What Bill doesn't get is that Australia turfed his crew out in 2013 on the basis of an iniquitous and toxic carbon dioxide tax and its public policy on deathly illegal maritime arrivals.

Now, we learn Labor intends revisiting the past by reintroducing a revamped, hurtful and more entrenched climate change policy that will (again) hurt the hip pocket of we 'coalface' punters.

Shorten has intimated this will be Labor's major election plank to win office in 2016.

In any other reasonable measurement and analysis Labor's 'plank' is code for a long political suicide note.

As for the illegal maritime arrivals, Labor's Left is already in the process of dismantling the current resolve of a pragmatic Operation 'Sovereign Borders', ironically, similar to how it ruinously and systematically ripped apart John Howard's formerly successful Pacific Solution in 2007.

We all know the dire consequences of this Ill-considered decision.

Yes folks, in office, expect Labor to govern like it did in the disastrous and unproductive Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Years.

In reality, Shorten 'doesn't get it'!

D J Preece, Balgownie

According to political scientist Larry Diamond, democracy consists of four key elements:

A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections.

The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life.

Protection of the human rights of all citizens.

A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.

Guess which rule is missing from Australian politics?

John Macleod, Berry

I fear Barry Swan (Illawarra Mercury, November 26), Bill Shorten seems determined to hold on to his position regardless of the ever declining opinion polls and the prospect of leading Labor to its most humiliating defeat in history.

Shorten was not the preferred candidate by the rank and file of the party but thanks to the impossible rules (compliments of Kevin Rudd) governing the election of the party leader, votes of the rank and file have very little, if any bearing on the outcome of any leadership ballot.

Albanese was by far the choice of the rank and file and judging by his increasing confidence and statesman like bearing in his recent more frequent public appearances, it would appear he was the man for the job.

Mr. Swan seems doubtful that there is anyone within the ALP ranks capable of prosecuting the ideals and objectives of the original Labor Party and I can understand his feeling due to the pathetic leadership demonstrated by the present leader of The Opposition.

However, even after the mass exodus of so many talented Labor parliamentarians after the defeat of Julia Gillard, much talent remains but until Shorten sees fit to man up and fall on his sword, then the dire predictions of Mr Swan seem to be inevitable.

Denise Meredith, Kanahooka

WRECKING BALL FOR ROLLER SKATING RINK

So many memories! Why do Wollongong council approve every piece of Wollongong to be demolished? i do not understand. Time to revitalise with old in the picture.

_ Chris.

Spent more than Saturday's there. Broke my arm there too.

_ Samantha.