In launching chagrined annoyance at her Coalition colleagues who prevented the ratification of a 2007 extradition treaty with China is Julie Bishop still smarting from a previous ticking off by the Chinese Foreign Minister?
Entities like the Land and Property Information service are the invisible manifestations of good government: unglamorous, unremembered, generally unappreciated (until they disappear), but nonetheless critical to the successful operation of the state.
Why is Berejiklian pushing ahead with the building of new tunnels to substandard dimensions, and conversion of the Bankstown line to cattle-class metro, when cities all over the world are moving to double-deck trains?
One has to wonder about the contorted policies and twisted minds controlling Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Control when we read of its lax "control" of the labour-hire companies run by Queensland businessman Emmanuel Bani.
If the latest polling figures don't get the message across to Malcolm and his crew that the electors are heartily fed up with adversarial politics then there is little hope for them.
I am appalled to read that our government is selling "military equipment" to Saudi Arabia.
Thank you for informing us there are more compassionate options out there.
Tony Abbott is advocating the federal government assist the asbestos-riddled Hazelwood power station.
Listening with horror and helplessness to the news from London this morning, I realised that when the news shifts to "the current war in?", I switch off.
While there may be legal confusion on the proposed Section 18C changes of the Racial Discrimination Act, there is no confusion on its intent in the minds of minorities.
So Peter Dutton thinks concerned business leaders are mere puppets in the hands of dastardly lobby groups ("Turnbull government 'won't be bullied' by CEOs on same-sex marriage, says Peter Dutton", smh.com.au, March 19). Heaven forbid that anyone other than a politician should have an opinion.
Ron Bird speaks sense on the subject of allowing superannuation to be used to buy a home.
I suggest there are two fathers of rock'n'roll: Chuck Berry and Bill Haley.
Proposals to raid superannuation for deposits on home loans is exactly as Keating says; reckless.
Chris Danckwerts (Letters, March 16) asks why we need an energy market at all. Answer? We don't – unless a market can be designed that achieves some public good.
Let us thank Bethan and Johnny McElwee, who have generously revealed their poignant journey with their daughter Aviana, ("When the new normal is getting ready for your baby's death", March 12). The photographs are so beautiful that they almost distract us from the words describing the disease of muscular spinal atrophy, its effects and prognosis. But this information, however depressing, enables us to understand the constant demands upon these devoted parents. Our thoughts, hopes and prayers go to Bethan and Johnny as they ensure that every precious moment of Aviana's life is filled with love and wonder.
Credit is due to Jay Weatherill for giving the federal government a piece of his mind ("Frydenberg, Weatherill slug it out for cameras", March 17)
Forget supercharging the Snowy Hydro scheme, the steam rising off Herald readers contemplating the failures of privatisations past and the folly of privatisations future could drive all the turbines the nation needs to solve its energy crisis.
In all the discussions over energy policies at state and federal levels the question that needs to be asked is: why do we need an energy "market" at all?
As someone who works in education I found the revelations of the case involving Australian Careers Network appalling.
Governments need to think carefully about 3D printing while it's still in its infancy.
The preference deal really was liking swapping rotten eggs for rancid meat. Completely not safe for digestion by the broader community.
It is imperative that any proposed changes to stamp duty on residential real estate purchases in NSW do not further embolden investors, as these costs are one of the few impediments to dissuade investors in the market ("Young buyers locked out", March 11-12).
Michaelia Cash, defender of cutting wages of low-income workers, owns two investment properties. Is it any wonder that reform to negative gearing has been dismissed by the government against overwhelming advice to the contrary.
Christina Ho picks through a pile of wobbly statistics, purports that they reveal some grave social injustice, yet fails to propose any remedy ("Wealthy, gifted and talented: Selective schools favour the rich", March 10). Entry to academically selective schools is based on an entrance test. There is no other fair or practical method. The socioeconomic background of the child's parents is irrelevant. Tone-deaf children aren't offered places at the Conservatorium High; out-of-area children with minimal athletic ability are unlikely to gain a place at a sports high school. In any case, it's difficult to imagine how Ms Ho would rectify what she claims is a bias against the entry of "disadvantaged groups" to our selective schools. Must each child sitting the entry test first produce their parents' income tax returns?
With International Women's Day this week, and girl-power icon Adele in town, it seems an appropriate time to turn our attention to women who know their way with words. With the ABC's kicking off the week with an all-female Q and A panel, it was suggested by a long-time letter writer, Robyn Dalziell of Castle Hill, that we follow suit, with an all-female letters page. "I note that women have been well represented as SMH Letters Editors, possibly because the job is so difficult, I imagine. However, I recall that some years ago a previous editor, Jennie Curtin, took the bold step and quietly invited regular female contributors to write a letter of interest related to or directly from their experiences as women, as an acknowledgement of IWD."
It seems Gladys Berejiklian is yet another of those politicians who believe in accountability for everyone else but themselves ("Premier was sent warning over $549m light-rail rise", March 9). Almost daily we read of MPs who rort the system, or in an effort to protect themselves, withhold vital information, mislead or deliberately lie to the public. Some of these instances would be deemed illegal outside of politics, and offenders charged. It is as if politicians are above the law, or licensed to exploit the taxpayer for personal gain. The major parties share the shame for allowing this disregard for morality and abuse of power to continue. Graham Lum North Rocks
Dr Bronwyn Harmon of Elizabeth Cowan University says that Pauline Hanson's must have sourced her claim of "blackmail" from the anti-vaccination movement ("Anti-vaxxer network spurs online culture of supporters", Mar 8). I am pro-vaccination, and wouldn't vote for Hanson in a fit, but my thesaurus doesn't turn up a better word to describe "No Jab, No Pay", unless you resort to "coercion", "extortion" or "intimidation".
. However, the fall in alcohol-related crime within the lockout zones still exceeds any crime displacement. In fact, with these latest statistics one might argue for extending the lockout zones.
The State Government is reportedly planning a road tunnel to improve city access for northern beaches motorists ("Berejiklian hints at finally fixing notorious traffic snarl", March 4-5). While applauding the willingness to address access to the rest of Sydney from this rapidly-growing area, I wonder if expansion of the road network is the best solution? Simultaneously, a new harbour crossing is also being planned for Sydney's metro rail network. Why not build into this metro line the capability of expansion into a branch to the northern beaches? Crossing the harbour has always been a bottleneck for previous rail proposals, so here is an opportunity to take full advantage of a major piece of infrastructure, and also slow down Sydney's growing dependence on private cars using increasingly clogged roads.
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