Chris Minns is right to fear a One Nation wipeout

Labor is now in minority government in NSW. Labor’s own polling predicts they could lose up to 12 seats (“NSW Labor fears wipeout from One Nation threat”, October 28), while mainstream polls predict that One Nation could win up to 20 seats. The Coalition won’t do any deals with One Nation before the election but, of course, they will afterwards. I am suggesting that Labor simply cannot retain government – certainly a majority is off the cards, and a minority seemingly impossible with the rise of One Nation. So, the reality is, either Kellie Sloane or Mike Newman will be the next premier of NSW. Rob Sinclair, North SydneyI am a Labor voter, but I can’t wait to get rid of Chris Minns. Friend of Clubs NSW and property developers, anti protests. A more non-Labor Labor premier I can’t recall. I won’t be voting One Nation, though. Michael McMullan, Avoca BeachWhoever wins the NSW election next March will ride on the success of previous governments’ work. Wolter PeetersTry as I might, I just can’t see One Nation envisaging, budgeting, planning and delivering a massive project like the Sydney Metro. LNP and Labor ministers Berejiklian, Elliott, Constance, Haylen and Graham – and, of course, Transport for NSW – all deserve our thanks. This is what we pay taxes for: effective government. Hanson and her rabble of contrarians could neither cut the mustard nor the ribbon. Anne Cooper, Petersham At last correspondents are renouncing “We know best – just do as you are told” and considering why One Nation might be in the ascendancy. Too right, “anger does not arise in a vacuum” but flourishes from the disenchantment that Australians feel when perpetually “ignored by politicians and increasingly distrustful of institutions” (Letters, October 28). Consider Victoria. Across the metropolitan area, residents and councils have been removed from the planning process to expedite the creation of towering high-density blocks of flats. Millions of extra people are destined to exist in this vast unsustainable concrete heat island as our leafy green suburbs are decimated. And, until recently, anyone who dared question (dodgy) population and immigration policy was immediately dismissed as an ignorant racist. Well, “Pauline Hanson [did] take heed”. If One Nation had “kindness to animals”, there’d be a landslide. Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic)Rethink buybackNow that the premier has confirmed that the buyback will commence (“Confusion reigns over gun buyback plan in NSW”, October 27), perhaps he should consider the taxpayers’ priorities and rethink it. If the premier has a lazy $1 billion-plus in his back pocket, and that figure is actually unknown, maybe he may wish to rethink the value to the taxpayers funding this. Perhaps the $1 billion-plus would be better spent on our abysmal roads and not on buying legitimate rifles from legitimate owners. John Byrne, YoungThe ABC has demanded One Nation removed depictions of Bluey from its “shocking” cartoons.YouTubeVote for BlueyIt is beyond comprehension to understand why so many voters are supporting One Nation. How can voters support a party using Bluey in their cartoons to insult decent politicians? Cartoons are to entertain and make people laugh, but the standards being produced by One Nation are enough to make anyone cry (“ABC tells One Nation to stop casting Bluey in its cartoons”, October 28). Robyn Lewis, RaglanBot safeguardsKylie Moore-Gilbert spells it out very clearly (“Do you believe what you’re reading? Chances are, a bot wrote it”, smh.com.au, October 28), and if the current Liberal/Nationals and One Nation succeed in blocking the type of legislation proposed to ensure our safety online, then they will also be victims of it. Those foreign actors determined to destroy our democracy will eat them up for breakfast along the way. It’s time for Angus, Matt and Pauline to wake up, get out of the Canberra bubble, get into the real world and support effective legislation which gives us the controls and safeguards we need. Ian Ferrier, Long JettyLose-lose propositionWhoever wins the Israeli election, the real losers will be the Palestinians (“‘They are stealing’: Netanyahu unleashes election day scare tactics to rally voters”, October 28). Neither major challenger, Netanyahu nor Eisenkot, believes in a two-state solution, and both support illegal Israeli settlements. So a change of government, if there is one, will see one far-right government replaced by another, and more of the same brutal treatment of their neighbour, meaning a very depressing future for all Palestinians. Judy Hungerford, NarraweenaTrump stumpedWe must all bow to the legal institutions that have lassoed Trump and contained his all-out assault on democracy at large. As Stuart Littlemore points out (“Trump suing the BBC could be the biggest TACO of all”, October 28), Trump’s only remaining tactic in this lawsuit with the BBC, given his unwillingness to open his books, is damage to