Paul Keating used the republican push as a diversion from economic issues. Now Malcolm Turnbull uses it as a diversion from his plunge in the polls, however, "irrelevant" they may be. As usual, the republic partisans do not explain the constitutional advantages of the proposed change, nor how much it would cost, both initially and to sustain it. A majority of MPs favour it as they sense how much further their self-serving parties could prostitute constitutional processes in their own interests. An elected president? In a country which is drowning in elections, do we need another one where the Coalition and Labor would spruik their respective candidates at public expense?
Frank Carleton, Longwarry
The nitty gritty of becoming a republic
If the republic referendum includes an option between the Prime Minister appointing the president or an election, that raises the question of how the candidates will get on the ballot. Some people who are suitable to be a president would not have the resources or the aggression to campaign against other candidates. Anarchists plastered Sydney at the 1969 election with: "No matter who you vote for, a politician always gets elected". Perhaps we need a third option such as a conclave of the Prime Minister and the premiers.
We would also need a choice of name: Australian Republic, Republic of Australia or stay with Commonwealth. Canada was a Dominion, part of the monarch's domain. England was a Commonwealth when it had no monarch. Were there some closet republicans among the writers of our constitution?
Don Hampshire, Sunbury
A streamlined approach: answer yes or no.
Simplicity is the essence of a successful referendum. The only necessary question is: "Do you want Australia to become a republic?". Yes/no. Should the majority answer be "yes", if a president is necessary, use the expertise of constitutional lawyers, not politicians, to design procedures for his/her election. Then put those alternatives to the people in a plebiscite.
Ros de Bruin, Balwyn
Save us from a failed politician's republic
Our politicians are wanting. To fair dinkum Australians, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is a disappointment and the alternative, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, is full of blather. So what is left? The old chestnut, the republic. For Australia's sake, protect us from a failed politicians' republic.
Alastair Wright, Dandenong
Why the monarchy is looking very attractive
One would think parliamentarians could be relied on to choose our head of state. But look at their isolation from the reality of public feeling regarding same-sex marriage, euthanasia, taxation of the wealthy, curbing the greed of a few at the top. The list goes on and on. The incapacity of MPs to do their job in relaying and implementing the feelings of their electors is seen across the world. It can be measured by the huge numbers of people who say, "I feel disenfranchised". Greed, lobbyists and minute by minute media set the agenda. We, the people are ignored. I am very much tempted to stick with the monarchy rather than trust today's brand of politician.
Colan Kevill, Ringwood
Prime examples of poor decisions
Tony Abbott, a monarchist, knighted Prince Phillip and now Malcolm Turnbull, a republican, surrenders to the Queen.
Brian Rock, Beechworth
THE FORUM
Smile, smile, smile
Former Bunnings department manager Bruce Johnson says staff could be sacked if they were caught three times not smiling at customers (Business, 19/12). Is it a legitimate function for managers to check on their staff's "smile rate"? As a customer, I want assistance and information from experienced staff. I do not want to be asked "How's your day been?" or "What are your plans for the weekend?" It is intrusive and overly familiar from strangers in a public place. A simple, courteous "good morning" or "good afternoon" is enough.
Coral Ware, Mont Albert North
Public transport for me
Graham Carew (Letters, 19/12), I do not have a car because I do not need one where I live. There are plenty of trams, trains and buses. I travel across town every day to get to work: a train from home to Flinders Street Station; a train to Sunshine; and then a bus. And yes, I have worked in the east, in Bayswater and Heathmont, a long trip from Elwood. Even with all the connections, I am still at work on time more often than my colleagues who drive. And I can read, write and relax on the way. I would prefer that public money was spent on improving access to public transport rather than building another road.
Sue Bursztynski, Elwood
Desperate to be right?
There has been a great deal of government blather about Australia losing its AAA credit rating (The Age, 19/1). It seems almost likely that the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Finance Minister have pleaded with the rating agencies to downgrade it so that they can say they were correct. And those downgrades are assessed by the very agencies that took the world into the GFC. Credibility on both sides?
Garth Mitchell, Strathbogie
Question of priorities
I have just spoken to a homeless man at the train station. He was picking up cigarette butts and he asked me for a dollar. He did not seem to be too bothered by Australia losing its AAA status. He seems to have been exhibiting Treasurer Scott Morrison's "air of unreality".
Jim O'Neill, Watsonia
Support Safe Schools
I am devastated the Safe Schools Coalition of Victoria has been withdrawn from La Trobe University (The Age, 17/12). It will no longer be run by skilled educators who have implemented it over the last seven years, a period of it under my supervision. The idea that it will be "protected" by being absorbed into the potential graveyard of the Education Department is ludicrous. Also, it is not "the only mandatory classroom program delivered by an external provider".
It is not a classroom program. It is a program of professional development for teachers. External providers are commonly used for this purpose. The timing of the announcement to minimise fall out from teachers and parents indicates Education Minister James Merlino knows he is removing something valued by school communities. The Safe Schools team has run an evidence-based, skilled and sensitive program. I am saddened young people and their families will no longer have access to teachers trained to provide this standard of care.
Anne Mitchell, professor emeritus, Australian Research Centre In Sex, Health and Society,
La Trobe University
The doctor's role
Regarding the tragic death of Ms Dhu, Anastasia Kanjere says the coroner recommended the police receive "cultural competency training", and that the footage of the incident shows she was "denied basic medical care" (Letters, 19/12). The police took Ms Dhu for medical assessment twice, and both times she was cleared by hospital doctors before being taken back to the police cells. The police alone should not be held responsible when the true nature of Ms Dhu's condition was undiagnosed.
