• NOVEMBER 28

Fidel Castro started his political life as a ruling-class nationalist, opposed to the corrupt US supported/appointed regime of Fulgencio Batista.

• COMMENT

Independent chairs for planning panels must be appointed to ensure proper consultation.

• APRIL 3

While Coalition politicians repeat the mantra that Australia has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, Australian "mum and dad" investors are enjoying an effective corporate tax rate of zero, due to dividend imputation. This is obviously the lowest in the world. 

• April 2

Section 18C needs reform because it doesn't work ... Mutual respect is earned, not imposed.

• APRIL 1

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?

• MARCH 30

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.

• MARCH 31

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?

• MARCH 29

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.

• MARCH 28

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.

• MAR27

I am appalled to read that our government is selling "military equipment" to Saudi Arabia.

• March 25

Thank you for informing us there are more compassionate options out there.

• MARCH 25

Tony Abbott is advocating the federal government assist the asbestos-riddled Hazelwood power station.

• MARCH 24

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.

• MARCH 23

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.

• March 20

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.

• MARCH 22

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.

• March 20

Proposals to raid superannuation for deposits on home loans is exactly as Keating says; reckless.

• MARCH 17

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.

• March 19

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.

• MARCH 18

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.

• MARCH 16

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?

• MARCH 15

As someone who works in education I found the revelations of the case involving Australian Careers Network appalling.

• March 12

Governments need to think carefully about 3D printing while it's still in its infancy.

• MARCH 14

The preference deal really was liking swapping rotten eggs for rancid meat. Completely not safe for digestion by the broader community.

• MARCH 13

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.

• COMMENT

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?