Let us state what was obvious from the past two years: Tony Abbott was the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time. An effective leader is one who inspires, who is confident but not arrogant and who makes the hard decisions while showing empathy for those who are affected. An effective leader understands when to lead from behind rather than from in front and when a subtle touch is more effective than brute force. Most importantly, leadership is earned. It is not a right. From his "captain's choice" blunders, his inability to champion a debate about tax reform, his opposition to gay marriage, his defence of Bronwyn Bishop and his embarrassing one-line mantras of "no, no, no", Mr Abbott showed he was not the prime minister that Australia needs. Like any chief executive who does not perform to expectations, he had to go. This is not intended to be "Abbott bashing" and I wish him all the best for his future endeavours. But we do ourselves no favours as a nation, and Mr Abbott no favours as a person, if we do not acknowledge he is not a leader.

Ian Moore, St Kilda East

Deaf to everyone but his acolytes

Tony Abbott's interview with Ray Hadley reminds us why he is no longer the prime minister. During his two-year term, he sought refuge in the comfort of radio and television studios where he got a sympathetic ear. Ray Hadley, Alan Jones and Andrew Bolt provided him with a mutual admiration society, rather than asking him the difficult questions. The fact that his government was "on the nose" with the electorate was something he was unwilling to countenance and his acolytes not willing to proffer to him.

Hans Pieterse, Narre Warren North

Let the new Prime Minister govern for all

So much for Tony Abbott going quietly. He is already using his Sydney shock-jock friends to cause trouble. He is not helping by telling us there will he trouble if his policies are changed. Mr Abbott, we not only dislike you, we also disliked your policies. Malcolm Turnbull appears to have compromised too much in order to become prime minister. It is time for him to stand up to the Coalition's right-wing dinosaurs. They changed leaders because they knew they would lose the next election. They should wake up, stand back, let Mr Turnbull govern for all and put a muzzle on Tony Abbott. Out of sight is out of mind.

Patricia East, Mont Albert North

An example of how to lose gracefully

Congratulations, Tony Abbott. You have been honourable, respectful and gracious in defeat compared to the disgraceful and malicious behaviour of Kevin Rudd. His departure (and that of Julia Gillard) were to Australia's great benefit.

Bob Worcester, Doncaster

Still refusing to face the facts

And that is why Tony Abbott was rolled. After 30 consecutive negative polls under his captaincy, he still thinks he could have led the government to re-election. How then does he explain the instant turnaround in these same polls upon his departure?

Rosie Elsass, Brighton

No, the people don't elect the prime minister

Tony Abbott's lament over the circumstances of his being deposed as prime minister demands a further reminder that it is the parties – not the people – who elect them to the office. Calls by recent ex-prime ministers for a stop to the practice of removing incumbents is tantamount to a call to abandon the Westminster system. Hubris blinds them to this reality.

Graeme Noonan, Phillip Island

Doctor, I want that test

I welcome the government's proposed reform of the Medicare benefits schedule (The Age, 29/9). I am, however, disheartened by media suggestions that GPs are responsible for the health spending problem.

As a medical student, I was told that "based on statistics at the time", I would be sued at least once. As a medical educator, I know this remains a concern among GP registrars. Unnecessary investigations are a result of fear of litigation, coupled with a society which is uncomfortable with uncertainty and intolerant of poor outcomes.

Getting a patient to understand that there is no evidence for the test or procedure that their neighbour swears saved their life is difficult and time-consuming. True reform must reward GPs for spending more time with patients and extend beyond the benefits scheme to facilitate communication between health professionals to eliminate duplication of investigations. It should also involve public education campaigns about such things as inappropriate use of antibiotics and the role of imaging in back pain, in order to change patient expectations.

Dr Melanie Cheng, Fitzroy North

Tax windfall gains

Thank you, Michael Pascoe, for publicising the scandalous abuse of windfall gains from land rezoning and other planning decisions (BusinessDay, 30/9). It is disturbing that our politicians show little interest in fixing this problem. Pascoe focuses on the favourable access of the well-connected. The broader issue is that value gains due simply to planning decisions should be reaped by the community and not by landholders and developers, well-connected or otherwise. There should be a very high rate of state tax on windfall gains attributable to planning decisions such as rezoning or relaxation of other limitations. Not only would this provide much needed revenue, it would lessen the incentives for corruption of planning decisions.

Tony Ralston, Balwyn North

A day off? I wish

Acting Small Business Minister John Eren's comment that Friday's public holiday will be an opportunity for "all Victorians to enjoy the long weekend and spend quality time with friends and family" is an attempt at damage control. He also reveals a lack of understanding of small business. Those who are securely employed and receive holiday pay will enjoy the day off. On the other hand, small business owners and the self-employed will be working extra hard to cover losses incurred through lost business, delays and high penalty rates, and otherwise trying to make ends meet.

Emma Borghesi, Sorrento

A big day for many

About 20years ago, premier Jeff Kennett pinched the Show Day public holiday from Victorians without a mandate. Now Premier Daniel Andrews has honoured an election promise by giving it back as a grand final holiday. This much-needed respite will provide rest and recreation for a workforce which is bearing greater workloads and stress than it did two decades ago. It is also an opportunity for small business in the regions to share in the benefits of increased patronage over a new long weekend.

Hans Paas, Castlemaine

Who designed your tie?

Perhaps Elsie O'Neill ("Sadly, women are still accessories to players", Letters, 30/9) should have continued to watch the Brownlow Medal count, rather than switching off part way through the red carpet commentary. Daisy Pearce, the winner of a number of football awards, is a true representative of women who are intelligent, articulate and ambitious and who are pioneering women's football at an elite level. I congratulate the AFL for showcasing her. Maybe one day we will see our sportswomen parading on the red carpet with their male partners showing off the latest fashion and accessories for men.

