Donald Trump’s clown car has backfired on Peter Dutton again

Branding the ABC and the Guardian as “hate media” is another example of Peter Dutton singing straight from the Trump hymn book (“Dutton calls ABC and the Guardian ’hate media‴⁣⁣, April 28). At the start of the election campaign, he mistakenly believed emulating the maniacal clown in the White House would work for him. When it was pointed out to him that, by far, the majority of Australians dislike Trump intensely, he tried to change tack. But a leopard can’t change its spots, hence his unwarranted attack on media he perceives to be biased because they dare to criticise. The Coalition’s hatred for the ABC is well documented, dating back decades, and has led to funding cuts and job losses whenever it is in government. If polling is correct, that most of us still believe our national broadcaster is the most reliable source of news in this country, be careful when you cast your ballot. Donna Wiemann, Balmain

Peter Dutton has been careful in avoiding serious media scrutiny, preferring to appear on politically aligned media outlets that were guaranteed to give him an easy run. With an election due, that was no longer an option, so when other media asked harder questions instead of acting as a cheer squad, he resorted to attack. I am surprised he didn’t claim that the ABC was “fake news”. Graeme Finn, Campsie

Just occasionally, there comes a point in an election campaign where a desperate leader makes a claim so obviously silly that they become an object of ridicule. In 1983, Malcolm Fraser suggested people hide their money under their beds otherwise Labor would be finding ways to purloin it. Bob Hawke’s response was that people shouldn’t try because there’d be no room – that was where the reds were hiding. It seems Peter Dutton has reached the same moment with his labelling of the ABC and the Guardian “hate media”. Perhaps Albanese might come back with “Peta Credlin, Andrew Bolt, Chris Kenny – The Flower Children?” I throw it open to suggestions. Gary Stowe, Springwood

I’ve seen a lot of federal elections in my time. The current Coalition campaign would have to be the most shambolic one I can remember. Now we know the cause of all the problems. It’s the ABC’s fault. Along with the Guardian, they are the hate media. Words fail me. Bill Gillis, Hallidays Point

Peter Dutton’s Trumpian labelling of the ABC and the Guardian as “hate media” adds one more to the list of reasons I would never vote for the Coalition. Two more are robo-debt and Barnaby Joyce. Coral Button, North Epping

In labelling the ABC and the Guardian as “hate media”, Dutton reminds us that the Coalition is still, reflexively, in thrall to the true purveyors of hate and division in some private media. Nowadays, this does rather sound like a roar of impotent rage from a dinosaur sinking slowly into the swamp. Tim Parker, Balmain

Poor, desperate Peter has now descended into the murky world of “fake news” by labelling the ABC and the Guardian as “hate news”. Perhaps Dutton and the Coalition at large should stop peddling “hate” policies such as their anti-migration, anti-Indigenous affairs and anti-climate change propaganda, and they might start receiving friendlier media coverage? You reap what you sow. Tony Bennett, Broke

It’s a sad day when you find out that the last episode of Vera has come and gone. However, it’s much worse when you realise that if Dutton gets to run the country, then the ABC will suffer significant and vindictive funding cuts. No other conclusion is likely given the opposition leader’s rant that the country’s most trusted media outlet is “hate media”. Dutton should listen to the informative ABC. Then he would, when asked whether he thought climate change was real, be able to come up with something more profound than “I’m not a scientist”. James Tulloch, Westleigh

Sorry, Messrs Albanese and Dutton. Most of Australia was glued to the “haters” preferred television channel, the ABC. Why? It was the final episode of Vera, and it was much more exciting than an election. Bring on the repeats. Wendy Atkins, Cooks Hill

Peter Dutton asking voters to “know in your hearts” that he is the better option reminds me of the 1964 Republican slogan in the US, “In your hearts, you know he’s right” for Barry Goldwater. The Democrats replied with “In your guts, you know he’s nuts”, and LBJ won with a landslide. Bob Roobottom, Taree

Unwelcome division

Why has Peter Dutton made Welcome to Country ceremonies such an issue in this election (“From Trump’s phone number to the price of eggs, our experts give their verdicts on the final debate”, smh.com.au, April 28)? The ceremonies simply acknowledge the remarkable history of this country and its first people. At a recent meeting of the Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce, some members booed their own president when she gave an Acknowledgement of Country. Curiously, these individuals fail to see the irony in their behaviour given the Indigenous name of the local council and their own chamber. Dutton and the rump of the Liberal Party are mealy-mouthed: rather than bringing the community together, it is they who are stirring divisions. Carolyn Pettigrew, Turramurra

If Peter Dutton reckons the price of a dozen eggs is $4.20, then the Labor government has reduced the cost of living significantly. Peng Ee, Castle Cove

Flagging enthusiasm

Peter Dutton has said that if the Coalition is successful on May 3, he will not stand in front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag. What’s wrong with no flags? We all know this is Australia. Wasn’t it Rod Quantock who said, “Australia, you’re standing in it”? Isn’t patriotism supposed to be the last refuge of the scoundrel – or something like that? Tony Abbott used to stand in front of about a dozen flags and look where that got him. Ann Grant, Randwick

In the predawn darkness, with the sound of the waves lapping at Coogee Beach for the dawn Anzac Day service, elder Dr Peter McKenzie welcomed us to his Country. At this ceremony were many young backpackers, experiencing their first dawn Anzac Day service and possibly also their first Welcome to Country. There was silence as he spoke, as locals, visitors and tourists alike respected his acknowledgement. Powerful, emotional and significant. Philip Smith, Waterloo

