Candidate quality on the ballot paper

November 8, 2026 — 8:00pm

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ELECTIONS

It’s been a real lift to the spirits to know that democratic institutions have held in the United States and extreme MAGA positions have been thoroughly repudiated in the recent elections.
Now Americans have intelligent, capable and diverse new senators, congressional representatives and governors who have been able to withstand the massive tide of big money advertising against them.
Nick McKenzie and his fellow investigative team members (″⁣Top One Nation official’s strip club links to bikie figure″⁣ 8/11) have revealed the chancers applying to be candidates for One Nation and the dubious figures behind them.
A longstanding fringe party has been backed with a great deal of money from ultra-wealthy donors with MAGA links and suddenly seems to in contention for seats in our state parliament. This feels like the fringe group who took over the Republicans two years ago.
Yet, there are 14 excellent independents standing for election who have been thoroughly vetted and selected by their own communities in seats from Ashwood to Shepparton. Two of these are standing in upper house seats.
If you want fresh voices, these candidates committed to integrity, the environment and their own communities rather than any parties are surely the better option. Fixed four-year terms in Victoria mean there’s no chance for a course correction in two years.
Helen Hook, Black Rock

Choose candidate fit for purpose
In the natural world “fittest” does not mean strongest or most powerful. It actually refers to the idea of being “the best fit” for adapting to a changing environment. Applying this principle to the prospective frontbench members of the next Victorian government is a useful way of shaping one’s decisions when filling out the ballot paper. Who is better prepared and qualified – more “fit” – to govern?
Jim Spithill, Glen Waverley

Same as it ever was
With all the corruption and general bad behaviour in our governments nowadays, I yearn for the good old days of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Robert Askin, Henry Bolte and Neville Wran.
John Rawson, Mernda

Show us the detail
Perhaps it is time for the state governor, on behalf of the king, to dissolve parliament and appoint an administrator for Victoria. Elections should be deferred for 12 months to allow the three major contenders (devoid of any miscreants) to prepare a plausible management plan, so that Victorian voters can properly assess the offerings.
Richard McLoughlin, Dromana

Faith is a matter of opinion
Columnist Barney Zwartz suggests that having ″⁣faith″⁣ in the Australian Electoral Commission, given that we cannot ″⁣verify all the facts″⁣ of how the AEC works, is the same as religious ″⁣faith″⁣ in a divine entity (Opinion, 8/11).
For Barney’s information, the AEC has offices throughout Australia, a phone hotline, a government-appointed commissioner and many hundreds of staff.
And it is staffed neither by angels, demons nor fairies at the bottom of the garden. It also does not require temples of professional intermediaries suggesting they speak on its behalf without the slightest knowledge of whether it actually exists.
Julian Guy, Mt Eliza

One Nation credentials
The standard of candidates to represent One Nation continues to decline. Will some sort of criminal record soon be a prerequisite?
John Walsh, Watsonia

THE FORUM

Bad influencers
It’s not often I agree with Neil Mitchell, but he is right to warn that social media is killing sensible political discourse (Victoria’s voters are going in blind, 11/3).
Not only has the election campaign become defined by edited 20-second video grabs that distort and misrepresent, voters are increasingly relying on the punditry of online influencers and culture warriors.
Traditional broadcast media may not be perfect, but at least it has trained journalists using credible sources, and regulators holding it to account. Unless we rein in social media, and teach the next generation to use it critically, our liberal democracy and our elections are under serious threat. The influencers shaping this election answer to no one, and that is precisely their appeal.
Tim Wright, Point Lonsdale

Manipulation’s limits
Neil Mitchell (″⁣I interviewed Ben Carroll and Jess Wilson. One went viral, the other complained″⁣, 8/11) writes about how Jess Wilson and Ben Carroll are very guarded and evasive in their responses because in the social media age answers can be manipulated and distorted. If there is one thing we have learnt from the US midterm elections, it is that gross manipulation of public opinion has its limits.
Despite Musk’s saturation spending on pro-Republican propaganda, it had zero effect on the voters’ decisions.
David Fry, Windsor

