Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeIn an environment with signs of growing warmth towards the PM, recognising the strength of his understated, considered manner and his fundamental decency, Peter Dutton continues his vicious campaign to paint Anthony Albanese as weak and incompetent (“Dutton regrets ‘limp-wristed’ term”, March 21). In his campaign, Dutton clearly believes no descriptor is out of bounds to attempt to damage the PM by his use of the term “limp-wristed”. This was not an off-the-cuff remark, but a carefully constructed slur in a set-piece presentation, for which it is understood Dutton now has regrets. However, what has been exposed are some of the underlying outdated Neanderthal attitudes and views possessed by the opposition leader, no doubt cultivated during his time as a Queensland copper. These attitudes are time and again reflected in Dutton’s commentaries and policies, particularly directed towards certain identifiable groups. At a time when it seems we will be about to experience significant outside pressures, we need cohesive, co-operative leadership, not the nasty divisiveness spruiked by Dutton. Ross Butler, Rodd PointPeter Dutton occasionally lets the facade of pretence slip. His use of the term “limp-wristed” suggests either an underlying homophobia, or it’s just his schoolyard bully persona rising to the top. Either way, he is unfit for the highest office. Bereft of policy, deft in divisiveness, he talks tough without any gravitas. I’m not sure if he holds a hose, but at least he hasn’t offered to shirtfront Putin. Geoff Nilon, MascotPeter Dutton, under fire againCredit: BloombergI shudder to think what damage Peter Dutton could do if he brings his habit of intemperate slurs followed by grudging apologies to Australian diplomacy. Colin Stokes, CamperdownIn searching for more ways to insult his opponents, Dutton has displayed his own egregious attitudes. With this derisive taunt, an offensive slur against gay men that in itself is a put-down of women, Dutton has insulted and belittled more than half the Australian population. Meredith Williams, Baulkham HillsIf no offence were intended, Dutton would not have used the term “limp-wristed”. And he has Buckley’s of making headway with Trump, when politicians with actual talent have left the Oval Office empty-handed and humiliated. Dutton is fast becoming a legend in his own mind. Graham Lum, North RocksThe opposition leader had his spokesperson say: “It was a phrase that shouldn’t have been used, and no offence was intended from Mr Dutton”. No offence intended to all those men and boys who have been bullied? What a load of codswallop. Chris Moe, BensvilleDutton’s spokesperson says, “no offence was intended”. Of course Dutton intended to offend the PM. But more importantly, what is that appalling slur doing in his vocabulary in the first place? Finally, we get to see the real person behind the screen. Edson Pike, Church PointDutton is not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy. Zuzu Burford, HeathcoteHaving read the letters page with interest all week, I have come to the conclusion that Peter Dutton is the biggest asset for the ALP and the independents. Robyn Lewis, RaglanOpportunity for LaborGiven that the majority of letter writers are calling Dutton out for his lack of policy, his nuclear fix and his racial views, you would think that Labor would win the election hands down. But I was disturbed when I clicked on a Facebook post and saw a myriad of anti-Labor responses, along the lines of how the country has gone into decline since Labor came into government. Labor has to lift its image, and fast. Margaret Grove, ConcordNot-so-super marketsI’m certainly no fan of the duopoly enjoyed by our two biggest supermarkets (“Consumer pain feeds greedy supermarkets”, March 21). However, Australians should be careful what they wish for. We recently spent six weeks in Edinburgh, Scotland, and, yes, we did have a bigger choice of supermarkets, but they were all along the lines of Aldi: much smaller than our two big chains, very little choice, poor displays with most foods still in boxes, fewer staff and certainly no one packing your items for you. Mary Lawson, MarrickvilleThe aisle of temptation.Credit: BloombergWhen we travel overseas, staying mainly in apartments, we are always pleasantly shocked when we get to the supermarket checkout and find out how little our basket of items has cost. Considering Australia doesn’t need to import many supermarket items, one can only assume we are being ripped off by the big supermarkets. You often hear of our farmers being exploited by the big supermarkets, which just confirms my beliefs. Companies can still make a suitable profit without robbing customers. Peter Miniutti, AshburyFor those pillorying the prime minister over the cost-of-living crisis, they need look no further for the real cause than the major supermarkets. The report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission identifies them as among the most profitable in the world. Thankfully, we still have institutions like the commission, funded by the taxpayer to give non-partisan expert views on such complex issues. Peter Dutton has said he will take a leaf out of Donald Trump’s book and, if elected, attack the public service for allegedly wasteful spending. Query what sort of future there will be then for bodies such as the commission. Joe Weller, MittagongIn the “cost-of-living crisis”, the claims by our major supermarkets to be “doing everything we can to keep prices down” doesn’t square with being the most profitable supermarket in the world. John Baird, CorrimalGlobe’s happy placeIt is reported that Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden are the four happiest countries in the world (“Finland world’s happiest country as US falls to its lowest spot”, March 21). Australia did not make it into the top 10, nor did the United States. The cost of living in all these countries, with the exception of Iceland, is well below that in Australia. The GDP per capita of these countries is similar to that of Australia. Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden do not have the plethora of natural resources Australia has. Nor do they have the beaches, sunshine, climate or natural environment. But they also do not have the politicians and the race to the bottom with cuts to taxes and the giving away of natural resources such as natural gas to the private sector. It is the tax cuts and the squandering of natural resources that limits expenditure for healthcare, education, aged care, early childhood education, housing and environmental protection, among other items required for a happy, functioning society. It is time for a serious discussion on tax reform and the management of our natural resources. Rob Siebert, Skennars HeadHow to be happy in FinlandCredit: finland.fiAustralian politicians take note: Despite a lack of sunny, sandy beaches, abundant natural resources and a booming population, the Finns are the happiest country in the world. Credit goes to good governance, equality and social justice and an excellent, fully funded public school system, plus a focus on a balanced life, support for relationships and immersion in nature. GDP is not a good measure of success for human happiness. Anne Matheson, GordonDon’t worry about happiness, we are the luckiest country. Mustafa Erem, TerrigalBad medicine from big pharmaJust how vile and venal do you need to be to complain that a system providing affordable medicine for the citizens of another country is unfair to your industry (“Big pharma has nothing but ill will towards Australia”, March 21)? That you would rather make medicine unaffordable to most people and so make more profits? The pharmaceutical industry – in line with the “health” industry – has made living impossible for many in the US, especially as Musk and Trump have cut the US systems of Medicare and Medicaid to their own citizens. If you can’t make it, you’re a loser anyway, so you’re no loss. America will soon be friendless. Countries will adapt to trade without the US, though not before some sort of recession comes. In the US, the religious right often say after some disaster God is judging those whose morality is not the same as theirs. Perhaps Trump is God’s judgment on the USA? As certainly as Hitler was prepared to see Germany in ruins, Trump will not give up his policies until the US too is in ruins – and he’ll take the West with him. David Ashton, KatoombaWho controls your supply?Credit: BloombergWith US attacks on the way Australia manages pharmaceuticals and now our media too, it seems they would be happier if we became the 54th state – after Canada, Panama and Greenland. It seems the US has little understanding or appreciation of why any country would do anything differently from the so-called “greatest nation on earth”. In that regard, it is little better than Russia or China. Neil Reckord, Gordon (ACT)The article on US pharma’s plea for pressure from Trump over our PBS demonstrates the amoral attitude prevalent in the USA’s big businesses, and the total lack of empathy in the White House. We are justly proud of our medical system, and anyone seeking to make changes that reflect the US system and the financial pressures it brings needs to stop and think very hard about the implication of policies that do so. Aidan Cuddington, Umina BeachThe track record of these monster corporations in the US is nothing short of abysmal. Catastrophic opioid addiction, resulting in billion-dollar fines, is just part of their legacy. Trying to claw back some of their lost revenue by fair means or foul is only further evidence of their worship of the bottom line, and should be of no surprise to anyone. Tim O’Donnell, NewportMedicine prices controlled by the government buying in bulk and negotiating contracts? I can’t wait to hear the Liberal Party railing against this example of the terrifying socialism of the ALP. Listening … silence. What’s that? … the Libs are fully supporting it? Wouldn’t they like a free market with the pharmaceutical companies able to charge us hundreds or thousands of dollars a month for our essential medicines? Maggie Ramsay, Woolloomooloo(Anti)social mediaWith President Trump now open to coercion from any rich (donor) person or industry in the US, with tariff decisions made on faith not fact, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate our trade, security and armaments spending. We should also consider the toxic effects of US-based (anti)social media on our society, particularly our children. Let’s follow Donald’s lead and create an Aussie Social, with controls