Meg Lees was subsequently deposed as Democrat’s leader in 2001. The rift within the Australian Democrats arose when they and the electorate, realised Ms Lees had been hoodwinked by John Howard.

A dodgy deal rife with deception, including a commitment that every Australian pensioner (subject to meeting certain criteria) would be eligible for a “one off” GST compensation payment.

This criterion included pensioners being required to have at least $1,000 p/a of interest on investments to receive the $1,000 “one off’ GST compensation.

A criterion well beyond the means of the greater majority of pensioners! To be charitable to Ms Lees; possibly she was simply too naïve, or had not even bothered to research the detail of the John Howard confidence trick?

Possibly Ms Lees will be joined by Nick Xenophon as another South Australian senator outwitted by the LNP?

Barry Swan, Balgownie

Reply to the letter by Don Kelly, "HANSON A FRAUD" Mercury, Saturday April 1, 2017. Pauline Hanson is free to express her opinion and fight for issues. Aren't you, Mr Kelly? Keep democracy, freedom to think and free speech in mind.

In the fifth paragraph Mr Kelly states, "If she (Hanson) doesn't believe the scientific evidence pertaining to climate change then she doesn't believe in science".

Leaving aside the question as to whether climate change science is based on science and settled, consider the catastrophic consequences of de carbonising the economy?

Hazelwoods giant coal-fired power station closed on March 31st with a loss of 750 blue collar worker jobs, yet normally the labor movement would have stood by these workers but because of the belief in climate change and its wild child renewable energy these workers, their families and local communities can be sacrificed.

Again, people on low income and welfare are struggling to pay their energy bills for power that is increasingly unreliable which means the lights, stove, heater and air conditioner is not always working. Normally, the Labor movement would have stood up for these genuine Australian battlers but because of climate change and renewable energy these people can be sacrificed.

I ask Mr Kelly, why is the imposition of expensive, unreliable renewable energy more important, than jobs for workers and basic household needs for pensioners and low income earners?

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow

Forget about a projected republican talkfest orchestrated by the PM there are more pressing and important issues to tackle. For one, a monumental fiscal blowout, started by Labor and now fanned by the Coalition, which requires undivided government energy, verve and drive to address.

A mooted republican talkfest is nothing more than a political 'smokescreen' designed to disguise government's more critical and tougher areas of policy priorities. On this one the PM's judgement is again considered to be flawed and he is squibbing it.

D J Preece,  Balgownie

In the superficial and shallow world of popular music, it is refreshing to find a true depth of talent in Ed Sheeran. His music is truly inspirational. Congratulations to Wave FM for broadcasting a Special Show on the last day of March.

Bob Young, Mount Keira.