We ignore this sage advice at our peril. In the same week, Wayne Swan appeared on the ABC program Q&A and said talk about budgetary problems was a beat-up. On the same show, Greens Senator Larissa Waters expressed a view that the coal industry must go, dismissing any suggestion that this would make our financial position infinitely worse. Bill Shorten constantly spruiks the mantra that Labor can fund the welfare state without pain, magical growth and more taxes is apparently the key. Shadow Minister for Health, Catherine King proclaimed recently that spiralling Medicare costs are fully sustainable, again no worries folks. The views of cross-benchers Glen Lazarus and Jacquie Lambie are so bizarre they would lose a pub argument, yet these people hold critical positions in our Parliament.

The only party that is facing reality and trying to confront the economic problems of this country is the LNP and it is these people who are in deep trouble for their efforts. I am convinced that in this age of entitlement, Australians have lost the plot. I hope they come to their senses quickly.

H Ronald, Jerrabomberra, NSW

Jack Waterford ("Abbott can't call on loyalty", Times2, February 4, p1) debates whether the prime minister can call on loyalty to enable him to cling on to political power, while Bob Douglas (Letters, February 4) declares that the real problems facing Australia are being neglected, namely global warming, environmental degradation and increasing social inequalities.

Climate science informs us that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are currently rising at the rate of 1.97ppm annually, leading to a temperature predicted to rise by between 1.4 and 2.7 degrees by the end of this century, given "business as usual".

If our dangerously scientifically illiterate national and state governments persist in increasing coal mining and fracking for coal-seam gas, environmental degradation and temperatures could rise to catastrophic and irreversible levels by the end of this century.

In 1939, politicians in Britain, when faced with imminent invasion, formed a true coalition government drawn from all political parties and several non-politicians, based on talents rather than political allegiances, and successfully headed by a leader with vision.

Why can't the Australian Labor and Coalition parties also cooperate on the much greater problem of tackling climate change? We need to escape from the deceptive mantra of endless economic growth in a society devoted to increasing consumption of non-renewable resources and create a new low-carbon sustainable industrial revolution in which humans live in harmonious rather than destructive relationships with each other and the rest of the natural world, for the sake of our descendants and as an example to other human societies.

Bryan Furnass, Downer

Of all the MPs supporting Tony Abbott, there must surely be some rational-thinking members who know in their heart that climate change is scientifically obvious and represents the biggest challenge now facing this planet.

Yet, as followers of their leader they must be hypocritically denying their beliefs and are consequently willing participants in the widespread destruction of a vital, world leading, renewable energy industry. Australians have shown by their massive installation of solar panels that they believe in renewable energy in direct opposition to the PM, yet these unthinking Lib/Nat MPs support a man who, against all the scientific evidence, thinks that coal is the answer! I doubt if Australia has ever had a government so deliberately blind to Australia's real needs. Why can't we have really independent MPs who know in their hearts what is best for this country and are allowed to say so instead of being ideologically arm-twisted by a backward-looking leader? Turn back, wrong way.

Derek F Wrigley, Mawson

I must have been viewing a different address by Tony Abbott at the Press Club to Robert Willson (Letters, February 5). Move the political focus back to the issues that really matter. As a voter, I was hoping to hear policies on real issues and a plan for the future but it was just more of the same. We learnt the paid parental leave scheme was being shelved but got no information on childcare funding. Big business were left wondering if they still have to pay the 1.5 per cent levy.

The team captain reiterated his leadership credentials and regurgitated the abolition of the carbon tax and the stopping of the boats. Not a word on the future of health, education or the environment. Surely these are the topics that really matter.

Robyn Lewis, Raglan, NSW

Earlier this week, the proposed paid parental leave scheme was unceremoniously dumped as policy. I am wondering why all the various lobby groups espousing women's rights/issues and the like are not expressing absolute public outrage.

A policy initiative with the personal support of the prime minister of the day, with the best chance in many years of benefiting their constituency(ies) has just been left to evaporate. One only has to quickly look at former prime ministers Howard (GST) and Keating (superannuation) to see how policy issues that have the PM's imprimatur are driven very forcefully by the government benches through to implementation.

As for the silence from all women in the Federal Parliament, perhaps they should be called to explain their own views on allowing this policy miscarriage. I pause to reflect on what options will be available for my primary school-age granddaughters to consider, should they decide to have children of their own.

Michael Doyle, Fraser

The campaign by the media (some of which are ill-disguised cheer squads for Labor) to destabilise the Coalition is rapidly running out of puff, with overwhelming support for Tony Abbott within the party room, other than a few malcontents passed over for promotion. His achievements are studiously ignored: 40 per cent increase in economic growth last year; 120,000 new jobs; the boats stopped; carbon and mining tax gone with $550pa saving on electricity; $2billion cut in red tape; breakthrough free trade deals; $50 billion infrastructure programme, etc.