his reputation; and only those who have watched the BBC show (an audience that surely does not include the MAGA) could be called for evidence. The silliness of this and just about everything relating to Trump is breathtaking! Bring on the midterms! Bruce Hall, AvalonDonald Trump labels his opposition as communist, yet he supports the ultimate communist – Putin! Let’s hope the American voters see through him. As Obama infers (“‘Sick and tired’ Obama mocks Trump”, October 28), all Trump offers is fool’s gold. Graham Watson, WoollahraDemocracy dawningBrazil has re-elected president Lula (“Lula secures comeback victory”, October 27), rejecting the potentially autocratic right-wing son of jailed president Bolsonaro, and Serbia has ousted strongman President Vucic, electing a student-led government. Prime Minister Netanyahu will know his fate in the next few days, his party only polling 42 per cent, according to exit polls, and the US midterm elections next week may see the emasculation of President Trump. Is this the beginning of an international rejection of authoritarian and populist leaders and governments or a false dawn? We can only hope and, at home, defend our sacred democracy. Rowan Godwin, RozelleLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva scored a come-from-behind victory to remain the president of Brazil.Getty ImagesThe re-election of Brazilian president Lula demonstrates global politics is not all in one direction – the far-right direction. Lula’s win provides hope and inspiration to pro-democracy forces the world over that the far right authoritarian trend can be challenged and defeated. Rajend Naidu, GlenfieldSecurity v freedomIt was during a stopover in Singapore in 1990 that I first saw armed police on the streets. I never thought that one day I would see this happening in my own country (“Sydney tourist hotspot ‘vulnerable’ to attack, armed police unit to deploy”, October 28). Places like Singapore may continue to be safe, but how many freedoms have the people had to sacrifice to remain so? Does the deployment of armed officers in the streets of Sydney, and probably other major cities, herald an end to our safe, friendly laid-back society? We are becoming like most other overseas countries, where fear and suspicion dictates the way people live their lives. Unfortunately, recent events have made such security necessary, but that means we are not as free in the way we conduct our lives as we once were. Derrick Mason, BoorowaWould it be possible for the new NSW Police’s Armed Response Command to keep an eye out for people riding motorbikes on Sydney footpaths? Rick Johnston, Potts PointMy wife and I, a couple of 80-year-olds who have travelled widely since our retirement, have just spent a week in Sydney, having not been there for 30-odd years. What a beautiful city it is. We walked and travelled by bus and ferry all over the place. Very impressed with the cleanliness and kindness of the people, from schoolkids who immediately gave up their seats, to strangers who offered help. Ted Leahy, Floreat (WA)NAPLAN testing in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 and the HSC in year 12. Not enough already?Dominic LorrimerMore tests do little for learningThe last thing Australia’s test-obsessed schooling systems needs is a set of national exams in years 6, 10 and 12. The proposal by the Nationals-backed Page Research Centre to introduce examinations in years 6, 10 and 12 (“National exams for years 6, 10, 12 proposed”, October 28) is nuts. In these testing times, the more we test, the worse we perform. Policy makers haven’t noticed that since the introduction of NAPLAN in 2008, Australia’s rankings in the Performance in International Student Assessments (PISA) have gone backwards. NAPLAN also charts its own decline. The Page proposal says that national exams are needed to measure the mastery of curriculum content (knowledge) while NAPLAN must be retained to assess skills. Contemporary research into the neurobiology of the learning brain shows that knowledge and skills are one, complex, dynamic, neural process, not two. The Page proposal to assess skills and knowledge separately is both biologically and psychologically mistaken. Education policy needs to be refocused on learning, not assessment, continually identifying the ambient conditions under which student learning is optimised. This is what teachers and school leaders do on daily basis. Policy which supports the work of teachers and principals will have far greater effect that the burden of new and flawed testing regime. Chris Duncan, CEO, Association of Heads of Independent Schools of AustraliaAs a teacher with nearly 50 years’ experience, I think I am well placed to point out that the latest thought bubble, supported by the opposition for more national tests in years 6, 10 and 12, is a complete waste of resources as the rest of the world moves away from this discredited approach to education. Resources for schools and less crazy data collection would be a