July 27, 2026 — 8:00pmMegan HerbertTo submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.VICTORIALabor politicians think that getting rid of Jacinta Allan will save them from the voter tsunami in November. These are the men and women who rolled over when the former premier Dan Andrews anointed her elevation.These are the people who accepted her leadership, and accepted her crippling debt and diminishment of basic services for a project rife with alleged corruption, and uncertain return on investment. They are all complicit, and will all share in the electoral pain.Mike Pantzopoulos, AshburtonAndrews’ role in this messI lay considerable blame at the feet of Dan Andrews for the state government leadership tussle. Like Jacinta Allan, Andrews did many good things for Victoria. However, both are stained by their support for two male-dominated unions – the CFMEU and the United Firefighters Union. Both unions have been subjected to investigations of bullying, misogyny, thuggery and alleged corruption, with IBAC’s report into the UFU close to release.Andrews’ failure to stand with his then minister, Jane Garrett, against the firefighters union, and Allan’s refusal to call a royal commission into the building industry reveal an unprincipled leadership culture. It will forever cloud their many accomplishments. Healthy culture starts at the top.Philomena Horsley, Carlisle RiverCarroll is not the answerAngus Taylor worked hard to undermine and bring down the federal Liberal Party’s first woman leader, Sussan Ley, thinking he could do better. He hasn’t.Now, Ben Carroll, another man, thinks he can do better than Jacinta Allan with only four months to the state election. As an ex-teacher, if Victorian Labor thinks Carroll is the answer, I have no idea what question they are asking.Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg HeightsNo better time to save the stateThe opposition is inept while One Nation will be happy to scoop up hundreds of thousands of freebie votes from decent citizens simply aghast at the intransigence of Jacinta Allan to own her mistakes.Now, there is no more crucial time for those competent remaining members of cabinet to step up and save this state from what will be a failure of democracy – in the absence of any other coherent political party with a plan for Victoria.Bernadette George, MilduraPrioritise housing and potholesThere seems to be the opportunity for someone with a few ideas on a sensible regional housing development plan, and a commitment to repairing road potholes to take charge.Don Hyatt, Dingley VillageNot the legacy one would expectJacinta Allan’s dubious legacy won’t be the level crossing removals, the Melbourne Metro, or even the unprecedented, alleged corruption of the Big Build. It will be the first One Nation-Liberal coalition.Peter Rushen, CarnegieReplacing Allan not the fixDoes the Victorian ALP really believe all its woes begin and end with Jacinta Allan?Michelle Goldsmith, EaglehawkAll for one and one for allDoes anyone seriously think that replacing Jacinta Allan will change anything? Her cabinet has been aware of the issues for months, so any replacement will almost certainly have been complicit in the current state of affairs,Dave Torr, WerribeeTHE FORUM=Unity on showFascinating to observe the media reporting on the just completed Labor Party Conference. At the conference, there were no public spats (except for the notable contribution of Ed Husic).So, as a result some media reporting sees the prime minister as a dictator ruling the party with an iron fist, brooking no opposition and ruling with a small cartel of sycophants! Ordinary members don’t get a say, the whole thing is undemocratic!But what would the commentary have been if there were passionate disagreements on the floor of the conference? Well, of course the PM has lost control of the government and the hard left unions are in command. He is a weak, pathetic leader, and either should be overthrown forthwith or an early election should be called! We are being dictated to by communists and thugs.Seems to me the PM can’t win either way. The truth is, that when in government conferences such as this do need to be managed so that measured discussion and calm leadership are exhibited to the hoi polloi.But in opposition, it’s a different dynamic. There does need to be robust and challenging debate so that good policy is developed for when in government.Not rocket science.Brian Burgess, Middle ParkHusic tells truthShame on Labor’s popular and successful SA premier, Peter Malinauskas, for accusing Ed Husic of seeking “to garner attention for ulterior motives” by advocating for Palestine and holding Israel to account (‴⁣⁣Ulterior motives’: Bad blood simmers within Labor over Israel,” 