The alternative is Bill Shorten's policy-free zone; unrestrained spending; blocking budget savings and middle class welfare cuts; restoring the carbon tax; and encouraging parents to sell out their kids future by saddling them with his projected debt of $667 billion ($100,000 a household), (Greece now $400 billion), and putting them on the Grecian slippery slide to a broken economy and 50 per cent youth unemployment. Today's parents are better than that!

John Shailer, Forrest

Like Colliss Parrett (Letters, February 3) I see Singapore as a shining example of democracy, but in the person of the late JB Jeyaretnam rather than Lee Kuan Yew. For many years Jeyaretnam was the sole opposition member of Singapore's Parliament, but was undaunted by the seeming futility of his position. He fought on even after being driven after out of Parliament first by trumped-up fraud charges, then libel suits which ultimately bankrupted him.

Parrett criticises our minor party senators for frustrating the government's program. That is a problem Lee Kuan Yew never had to cope with. But the existence of a meaningful opposition is part of a real democracy.

G Burgess, Kaleen

Colliss Parrett (Letters, February 3) quoted former Singaporean prime minister Lee Kwan Yew who said a successful democratic society requires two things: a constantly interested and vigilant electorate and the ablest, toughest and most dedicated of leaders.

But Singapore's national issues and society are substantially different from Australia. And it differs in one key area: it's not a democracy. In his sage-like comments as to what a democracy requires, Lee Kwan Yew can't have been talking about Singapore which pretends to be a democracy, but isn't; it's a semi-authoritarian one-party state. The government system "influences" the judiciary, press freedom doesn't exist, and any opposition parties and leaders are crushed. I'd be wary of taking advice from a leader of such a state.

Dallas Stow, O'Connor

The execution of two prisoners by Jordan, in response to the death of a Jordanian fighter pilot at the hands of Islamic State, is nothing short of tit for tat ("Jordan executes two prisoners in retaliation", February 5, p7). Not only has Jordan played into the hands of IS militants, but also its reaction will hardly be appreciated by those Western countries that are committing themselves to help eliminate these militants from Iraq and Syria.

The last thing the region needs is for the IS influence to spread to a third country.

Sam Nona, Burradoo, NSW

The Trans-Pacific Partnership currently being negotiated by the Abbott government will do dramatic, irreparable and immeasurable damage to Australia, to our way of life, and to our infrastructure if it is finalised.

We will be beholden to US multinationals who will soon be creaming away profits and turning us into a Third World nation. The ISDS (investor-state dispute settlement) clause will see laws made by the Australian Parliament by-passed by multinational corporations! The Abbott Government should be suspending negotiation concerning the TPP until we all have a chance to look at the detail. If it is OK for multinationals to have access to the terms of the agreement, then it is should be good enough for me and fellow Australian to also have access.

Jane Timbrell, Reid

FOOLISHNESS MADE CLEAR

Tony Abbott presumably has not read historian Barbara Tuchman's classic, The March of Folly, in which she writes: "three outstanding attitudes – obliviousness to the growing disaffection of constituents, primacy of self-aggrandisement, illusion of invulnerable status – are persistent aspects of folly".

Phil Teece, Sunshine Bay, NSW

SUPPLE IF NOT SUBTLE

I now understand why Tony Abbott cycles and exercises regularly. Being so flexible enables him to effortlessly put his foot in his mouth from any position at any time.

Jim Cleaver, Yarralumla

DEATH KNELL FROM PM

The most significant criteria for politicians considering who should lead their party is whether that person gives them the best chance of retaining their seat. On that basis, Tony Abbott is a "dead man walking". The only unknown is the execution date.

Ian De Landelles, Hawker

NO END TO THE JOSTLING

So Eric Abetz says "Labor [is] spreading misinformation on the public service" (Times 2, January 26, p5). No wonder he's upset; that's his job! This is a classic demarcation dispute.

Jenny Wright, Karabar, NSW

SUPERSTITION IS SUSPECT

Like Penleigh Boyd (Letters, February 5), I too have noticed a rise in pandering to superstition over science in many areas in "modern" Australia. Doesn't the Times have a duty to counter this trend?

Mike Webb, Mystery Bay, NSW

SMAIL MAIL A TURN-OFF

Australia Post claims that it is losing money as not enough people are using its services. Why would they when it takes 10 days for a small package posted in Canberra to be delivered in Melbourne?

Frances Cornish, Spence

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