The return of Tony Abbott is a recipe for disaster

Almost as much as John Howard, Tony Abbott is responsible for the predicament that the Liberal Party finds itself in today (“Abbott in frame for high-profile Liberal Party position”, May 7). Howard, with his misbegotten middle-class welfare, created the nightmare in which young people wanting to buy a house find themselves. Abbott, with his unconscionable attitudes to women, especially then-prime minister Gillard, almost single-handedly created the “women problem” which afflicts the party today. Putting Abbott and Angus Taylor (whose glib slogans reflect his shallowness) in charge of the Liberal Party is a recipe for disaster of existential proportions. They will surely hurtle, not fall, into the abyss of political irrelevancy. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield

With respect, what is the Liberal Party brains trust thinking by considering Tony Abbott as the leader of the party? He was voted out by the party and considered one of the worst prime ministers. He is more of a liability rather than an asset to the party. Peng Ee, Castle Cove

Tony Abbott is putting up his hand to be captain of the Titanic. Neil Reckord, Gordon (ACT)

Well, the Greens should be cock-a-hoop if the onion-munching Tony Abbott becomes el presidente of the federal Libs. The continuing, chaotic lurch to the right for the Liberals further opens up the centre-right space for Labor, who seem very content to occupy it while drifting further rightward in the process. This leaves ample room for the Greens to become the primary progressive political force in the country. Now we just need some new and effective players on the hard-left to complete the scene. Russ Couch, Woonona

If Angus Taylor has made the judgment, as reported, that he is confident Tony Abbott would handle the role of president of the Liberal Party in “a disciplined manner and refrain from generating unwanted headlines”, it is an indictment of Taylor’s political judgment. Time and again throughout his political career Abbott has demonstrated his propensity to generate headlines through bizarre actions, such as his captain’s pick in reintroducing knighthoods without consulting anyone, describing Aboriginal disadvantage as “a lifestyle choice” and publicly threatening to shirtfront Vladimir Putin. Taylor should realise that the recalcitrant Abbott is one old political dog incapable of being taught new tricks. John Payne, Kelso

A good wine will improve with age but the whine that is Tony Abbott is more likely to turn to vinegar. He has been described by Julia Gillard as a bitter, hollow man, by Paul Keating as an intellectual nobody, and from his own lips as the suppository of wisdom, so the prospect of Tony Abbott becoming president of the Liberal Party will have members reaching for an onion to bite into, to get the taste of his right-of-conservative views out of their mouths. John Bailey, Canterbury

In the words of Blackadder, a plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel. Next it will be reintroducing the horse and cart. Tim Schroder, Gordon

IS brides are victims

As much as a measure of caution and surveillance is warranted regarding the return of the IS brides (“Identities of IS families revealed ahead of return and likely arrest”, May 7), from the amount of anticipatory fear and obvious confected revulsion by those opposing any return, you would think we are about to be invaded by a force of potential evil, destruction and malevolence usually reserved for fanatical authoritarian, anti-Western military machines, and not a few traumatised, harmless women and children. These women and children, clearly victims themselves of terror and brainwashing, are about to be greeted by an equally malevolent, horrific propaganda and disinformation campaign designed to instil fear and loathing into the community. With the mixed greeting they are about to receive, one wonders whether these trauma victims have not jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay

I, for one, am disgusted by the savage reaction of the federal government to the returning IS brides. It seems that the government’s maliciousness is determined partly because it feels it must respond to the brutal mindset of what Niki Savva characterises as the shambles of an opposition. These women and their children are entitled to return. They should be treated according to their deserts and in a dignified manner. Some will probably have to be charged and pay the requisite penalty, while others might well have been coerced and will warrant lenience. It is likely that the children have been indoctrinated, not to say violated; they will need rehabilitation to prepare them for a future which expunges the horror of their childhoods and eventually enables them to assume the mentality most of us hold of living in a free and fair democracy. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne

I find it interesting, and not a little disturbing, that as society recognises and condemns domestic violence and coercive control, there is little sympathy for the so-called IS brides. Do we really think that, rather than accompanying their husbands with little or no choice, they really wanted to travel to Syria and face all the risks that involved? If a woman in Australia stayed with an abusive and controlling partner, as many do, feeling they can’t escape, would the prime minister say they have to live with their choices. Eric Scott, Bondi Junction

We say we are the land of the fair go, then treat women and children, IS brides and DV victims alike, as guilty until proven innocent. If they have committed a crime, then charge them. While we are at it, let’s arrest any member of the IDF that arrives here for involvement in war crimes in Gaza, Lebanon and who knows. But give these women a chance. Let them find out what a caring society we are. And Albo’s mum? She would probably have tidied the bed in the morning and given the women breakfast. Being poor, she would have understood that the women have experienced hell and survived. David Neilson, Uralla

Denying those Islamic women who spurned Australia and devalued their citizenship by joining IS in Syria is a perfectly natural feeling. Can we not also see that, having given over their lives to extremist Islam and learnt the evil, brutal truth of it, they are potentially some of the very best anti-radicalisation advocates we could possibly have here, living within the Muslim community? Gary Stowe, Springwood

Inflation solutions

The point of interest rate rises is to dampen consumer spending, thus putting downward pressure on inflation (“RBA needs sharp tools not a rates blunt axe”, May 7). A more equitable way would be to temporarily increase the superannuation levy. This could be done so that when inflation came down, the levy could be returned to normal, and wage earners allowed to redeem the extra contributions if they wanted to. Isn’t it time we started thinking outside the square? Alan Phillips, Mosman

