• COMMENT

Do we really want these Olympics to be remembered for booing and jeering?

Will none of our lawmakers show some enlightened leadership? What more evidence is needed that what is happening is wrong?

It ought to be relatively easy for the ABS to rectify the issue and give an unambiguous assurance. Once that is done, we would urge people to participate in the census before the September 23 deadline.

Government promises to invest in learning languages have long gone unfulfilled.

It is in the enlightened self-interest of citizens to fill out the census in good faith, for the augmented data will help better create opportunities throughout our economy and society.

While we understand the need to cater for growth and the appeal of the inner suburbs, this expansion must be achieved thoughtfully.

Hillary Clinton's tenacity, work ethic and, most importantly, policy nous, make her the best candidate to be US president.

• COMMENT

The vast majority of the world will be enthralled by the Games, and the sight of young men and women competing at the very peak of human physical powers.

• COMMENT

The government deserves credit for its work to encourage newly arrived migrants to settle in regional centres.

• COMMENT

The figures send a strong signal that there is much to be done to improve our education system and that while education must remain a core funding priority, money alone is not the answer.

The quality of Victoria's hospital services simply cannot be sustained without extra support.

The positive effects of a highly educated population range from reduced crime rates to better health.

Through a lack of courage and conviction, the IOC has missed a much-needed opportunity to restore integrity to the Olympics, which have for years been undermined by doping and drugs scandals.

• COMMENT

The Indonesian system for administering the death penalty is woeful and arbitrary.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s move to combine the energy and environment portfolios and place them in the charge of one of the government’s most competent ministers, Josh Frydenberg, might well lead to better policies on climate change.

Cardinal Pell should return to Australia to face police questioning. However, should he again argue he is too unwell to travel, Victoria Police could and should send detectives to Rome.

Australia has granted security agencies extraordinary powers to investigate and pre-empt terrorist plots.

Only a third of the NT population is Aboriginal, yet 97 per cent of juveniles in detention there are Indigenous.

The only thing that will happen when we have same-sex marriage is people in love will get married. Get on with it.