Letters | Letters to the Editor

DECEMBER 11

Boys' club means few complaints pass muster

Readers discuss the state's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission report which found Victoria Police is riddled with sexual discrimination and harassment.

DECEMBER 10

Elitist statement which won't generate change

Readers discuss the Turnbull government's innovation statement.

DECEMBER 9

Emergency networks: Social responsibility under the spotlight

Telstra's commitment to regional Australia is stronger than ever.

DECEMBER 8

Taxation reform: take action to target the major avoiders

Readers respond to Amanda Vanstone's article on tax reform.

DECEMBER 7

The gradual destruction of a once vibrant sector

Readers are highly critical of the rorting and misuse of taxpayers' dollars that have taken place in the private vocational sector, and the decline of public TAFE institutes. One reader believes that a royal commission into the technical and vocational system is necessary.

December 6

Mental health: Applause for steps taken in the right direction

Thanks to members of government, family and professional carers, service providers and community.

DECEMBER 5

All credit to Howard for toughening our laws

Readers are shocked and horrified that there has been yet another mass shooting in the United States, with many asking why Americans will not accept tighter gun-control laws.

DECEMBER 4

Children: Get comfortable with the reality of gender

Readers are concerned about children and gender issues, as well as kids in detention.

DECEMBER 3

Bitterness will get you nowhere, Mr Abbott

Readers discuss the articles by Peter Hartcher about how Tony Abbott lost the prime ministership.

DECEMBER 2

The sale of our port not in the national interest

Readers express concerns about the sale of the Port of Melbourne, including the danger of ''ceding economic, environmental and strategic control of a significant state asset to a foreign company or state''.

DECEMBER 1

Australia must step up to the challenge and act

Readers call for strong action on climate change at the Paris talks.

NOVEMBER 30

The Andrews government: Failing when it comes to anti-corruption

November 29

Church views go beyond freedom of speech

Readers express their views on issues of faith and same-sex marriage.

NOVEMBER 28

Perpetrators must pay for their horrific crimes

Readers comment on the issue of domestic violence.

NOVEMBER 27

Security: Schism in Islam blocks pathway to stability

NOVEMBER 26

Domestic violence: Awareness is good, but we need a solution

Family violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence – such fluffy, fanciful terms. Why don't we call it what it really is – hateful, deliberate, bloody minded, brutish, controlling, evil, murderous and horrifying?

NOVEMBER 25

It is political terrorism practised by hooligans

Readers express a range of views about terrorism and the call for ''boots on the ground'' in Syria.

NOVEMBER 24

Land use: Prime agricultural land shouldn't be subdivided

Councils on Melbourne's fringe continue to propose short-sighted planning laws allowing further subdivision of prime agricultural land.

NOVEMBER 23

Foreign investment: Signing away our land, livelihood and heritage

Our governments past and present seem to be quite prepared to sign away the rights and possessions of their citizens.

NOVEMBER 22

Paris attacks: Knee-jerk reactions have created more challenges

Governments around the world have used appalling actions by terrorist groups to justify agendas that may not have otherwise been accepted, writes one reader.

NOVEMBER 21

Terrorism: No hope of victory while Turkey gives IS lifeline

World leaders have sworn to do all in their power to crush the so-called Islamic State. Our Prime Minister joined the chorus at the G20 Summit in Ankara. Yet it's all huff and puff that will never blow IS's house down, writes one reader.

NOVEMBER 20

Religion: Turning a blind eye to state-backed extremism

Western nations have known for years that Wahhabism is the driver in changing a largely benevolent Islamic faith into an extremist, polarised religion.

NOVEMBER 19

Paris attacks: To win war we must not glamorise protagonists

The war on terrorism is a war of persuasion. Words and images are powerful. If you want to glamorise terrorism and present the protagonist with all the appeal of a handsome rogue pirate in a Johnny Depp movie, then call him a mastermind and flash his youthful visage with all the trappings of Islamic State regalia around the world – that will certainly do the trick.

NOVEMBER 18

Health and wellbeing: There's no more fat to cut from public services

More than 35 per cent of public hospitals required a "letter of support" to continue to operate (The Age, 13/11). Perinatal services have already been cut and hospitals are relying on charity fundraising for basic equipment purchases.

NOVEMBER 17

UFC: Sickening sound of cheering as blows land

I am an aficionado of all mainstream sports, including combat sports, and can appreciate the training, techniques and discipline entailed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

November 16

Giants of the free world have been emboldened

Not surprisingly, readers have expressed diverse views on the terrorist attacks in Paris, ranging from outrage and calls for tough responses to pleas for calm and understanding.

NOVEMBER 15

Tax reform: I've been waiting for the phone to ring for months

Joe Hockey kept telling us he wanted a "conversation" with us about tax. Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull have now taken up the conversation cudgels and insist we must have a dialogue, writes one reader.

NOVEMBER 14

Detention: Guantanamo? More like a medieval prison

New Zealand's Internal Affairs Minister compared Australia's detention centres to the Guantanamo Bay hellhole. A better analogy would be medieval prisons that used the rack, writes one reader.

NOVEMBER 13

Remembrance: Bonds forged through the shared hell of war

This Intimate War is a recent book of poems by Dr Robyn Rowland. With the Turkish translations next to them, these poems do not talk about glory; they tell of the horrors suffered by both sides, writes one reader.