Carbon carping

Bridget McKenzie trots out the hoary old chestnut that commuters are subsidising EVs (“Commuters subsidising EV drivers: McKenzie”, April 28). But everyone is paying the cost of carbon dioxide from liquid fuels being dumped into the atmosphere as a form of fully subsidised waste disposal. Why not rename the fuel excise as fuel carbon pollution fee and keep it at 50c per litre, which equates to about $220 per tonne of emitted carbon – not too far from the cost of actually removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? David Lloyd, Surry Hills

Debt disgrace

It’s not only younger voters that a reduction in HECS debt will appeal to (“HECS debt burden to shape PM’s final week”, April 28). As a grandmother, I regard it as a disgrace the debt young people are burdened with when they are just starting to make their way in the world. Reducing or eliminating HECS debt is a policy that appeals to older voters also. Not all voters are totally self-interested. Penny Ransby Smith, Lane Cove

Leaders must act on violence

The brutal reality for Australia is that 24 women have been killed this year (“Protesters call to end violence against women”, April 28). It is obvious that people who breach their AVOs are a danger to the community. This should be fixed quickly. Politicians, take note, and make sure it happens. Conflict resolution must be part of the school curriculum from kindergarten to year 12. It will make a difference. Violence is not an answer to disagreements. Females should feel safe in our country. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong

Reading today concerning violence against women, I would like to know how many houses the government purchased or built as safe places? We are sick and tired of the same headlines, premier. Let us see a plan and how much money will be allocated. Zuzu Burford, Heathcote

I have had many discussions with my granddaughters about personal responsibility for women. They have always maintained that women should be able to go wherever they want without interference. I agree. But in the real world, I have always maintained that you would be very naive to put yourself in an unsafe situation, taking personal responsibility for the risks of experiencing trauma that impacts the rest of your life. We are now hearing that many men are let off, bail etc, for violence against someone, sometimes multiple times. And they are in the community. Why is that? There needs to be a big review of the judiciary. So I am still maintaining personal responsibility but urging legal changes. Janet Scilly, Waterloo

When I saw “Call to end violence to women” on page 1, for a second I thought this might be an election issue and some important man has made this “call”. But no, it’s the women again. Women, understandably, protesting against the forgiving treatment shown to those who have committed violence against women. And, it seems, women will go on “calling” for an end to violence against women until they are heard and get some support. Seems our leaders can’t hear. Diddy FitzGerald, Windsor

Welcome to home

Welcome to Country is a bit like a welcome to someone’s home (“Abusers display only ignorance of Welcome to Country”, April 28). If it is your home, you say welcome. If it is someone else’s, you acknowledge that it is their home and that of their family. Whether you are Indigenous or an immigrant, it is deeper than that, but that is the basic idea. If I turned up at your house and didn’t greet you, you would be offended. If you didn’t welcome me into your home, I would recognise that I wasn’t wanted and would leave. David Neilson, Araluen (NT)

I appreciate that the word “country” in a Welcome To Country may not mean Australia and that it is not just geography. It is apparently about connection, family, history and stories. If this is the case, we still don’t need to hear it at every occasion, before every event and on every flight landing in Australia. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill

Time to study balance

How sad to read about a child giving up outside activities to do not much else other than study (‴⁣⁣It’s a bit extreme’: Manha’s gruelling daily routine ahead of the selective schools test”, smh.com.au, April 27). There is so much more to schools and classes than study and marks. Where is their time for recreation, inquisitive exploration of their interests, socialising, and any kind of active pursuits? I wonder how these students will cope when they go to high school and university if they have to study those long hours at this level? Surely, society and education would be better off with broad-based education and well-rounded individuals gaining entry to selective schools than those with such a narrow focus. It surely must be time to do away with these schools and do more for clever students locally to achieve the high standards they want, but at the same time achieve a life/study balance. The only people benefiting from the exercise are the colleges. Sadly, at the same time, clever students are put off by the culture that has developed around some of these classes. Work hard certainly, but that can be achieved at your local school. After all, you have to study the same subjects and topics for the HSC. Augusta Monro, Dural

Make identity free

Quality Australian television locked behind paywalls is unacceptable. In the past, free-to-air series such as Bodyline, The Dismissal and Vietnam reinforced and challenged our national identity. Anyone with a TV could share epoch-defining events. Even seeing the Australian landscape – the outback, familiar old buildings or a troop ship departing through the heads – brought home the relevance of the world we’ve inherited. Now, shows such as The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Boy Swallows Universe, also about triumph through adversity, are solely available to those who can afford many dollars a month for subscriptions, which is itself a telling depiction of our past, present and future. Peter Farmer, Northbridge

Animal empathy

You don’t hear many good stories to give you happiness, but you feel most emotional when it comes to a dog or a cat or one of our pets, whether sick or lost or dead (“Missing sausage dog Valerie found after 529 days at large”, smh.com.au, April 26). Valerie’s story of being away from her family for 529 days is one of those beautiful stories. Imagine how resilient those creatures are. We should feel the same for the animals we eat – pigs and cows are just as lovable as dogs and cats are, with more intelligence. What a wonderful world it would be if other animals’ hard days were over as well. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

In times of war and global instability, it is good to read a feel-good story with a happy ending. Peter Miniutti, Ashbury

Election exam

I agree with your correspondent (Letters, April 28). I have long thought there should be some sort of IQ test before being allowed to vote. The only flaw in that theory is that I probably would not get to vote. Tom Duley, Bronte

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