Marg Stephens, Greensborough

Strategic defence

The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister would be wise to accept Hugh White's advice on the future contract for the multibillion-dollar submarines and in particular the new defence white paper (Comment, 29/9).

For too long, strategic defence issues have been mismanaged to the detriment of taxpayers and Australia's place in the world. The defence white paper needs to be coordinated with a new foreign policy white paper. We will get a better return on investment if we spend our scarce resources on peace, sustainable development, strategic partnerships, international development assistance and diplomacy in an inter-dependent world.

Ordan Andreevski, Avondale Heights

Do we need the subs?

Hugh White raises a number of valid points regarding Australia's purchase of submarines, except for the most important: Why do we need submarines at all? When is it anticipated that they will be used in the manner for which they are designed?

Innes Hutchison, Highton

Back on Earth ...

It is great to hear scientists have detected salt water on Mars (The Age, 29/9). Could they now do us all a favour and check for a few nice beaches and a surf break around there somewhere. Down here on earth, the sea water is getting a little uncomfortable for an old surfer and his mates.

Tim Upston, Taranna, Tas

Uber is the future

My kids have been using Uber (The Age, 30/9) for as long as it has been around and, some months ago, I came on board. The problem for the taxi industry is that Uber provides a service the public wants. When I order an Uber ride, I know my driver's name, the car he is driving and its registration number, and I can call him on his mobile. He has my number and I can see where he is on my screen. How many times have you been in a scruffy taxi where the driver does not square with the photo ID? Take an Uber ride and experience a clean car and polite driver. The taxi industry should invest in a service that gives the public what Uber does.

Garry Ringwood, Kew

A good idea after all

Our Foreign Minister appears to be experiencing a conversion on the road to Damascus. She pilloried Kevin Rudd's attempts for Australia to get a temporary seat on the UN Security Council. Now she has announced Australia's bid for an open seat on it in 2029.

Gary Ross, Heidelberg

Informed planning

Blocking exploration for onshore gas and oil (The Age, 29/9) is dreadful policy. Political opportunism by the Victorian Liberals. Exploration is research on which informed planning should be based. Instead fear and ignorance are driving the debate. Fracking is an engineering method that has been in use for decades, and the Auditor-General acknowledged this can be managed. The Auditor-General's report also failed the logic test by recommending value-based zoning of areas for exploration before the research (read exploration drilling) is done. Having been involved in mineral exploration for 45years, I know this is madness. It is better to do the research, manage the risk and plan development from a position of knowledge.

Mike Raetz, geologist, Yarraville

Coal's toxic legacy

Greens leader Richard Di Natale is to be congratulated for proposing a crackdown on the toxic legacy of the coal industry (The Age, 29/9). The industry asserts it "borrows" the landscape for a while, but Australia is pock-marked with disused mines. Forcing companies to stump up a bond that will cover the cost of rehabilitation before they start digging – so taxpayers are not left with billions in unfunded liabilities – is long overdue.

Andrew Laird, Malvern East

No to all violence

To provide an antidote to male violence, the media must do its part: by not praising aggression on sports fields, or in the world of business, or on the floor of Parliament, and finally, not being complicit in the worship of war.

Steven Scheller, Benalla

Welfare and wellbeing

In your Editorial (Saturday Age, 26/9) you professed concern for the welfare of asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru. You also suggested my company, Transfield Services, did not. You are wrong. Having seen the challenges in Nauru and Manus first hand, I know that our staff are making a positive difference in very difficult circumstances. We have a zero tolerance for abuse and are committed to the welfare and wellbeing of asylum seekers. We are an Australian company working lawfully under the terms of a bipartisan government policy, providing welfare and garrison support services to vulnerable people. I am proud of our work.

Graeme Hunt, CEO, Transfield Services

AND ANOTHER THING

Maybe if we stop overfishing the oceans and decimating sharks' food source, they'll stop trying to eat us.

Ian Hudson, Yarrambat

Tony Abbott

So Tony thinks he would have won the election. In the words of a famous Australian, tell him he's dreamin'.

Barbara Greenaway, Mount Eliza

Tony, you're living in la la land.

Meredith Andrews, Seacliff, SA

I get the scariest feeling that we haven't seen the last of "our Tone".

Andrew Wood, Moonee Ponds

Tony, stop being a sore loser and just go away.

Sheridan Rodgers, Berwick

Politics

The "new" government needs to look no further than 7-Eleven to find a model for wages and penalty rates.

Mary Hoffmann, Richmond

Preaching respect for women while ignoring the rapes of refugees on Nauru is hypocrisy.

Kate Kennedy, Coburg

Pollies want me to hear their message but I'm too busy counting their overuse of "at the end of the day" and "let me be perfectly clear".

Glenys Smith, North Melbourne

Furthermore

If humans go to Mars, it will only be a matter of time before its water is fouled, just like Earth's water.

Henk Verhoeven, Beacon Hill, NSW

John Passant (29/9), with regards to alternative music, I believe Pope Francis is fond of The Saints but less keen on The Damned.

Barry Miller, Kyneton

Red carpets, high heels, inappropriate cleavage, embarrassing after-party interviews. Oh, and some bloke wins a medal or something.

John Skaro, Malvern

I'm feeling smug because I wriggled a second nine-letter to go with earthworm: heartworm (Target Puzzle).

Ian Field, Williamstown

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