Peter Dutton, like Donald Trump, speaks to the ignorant, making sweeping claims that have no basis in reality (“Better off? Dutton’s trick question”, April 2). How does he define “woke”? Who will make the decisions on which schools are “woke”? Couldn’t the values of many Christian schools be considered “woke”? Also, is he going to tell the electorate how many external contractors will be employed to replace the 41,000 employees he sacks? Margaret McDonald, Erina

Ethics and integrity will go by the wayside in Dutton’s lust after power. His Trump-like methods should be enough to alert voters to his populist rhetoric and deceptive tactics, but some are too self-absorbed to notice. Many say they are worse off than before without proper scrutiny. Unfortunately, desperate strugglers are likely to assume that Dutton will provide them with a brighter future despite the obvious lack of detail and substance in his policies. Populism, with its lies and empty promises, is spreading throughout the world, so Australia needs to be wary. Graham Lum, North Rocks

Ross Gittins and Peter Dutton both know that the “are you better off?” question is seductive to voters. It appeals to a natural feeling of pessimism which pervades people’s thinking when they have to make a decision. It beats having to think your way through. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill

Peter Dutton wants to know if I’m better off now. Why is anyone in the least bit surprised? This question is similar to his approach before the Voice referendum. I knew which way to vote then and will do so again now, despite his scaremongering and misinformation. George Zivkovic, Northmead

Ross Gittins’ thoughtful exploration of the opposition leader’s major pitch to electors exposes the inherent superficiality of Peter Dutton’s quest for power. And, although it is not said directly by Gittins, he implies that Dutton is treating a large percentage of voters as unthinking fools concerned only with their narrow personal circumstances. Also, Gittins focuses on two broad assumptions: that the Coalition would have done a better job had it been elected in 2022, and will do a better job than the ALP if elected in 2025. Based on the experience of the nine years of Coalition government until 2022 and the fact that Dutton and his leadership team are the leftovers from that administration, it is a brave individual who would give any credence to those assumptions. Like many, it appears Gittins is hoping that voters look at the broader picture when deciding which major party to support (if at all?), and at this stage, the solid record of the Albanese government, together with the policy-free zone that is the Coalition indicate re-election for the ALP. Ross Butler, Rodd Point

Spot on, Ross Gittins. It’s about the next three years. Roger Mail, Wahroonga

Let teachers teach

As usual, Jenna Price is bang on (“We’re losing teachers because of horrid parents. Ban them”, April 2). School leaders are leaving the profession because “When the going gets tough” at school, some parents try to save, step in for and excuse their kids. They get involved rather than let children face consequences and take responsibility for themselves. Teachers and principals are professionals; let them be. Let them do their job. Our society will benefit. Promise. Lisa Williams, Dulwich Hill

“Hear, Hear!” is echoing across the country as current and ex-teachers read Jenna Price’s article. When I started teaching at Petersham PS in the 1960s, we had to ban parents from the playground. It wasn’t because they were malicious, but because they sat beneath the kindergarten windows chatting and smoking with the smoke drifting in. Personally, I found that when I worked in less affluent areas at disadvantaged schools, parents were less trouble. Most of them came from other cultures that valued education and trusted teachers and the school to do what was in their child’s best interest. Unfortunately as the decades progressed, and parents were busier, most schools started seeing an escalation in parental interference. I wonder if there is an element of guilt there because they spend less time with their offspring. Whatever it is, it must stop if we are to retain our teachers. Who would blame any of them for walking away? Mary Lawson, Marrickville

So true, Jenna Price. In wanting their kids to be “the best”, parents can forget that excellence comes in many forms, not all of them academic. I was a teacher for 35 years before a change of career because I just couldn’t continue due to lack of support from a principal, which left me quite depressed at the time. Not all kids are high academic achievers. It’s frustrating and harmful when a parent won’t hear certain truths about their child, such as that they cheated on an assessment task by submitting an AI-written essay, and then intervenes to prevent their child from having to follow the rules and resubmit the task because they claim it will be too stressful for them. Where do you even start on what message that sends to a teenager, and what position it puts a teacher in? Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

Schools are complex workplaces, with multiple stakeholders all expecting input into a wide array of school practices, including uniform codes, school sports, academic performance, after-school care, and homework. It may be worthwhile for a school to evaluate some core essentials of their organisation. Does the school have a published complaints policy for handling concerns and complaints? Are protocols in place for addressing requests for interviews with teachers, inclusive of emails sent to the school? Has the school website utilised parental input in terms of communicating key information to parents and the local community? Banning may be one strategy; harnessing energy and expertise is another. Rod Leonarder, Roseville

The parent storms into the room, raging. They start the meeting very aggressively by yelling: “Why did you ...” and continue with their latest grievance. Their rage is based on feedback from their darling, who never does anything wrong, is always polite and attentive, but in reality, may be a non-stop disruptive unit. The parent may drop the volume a little, but the teacher will leave the session feeling wrung out. Is it any wonder that teachers and principals who also have to deal with this type of aggression also, are leaving the job? Parent/teacher meetings are meant to be an exchange of information on both sides, the parent giving background about their child and the teacher talking of the child’s progress and how the child is being helped. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

I absolutely abhor those Tutoring Centres’ signage implying their tuition has the ability to unlock the little genius that lies within each child. Most of us are good averages. That’s great. Find out what you’re good at. How are you intelligent? I don’t usually call an aeronautical engineer to fix my loo. Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne

Banking on mum and dad

Whatever happened to the much-heralded Gonski school funding review and reforms to create an equitable school funding system for public and private schools (“Parents propping up public schools”, April 2)? Parents propping up schools will add to the pressures on living costs. For transparency, perhaps the Education Department should release all public schools’ bank balance details to help justify the drive for parents’ contributions. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

Red tape should have already been cut

It’s time we got to grips with “red tape” and we should commend the shadow treasurer for his brave push to do just that (“Angus Taylor’s plan for scissor gang to cut red tape”, April 2). But why did Taylor, Dutton and co not cut this when they were senior ministers not three years ago? And does the solution really require setting up another government department – Investment Australia – presumably involving more not less of the dreaded tape? Tony Mitchell, Hillsdale

The Herald has done an excellent job of showing where Dutton’s public service job cuts would likely be – not Canberra. It would be good to show the job cuts under Mathias Cormann’s 10 per cent “efficiency savings” that in reality gutted public services so that consultants and labour hire casuals could replace them. Or not. So departments ran with many vacancies. Hence, long waiting times for Veterans entitlements. Denise Thorpe, Wentworth Falls

According to Angus Thomson, NSW doctors get paid an average salary of $222,017. Despite bonuses from working nights, weekends and public holidays, my pay packet never resembled this. Was this an April Fool’s prank? Jo Rainbow, Orange

Trade with the EU not US

Australia and the EU should restart trade talks since the US has no intention of honouring its agreements (“Farmers in Trump’s sights”, April 2). Trump can make Americans poor again, but there’s no reason the rest of the world should follow suit. Samantha Chung, Kensington

With possibly a million head of stock lost to flooding in Queensland and NSW, whatever Trump throws at the livestock industry may prove to be minor. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

Without wanting to sound unpatriotic, I look forward to Trump imposing a tariff on our meat products. Because this may result in lower meat prices locally. At my local butchers, lamb chops are $32.99 a kilo, rump steak $39.99 a kilo and the humble sausage $17.99 a kilo. These are outrageous prices. When we are one of the world’s biggest meat producers (like gas), why can’t we share in our bounty? As an aside, when I was living in Asia I could buy Australian exported meat much cheaper than what it sold for in my home country. Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads South

President Trump’s proposed tariff on Australian agricultural products could inadvertently affect local prices, and for the better. Rib-eye steak was $85 a kilo at my butcher this week. I look forward to a local fall in prices should Trump prevail. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill

Dutton’s Keatingism

Honestly, who wouldn’t pick Kirribilli over Canberra (Letters, April 2)? Labor diehards should celebrate the fact that Dutton has inadvertently paid homage to their greatest living statesman by emulating his purported “If you don’t live in Sydney, you’re just camping out” opinion. Col Burns, Lugarno

Unhealthy divide

If 40 years as a hospital staff specialist taught me nothing else, it is that the people of NSW will not get the system they deserve without joint management of the public hospitals by the Commonwealth and state (“Doctors ordered back to work”, April 2). The first planning step is to establish a national health and hospitals commission, a policy taken to the 2019 election by the ALP but not heard of since. Doctors’ resignations, ambulance ramping and unconscionable waiting times for surgery and outpatient specialist consultation are all solvable, but never by the state alone. The jurisdictional divide in health wastes precious resources and underpins the continuance of unnecessary dysfunction. Graeme Stewart, Avalon Beach

Minority memory issues

I’m miffed by the enthusiasm offered by some readers who are hoping that we end up with a minority government, relying on teals and independent members holding the balance of power. You get a vision of them all holding hands walking down George Street whistling Waltzing Matilda, but I’m wondering whether these people are either young or have memory issues. You only need to look back to 2010 when both major parties ended up with 72 seats a piece and Julia Gillard formed a minority government with the Greens and a handful of independents. The Greens eventually pulled out because of mining tax issues and I think one of the independents likewise withdrew his support because of a lack of action on poker machines. The ALP held on to power but only just. Do we really want a repeat of this? As they say, be careful what you wish for – you might just get it. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth

Outback future proofing

Outback residents know there will be floods, some with more impact than others. Outback properties are often vast. I’d like to see, as part of future proofing outback properties that run animals, regular high mounds above the flood line, built on these stations that provide some refuge for animals to prevent the suffering that endures from natural disasters. There needs to be room for wildlife too. Jacqui Keats, Black Head

EVs paved the way

The so-called “free ride” for EVs has been well-earned (Letters, April 2). We early drivers of EVs have been paving the way, testing the performance, ironing out the bugs, quelling uncertainties, reducing emissions and generally doing other motorists a favour for years. Now, after a successful trial period, if our road use costs increase, so be it. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills

EV owners are getting a ″⁣free ride″⁣? I’ll happily pay a per-km road usage charge in my EV as soon as fossil fuel drivers pay a pollution tax. The fuel excise does not come anywhere near to covering the costs of that damage. Brendan Jones, Annandale

Le Pen scratched

Sometimes the sword is mightier than Le Pen (“Le Pen barred from pursuit of public office after funds misuse”, April 2).Peter Miniutti, Ashbury

Love all

Welcome, Daria Kasatkina, to Australia, a land of the young and free (“Pride and prejudice: Star lifts lid on defection”). Peng Ee, Castle Cove

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