good starting point to improve results. Teachers need time to teach. All that will happen is that some will teach for the test, not for learning. NAPLAN has shown this clearly. Explicit teaching for a national exam nearly every year will drag standards down, with less real teaching and learning happening. Philip Dowle, WickhamThe David Jones store on Elizabeth Street in Sydney's central business district. Jessica HromasThere was no other store like David JonesIt is no surprise that David Jones is in difficulties (“David Jones’ future to be decided by Christmas”, October 28). When I bought a dinner suit there some years ago, the gentleman who served me was so helpful, guiding me towards my final choice of suit and fitting, that I went back shortly after to get a dress suit. Returning there recently, instead of knowledgeable and polite David Jones staff members, I discovered a sort of bazaar, where brands had their own stalls. One of the sellers was rudely arguing with a customer, and each individual “stallholder” hovered to get first pounce on a potential customer. I made a U-turn and left. In their desire to increase investors’ profits more and more, directors of these large stores are losing sight of their original purpose and customers’ needs. Donald Hawes, PeelDavid Jones Sydney is a beautiful building with a singular attribute: pedestrian access to three street frontages, Elizabeth, Market and Castlereagh, at the best address in town, Hyde Park north. Lots of people, including me, flow through the ground floor to get from street to street, reflecting, no doubt, on the way it used to be before the space was turned into a bazaar of franchised shoplets. There is no going back, that’s for sure, but the business model adopted by whoever buys the place next must surely recognise that its No.1 asset is the location. Jane Hyde, LeichhardtHands up for Ms ArdernCongratulations to Jacinda Ardern for her new role at Sydney University (“You don’t need a PhD to see Ardern is a perfect professor”, October 28), and agree wholeheartedly that a PhD may prove one is a great student, but does not always make one a great academic. Just wondering if Jacinda would be willing to take Australian citizenship (renouncing her New Zealand citizenship), and perhaps, at some future time, become the first person elected as prime minister of both New Zealand and Australia. Bernie de Vries, Bolwarra Dame Jacinda Ardern and Sydney University Vice Chancellor Mark Scott.Stefanie Zingsheim / The University of SydneyPerhaps the new professor of practice at Sydney University could have a lecture series teaching senior politicians how to practise what they profess. David Morrison, SpringwoodKeating and the art of spirited debateUnlike your correspondent (Letters, October 28), I see a chasm of Grand Canyon proportions between politicians’ engagement in “spirited debate” versus puerile calls for violence, attacking opposing politicians personally and continually venting anger and rage in question time. Such behaviour normalises incivility. This “adversarial energy” can’t be compared to the entertaining witticisms offered by Paul Keating. He had a rare gift: he could strike humorously, but he didn’t hit below the belt. Question time has become an unedifying waste of time. Gerardine Grace, LeuraSpinning a selection yarnIn this week’s Australian Story on ABC TV, the cricket career of Usman Khawaja was covered. Certainly not a Bradman, but a very good player who was dropped from the team eight times. At the moment, bowler Scott Boland is experiencing similar treatment by the selectors (“Boland axing doesn’t make sense”, October 28). Every time our other three fast bowlers are available, Boland is immediately dropped. In the second Test against South Africa, Boland took five wickets, while Cummins and Hazlewood each took zero. So, which bowler was dropped to make way for the spinner? Boland, of course. And Cummins and Hazlewood have failed again. If the team were selected on form, then Boland and Starc would be automatic selections. Don Firth, WooliIllustration by Matt Golding The Melbourne (EU) CupWho remembers when the Melbourne Cup was a trans-Tasman race? This year, there is the very real possibility that just three trainers will have horses that comprise half the field of 24 starters between them, with most of these horses having been bred in Europe, and nearly all of them having their first starts in Australia over two miles on Cup Day. Am I missing something about “Australia’s” Melbourne Cup, or am I just too old? George Zivkovic, NorthmeadFor those who’d like to push back against gambling giants, make a difference to a child’s life and keep thinking of Helen Haines, here’s a tip: this Melbourne Cup Day, instead of placing any bets or holding sweeps at work or at home, why not donate to Save the Children? I bet you’ll feel like a winner. Judith Fleming, SawtellTo submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. 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.