on disinformation and hate speech, and ban the US sycophantic X/Facebook/Truth Social. This may be our only way to protect our democratic values and social cohesion, and cheaper than submarines that may or may not arrive later this century. Hugh Wolfenden, Bellevue HillCancel cultureYour correspondent (Letters, March 21) seems to advocate that no publisher should publish former High Court judge Dyson Heydon’s book because of a 2020 administrative finding of sexual harassment conduct. The book’s topic on contract law is unrelated to his alleged wrongful conduct. The standard for publishing a legal text should be the quality of the text alone. Forever “cancelling” a fine legal mind serves no one. Polly Seidler, DarlinghurstMiddle-class marginsAs part of “middle” Sydney, I agree with Sarah Macdonald (“Bougie or budget: What’s become of Sydney’s missing middle?” , March 21). A few years ago, a mid-person like myself might consider going to a classy hatted restaurant listed in the SMH Good Food Guide for a special occasion, but not any more, when the bill is likely to be in the $200-$300 a person range, and that’s without alcohol. The question is, who can afford this, let alone live with the ethics of inequality it engenders? Glenn Larner, Freshwater“Out of sight, out of mind” applies to both extremes in our society. So many indicators are likely to escape our notice simply because of where we live and our immediate social circle. It’s good to be reminded of the gulfs between “haves” and “have-nots” that have opened up here in quite recent times. We all bear some responsibility when it comes to making Australia more egalitarian, rather than sliding into a US-style patchwork of excessive private wealth versus intractable poverty. First cab off the rank should be for the next federal government to undertake to raise the level of unemployment benefits, because this is the most glaring poverty trap in our midst. Margaret Johnston, PaddingtonNo one-way streetOne question for Peter Dutton’s dog-whistle policy regarding the expulsion of dual citizens who commit serious crimes (Letters, March 21): What if the home country of the criminal refuses to accept their citizen? It’s hardly an inviting proposition to import a serious criminal. Eric Sekula, TurramurraGoing northA new suburb of “Somewhere Else” (Letters, March 21) might ease the overcrowding in Limbo. Mickey Pragnell, KiamaPut that in your pipe …Why not do your bit for the ecomony?Credit: Fairfax MediaThis current hit to our state finances is unacceptable (“Sin taxes prop up budget but the crucial one is fading”, March 21). We must immediately revoke legislation banning cigarette ads, mandating plain packaging and the accompanying warnings, and encourage sponsorship of school sports by tobacco companies. And to those who believe that the cost of medical intervention and palliative care would outweigh the savings, I remind you that living 20 to 30 years less will put significantly less strain on our aged care systems. Hell, I’ll even go out and start smoking as an example to my peers. Robert Hosking, PaddingtonPOSTSCRIPTThe biggest topic this week, in waves through the days, was Peter Dutton, starting with whether he or Anthony Albanese was better suited to facing up to Donald Trump. Overall, Albanese won that contest – writers thought his ″call of the mild″ calmness was probably better than Dutton’s attempts to be a Trump-lite, which is winning him no friends, at least on the Letters pages.Then talk turned to teals and Trump, and whether teals are like Trump in any way, from an article by Sean Kelly. The writers strongly disagreed with the idea that the two are similar, even if you accept that both sides want the ″system″ to change. The teals are seen as a force for good and right. Trump is seen as someone who destroys anything that didn’t make a profit for him and his billionaire buddies.Later in the week, the writers also took furious aim at Trump for the idea that American pharmacy companies could be allowed to affect the price of medicines here.There was a break to discuss Clover Moore. Writers were generally in agreement with her view that the state government’s new Housing Development Authority will allow ″poor quality homes that will blight Sydney for generations to come″.Then the pendulum swung back to Dutton when he floated (again) his idea of removing citizenship from criminals who have other places to be, plus now a referendum and questions about whether aspiring migrants were antisemites. Well, the lights, sirens and klaxons went right off. There were a (very) few letters sort of, maybe, considering that perhaps there could be something in the idea of deportation, but these were few and far between.What came in was a tsunami of letters mocking and deriding the ideas and Dutton, and asking why just antisemitism, why not all the other hatreds in this world, not to mention your football team?The week ended with strong objections to Dutton calling Albanese’s response to the Chinese naval task group ″limp-wristed″. Writers considered this rude and homophobic, and very much dislike Dutton’s habit of insult followed by grudging apology.Harriet Veitch, Acting letters editorTo submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email [email protected]. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.
