The government's claim that Labor is obligated to support their new omnibus budget saving measures bill is nonsense ("Cormann ramps up budget pressure", August 23). During the election Labor promised to support these measures as part of an overall package that also included negative gearing and capital gains tax changes to name just two. If the government were to put all of Labor's promises in this new bill then obviously Labor would be obligated, and no doubt would, support it. If the government merely cherry picks Labor's promises then obviously there is no obligation at all.
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Ian Bradley Balgowlah Heights
If the Liberal Party was really genuine about budget repair rather than simply wedging the Labor Party, it would include its superannuation changes in its omnibus bill. One could be forgiven for thinking the next election campaign has started already.
Charles Hargrave Elizabeth Bay
Childish insults and a petulant demand that Labor accept sight unseen a massive raft of cuts despite their record of unfair budgets. The adults are still in charge.
Graeme Finn St Peters
Mathias Cormann has yet again demonstrated the Coalition's preference for playing childish political one-upmanship rather than pursuing mature dialogue. What a moronic way to foster bipartisan support for their budget repair plan - by publicly accusing the opposition of being "wibble wobble, wibble wobble, jelly on a plate" ("Cormann's wibble wobble wide of a sizzling budget insult to Shorten", smh.com.au, August 23). How adult is that? When you're teetering on a political cliff, who else would abuse the person with the rescue rope? Diplomacy, wherefore art thou? It certainly doesn't augur well for the Coalition's ability to negotiate with the Senate - or Malcolm Turnbull's longevity as PM.
Bert Candy Lemon Tree Passage
Olympics chef did us proud with straight talk
The Rio Games may have been a disappointment as far as our performance was concerned, but they have been a triumph for the work of Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller ("We fell well short: Chiller sums up campaign", August 23). She has been decisive, pragmatic and upfront with athletes, officials and the media. She has coped with potentially difficult situations wonderfully well. What a refreshing change from the double talk and "management speak " we are used to from other leaders and spokespeople. Bravo Kitty. You were a winner.
Max Redmayne Russell Lea
During her last press conference at the Games, a tired (and understandably emotional) Kitty Chiller is asked "if her ongoing position was in jeopardy". Chiller has been patient, fair and even handed - the perfect person to have occupy what must, at times, have been a difficult job. Her reappointment (should she wish to accept) should be automatic.
Paul Parramore Sawtell
Given the plethora of tables analysing most aspects of the Olympics, I wonder if someone could produce one showing the ratio of trainers, officials and miscellaneous hangers-on to competitors on a sport-by-sport basis.
Allen Young Terrey Hills
Let's have a plebiscite on the amount of money Australia should spend on Olympic Games.
Susie Linder-Pelz Paddington,
It was asked on the TV News tonight, "What went wrong in Rio?". May I suggest that nothing went wrong. Our expectations were always too high. Our Olympians did their best and can be very proud of their achievements. Let's not put them down.
David Lloyd Kincumber
Tale of two energy deals speaks volumes
Last year Peter Hartcher devoted a column to comparing China with Islamic State ("IS, Russia, China: all fascist states", March 4). At least he is consistent in supporting the Treasurer's decision to exclude two Chinese bidders from the sale of Ausgrid: who would want murderous terrorists supplying our household power ("China more realistic than Ausgrid critics", August 23)? Yet in November our national security agencies were blind to this terrifying analogy. They saw nothing wrong with State Grid being part of a consortium to buy 100 per cent of the lease to operate another NSW electricity distributor, Transgrid, even though Transgrid supplies government departments, defence facilities and intelligence agencies. And as recently as March they had no problem with State Grid bidding for Ausgrid. What has changed between then and now if not the election on July 2 of a slew of MPs vehemently opposed to trade deals and foreign investment? Hartcher says the Australia-China Relations Institute is part Chinese-funded. In the same spirit he would need to point out, in discussing their output, that the US Studies Centre or the Lowy Institute are "part American-funded". Like them we aim to be judged on the quality of our work and strength of our arguments.
Bob Carr Director, Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS
Farming best practice
Like any other business operator in a free market economy, if a farmer can't afford the operating costs then he or she should not be in the industry. Matt Brand ("Unshackle farmers so they can feed the world", August 23) places unrealistic faith in the capacity and will of farmers to do the right thing under a self-regulating regime of land clearing. Sadly, if the current rate of land clearing continues, more and more Australian farmers will eventually have trouble feeding their own families, let alone the world. Maximised preservation of native vegetation is farming best practice and has to be a principal aim of every farmer's business plan.
Jane Dargaville Forster
