Angus Taylor is not the cure for Liberal Party’s ills

Angus Taylor is correct when he says the Liberal Party is in its worst position since 1944 (“Angus Taylor resigns from Liberal frontbench to set up leadership challenge”, February 12). However, he and the other right-wingers in the party are not the cure for the illness. The party has been sliding into right-wing irrelevance since Howard cleansed it of genuine centre-right members such as Fred Cheney. Hence, the rise of the teals. Tony Abbott, Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton continued the journey to irrelevance, although Malcolm Turnbull made efforts to turn the party back to its origins. Until the party reconstitutes itself as a true centre-right party the electorate will struggle to find a difference between it and the Hansonists. It seems many have decided there is no difference and drifted into the arms of One Nation. Paul Fergus, Croydon

He may think he has the numbers, but in resigning from the Liberals’ front bench Angus Taylor continues a long line of leadership hopefuls using “Australians want better” as an excuse for attempting regicide. Really? Given the Libs’ polling, Australians appear to care not one iota about that party, or who leads it. If anything, they’ll want a stable opposition that cares about the issues they face, rather than one fixated on the egos of leadership cadets, and incessant climate change wars. James Mahoney, McKellar (ACT)

What a sobering and insightful article by Shaun Carney (“If Liberals think Angus Taylor will save them they’re in for a shock”, February 12). It should be compulsory reading for all members of the Liberal Party. Introspection is very hard indeed, but absolutely necessary to understand the mistakes of the past and of the present, as so eloquently explained by Carney. The fact of the matter is that irrespective of who is leader, the public has lost confidence that the opposition could form a credible government. That was the outcome of the election in May 2025. And, as Carney has written, that confidence has even eroded more so. Dennis Bluth, Cammeray

Shaun Carney pens a whole article on the challenges facing the Liberals if led by Angus Taylor. Pauline Hanson gets a mention, but there was not a word about the teals. I believe the biggest threat to the Libs are independent, left-leaning conservatives already in their blue chip seats. One Nation may threaten the Liberals, but the teals have a track record. Richard Baldwin, Coogee

The most puzzling thing about Liberals back-stabbing and climbing all over each other to drink from a poisoned chalice is why anybody in their right mind would damage their leadership aspirations forever by leading their party to almost certain electoral oblivion at the 2028 poll. This could well be the real reason Andrew Hastie withdrew from any leadership challenge. The mind boggles. Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads South

Angus Taylor and those who side with him would take the opposition to the right. But that spot is already occupied by One Nation. The trouncing of the right-wing policies of Peter Dutton and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price should be a lesson that the Australian populace is not interested in making a right turn. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill

Surely there has never been a more illiberal mob in the Coalition. Hearing Liberal MP Ben Small talk about “changing personnel” and developing policies just so they can win their “market share back” says it all really. Nothing about service to the people of Australia. Merilyn McClung, Forestville

Angus Taylor was the worst performer in Peter Dutton’s line-up. He lacked ideas, coherence and policy and was generally bland. Labor will be praying that Taylor successfully supplants Sussan Ley to lead the Liberals to an election defeat in 2027, and hopefully 2030. David Neilson, Uralla

Given the current year 9-level behaviour within the Coalition, may I humbly suggest that the Herald conserves scarce journalistic resources and perhaps refrain from reporting every “will/he, won’t/he” machination until they do something relevant – like coming up with a credible policy? Tim Parker, Balmain

Susan Ley might be the problem, but Angus Taylor is not the solution. Grahame Marks, Manly

Next ICE age

Once again we are being asked to ignore the evidence and fall into line behind decisions that are driving division. To hear the premier defend the damning images of police violence that clearly point to an abuse of power is straight out of Donald Trump or Benjamin Netanyahu’s playbook. Let’s not descend into our own ICE age. The actions of those entrusted to protect all Australians are clearly focused on political survival, not societal cohesion. Janet Argall, Hurlstone Park

Some people are suggesting that the demonstrations in Sydney and Melbourne against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit show the invitation was out of step with community sentiment and caused division. Five thousand rowdy perpetual demonstrators in cities of more than five million people are not an indication of community sentiment. Polls have shown that a strong majority of community sentiment is against the demonstrations. The division is caused by those objecting to the visit, not the visit itself. It’s such a cynical, circular argument to go out and cause unrest, and then say that unrest proves you were right all along. And for those who say it shows he should never have been invited, since when do we allow the mob to dictate what goes on in our country? Robbie Gore, Brighton East (Vic)

There’s an old expression “context is everything”. So, in what context was a police officer’s hand bitten by a protester (“Protester injured in Town Hall clashes calls for officers to be charged”, February 11)? How did the officer’s hand come into contact with Jace Turner’s mouth? Was this when his head was being bashed into the ground? Is the remedy for this by the officer’s colleague to pummel Jace Turner’s abdomen continually, as the other officer belts his head? Such vicious behaviour by police is unwarranted and unnecessary, and only further diminishes the public’s opinion of all police. The refusal by the premier and the police commissioner to apologise for the brutality of their officers just furthers mistrust within the community. Pamela Wood, McMahons Point

NSW Premier Chris Minns asked parliament this week: “Can you imagine what could have happened if those agitators had not been stopped?” referring to the protesters on Monday night. What would they have done Mr Minns? If left alone they would have calmly walked off down the street. It is not acceptable for the leader of our state to imply that these were violent protesters looking for trouble. It is just not true and it is inflammatory of the premier to make such statements. Lisa Dixon, Croydon

