Correction

Crikey says: Re. “Abbott’s blind ideology has left Morrison up shit creek” (Friday). In Friday’s edition, we stated that John Fraser had worked at JP Morgan, when in fact he had worked at UBS. The article has been amended accordingly.

On the ALP Right

John Richardson writes: Re. “Rundle: welcome to Richo’s Chinese Restaurant” (Friday). Guy Rundle says: “No one really doubts that something very, very bad has happened to the NSW Right of the ALP, and the NSW ALP more generally; that it has suffered a sort of catastrophic collapse of purpose and moral identity, which has not only left it directionless and unable to propose a plausible alternative, but created a moral decay within, an ungoverning of self in its principal players.”

Others might say: “No one really doubts that something very, very bad has happened to the NSW Right of the ALP, and the NSW ALP more generally Australian politics; that it has suffered a sort of catastrophic collapse of purpose and moral identity, which has not only left it directionless and unable to propose a plausible alternative, but created a moral decay within, an ungoverning of self in its principal players.”

On Morrison’s job as treasurer

Les Heimann writes: Re. “Abbott’s blind ideology has left Morrison up shit creek” (Friday). So this is an election year and the Coalition’s “battle lines’ are abundantly clear: union-bashing being the underlying narrative and tactics include threats of double dissolution for failure to support a union star chamber, Sunday penalty rates and more. This is the real Turnbull. He must bow to his natural constituency and he is happy to do so I believe.

The conservative pretence of being the best economic managers, defence of Australia champions, and clever and agile under Turnbull is wearing thin with no real sign of an economic turnaround; other than a weakening, a flawed narrative based on withdrawing benefits not needed and a clear and constant refusal to do nothing to remove privilege from the wealthy in terms of superannuation and negative gearing tax benefits — all veneered by blaming unions for all wrongs and threatening an increase in the GST.

The worst offenders when it comes to blatant rip offs, price gouging, tax evasion, bribery and bullying are not unions. Business is guilty of all these offences and a whole lot more. Witness for example petrol priced at around $1.25 a litre when crude is $30 a barrel compared to $1.35 when crude was $100 a barrel. Men’s high brand shirts and jeans retailing at $150 when the landed costs are $7. Large companies paying little and even no tax through “dodgy” interest and cost shifting with their overseas family coy’s.  The AWB blatant bribery and many other companies as well going unpunished. Primary producers and farmers generally pushed to the wall by the retail monoliths forcing down prices. Phoenix companies leaving workers financially high and dry.

These companies and these activities will never be seriously considered by a coalition government. Instead they spend more and drive employment rich companies out of Australia; Mitsubishi, Holden, Ford all thrown out and never mind the jobs gone. When a genuine and much needed innovative project comes along in the NBN Turnbull emasculates it and sneers.

So much for the conservatives. Who in their right minds, other than the rich and powerful, would vote for them? The alternative is a meekly led Labor party.

It’s time for Labor to genuinely stand up for the vast majority – those ripped off, those victims of the privileged bullies. It’s time to call this mess what it is. It’s time to stick it up ‘em.

Don’t be meek, be strong. Tell the punters the day of the carpetbagger is over. Do it now and dare the arrogant bullies to fight openly on what’s best for the majority — not the minority.