Canberra Times readers have delivered a sharp rebuke of the posthumous praise for former politician Graham Richardson, while also weighing in on Donald Trump's foreign policy actions and local concerns about renewable energy implementation.
Richardson's Complicated Legacy Questioned
The recent passing of Graham Richardson has sparked intense debate among Canberra readers, with many expressing discomfort over what they describe as false eulogising of the controversial political figure. Multiple letter writers have echoed sentiments expressed by journalists Jack Waterford and Paul Bongiorno, who previously outlined Richardson's uncompromising political methods.
One reader from Garran, Dr June Verrier, pointed to Richardson's own memoir Whatever It Takes, where he openly boasted about his political dealings. She highlighted Richardson's approach to former agriculture minister John Kerin, noting that Richardson once told Kerin: "You know the trouble with you Kerin? You've never asked me for anything."
However, not all readers approved of the critical commentary. Ian Hansen from Forrest described Waterford's article as "cowardly journalism" for being published after Richardson's death, preventing the former politician from defending himself.
International Affairs: Trump's Actions Defended
The letters page also featured robust discussion about international politics, particularly regarding former US President Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions. Sharon Wilson from Uriarra Village mounted a vigorous defense of Trump's military actions, arguing they served legitimate security purposes.
Wilson contextualized several controversial Trump decisions, noting that bombing Iran aimed to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation, while actions in Yemen sought to protect international shipping from Houthi attacks. The defense extended to Trump's support for Israel against Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as anti-ISIS operations in Somalia.
Meanwhile, other readers expressed concern about Trump's recent actions regarding Taiwan and the Epstein scandal, suggesting these might represent attempts to create distractions from domestic controversies.
Local Concerns: Energy Policy and Banking Issues
Closer to home, Canberra residents voiced practical concerns about energy policy implementation and consumer protection. Several readers criticized what they described as political hypocrisy on energy costs, with Alex Mattea from Kingston calling the Liberal Party's "cheaper energy" platform "shameless" given previous policy outcomes.
Andrew McCredie from Red Hill raised specific technical concerns about renewable energy implementation, noting that Evoenergy can direct solar inverters to ramp down output during periods of high production. He argued for fairer compensation systems as household solar adoption increases.
The letters also included a cautionary tale from Peter W. Herman of Torrens, who described losing $38,200 from his bank account in 2019 without satisfactory resolution from either the bank or the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
Historical Perspectives and Fact Checks
Readers demonstrated keen interest in historical accuracy, with several letters correcting perceived errors in previous contributions. David Wilson of Braddon corrected the sequencing of events leading to the 1975 dismissal of the Whitlam government, while Vili Kemenes of Cook fact-checked statements about Hungary's border protection and leadership structure.
The ongoing debate about Gough Whitlam's legacy continued, with Mario Stivala of Belconnen arguing against erecting a statue of the former prime minister in the Parliamentary Triangle, describing his attempt to secure loans through Khemlani as nearly bringing the country "to its knees."
These diverse perspectives illustrate the engaged and informed readership of The Canberra Times, willing to tackle everything from local consumer issues to international political analysis.