I believe I have a solution to fighting inflation. As demand increases, raise the level of the GST, effectively floating it. In this way, spending is taxed without raising interest rates. If the economy needs a boost, reduce the GST rate. Retailers would need a few days to adjust but it is the sort of instrument the RBA needs to control inflation. Tom Meakin, Port Macquarie

Addiction to growth fuels crisis

Shane Wright, rightly, says house prices are an interplay between supply and demand (“We’re to blame for housing disaster”, May 7), with the unstated implication that if demand decreased, prices would fall. So why can’t we talk about the elephant in the room, our addiction to growth which government fuels via immigration? Is it any wonder Pauline Hanson is getting a foothold when her party is the only one fearless of the name-calling to mention it? Wright goes on to blame us for unaffordable housing. However, we, the people, did not structure the tax system to make the family home tax-free and exempt from the income and assets test, no matter how many millions it is worth. We, the people, did not introduce negative gearing or the capital gains tax discount. These were government decisions and can be changed by government. Yes, we are somewhat obsessed with luxury housing, evidenced by shows such as The Block and Grand Designs. However, what role has the media played in producing these shows? Personally, I’d watch shows on modest homes, repurposed homes and energy-efficient homes which were then given to the homeless. Ann Matheson, Gordon

Shane Wright has hit the nail on the head. Les Shearman, Darlington

Homeless need our help

The editorial (“Death in a homeless camp is other side of housing crisis”, May 7) reminded me of a story my mother told about friends who had squatted and built shacks on the Woronora River in Sydney during the Depression years. Moving on to the 1950s, it appeared some humanity had seeped into governments. Then we had homeless friends who were housed temporarily in a disused army hut in Herne Bay, now Riverwood. They were eventually moved into a housing commission house in Ryde. Surely now, in 2026, we are a rich enough country to be able to provide basic housing on a temporary basis while building houses for our disadvantaged. It is unbelievable people are sleeping rough. Mary Lawson, Marrickville

Another devastatingly sad story about the death of a baby and homelessness. There are more than 500 short-term holiday listings in Wagga and countless more around Australia. Will the government and councils please step up and make the necessary changes to ensure the short-term property market is converted back into long-term housing for the community? Lizzy Mclean, Bilgola

More than a housing crisis

There’s something about the term “developer contributions” that doesn’t sit right when looking at the profits these “developers” make (“Where kids have to play on a road”, May 7) and we have seen what happens when the government lets developers plan suburbs for profit with no social accountability. Meanwhile, Chris Minns is destroying hundreds of social housing apartments in the inner south to make way for more private development profits and, most likely, second-class entrances etc for any affordable housing built on site. Decisions like these are why newborn babies are dying in homeless camps. Not only do we have a housing crisis, we also have an inequality crisis. Todd Hillsley, Homebush

Regional value

It is not surprising that the completion of the inland rail project has been scrapped (Letters, May 7). It is, after all, a regional project. Had it been a city project that was running behind time and over budget – as they frequently are – there would have been no hesitation in continuing on with it. I’ve heard that the Opera House cost 15 times the original estimate and what an asset it turned out to be in the end. But because our city-centric governments of both stripes cannot see the value in a major regional project, it gets scrapped. The decision to terminate the line at Parkes will just have the effect of forcing even more large vehicles onto the goat tracks that pass as roads on this side of the Great Dividing Range. Ann Clydsdale, Bathurst

Stockpile fail

I have no problem with increasing the fuel stockpile, just like I don’t have a problem with people having large stockpiles of toilet paper at home (“Fuel stockpile now 50 days via $10b deal”, May 7). I also have plenty of toilet paper at home. The problem is when people, or in this case, the federal government, want to increase their stockpile when demand is high and supply is low. That’s the opposite of how it’s supposed to work. Rasmus Torkel, Rockdale

Lest we forget

Regarding the article foreshadowing a historic rugby Anzac Day match in 2027 between the Wallabies and All Blacks (“Rennie key to go-ahead for Bledisloe Anzac clash”, May 7), while it appears to be a part of the Bledisloe Cup, I believe this clash deserves a separate trophy, given the sacred nature of the day. Should this occur, I suggest it be called the Jacka-Bassett Cup, after the first Australian and New Zealand Victoria Cross recipients at Gallipoli, Albert Jacka (May 1915) and Cyril Bassett (August 1915), NZ’s only VC recipient at Gallipoli. I am inspired to action by my grandfather, Reginald Keast, who also landed at Gallipoli. Lest we forget. Robert Deacon, Miranda

True Socceroo support

Axing the Federation Square World Cup live site (“Kerr boos Fed Square World Cup snub”, smh.com.au, May 7) is not just disappointing – it’s baffling. For years it has been the beating heart of football in Australia during the World Cup: a place where strangers became teammates and entire crowds rose as one behind the Socceroos. It wasn’t just about watching matches; it was about belonging. At a time when genuine community connection feels increasingly rare, removing one of the country’s most iconic shared sporting experiences feels like a step backwards. If Melbourne is retreating, Sydney has a chance to lead. We’ve already seen what’s possible at Darling Harbour – vibrant, inclusive live sites that bring people together across cultures and generations. The Socceroos deserve it. So do the fans. Greg Khatchigian, Ermington

Right man for the job

The last words (Letters, May 7) of my great-uncle Bill to the relatives clustered around his deathbed were: “Haven’t any of you bastards got a job to go to?” Jonathan Hornibrook, Newtown

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