Trump-like stamp
Finally, we are seeing the writing on the wall. Populist parties like One Nation have been allowed to be racist and insulting because that’s their style (“Trump’s midterms shellacking is a gift in disguise”, 7/11) but according to a Stanford University political scientist, “populist parties aren’t good at governing”.
Hopefully, Australian voters will realise this when they cast their vote in the forthcoming Victorian elections. Pauline Hanson is not on the ballot card in Victoria, but her Trump-like stamp certainly is.
As voters we have the opportunity to put the values of a liberal democracy back on the table. Voting no for populist parties is a vote for moderate policies that puts our community first and that includes all Australians.
It’s time to put respect front and centre.
Marisa Di Giacomo, Beaumaris

Take the Tulla
Build the airport rail down the middle of Tullamarine freeway, either raised or at ground level. No Sunshine station upgrade or other political agendas so that work can start now and finally get this project back on the rails.
Tony Danino, Wheelers Hill 

Biding time
In order to aid the reduction of state debt, the incoming state government should offer a 99 year lease on the land set aside for the proposed new rail lines. By that time, proper plans should be completed.
Elizabeth Meredith, Surrey Hills

Crippling awfulness
Your article by Nick McKenzie, Tony Ambrigetti and Paul Sakkal (″⁣Top One Nation official’s strip club links to bikie figure″⁣, 8/11) completely confirms my long-held opinion about the crippling awfulness of One Nation. Their xenophobia even extends to our First Nations. It also confirms my opinion that One Nation simply has ‘No Notion’.
Daniel Meszaros, Parkville

Weekend stabbing
I read that the stabbing resulting in the death of a food delivery rider has sent ″⁣fears some of Melbourne’s China-born residents have for their safety into overdrive″⁣, 7/11).
Fear of crime is a daily reality of life in many parts of Victoria. The protest Sunday by Melbourne’s Chinese community and that in August by Sunshine’s Vietnamese community (about the death of shopkeeper Van Viet Truong) demonstrate that affected communities are angry, scared and frustrated about what happened.
Trang Vu, Eltham North

Words on Chapel
Re Malcolm Knox’s tale of unneighbourly language (″⁣Some men can’t park their hatred of women″⁣, 7/11).
Passengers on a Chapel Street (7/11) had to endure a tirade of expletive language (every second word) from a male passenger, unhappy with the slow progress of said tram, every other topic on his mind, and oblivious to how his behaviour uncomfortably affected others. What did he expect? This was Chapel Street, not the driver’s fault. Cut the language mate, and your world might improve.
Christine Hinton, Glen Huntly

Two-state questions
It’s not the first time that correspondents to this paper have referenced the historical fact that Palestinian authorities or spokesmen have rejected and resisted Israeli attempts towards a two-state solution in the past (Letters 7/11). Your correspondent reminds us that this was more than 20 years ago; does that mean that the option is off the table today?
Will it have helped that the Israeli government and IDF response to the October 7, 2023 atrocity committed by Hamas was to execute another atrocity in Gaza and embolden Israeli settlers in the West Bank to further persecute Palestinians there? Might a weakened Hamas make a two-state solution more achievable with the inclusion of the right negotiators and diplomats from across the Middle East deployed?
Will it have helped the hope for peace in the Middle East to have arguably produced in another generation some hundreds or thousands of children or youths who despise Israel for what it has done in Gaza?
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick

Scrutinise Chalmers
Your Letters correspondent’s defence of Jim Chalmers (7/11) is a striking exercise in political apologetics, camouflaged as economic analysis.
Rather than objectively examining the treasurer’s performance, he selectively rewrites economic history, blames the failures of previous governments and paints Chalmers as a courageous reformer, now beset by forces beyond his control.
It ignores the negative consequence of Labor’s own (over) spending, taxation and productivity policies.
It is a remarkably generous assessment of the treasurer, who like all politicians, should be judged on his own record, not given “a free pass” through selective comparisons with his predecessors. Blaming Keating and Costello for today’s economic challenges defies the economic fundamentals.
Governments cannot control global shocks, but they certainly influence inflationary pressures and economic confidence. Additionally, independent RBA monetary policy is not some political inconvenience to be dismantled.
Certainly, debate negative gearing, CGT and trusts, but selective history, political spin and convenient blame shifting is not sound economic analysis.
Chalmers deserves the scrutiny on his own record, not immunity through comparisons with his predecessors.
Mark Tolson, Kew

