It was quite apparent that people remembered his involvement in the backstabbing involvement in the removal of Julia Gillard along with other unpopular policies that saw him shunned by the voters and an easy target to run a scare campaign against him. What he doing is nothing short of similar [to the] behavior of Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd. He proved to be a complete failure over six years.

Perhaps he should just drift into the wilderness and let the rest of the party and the members decide who should lead the party. It's time for a new direction. Someone that will take the party back to what it originally stood for. Maybe a younger breed to relate to the younger voter and hopefully get someone like the late Bob Hawke - a one in a life time, another Winx. Unfortunately in this day and age it's all about their own self belief and what they will get out of it not the overall interest or outcome for the majority.

Read more: Albanese unopposed for Labor leadership

Victorian local government electoral reform in 2016 saw the proscription of how-to-vote cards, which resulted in reducing manipulation of the preferential voting system via "paper candidates". Mining billionaire Clive Palmer has just spent upwards of $50 million on a nationwide, multimedia advertising campaign for paper candidates in every federal electorate, in a successful bid to harvest preferences for the federal Liberal/National Party, significantly contributing to the return of a government ideologically committed to the continuation and expansion of the fossil fuel industry. It seems to me that the argument for getting rid of how-to-vote cards at all levels of government has become much broader than just personal annoyance.

The Bendigo Advertiser did a story on the One Tree Hill Hotel doing a fundraiser for Castlemaine RSL sub-branch for two up and raffle ("One Tree Hill Hotel holds contentious two-up game on Anzac Day 2019," April 25). Well, they raised $1650 which was much appreciated by a small branch like ours. So to all that were involved in this we say a huge thank you. Another hotel here at Campbells Creek also did us justice. Thank you to them also. I have been around this RSL for over 21 years and I am so proud to see the help and how our memoribilia display has extended. Congrats to all.

I write to say thank you to the people of the Bendigo electorate. I am truly honoured and proud to be re-elected as the Federal Member for Bendigo. The Bendigo electorate is a diverse electorate but that diversity is our strength. It is made up of a diverse collection of villages like Newstead and Malmsbury; towns like Woodend, Castlemaine, Heathcote and Kyneton; and the regional city of Bendigo.

It is a vibrant region with a proud history and exciting future. I love our region and look forward to continuing to work hard for the many work live in the electorate. I will be a strong voice for you in our nation's parliament.

Letters must carry the name, full address and telephone number of the author. The writer's name and suburb/town will be published. We reserve the right to edit letters. Letters which are deemed inappropriate will not be published.Send letters to Bendigo Advertiser, PO Box 61, Bendigo 3552 or use the form below.