shy. Given the uncertainty about the delivery of the US nuclear subs, more purchases (“Australia urged to buy US missile interceptors”, August 14) should strictly be a cash-on-delivery transaction. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

Lesson for private school road hogs

Imagine if your local public school needed more room and proposed buying a street to expand it (‴⁣⁣Gets up everyone’s nose’: Private school in talks to buy whole street”, August 14). It would never happen, as public schools are too busy trying to fund the basics for education and correct possible structural problems, such as cracked and uneven (trip hazard) paths, broken sewer lines etc from 90 and more years ago when the school was built. But here we are in 2026, Redlands wants to use its federal income tax revenue to buy a street. If they can even dream of buying a street, they obviously have far too much money. Stop their federal funding immediately; they really don’t need it. I’m sure a fete with cashed-up alumni would whip up the funds over a weekend. Then redirect their funding to public schools that struggle to do the basics because of socioeconomic disadvantage, isolation and population size. Fund the extra teachers and the infrastructure needed to keep them, rather than let a private school expand its campus by buying a road. This has to stop. If you want to send your kids to a school that isn’t public, you pay the whole cost, as they do everywhere else in the world. Ridiculous state of affairs. Geoff Holmes, Woonona

Once again private schools demonstrate the obscene amount of cash they have and add fuel to debate over government funding. It comes as no surprise that North Sydney Council is interested in the sale, as the well-documented cost blow-out of more than $50 million for the new North Sydney Pool would leave the coffers thin –the sale of the street would be a very welcome cash injection. In my own area I have seen a private school buy many of the shops and some houses near Croydon station. Another large private school used a public park near my house for sport at various times throughout the year. Private schools can certainly choose what to spend their money on, but I look forward to the day when their government funding is greatly reduced or stopped altogether. I certainly won’t be holding my breath. Peter Miniutti, Ashbury

How is eating a suburb creating “opportunities to further enrich learning, wellbeing and co-curricular activities”? Private schools used to coexist with their suburb. Students took public transport, teachers parked on school grounds, nobody needed a wellness centre, a cricket ground to rival the SCG or a state-of-the-art drama theatre. Their learning was based on self-reliance and using their ingenuity, imagination and co-operation to get the best results out of co-curricular activities. They also realised the world, starting with their neighbourhood, did not revolve around them. Resilience was fostered so their wellbeing, in most cases, was just fine. If these schools really cared about their students, they’d opt out of this infrastructure race to the bottom. It’s counterproductive for the students and is a misery for anyone unfortunate enough to live or work in the school’s vicinity. It’s a disgrace that ratepayers and taxpayers are funding these educational travesties. Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga

Now who came up with that idea? Why don’t we just buy a few more roads to expand our schools and also make it easier for the lads and staff to park their limos? It is only a little cul-de-sac and we need it more. As a private school, we always need more land and this suits us fine. I note one of the reasons is to “enrich learning” and what better way to teach privilege than to commandeer public property? Nola Tucker, Kiama

Does the avarice of Redlands know no bounds? The school uses parks for play, but does not pay rates. Its website names itself as an independent school, however it accepts large amounts of public money. It now wants to purchase an entire public road, to convert to private space. The inequity between public and (misnamed) private education could not be more stark. The so-called land of the “fair-go” fades inexorably into oblivion. Graham Fazio, Cootamundra

Smelting point

I am disappointed that some groups are invisible in the Tomago aluminium smelter subsidy story (“Will bailout stave off One Nation in the Hunter?” , August 14). Where are all those people who demanded that we keep manufacturing jobs in Australia? Where are the supporters of not just selling raw minerals, but getting into processing? Where are those opposed to rolling out renewables that would make electricity cheaper? Where are the people complaining about increasing house costs because we have to import raw materials like steel and aluminium? Waiting for another more suitable story, I guess. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea

Global transport issues have coined a fashionably parroted, half-thought-through, hope-and-a-prayer, financially and sustainably dubious rationale: “Australian self-sufficiency imperative for national security.” It’s another name for our nation’s historic, abiding doctrine of capitalising profits and socialising losses. The aluminium smelter bailout is just a virtue signal likely going to prove a hopeless money pit like Snowy 2.0. That wonderfully reassuring, disingenuously paraded word, security, now outdoes even “a green future” for political propaganda value. Alex Mattea, Kingston

I find it curious how two recent examples of government support have been received so differently. The government’s $2.5 billion package for the Tomago aluminium smelter in the Hunter is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that will help to underpin the energy transition to renewables over the next decade, in which Rio Tinto will invest $1.1 billion of its own money. It’s not an unconditional government handout but a 10-year investment that not only keeps an aluminum smelter running, but also supports the business cases of new solar, battery and wind farms in NSW. Compare that with the recent $3.3 billion sugar hit called the fuel excise discount that lasted a mere five months and then disappeared. Spot the difference? Brendan Jones, Annandale

May I suggest the bailout of the aluminium industry by the taxpayers carry the condition our government gains part ownership of the business? This then helps to build our nation’s wealth. Peter Tzannes, Centennial Park

I wouldn’t mind even $2.5 million to prop me up in my dotage. I promise to spend it wisely (even though I don’t drink or smoke now) on tobacco, alcohol, petrol and electricity, as I would be able to afford them all again. David Sayers, Gwandalan

Malaria battle

Our Australian scientists well deserve the congratulatory front page (“Putting the bite on malaria”, August 14). Decades ago, as a student, I remember being told of the connection between malaria and the nutritional illnesses marasmus and kwashiorkor. The new vaccine will be welcomed in countries where these are still a problem for many families. Joy Cooksey, Harrington

Grassroots games

Sport and big money go had in hand. Professional rugby league players are being offered no-tax incentives to join a new NRL franchise; there is a $513 million high-performance funding package to support elite athletes; and a Swedish equity firm appears ready to buy a stake in the Melbourne Storm (“Private equity set to buy controlling stake in Storm”, August 14). But in this era of elite sport performers and clubs receiving huge financial investment, what of community sport? In the past, community sport may have been overlooked, but it is time it received the priority it deserves. As we race towards a high-density model of housing, where golf courses, bowling greens, squash centres and parks are being swallowed up at a disturbing rate, planners need to consider the community, especially kids who need their tennis courts, ovals with lighting for night training and spaces to play with their mates. Rod Leonarder, Roseville

In a nutshell

Cathy Wilcox once again nails the complex issues (even without a cartoon) and highlights the need for originality in letters, opinion pieces, cartoons and creative work in all its forms (Letters, August 14). Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Another brilliant, satirical cartoon by Cathy Wilcox. May she and her cartoonist colleagues never be superseded by AI. How can humour be humorous without humans? Margot Vaccari, Berowra

Believe it or not

Is it rational to believe God exists simply because so many people believe it to be true, as your correspondent contends (Letters, August 14)? Alternatively, is religion merely a symptom of an underlying need for belief for people in situations where rational thinking does not provide an answer? Denis Goodwin, Dee Why

Atheism is not a faith but the polar opposite, a complete certainty that there are no gods. There must either be a god or gods, or not. As it is logically impossible to prove a negative, the burden is on the believer to prove existence. Given that the Christian god is supposed to be omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, and would leave traces everywhere, the lack of those traces is decisive. Andrew Taubman, Queens Park

As a rational (usually), sceptical (mostly) empiricist, I am content to describe myself as an agnostic atheist. Hugh Malfroy, Mollymook Beach

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