27/7).But that low blow pales into insignificance in comparison with the extremity of the statement issued by the Labor Friends of Israel group. Its claim, reported by journalist Matthew Knott, that rising opposition to Israel was “a concerted attempt by hardcore violent revolutionary communists in league with Islamist extremist to subvert the union movement, the branches and the Labor Party” appears quite unhinged, even paranoid.The sober truth is that many peace-loving Australians grieve in solidarity with the Palestinian people over the devastating losses that continue to be inflicted on them, losses measured not just by deaths, injuries, deprivation and material destruction, but by dehumanisation and the denial of culture, heritage and justice. It’s Ed Husic who’s telling the truth.Tom Knowles, ParkvilleShame, Labor, shameMany in the Labor Party should today hang their heads in shame(‴⁣⁣Ulterior motives’: Bad blood simmers within Labor over Israel policy″⁣, 27/7). This includes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who shamelessly stifled discussion on Israel and Palestine, giving victory to one side, without free and open discussion.This is undemocratic and unworthy of Labor. Ed Husic’s advocacy for Palestine is evidence of his humanity, not of ulterior motives, as Peter Malinauskas has suggested. Husic rightly wants Australia to be cleared-eyed about Israeli human rights abuses in Palestine, to support international law and to stand firm against the irrational polemic of the pro-Israel faction.Lorel Thomas, Blackburn SouthConformity over allDissent is not tolerated. Labor’s caucus unity policy seems like a page from an authoritarian regime’s rule book.A valid point Ed Husic made at the Labor conference that ″⁣conformity without a real debate is a weakness″⁣ rings true (″⁣Why Albanese barely mentions Libs, but speaks his true enemy’s name″⁣, 27/7).Hopefully, Husic will not meet the same fate as Fatima Payman when she didn’t fall into line before being indefinitely suspended and then leaving the Labor Party.altogether.Helena Kilingerova, VermontGun buyback failureThe lack of federal and state government action on gun control following the Bondi massacre is very disappointing (″⁣Australia had a chance to do something big. Then came weak leadership and fatal errors″⁣, 26/7).Gun violence was how 15 people were killed at Bondi. The refusal of most state governments to adopt the national gun buyback scheme, as recommended by Virginia Bell in her interim report, undermines the scrupulous focus of the royal commission on Jewish people’s experiences of feeling unsafe and threatened.I agree with the ‘senior Labor figure’ who ‘declined to be named’: ″⁣They all need to explain why they are ignoring the recommendation of a royal commission that everyone was demanding.″⁣Kate Kennedy, MentoneVAD delayThe prime minister’s statement on Voluntary Assisted Dying makes no sense. It’s comparing apples with oranges.Albanese states that someone having a heart attack “can’t do that over Telehealth, seeking VAD is just as important”. It’s a muddled statement.One is an emergency situation needing immediate hands-on care, while VAD is where someone has had many consultations with an appropriate health professional about having autonomy over their choice to die with dignity when all options have run out.Albanese also says there is “potential misuse of Telehealth consultations on VAD”, but does not say what this misuse would be. He says face-to-face recognition is needed, otherwise”from my perspective, VAD would be undermined”.Again, no explanation of how this undermining would occur. He ignores the plight of those who are unable to access VAD in person.At the Labor conference, rank and file voted to have a conscience vote on this matter. Now, Prime Minister Albanese has put an obstacle in the way of a vote in parliament in good time. He says cabinet must agree to this before it can happen — another decision behind closed doors.Very disappointing, but sadly not surprising from a prime minister now silencing open debate.Julie Carrick, LeopoldJoyce’s rideVery disappointing to see the free miles being handed to Alan Joyce on his reputation-laundering book tour. Media organisations should think carefully about whether this same access would be afforded to a subject without gilded PR backing – let alone one with Joyce’s well-documented history and hard-earned reputation for controversy.Public interest journalism and Alan Joyce interest journalism aren’t the same thing. The Age should put on its own oxygen mask instead of giving it to another Chairman’s Lounge miscreant looking to skip the queue.Alex Crossbell, NorthcoteCockroach pressureI second the motion for a parents’ school strike (Letters, 