Aussie a political circus compared with NZ

I HAVE long been a vocal critic of our political landscape and, although I still believe the democratic system needs a major overhaul, I am now more comfortable with our politics and politicians.

Why? Because I have just spent an extended period in Australia.

What an embarrassing, shambolic circus politics over there is. Two minor parties who frequently hold a balance of power — both racist, one led by a convicted fraudster, the other led by a man who supports one of his MPs using the phrase ‘final solution’ when it comes to immigrants.

A deputy leader espousing honesty and integrity while having an affair with his secretary. She bore him a child and he left his wife and four daughters. Politicians openly stabbing each other in the back, none appearing to give a damn about the people who put them there.

In the Australian parliament, leaders and parties literally sit a kitchen tablewidth apart and hurl insults and assorted vitriol at each other.

Combine that with the fact they have three layers of politics — state, federal and Senate. They would have difficulty agreeing on the colour of grass.

As an aside, Australians in general are quite taken with our MMP government, viewing it as a system that makes parties more accountable and ‘‘Ardernmania’’ still exists there. Graham Bulman

Roslyn

More suffrage cover

IT is a great pity that your coverage of this year’s anniversary of women gaining the right to vote is pathetic and nothing to be proud of.

I have hunted everywhere in this morning’s edition (ODT, 19.9.18) but I seem to have missed it, or perhaps you have?

Perhaps ‘‘100 Years Ago’’ will further prove that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Anne Fisher Port Chalmers

[Abridged]

Time for an election?

AS someone who voted National at the last election, the state of the coalition between Labour and NZ First is fast becoming an embarrassment.

After they promised cheaper GP visits for all New Zealanders, nearly a year on, where are they?

I hope there is another election soon instead of in 2020. By then the country will be in a mess.

Damien Garrett

Northeast Valley

The cost of copper

I HEAR you Ross Grimmett (ODT, 20.9.18).

If Spark had done its due maintenance over the years — like we paid them to do — we, the consumers, wouldn’t be faced with this ‘‘supposed’’ issue.

Our alarm etc. needs copper and we are fast learning how unstable the internet is for these things.

However, the service providers want us to have everything ‘‘on the net’’ so they can extract more money from us for a less efficient service.

I too have seen the workmanship that is provided by Spark’s contractor, Chorus, which will not be coming closer to my property than a ‘‘40foot barge pole’’.

Quite frankly, I am becoming very tired of service providers manipulating the customers and it costs us not them.

It’s about time people stood up and stopped this continual manipulation of our choices. Lyn Meinders

Normanby

Fantastic Polyfest

THIS was the first year that I decided to attend a number of events at Otago Polyfest and I was more than impressed. The venue, organisation and performances were all exceptional.

Congratulations to all. I will be returning for sure next year.

Steve Walker

Port Chalmers