That's "may": might, possibly, perhaps. But not yet happened.

As recently as January 11, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce defended George Christensen's publication of COVID-19 conspiracy theories online. "[Christensen] has a right, as everyone has, to express his views".

The Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to advocate that Christensen be removed from the Coalition, instead advising him to go "quietly" into retirement.

Christensen has already expressed his views many times. The evidence is still accessible. The government's screw-up over a non-vaccinated visitor just gets dumber and dumber. If it's one of "us" we accept and defend the right to express outrageous views; if it's one of "them" she or he has no rights. It's blatant, sanctimonious hypocrisy.

Our government is a joke and a total embarrassment to Australians everywhere.

While I applaud the government for acting so quickly and decisively to keep Australians safe, I wonder how a person who posed an existential threat to public health, social order and the very fabric of Australian society, was allowed to set foot on Australian soil?

It beggars belief that Mr Djokovic's alleged anti-vax sentiments were unknown to the government before he was granted a visa.

The assertion that Australia's reputation has been trashed over the Djokovic saga is utter nonsense.

It has been deliberately "manufactured" for political purposes by a headline-seeking media and the anti-Scomo, anti-LNP mob to suit their own agendas.

In effect, what it has done is to highlight to the rest of the world the futility of attempting to enter Australia illegally. You will be caught and prosecuted under our immigration laws, irrespective of your status or wealth.

That's not a bad thing.

Keith Hill (Letters, January 17) is spot on doubting the Djokovic saga has trashed Australia's reputation.

Djokovic is the scion of tough guerrilla forbears who, over four years in World War II, successfully fought off two invading armies with men and women in the frontline.

And now we have a Serbian who cowers in terror at the thought of having a tiny prick in one arm when several billion people have already done so, many more than once. If any reputation has been trashed it can only be Serbia's.

The Immigration Minister had the discretion to deport Djokovic, which he exercised.

But the government also had the discretion not to make Australia the laughing stock of the world. They chose not to exercise that discretion for political and electoral purposes.

We have to suffer the consequences of the government's failure to exercise that discretion.

George Christensen, Craig Kelly and Clive Palmer must be laughing all the way to the next anti-vaxxer rally.

Last week I praised the independence of the Australian judiciary (Letters, January 15). In one instance, the Federal Circuit and Family Court found for Novak Djokovic, in the next instance the Full Court of the Federal Court found against him.

There is no doubt that the Federal Court is as independent as the Federal Circuit Court. In reaction, the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said: "I thank the court for their prompt attention to these issues".

If the government had lost, would he have expressed such thanks to the court?

One imagines that in Serbia, if nowhere else, the PM's "gratitude" will invite the wrong conclusions. As usual, what's at work is the cack hand, the tin ear, and the fallow mind that just can't take a trick.

The floating wetlands at the northern end of Lake Tuggeranong appear to have suffered significant damage over the weekend, probably as a direct result of last Friday night's storm.

The pontoons have not only come adrift from their moorings, but one of them appears to have broken into three pieces and another has been turned over.

As a result, a significant plume of scum and other detritus has been able to enter the lake which will no doubt cause more pollution of the lake and exacerbate the existing green algae problem.

Hopefully the local authorities will fix the problem quickly and ensure the pontoon anchorages are much stronger and better able to withstand the next storm.

Julian Cribb is scathing in his judgement of "politics" ("It's the end of politics as we know it", canberratimes.com.au, January 14) and dismisses it.

While his assessment of how our political system works is accurate (the movie Don't Look Up comes to mind), his proposal for what to do is "hope ... in the increasing outreach of individuals and groups around the planet to one another, seeking to come together and collaborate to address the existential emergency. It resides in female leadership ... [and] the universal sharing of wisdom and co-operation".

People need more than hope.

They need to know what they can practically do when they come together.

Cribb has written elsewhere of the "Voices of" movement and the importance of carefully choosing who you give you votes to: "For a majority of voters to publicly rip up their party how-to-vote cards, ignore the deluge of deceptive advertising and soon-to-be-broken promises, and put their mark next to the name of the most decent, well-intentioned Australian standing in their electorate. The person with a track record for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, hard work and commitment to the future. The exact antithesis of the usual party clone".

In our preferential system every preference counts.

In this year's election we need to vote for the candidate, not the party if we are to change our system of politics.

Additionally, we need to build a system to hold the successful candidate personally accountable to us, the community, while they are representing us.

Active Democracy Australia has suggestion for how to do this (https://activedemocracy.org.au/).

This election we need to vote as if our future depends on it.

I had to pay a gardener to mow a patch in our park where I could put our picnic table and chairs ... but at least I am outside.

When I think of our refugees who came by boat, and languish still in quarantine in a scungy hotel with maggot-ridden food and no fresh air after nine years of waiting for a decision from immigration I am deeply disturbed and ashamed.

We all know now how difficult it can be to suffer such conditions in quarantine for only a fortnight.

Let's not tolerate this government's treatment of boat people any longer after seeing the prompt court considerations provided for a famous tennis player. Please, Hon. Alex Hawke, just let them out.

Douglas Mackenzie quite properly invokes the environment to argue against Adam Triggs' push for a return to high Australian immigration (Letters, January 16).

In the medium to longer term water is set to become liquid gold in south east Australia, as during drought, growing human demand for it exceeds the Murray Darling's capacity to deliver.

We saw Walgett having to pump groundwater when the Darling ran dry. When Tamworth was trucking water in when its supply failed, its then mayor Col Murray simultaneously wanted the current population [Tamworth Regional Council area] of 62,000 to grow to 100,000.

Is that not insanity? During the millennium drought, around 2007, Orange almost ran dry.

Politicians want capital cities and rural regions to continue growing, meaning total water demand must increase while supply will not.

If only the politicians could look beyond their current blinkered commitment to the doubtful economics' of endless growth. The signals are there for them to see.

At the moment the only thing preventing Australia from being considered a Banana Republic is a lack of fruit pickers.

Well played to the poll-wielding citizens in the marginal electorates. Did you ever think you'd influence the outcome of the Australian Open?

Re the size of the "enormous" crowd of Djokovic supporters in Melbourne awaiting the Court decision and protesting for TV. It looked like about 30 people. That shows how little normal Australians believe in the anti-vaxxer.

According to reports, Scott Morrison's Immigration Minister was considering whether to deport Novak Djokovic for character reasons. Whatever anybody may think of Djokovic's character at least he has one.

Mr Broelman, you beat me to it! (cartoon, January 12). I was going to suggest that the Biloela family and all refugees quickly learn to play tennis.

"Human error" could be considered one definition of crime.

One thing all applicants for immigration to Australia know very well.

The department never tolerates lies in official documents. Novak out!

Could ScoMo's refusal to provide free RAT kits be because the subsequent increased demand would further emphasise the government's lack of foresight in their purchasing plans?

Perhaps Prime Minister Scott Morrison should lend department head Phil Gaetjens to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help with his Christmas Party mess. Mr Gaetjens has experience in how to run an independent inquiry.

Ian Pilsner (Letters, January 14) concludes a long diatribe by saying to the anti-Morrison correspondents "If you haven't got a solution to a problem then suck it up and stop whinging". Pots and kettles Ian, pots and kettles.

Will Zed stand up for the ACT and oppose provisions in the Religious Discrimination Bill that, if passed, would override ACT human rights protections?

I can't help wondering why, if Australia is such an awful place, the members of the Serbian diaspora protesting in Melbourne last week and their forebears came here in search of a better life. Buyer's remorse?