Hip pocket trumps other concerns

Richard Denniss’s article (“Inside the ‘cargo cult’ campaign”, May 7-13) explores the possibility that our prime minister is destroying the faith of his party’s loyal followers in what used to be safe city seats. Given recent polling and the rise of independents, this certainly looks to be the case, but like all arguments there is another side. The PM, despite his manifold sins and wickedness, is good at electioneering, and his promises of more coalmines and fracking ventures will resonate with those voters and indeed anyone who is unemployed, a group much larger than the official figure, especially in rural regions. So while polls show Australians are most concerned about climate change and political integrity, this is eclipsed by the need for financial security, a dream promised by both sides of politics even though they both intend to return to high immigration levels that will keep a lid on wage demands and maintain the housing price spiral.

– Don Owers, Dudley, NSW