27/7). It’s not only teachers who spend their hard-earned feeding and clothing students and resourcing cash-strapped state schools, their family members do too.If governments don’t, won’t, can’t fund schools and their staff properly, it’s time for sustained public pressure. It worked a treat for the ″⁣cockroaches″⁣ in India.Jane Ross, San RemoElectricity chargesOur smallish electricity supplier has been gobbled up by one of the big league companies, so I was waiting in trepidation as to what would happen to our tariffs. Some slight relief in energy charges as has been widely predicted, but a 36 per cent increase in the daily supply charge seems like gouging to me. I will be looking around.Warren Thomas, IvanhoeKombi communityI am disappointed to have to disagree with your correspondent’s rumination regarding the flashing of headlights to warn of oncoming hazards (Letters, 27/7).In the 1970s when my family had a VW Kombi campervan, the flashing of headlights was to acknowledge another VW Kombi on the road.‘Vee Dub’ camper families were a tight-knit community and, like motorcycle riders, we always compared notes when we met another camper whilst on holidays.Steven Haby, MilduraGoodwin’s goodbyeThank you, Caroline Wilson (25/7), for highlighting the lack of respect and gratitude shown to a Simon Goodwin, a dedicated. premiership-successful coach. It wasn’t so much that a change wasn’t needed. But it was so unfair and unkind the way it was done. I’m a long time MFC supporter. But I did not support that.Jennifer Baker, Brighton EastMissed connectionRe Caroline Wilson’s claim that the disrespect over the Melbourne sacking of Simon Goodwin was ill-conceived. If she were in touch with the Melbourne supporter base, she would have been aware that Goodwin had lost the edge over his coaching approach.The connection of the midfield with the forward line was appalling and tired. Every supporter was aware of it and was totally frustrated.Geoff Cheong, Aspendale GardensMeghan in the kitchenMy thanks go to Ben Pobjie for his article (″⁣Markle ado about nothing? The verdict on Meghan as guest MasterChef judge″⁣, 26/7). Ben viewed the cooking program so that we didn’t have to, and provided an account so colourful that we could feel the deep and tasteful culinary moments.Judith Hudson, ElwoodF word retortContext — just as booing adds nothing to the enjoyment of a football game, so too the F-wordNo booing at Marvel stadium on Saturday night. But we were forced to repeatedly hear the F-word. Late in the first quarter I felt I needed to say something.″⁣Every second word you have used is the F-word. I’m sure your vocabulary is wider than that″⁣. Ten seconds silence. and then the reply: ″⁣Fornicate!″⁣I had to smile at that.And guess what? The F-word wasn’t used again for the rest of the game.Paul Gooley, Ringwood EastMatt GoldingAnd another thingA leadership challenge within the Labor Party in Victoria, is rather like the crew of the Titanic voting to throw the captain overboard. And, there will be no room in the lifeboats come November.Chris Carstairs-Prott, Traralgonis repeating itself for the State Labor premiership. Firstly Cain-Kirner, now Andrews-Allan. Did the blokes know the ships were sinking before they jumped?Graham Cadd, DromanaIn the spirit of the release of the film The Odyssey, it seems like Victorian politics will reflect that of a Greek tragedy for Jacinta Allan this week.Mel Smith, BrightonWhat do the Liberals, Nationals and One Nation have in common? They are being left behind by the clean energy transition.Greg Curtin, NunawadingThis whole government thing is a battle, isn’t it? Even a leadership challenge looks difficult when things aren’t going well.Murray Horn, CressyWe should send Pauline Hanson, Kevin Rudd and Gerry Hand back to 1788. They could stop the boats, and save Australia from being invaded by foreigners.Leon Arundell, Downer, ACTFurthermoreRe Alan Joyce preaching on broad social issues such as the Indigenous Voice to parliament, etc. (27/8). Had he treated his employees with equal concern, his words might carry more weight.Josephine Perry, MorwellDid Alan Joyce really expect us to forget that the then government propped up the airline with a $2.7billion taxpayer-funded gift with seemingly no strings attached?Brandon Mack, DeepdeneI note that Victoria’s reluctance to host the Commonwealth Games has not stopped our media from sounding a note of triumphalism when reporting every gold medal.Don Phillips, FitzroyThe Commonwealth Games: a chance for us to show off our superiority over countries like Lesotho, Seychelles and Tuvalu.John Howes, Rowville The opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. More:LettersAnthony AlbaneseDaniel AndrewsALPJacinta AllanFrom our partners