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Nick Cater (“Cosy deals make the unskilled among our best paid”, 31/5) clearly enumerates the way in which powerful unions with the connivance and co-operation of state and federal Labor governments, particularly in Victoria and Queensland, have entrenched their future in a number of sectors of the workforce.

These deals now see significant swathes of unskilled workers earning double the salaries of most teachers, police and nurses and other allied health professionals, and with far more perks.

The Coalition brought on the double dissolution on the basis of a recalcitrant Senate repeatedly refusing to reinstate the construction industry watchdog. This failure has resulted in a 30 per cent increase in the cost to you and me of all major new infrastructure and construction projects. Is the Coalition worried that if they attack this subject, the unions and the ALP will immediately raise the spectre of WorkChoices? The general public surely will see through any such attacks if the evidence is clearly explained. Time to fight back, Malcolm.

R. T. Hawksley, Benowa, Qld

Buying off the Greens

Re your editorial (“CFMEU largesse we can’t afford”, 31/5) it is an absolute disgrace that the Greens, who paint themselves as the pinnacle of purity, are bought off with massive donations from the CFMEU to block the passage of a new building watchdog, which we know from experience under John Howard, saved the nation billions. How can we run this country properly with this sort of political corruption right under our noses?
Phil Tucker, Tweedheads, NSW

In the national interest

We can all recall instances on election night where a newly elected prime minister declares an intention to govern for all. For Bill Shorten, who has so effortlessly climbed the pinnacle of political divisiveness with his class war rhetoric, this could prove to be a particularly arduous task — but then again, the capacity to plumb the depths of political hypocrisy may know no end.
Mark Awerbuch, Crafers, SA