No to recession
The lack of imagination the Reserve Bank demonstrates in its effort to manage inflation reflects poorly on the policy capability of the Board. As Governor Bullock admits, interest rate changes take time to have an effect.
Yet, their decisions make no concession that the measures they use are monthly, and based on past activity. They are imperfect reflections of inflation, with a miscellany of data that excludes important items such as mortgage costs. Maybe the RBA should find a more reliable measure of inflation. Or, to reduce demand, investigate ways that don’t target the less well-off. How about dropping calls for federal government to cut government spending and encouraging an increase in the tax paid by the better off?
What about ensuring that large corporate businesses pay their fair share of taxes? Or curtailing opportunities for the big banks to earn huge profits by passing on the full amount of the rate rise for loans? How about regulating the capacity of the large supermarkets or landlords to continually raise their prices without accountability? Without imagination, the RBA may well bring about the recession we don’t need to have.
Joy Mettam, Hawthorn East

Gentle patient care
I am a retired obstetrician and gynaecologist and have a PhD in Spiritual Direction. As I have been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, I am now living in one room at a supported accommodation facility in Carlton where I receive excellent care. I am fortunate that I have a diagnosis, a place which is now home, and supportive family and friends. I write today about my fear for the future for myself and all who develop neurodegenerative diseases if radical cuts to immigration are made.
We need gentle, patient care. All those who cared for me through an acute episode are people present in this country on temporary visas. Their ministrations meant that I was successfully diagnosed in my own bed, treated and nursed. I did not occupy a precious emergency bed. Simple treatment was given.
If immigration is curtailed in the way several political parties are demanding, this quality of care will no longer be available, and hospital emergency departments will be further overloaded.
Dr Janet Duke, Carlton

A giant hug
A recent visit to the Alfred Centre for a day procedure made me count my blessings. Going into where the procedure took place was like walking into a mini United Nations. The professionalism, care and warmth shown made me tear up. It felt like a giant hug.
I know the health system has issues, but the people working in that system are gold.
Ann Maginness, Beaumaris

AND ANOTHER THING

Trump
The Democrats should welcome Stephen Miller’s appointment as White House chief of staff. As the saying goes, don’t interrupt your enemy when they’re making a mistake.
Stuart McArthur, Carlton North

Stephen Miller, Trump’s hard-line pick for chief of staff, says ″⁣Trump is the most transformative political leader in American history″⁣. Well, he sure got that right.
Merryn Boan, Brighton

An aspect of the ″⁣American Dream’ is that any citizen, if their aspirations are high enough, has the potential to one day become the president. Unfortunately, an aspect of the ″⁣American Dream″⁣
is that any citizen, if their aspirations are high enough, has the potential to one day become the president.
Jae Sconce, Moonee Ponds

Donald Trump wants to appoint UFC boss Dana White as his press secretary. Wasn’t King Kong available?
Ian Hetherington, Moama

Victoria
The delay in delivering a major IT system to Victoria’s mental health system is no longer a delay; it’s a significant schedule slippage. Thank god for that.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South

I’m very impressed with Ben Carroll. So many completely new ideas and initiatives, you’d never realise he’s been in parliament for a decade.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill

Furthermore
The troubles of the Royal House of Windsor remind me of a quote from Tolstoy: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” The Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and their children seem to be particularly unfortunate.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn

Jimmy Saville, Russell Brand. It’s always the people you most expect.
Paul Custance, Highett

First, it was Figgins Diorama to close, then Georges, now David Jones. Where to shop now?
Suzanne Palmer-Holton, Seaford

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