On asylum seeker policies
Andrew Haughton writes: Re. “This is the $6 million feature film you paid for to keep refugees out of Australia” (Thursday). Mark Twain never met Immigration Minister Peter Dutton but described him perfectly: “with a face like an envelope without any address written on it”.
On Shorten’s budget reply
Michael Arthur writes: Re. “Shorten reply focuses on fiscal discipline” (Thursday). It was so important for Labor that Shorten’s speech emphasise fiscal responsibility by focusing on savings and passing on spending promises. Widespread perceptions of fiscal profligacy, justified or not, have been Labor’s greatest Achilles’ heel in federal elections. Last night should convince some unaligned voters Shorten is more Hawke than Whitlam – a precondition for their electoral success.
Andrew,
Mark Twain is credited with many quotes he should have made (like Cicero), but the actual quote is ‘Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it and see me going mad before your face with suspense!’ from ‘the American Claimant’ made by Sally Sellers to the Honourable Kirkcudbrightshire Llanover Marjoribanks Sellers Viscount-Berkeley, of Cholmondeley Castle, Warwickshire.
Your version is better, though.