Barley moan

I really don’t understand Scott Morrison (Paul Bongiorno, “Back in black. Cough, cough…”, May

16-22). By adhering closely to the advice of medical experts during our well-managed Covid-19 crisis, he reversed his image as the uncaring leader of December to regain overwhelming approval today. Yet, while being so busy with the pandemic that he did not have time to convene parliament, he did find time to start a barley trade war with China, our largest export market, just as we are hoping to restart our economy and snap back into full employment. It really does not make diplomatic or economic sense. One wonders if he thought it expedient to have a trade spat with China, but only a small one compared with the magnitude of our current debt mountain. Then, poor performance in recovering the economy and job creation could magically be directed away from his government. Or should we rather conclude that he should leave foreign policy and international trade up to the experts, too?

– Keith Mitchelson, St Lucia, Qld