The costly visit to the US by left-leaning Labor minister Tony Burke hopefully proves extremely fruitful, with deals done and much achieved to profit the Australian economy beyond measure. Somehow, I think I’m being too optimistic. Indeed, such blatant disregard for the public purse is reprehensible. In the context of metaphorical travel, the colloquial Aussie phrase of “seeing the back of Bourke” might quickly become a Liberal Party goal. Figuratively, it could also describe him getting a good kick up the backside on behalf of all electors disgusted by his flagrant wastefulness. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 8Mar2024