Credit:Illustration: Vintage Cathy Wilcox
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Libs missing the point
The Victorian Liberal Party will put home ownership for young people “front and centre” of Coalition policies (The Age, 26/12). Yes, young people worry about affordable housing, but more than that, they worry about having a world in which to put that house.
Young people (and old men, like me) worry about the environment and the future. What young people do not worry about are right-wing parties that alienate women and fail to address the climate emergency. The party is doomed until it takes a broader view.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson
A fairer go for all of us
The Victorian Liberal Party should look beyond demographic semantics and worrying about its dying voter base. Instead it needs to articulate policies that will advance a more equitable society for all and which are not driven by uncompromising religious and economic ideologues.
Rob Hocart, Tyabb
Seeking ‘liberal’ policies
In the Liberal Party’s review of its failure at the federal election (The Age, 23/12) there appears to be no recognition that there was a notable absence of support among younger voters.
I would argue that clear, positive policies to address climate change, housing and education were fundamental flaws in the Liberals’ campaign. Older, white males must no longer dominate the agenda. True “liberal” policies are required to attract women, younger voters and those from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Tim Winter, Vermont South
Tell me, what else is new?
It was interesting to see a common source of conflict couched in academic terms – “Men and women see mess ’differently‴ (The Age, 24/12). For example, “neuroscience has shown that perceiving an affordance can trigger neural processes preparing (them) for physical action”. Thus women can be confronted by “inequality of labour or inequality of cognitive load”. Most of us would put it more simply: Women tend to see domestic tasks as something they have to do, men tend to see them as something that has to be done, preferably by someone else. Women can resent this.
Vivienne Player, Beaumaris
The other side of Bradman
Yes indeed, Donald Bradman was way ahead of his time (The Age, 26/12). In fact, he was the first MAGA (Make Australia Great Again), the now familiar refrain from the hard right of politics whenever the other side has somehow managed to wangle a go.
Lucy Niu, Mount Waverley
Gough, the mystery man
With the article about Don Bradman’s behind the scenes activism, Malcolm Fraser is shown wearing a hard hat at a steel mill. The gentleman beside him is not identified – why? – but is clearly Gough Whitlam.
John Mathew, Melbourne
It comes down to race
All those who suggest the abuse of Meghan Markle has nothing to do with race but is “because she comes across as spoilt and pushy” have so quickly forgotten that similar accusations were made about another person of colour – football champion Adam Goodes.
David Zyngier, Caulfield North
Clarifying Putin’s words
Vladimir Putin claims he is not the warmonger (World, 24/12). Have I missed something? Is Putin actually referring to it as a war now, not a “special military operation” or is this a mis-translation of his comments?
Isobel Bell, Ocean Grove
Taliban’s fear of women
Although equal access to education has only been around in Western civilisation for a century or so, look how far we have come. Where would we be today without the likes of Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie and Professor Fiona Wood, let alone all those other doctors, nurses and ambos who did so much for us during the COVID-19 crisis alone? Across the professions, name one sector that could keep functioning without its women and we are all happier and healthier as a result. So what exactly are the Taliban afraid of?
Bernadette George, Mildura
In praise of simplicity
Tim Entwisle readily dismisses the humble pink heath as our state flower emblem (The Age, 26/12). Just because it is common does not diminish its beauty. Flamboyance is a quality better associated with our northern neighbours.
Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills
The Aussies have lost me
Sorry, but while Steve Smith and David Warner are in the team, I’ll be barracking for the opposition. Go Proteas.
Mick Webster, Chiltern
AND ANOTHER THING
What a happy smiling pair Albanese and Dutton are (The Age, 24/12). It’s a pity we don’t see this more often.
John Cummings, Anglesea
I’m so glad I didn’t vote Liberal now that I know that tens of thousands of them will die before the next election (26/12).
Greg Hardham, Albury
The best health advice for ageing Liberal voters is to change political allegiance before the election.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
Was my Boxing Day sighting of hot cross buns in the supermarket the earliest of the season?
Caitlin Stone, Brunswick East
The Don’s advice to tarnish Whitlam’s legacy (26/12) may have put a small dent in his own.
Arthur Pritchard, Ascot Vale
″Our″ Don Bradman is not my Don Bradman.
Alan West, Research
Re ″who is worse″ (24/12). Trump is a conniving, dangerous, would-be dictator and Musk is a brilliant, self-obsessed idiot. The first guy is much worse.
John Bye, Elwood
The cricket, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, and a big crossword in The Age as well as its usual puzzles and crosswords. Nothing to wish for bar peace in the world.
Doris LeRoy, Altona
Trump is a better choice than Kennett (24/12) to be Gill McLachlan’s successor. He’s ticked more boxes than anyone.
Ian Dale, Rosebud
The King’s speech. I preferred the film.
David Price, Camberwell
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