It is wonderful to see the suffering crowds on Manus and Nauru offered a home in the land of the free ("Secret deals end offshore detention", November 12-13). Their treatment to date has been a dreadful stain on our national history. Based on our actions many of them have probably decided already that Australia is no longer a place they want to call home. However I am very confused about how this acts as a deterrent to people smugglers. A back door to the USA seems a real incentive to try for Australia with hopes of a home in another fine place. Malcolm says "once only" but he is of the professional expediency class who live in our own Disneyland beside Lake Burley Griffin. Other than the saving of face for our political leaders, how has can this be more practical than finding them place in our country. They are now shown to be real refugees. Why are we so proudly and stubbornly merciless in this aspect of Australia's refugee policies. Peter Copleston Westleigh  

• November 13

My free advice to Sydney Trains would be to spend more on improving Sydney's ailing public transport network.

• NOVEMBER 12

What a disgrace to see the Lands and Education buildings joining the long list of heritage assets flogged by the Baird government.

• POSTSCRIPT

Who knew a revolution was coming.

• NOVEMBER 11

The Herald has received an unprecedented number of letters today all on the subject of the Trump presidency. Here are some of the more thoughtful ones.

• LETTERS EXTRA

We ignore history at our peril, writes Mark Ronsisvalle of Cremorne.

• November 10

The outcome of the US election shows there is a burning need to rethink the way our society operates.

• NOVEMBER 9

Prime Minister Turnbull was misleading and mischievous to suggest the Human Rights Commission brought the case in the Federal Circuit Court.

• NOVEMBER 8

Economist note: there is only one scientifically proven sustainable population for Australia.

• NOV7

The big problem with the federal government's compensation scheme for victims of child abuse in institutions is that it's optional for the institutions to participate ("Churches feel heat over plan to help sex abuse survivors", November 5-6).

• November 6

These days the main difference between successful people and unsuccessful people seems to be that successful people write books on success and unsuccessful people buy them.

• NOVEMBER 5

Congratulations to the Herald for highlighting the devastating consequences of speeding on our roads (Letters, November 4). If a car exceeds the limit and kills innocent people it must not be seen as an accident. It is a criminal act. Penalties for speeding must be greatly increased.

Halloween, Melbourne Cup and all manner of frivolity filled the inbox this week. But it was our nation's federal politicians causing the most mirth: notably One Nation Senator Rod Culleton and former Families First Senator Bob Day. Letter writers were more inclined to agree with Peter Rawsthorne of Largs, who found nothing funny about Culleton's farcical press conference. "It was indicative of the current state of politics in Australia and much of the Western world. I don't expect to agree with every member of the Parliament, but I do expect them to have a working knowledge of the judicial system and a familiarity with the difference between guilt and innocence in the courts. For the Senator to stand in front of a press conference that he called and announce that he was not there to be 'cross-examined by the media' beggars belief." George Manojlovic of Mangerton quipped on the Culleton key controversy: "If the truck driver's account of the confrontation is correct, it looks like a case of the [John] Dunn key and the ass." Tony Re of Georges Hall wrote: "There is nothing surprising about any secretive arrangement that Malcolm Turnbull has had with Bob Day.  This is a major pattern of his leadership. His cloak and dagger undermining of Tony Abbott was just the start. What is next to emerge from the shadows of Potts Point?" On matters Potts Point, Daniel Flesch of Bellingen wasn't the only one to point out that this week's letter writer Merona Martin of  Meroo Meadow is giving Peter Pitt (no relation) of Potts Point an alliterative run for his money. Our Meroo Meadow resident was writing about point-to-point speed checks,  a hot button topic especially for our rural readers.

• NOVEMBER 4

Emotively conflating every example of driver error as an act that is ameliorated with more cameras is unhelpful ("Fatal Flaw", November 3).

I'm confused by the federal government's planned legislation to block refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru from ever gaining entry to Australia.

• NOVEMBER 2

Malcolm Turnbull should pay more attention to the mess the Republican Party now finds itself in after pandering to right-wing populists.

Peter Hartcher quotes, and seems to endorse, Peter Varghese's view: "We all have an interest in a rules-based system, though China doesn't see it. There wouldn't be a China story if not for the stability the US has provided" ("Tough talk needed in face of hysteria", November 1).

• NOVEMBER 1

The Prime Minister is now in bed with Pauline Hanson - don't think about that for too long.

• OCTOBER 31

Premier Baird seems hellbent on bulldozing his "developments" and privatisation through as quickly as possible to claim it all on his watch, but what about the people being told (not asked) to move aside

Improved transport is the most important infrastructure, write Clare Hinchey of Northmead.

• OCTOBER 29

John Hewson puts a spotlight on our preoccupation with the politics of fear. ("Turnbull can beat the politics of fear – if he dares", October 28.)

• OCTOBER 28

Jacob Saulwick's useful comment on affordable housing explains how massive numbers of affordable rental homes in the US have been built by incentivising developers through tax credits.

• OCTOBER 27

The Governor-General needs to step in and dismiss the Attorney-General.

• OCTOBER 26

The resignation of Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson is another sign of the weakness of Malcolm Turnbull.

• OCTOBER 25

Unfortunately Scott Morrison's belated attempt to do something about the housing crisis is too little too late.

• OCT24

As a so-called "empty nester", I would point out that many of us do not have empty bedrooms gathering dust. There's the joy of finally having our own study or work space, as well as these rooms doubling up as somewhere to put the exercise bike to renew our ageing bodies.

• October 23

Arthur Sinodinos believes that a strong economy is the key to relieving child poverty in Australia. Australia has had a strong economy for more than 25 years. Yet for some reason that hasn't helped.

• OCTOBER 22

The role of government should be to look out for the public interest, and while the health of the private sector is important, the cannibalisation of our public services is hardly an innovative use of private capital.

• OCTOBER 21

Whatever your politics, you'd have to admit the Abbott government attempted to deal with the major issues facing Australia.