I am sure it’s worrying for all Labor voters that the current NSW Labor premier clearly has views on the Town Hall violence that more closely equate with those of the right-wing Liberal opposition. People were there to protest peacefully and the violence that ensued was the result of the questionable decision not stop them from marching to State Parliament. They were not a threat to anyone. They were actually marching away from the Jewish event at Darling Harbour. The premier might wish to reflect on the fact that several of his fellow Labor MPs have taken issue with his stance. They, quite rightly, take the view that he has to be the premier for all and not just for part of the population. John Jones, Armidale

Premier Chris Minns should consider banning “the apology that dares not speak its name” i.e.
“I am sorry if you took offence”. This excuse for an apology is simply inadequate and should stop being used. Rather, it should be something like: “We are sorry. We did the wrong thing and we know it caused needless suffering.” Keith Betts, Pennant Hills

Words of wisdom

None of the countless words written about the growing social and political division in Australia have summed it up better than South African Australian Stephen Heydt’s article (“Police action reminded me of the brutal regime I fled”, February 12). Our political leaders must take note of his experience, wisdom, compassion and prediction, or our civil society is doomed. Liz Adams, Kareela

Please encourage Stephen Heydt to write more insightful articles on any current social issue, especially ones causing division like this week’s disastrous protest. His phraseology is elegant and memorable, as in “when people are afforded the dignity of freedom of speech, the temperature drops.” Lock that one in everyone. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi

Stephen Heydt’s brilliant article reminds us how easy it is for basic human rights, including the right to protest peacefully, to be watered down. All the more reason for us to enact a National Human Rights Act, the draft of which has been with the attorney-general for some time. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

Go Grace

Alexandra Smith says Grace Tame’s “behaviour was unbecoming of someone who has received such prestigious recognition” as Australian of the Year (“The premier legislated for an enforced peace in Sydney. What he got was brutality and more division”, February 12). Smith clearly does not understand why Tame won the award. It wasn’t for “becoming” behaviour, on the contrary, it was for speaking out loudly. Grace Tame, you are a champion for the oppressed and silenced. Susan Duffy, Thornleigh

Care at a high cost

Dr Lucy France highlights a number of issues with specialist fees (Letters, February 12). I find I am visiting specialists more frequently on a parallel track with my increasing age. The first issue is the medicare gap benefit, generally around 25 per cent of the specialist fee, unless GPs like Dr Frances ask a “favour” to bulk-bill. The second issue is the specialist fee itself, sometimes up to eight times that of a GP consult. I have no doubt specialists work hard and deserve to be highly remunerated for their work, but is their worth really up to eight times that of a GP? The difference needs to be addressed by government. Mark Nugent, Lugarno

Thanks to Lucy France for highlighting the cost of medical care for patients of limited means. There is indeed a crisis in our medical system. Unless a problem is so acute it requires immediate hospital admission, many people can no longer afford to access appropriate medical care. The government berates GPs who provide quality diagnostic care, which takes time and hence costs more than bulk-billing rates, yet it has done nothing to rein in the huge gap payments expected by our specialist medical colleagues. With the lack of free hospital clinics, many can no longer afford access to appropriate or timely care. Ultimately, problems escalate and put added pressure and cost on the acute hospital system. Dr Katriona Herborn, Blackheath

Keep park public

NSW Minister for Lands and Sport Steve Kamper has neatly transferred the care and control of Crown lands occupied by the Cammeray Golf Club to Golf NSW. This sleight of hand suggests a public relations exercise to exchange a section Moore Park Golf Club for what remains of Cammeray Park, after its devastation by Transport for NSW. Cammeray Park should not be transferred to a private group, but placed in the control of a local and accountable authority answerable to its residents. Catherine Turner, Cremorne

Harbour should be for all

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane are both popular local representatives who claim environmental credentials. It is surprising, then, that neither of them have spoken out about the latest attempt to extend Rose Bay Marina. This development proposal will add a new permanent arm to the existing marina, further obscuring world-class harbour views from the heritage-listed Rose Bay promenade and privatising yet another portion of Sydney Harbour’s precious public water space. Ms Sloane’s predecessor Gabrielle Upton’s timely intervention helped prevent a previous bid to expand the Rose Bay Marina. Where are our current local, environmentally minded representatives when we need them? John de Bres, Rose Bay

Fair share

So, that noted philanthropist Mark Zuckerberg is leaving California to avoid a proposed “billionaire tax” and relocating to Florida, land of the compassionate and charitable (“Zuckerberg to flee to tax-light Florida”, February 12). It has been calculated that if all the billionaires in the world had all their money taken away and left with only one billion each, there would be enough money to eliminate world poverty for the next 200 years. Sounds good to me. Ryszard Linkiewicz, Woolooware

Moving from California will be inconvenient for Mark Zuckerberg. One hopes that $US150 million waterfront property he will be moving into in Florida – plus billions saved by not paying the “billionaire tax” – will help soothe the pain. Mustafa Erem, Terrigal

Classy response

Oh Jenna Price, you’ve hit the nail on the non-consensual head (“Why do men send these pics to women? Let me tell you, it’s not attractive”, February 12). Everyone who receives an unsolicited pic should immediately respond with your adage: “I sincerely hope your penis is the least interesting thing about you.” Classy and classic, Jenna. Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne

Scrap metal

While the government is in the mood for crushing e-bikes, please could they do the same to all the rideshare bikes lying around dangerously on footpaths and nature strips? John Swanton, Coogee

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