Duncan Cameron, Parkdale
Syria's child victims
Let us hope some of the predicted $12billion that will be spent this Christmas in Victoria (The Age, 19/12) will be redirected to the UNICEF Syrian Appeal or the UNHCR to assist the thousands of children who are at risk of freezing to death in Aleppo. To me, it's a no brainer.
Diana Yallop, Surrey Hills
A respectful greeting
Peter Dutton, I shop in a mainly Jewish area and, as a Christian, I wish people a "happy holiday". I do that not because of political correctness but because I respect other people's beliefs. Maybe you should try that, too.
Pat Agostino, South Melbourne
To life for all
The first day of the Jewish Festival of Lights, Chanukah, is on Christmas Day this year. It celebrates the finding of enough oil to keep the lights burning in the temple in Jerusalem for eight days. A miracle? It acknowledges the right of freedom for all people. As well as the Christmas-Chanukah spirits, perhaps we need the "good oil" on "people kind" and how we can follow the Jewish belief that to save a life is to save a world. In the Jewish saying, l'chaim, meaning "to life for all on fragile earth".
Stan Marks, Caulfield
Bring it on, please
Your columnist, Amanda Vanstone, says: "It's been an interesting year and next year will be as interesting, but definitely not more of the same" (Comment, 19/12). Whacko. No more of her jibes at Julia Gillard or rants about those terrible lefties. I look forward to it, Ms Vanstone.
Elaine Hurst, Ocean Grove
Sacrifice for our future
From January, some pensioners will receive thousands of dollars less each year. The rules have changed but we (and they) will survive. Victorians are also told the average electricity bill will increase by $99 annually following the closure of the Hazelwood coal plant. Using the Coalition's preference for contextualising with cups of coffee, we will have to miss one cup per fortnight to take the world in a more sustainable direction. To make changes, which the vast majority of climate scientists say are required, sacrifices are needed. Political parties that pander to the least inspiring human motivator, greed, are worse than misguided. They are dangerous.
Howard Tankey, Box Hill North
Joint responsibility
Pharmaceutical company Reckitt-Benckiser, which manufactures Nurofen, has been fined $6million for misleading consumers with its specific pain relief range (Saturday Age, 17/12). Surely the Pharmacy Guild, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and Australia's friendly pharmacists and supermarkets have been complicit in this deception too. So much for integrity and guarding the public's interest.
Steve Campbell, Kangaroo Flat
My car, I drive
Why do we need to develop driverless cars (Saturday Age, 16/12)? Who says we need them? I, for one, enjoy driving. I suppose it is the technocrats who are "driving" this change.
Michael Taylor, Carrum Downs
MPs united in greed
A 20month Coalition-dominated inquiry into the exorbitant cost of home ownership has deemed "there is no structural problem with housing affordability" (Saturday Age, 17/12). Of course not. About half the federal parliamentarians, from all political persuasions, own more than one property. A handful own more than 10 and one owns about 42. If this is not a case of vested interests, I will eat my hat. Those politicians who do not see an issue here should hang their heads in shame. Mind you, it's easy when you're sitting pretty and unaffected. Maybe greed is good.
David Legat, Morang South
The right to marry
While attending a wedding recently, I was shocked to hear the celebrant actually have to read the government's definition of marriage reinforcing the exclusion of same-sex couples. How can we celebrate our friends' and relatives' weddings when so many people are discriminated against by this draconian law?
Carolyn Brand, Point Lonsdale
Putting animals first
If you plan to give a dog or cat as a Christmas "gift", please reconsider. Animals require a lot of time, attention, patience and money. When their novelty wears off, those "gifts" are often neglected, dumped on the street to die, or surrendered to shelters (which have to euthanise thousands of animals every year because there are not enough good homes). Adding a dog or cat to your family means caring for them for 15 years or longer. If you are ready for this, please adopt one from a shelter.
Laura Weyman-Jones, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Dangerous wildlife
People have misunderstood the purpose of the security fences which will block access to the lawns of Parliament House. They are not intended to keep protesters out. They are intended to keep the politicians in so that they will not escape and interfere with the community.
Rob Siedle, Hawthorn
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
Congratulations to the government. It takes a lot of effort to do nothing all year and stay in a job.
Matthew Van Wees, Somerville
If developers are happy, then we know Victoria's new apartment laws are a drop in the ocean.
Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North
Trump's "cabinet coven" makes George W look like a knight in shining armoury.
Jill Mazzotta, Balaclava
Hanson assures us she is "wiser". That should make Queenslanders take heart.
Lesley Black, Frankston
Do One Nation supporters see Hanson as a future prime minister?
Michael Brinkman, Cowes
Malcolm's innovation: like the electric car, driverless government. But we've still got backseat drivers.
Rosina Vila, Fitzroy North
Republic
Turnbull is right when he says, "up the republic".
Richard Opat, Elsternwick
Another distraction to hide the fact that nothing good is happening.
Keith Robinson, Glen Waverley
Malcolm, hold plebiscites on the republic and same-sex marriage. And wait for a collective "no thanks".
Barrie Dempster, Balwyn
Furthermore
War, poverty, abuse and adults are failing the children of the world.
Irene Zalstein, Doncaster East
Leunig's wisdom (Spectrum, December 17) cuts to the heart of what ails our world, and points to the solution.
Helen McKinnon, Rosanna
No surprises on Christmas morning for family and friends of staff at Fairfax's thestore.com.au.
Elaine Treleaven, Elsternwick
Let's run the Portland smelter entirely off renewables.
Graham Leadbeater, Ringwood