Ability is what matters, not religion or birthplace

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday December 7, 2009

I am a Green-voting atheist, with no natural identification with Tony Abbott or Kristina Keneally. But I am troubled by recent criticisms which focus on their Catholicism rather than their politics. Greg Wilson's letter (December 5-6) is one example.To criticise on faith alone is plain religious bigotry. And to suggest that Catholics cannot be trusted because they owe their loyalty to the Pope, the Cardinal or the Archbishop is just old-school anti-Catholic prejudice.Any politician, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim or atheist, should be assessed on politics and ability alone.Andrew Burke EppingMeghan Stevens (Letters, December 5-6) says you have to "grow up in Australia to understand who and what we are". She's right, you know. Having arrived here as a young adult just 37 years ago, I still can't even get my head around how that view differs from the disturbing "we grew here, you flew here" taunts of Cronulla riot fame.Steve Cornelius FairlightHaving grown up elsewhere but now being involved professionally in Australian heritage conservation, I beg to differ with Meghan Stevens. "Outsiders" may have deeper perceptions without the encumbrance of cultural blinkers.In any case, a leader should be judged by her or his integrity and competence, not background.Hendry Wan MatravilleAmericans from Ohio (and all northern states) don't say "y'all" ("Thanks y'all for backing me to the hilt", December 4). Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee - absolutely; Ohio - not. If you want to pick on the new Premier for her accent, at least get your dialect and geography right.Karen Daly Mount KemblaAnother year, another premier, and NSW loses again. Another premier means yet another ministerial reshuffle and new ministers learning on the job to administer huge budgets, in policy areas for which they have no experience. And NSW slips ever further behind.David Atkinson BeecroftWith all this exhilarating reshuffling on a federal and state level, who pays the stationery bill?Jo Porter PaddingtonKristina Keneally says her government will focus on three things: jobs, investment, health, transport, education and "vulnerable" people ("Keneally pays back puppet masters", December 5-6). Under a Premier with mathematical skills like that, the next budget will be entertaining.Matt Petersen RandwickNow all I want for Christmas is a state election.Jo Garnett BogangarRecent political dramas surely point to the need to introduce a form of ostracism in NSW.Every student of ancient history will be familiar with the Athenian practice of exiling, after a popular vote, citizens who had become a malign influence or, essentially, just too big for their boots. Several names suggest themselves immediately.But here's a Sydney twist. Why not put the exile (or two in this case) on Pinchgut, tantalisingly close to the ports and fisheries but securely out of reach?Make them go to bed earlyon fireworks nights. Let them wear distinctive garb. Oblige them to appear every hour,like figures on a medieval astronomical clock, to wave to passengers on the passing Manly ferry. Insist that they disport themselves for cruise ships and school excursions.Another unique attraction for Sydney.Peter O'Neill KellyvilleIs Kristina Keneally still the Premier? I can't keep up.Mark Plettner Kiama