One Nation is riding a wave of discontent

Niki Savva states the midterm blues have gripped the PM and his government (“ Earth to Albo: Your radar malfunctioned again ”, September 3). It should come as no surprise. Policy formulation and advocacy don’t sit comfortably with Albanese, even after 30 years in parliament. Organising the numbers and factional fights were his forte. Declining productivity, real wages and disposable income, coupled with rising interest rates and now falling house prices have created a quagmire that has left the electorate angry. Albanese is unable to offer reassurance or hope. As Savva correctly points out, Angus Taylor and the Coalition are in an even worse predicament. Is it any wonder a frustrated electorate at the end of its tether is raising the political middle finger at both major parties, and seemingly embracing One Nation? Mike Kenneally, Manly

Memo to Niki Savva: our democracy is on the brink and your veiled acceptance of One Nation is worrying. You make no reference to Pauline Hanson’s stunt of driving a nail into a coffin labelled net zero, despite the dangerous rise in global warming we are seeing (“ Australia called out as world hurtles past 1.5 degree warming goal ”, September 2). Hanson has nothing but negativity and division as her policy framework. How can we not care about her apparent disregard for the economy and the community? Savva has wasted an opportunity to call Hanson out. Michael Blissenden, Castle Hill

Pauline Hanson, without a solution or original thought in her head, is simply copying Donald Trump and hoping for the same result at the polls. Sadly, it seems to be working thanks to a large section of the electorate who, since COVID, seem to have lost their senses. But the biggest threat to democracy and Australian values is the “big money” that is backing One Nation. They’ve also watched and learnt from the US experience – it’s so much easier to buy populist wannabes than serious politicians. So the push for Hanson is being led “top-down” – from the boardroom. It’s really nothing to do with Albo or the Coalition which, as Niki Savva points out, is finished. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

Once again One Nation is proving incapable of listening to experts or caring about future business and daily living costs (“ AGL warns Hanson that coal plan will lift power costs ”, September 3). It continues to lazily idolise and mimic other destructive authoritarian political outfits around the world, for its own fundraising endeavours and chest-thumping pursuits. Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT)

I would have thought the long-overdue drop in house prices would have Labor shouting from the rooftops (“ Chalmers on budget defence as Liberals warn of market crash ”, September 3). Surely this is the correction Australia had to have, and a Labor success story. As a rule, governments have to wait a long time to see the effects of positive policy filter through, by which time they may have been relegated to the opposition benches, and their political opponents take all the misplaced praise. So take the credit Mr Treasurer, and own this moment. Addressing the generational divide is something to be proud of, not cowered.