While staff at the Gallipoli Mosque are urging support for Jason Clare, federal MP for Blaxland, rather than fellow muslim Ahmed Ouf, one might wonder whether they do so a bit too cheaply (“Mosque backs MP after $3.35m cash hits home”, DT, 31/3). With the Labor vote collapsing to under 20 per cent in the recent Cumberland elections, Jason Clare and Tony Burke from neighbouring Watson must be terrified. A win for Ahmed Ouf in a hung parliament might truly have opened the door to those exercising Islamic beneficence at the mosque. The art of negotiation is surely not to accept the first offer. The wisdom of the stand taken by the mosque, choosing to be less divisive and operate within the existing political apparatus, should be applauded. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 1Apr2025