Progressive liberals can step up if they want to

I know he has more spinning than a spinning dervish, but how trusting does the Australian population find Scott Morrison? A few weeks ago he told us that Anthony Albanese is pretending to be something he is not. Morrison also told us that with him what you see is what you get. Now, days before the election, he tells us that his current bulldozer persona will be postponed and that after the election a new Scott Morrison will appear like a butterfly coming out of a doll. John Gray, Belrose

If synchronized rolling and shaking of the head existed as an international sport, Australian voters would become world champions after hearing a powerful middle-aged man desperately promising to change his rusty regime after the election. Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT)

Thanks for the honesty, Scotty. Bulldozers are useful on landfills and for beating local vegetation. Not very useful in parliament. Van Kramer, Auburn

The “change of approach” of the Prime Minister looks desperate. He needs to know that his goose is cooked. Unlike his choke. Scott Poynting, Newtown

I wonder which campaign focus group advised the prime minister to admit that he is a bulldozer politician who will change his tactics and be more conciliatory? Was it the fourth estate, public opinion polls, concerned cabinet members or the National Party, cracks in the “mirror on the wall” or other advice from Jen? Whatever the reason, someone should tell him / her that the “born-again” politician is an Australian furry. Graham Tooth, Kings Point

Excuse me, Mr. Morrison. Changing the way you and your government do things is not about the time we are in, but about the skin you live in. Your tin ear, your arrogant outbursts and your cynical machinations are notorious on the national and world stage. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why

From a bulldozer to a feather in a week? Brett Evans, Hunters Hill

PM is wrong to keep subjects secret

Scott Morrison managed to irritate the electorate in many ways, but one of his most disgusting actions must be his deliberate failure to inform the opposition leader about AUKUS (″Labor did not say about Biden’s two-party demand for AUKUS″ ⁣, May 14). He apparently ignored a US request to inform both political parties about a promising submarine deal. Why did he then ignore this demand? Bad manners? Too bad? Basic lack of integrity? Nola Tucker, Kiama

Peter Hartcher outlines the top secret of the AUKUS deal. But can anyone explain why the secrecy of a deal that was publicly announced after a while, which involves unprecedented amounts of our money and will affect generations of Australians, was necessary? Shouldn’t such a decision be discussed in the parliament? Alexandra Barrat, Gleb

I thought that we have a parliamentary democracy, and this requires honest communication between the parties. Following this decision there are and have been serious international consequences (i.e. with France) for Australia. All in order to sort out Scott Morrison’s campaign? Joy Pegler, picnic point

It now turns out that Scott Morrison cheated on the submarine deal and AUKUS. In my opinion, anyone who now knows about this latest information and continues to support it is complicit in his abuse of power. Graham Lam, North Rocks

The success of Payne Wong

The clear winner in the debate between Marie Payne and Penny Wong was civic discourse (″The coalition is losing the debate on national security and China″ ⁣, May 14). Although there were political differences, they were obscured by a general sense of optimism. There were no men’s fights in the school yard, which gave all the heat, but not light. This one discussion demonstrated that ideological opponents can express their views without belittling or insulting their opponent. Trevor Somerville, Ylawong

Reform drug laws now

If anyone has any doubts about the effectiveness of drug law reform, they should contact Portugal (Letters, May 14). All drugs were decriminalized in 2000. Mortality from drugs has fallen sharply, the number of HIV infections has fallen, and drug use has fallen among people aged 15-24 who are most at risk of starting drug use. If we follow Portugal, our courts and prisons will be less overcrowded and drug lords will be unemployed. Now you should try decriminalization, because nothing else works. Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield

Statement by Prime Minister Holgate

Your correspondent (Letters, May 14) gives us an indicative list of ScoMo offenses. I would add his tirade against Christine Holgate under the protection of parliamentary privileges as the most pertinent indication that he is unfit for any leadership position. A reflection of a man’s character. This outburst alone is a reason not to vote for him. Gary Hair, Narabine

Stuck in shark eyelids

Fitz and I are usually at different ends of the spectrum on issues, but I have to praise his wonderful tirade against our morally deprived “big white shark”. Fitz Saturday Column (“Greg, you and your Saudi support are a disgrace”, May 14) said it all, but why other more powerful Australian and, indeed, world figures do not bring Greg Norman in order in this separate golf tour. Phil Johnson, Dee Why

I don’t always agree with Peter FitzSimons ’criticism of Greg Norman, but this time he’s absolutely accurate. How can any sensible person consider a planned assassination just a mistake? I think Greg Norman may have been in the sun too long. Peter Minuti, Ashbury

Health helps the sick

The chaos in the emergency departments has never been worse than my 50 years as a doctor, but the main parties are silent about health (‴Not enough beds’: Eds ambulance in fighter”, May 14). The sharp end should be the restoration of up to 50 percent of the Commonwealth’s contribution to the financing of the state system of public hospitals. The ALP aims to cover 50 percent of the growth, but not move the base below 45 percent. The coalition has made no commitment to either. At 50:50 there will be enough beds for ED to clear, and ambulances to get back on the road. This will put an end to the unfair inequality between private and public access to timely specialized care, either for necessary planned operations or for outpatient medical consultations for serious, chronic and complex diseases. Chaos and inequality can be cured, but writing a screenplay may require independents from a balance of power, two of whom are excellent mid-career doctors. Graham Stewart, Palm Beach

The future and the past are different

Your correspondent (Letters, May 14) predicts the future, expanding the trends of the past. We now know that living standards need to improve in developing countries and for disadvantaged Australians at the same time as reducing net consumption. Scientists and engineers around the world are developing a circular economy that can reverse many previous trends, with emission reductions at the top of a long list. Any leader who invites us back to where we were before COVID is leading us down the wrong path. David Hind, Neutral Bay

White: couple

Vote for the job to ensure the Murugapan family can return safely to their home in Bilael. Don’t let them down. Judy Copeland, Willoughby

Could Scott Morrison’s rediscovered empathy extend to the immediate release of the injured Murugappan family back to Bilela? Vicki Marquis, Gleb

A new chapter

Richard Glover reflects on the literature of the modern age (“Banning books is a bloody monstrous idea”, May 14) was accurate. The names he mentioned immediately evoked those gems from the past. As a retired teacher, I would like to know how the modern cohort can highlight the fine details of human interaction from books that seem to be a “modern” trend. Carolyn Van der Veen, Bonnie Hills

Scott-cha question

Your correspondent (Letters, May 14) wishes Australia without Scott next Sunday. We respectfully ask him to change his desire – perhaps without ScoMo? Scotty (Peter and Gene), Killcare

Lazy in Albanese

Brava, Kon Weizas (Letters, May 14). Sepo Ranki, Glenhaven

Digital view
An online commentary on one of the stories that garnered the most reader reviews yesterday smh.com.au

Politicians’ salaries have risen by a third in a decade, but is the increase in wages in line with inflation too much?

From djc789: The Liberal Party needs one or two terms in the opposition ranks to understand the reality of an electorate that is threatened with a split. The main challenges that need to be addressed are focused on social justice as Australia moves towards a country where rich minorities get richer and most fast-growing poor get poorer. (Shades of the US?) Drifting further to the right, Libs will become completely irrelevant.

• To send an email to Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here to get tips on how to send emails.