• December 30

Sports fans know who really won the race and it wasn't LDV Comanche ("Sydney to Hobart shock as winner overturned on appeal", December 29). Wild Oats XI won by almost half an hour in record time. To be denied the victory, due to a minor technicality, just doesn't pass the pub test. Did the supposed rules infraction cost LDV Comanche the huge margin they lost by? Nothing like it. So what are we left with? A hollow victory, a false champion and a tainted event. Tim Mullins, Greenwich

• December 29

So it seems that the last vestiges of what made King's Cross the unique jumble of interesting and original night life is about to get the chop.

• December 28

It's in every driver's hands to decide when they get behind the wheel whether to drive carefully or irresponsibly.

• December 27

I would prefer Turnbull put more resources into public and social housing rather than feed the homeless once a year.

• December 26

Various government ministers continue to tell us there are no longer any children in detention. Given the outcry from international bodies such as UNHCR and the United Nations reminding us that this cruel practice is illegal, why are these children, and any refugees made to suffer?

• December 23

There is a relentless attack on basic Christian principles in some of the government's policies.

• DECEMBER 24

I've always thought there's more than meets the eye with the long-acting reversible contraceptives and it doesn't surprise me that doctors are refusing to believe there are side-effects ("Birth control with unusual risks", December 17). I've encountered unusual behaviours from doctors who have pressured me into trying these devices, discounting the basic tenet of informed consent and forcing me to have to stand my ground as they ignore my repeated refusals. And once they realise they have lost the argument, the irate response they display suggests that there must some sort of hidden vested interest in pushing these unwanted devices on to women.

• December 22

Snowy 2.0 is just "fibre-to-the-node" for electricity, and Malcolm told us that that would be a winner too.

• December 21

If Eric Abetz were in private enterprise, he would be counselled for being a micro-manager.

• December 20

How is it that a government elected by the people, and supposedly for the people, persists in going against the people's wishes?

• December 19

It's time Australia stepped up to the task of initiating an International UN response to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

• December 18

So it seems that the Royal Commission on Institutional Child Abuse has recommended a nationwide reimbursement fund for victims. How to pay for it? May I recommend a small once off land tax on every "religious building" getting tax exempt status. Even 0.05 per cent of the value of the multimillion-dollar churches and other religious buildings,  would pay for every victim to get a life-changing gift from those who, as an institution, affected their lives.  And perhaps leftover funds could be used for counselling, advertising,  and outreach to those still being affected. 

• December 16

Jenna Price's column should be required reading for every parent.

• December 15

Girls have outperformed boys for years, yet boys leave school and eventually make more money.

• DECEMBER 17

Australia being taken to task for its shameful, shabby record re racism is, tragically, nothing new ("United Nations warns racism 'on the rise' in Australia", December 10). It was excruciatingly galling to recently witness our Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, declare with perfect poker face that Australia has the appropriate credentials to nominate a candidate for the prestigious position of UN Secretary-General. Considering the UN job description required a candidate capable of responding to 21st century demands, including that of climate change and handling the influx of refugees, an Australian application would be simply ludicrous.

• December 14

​If, as Jacob Saulwick says in his article, Allianz Stadium is unsafe and non-compliant with safety issues, then why isn't the Trust being prosecuted?

• December 13

Andrew Robb, who was privy to much more sensitive information than Sam Dastyari, still holds a role with the Chinese company Landbridge.

• December 12

Sam Dastyari is becoming to Bill Shorten what Craig Thomson was to Julia Gillard: the Coalition's never-ending best weapon. Time to move on, Sam.

• December 11

Congratulations to everybody who worked so hard to get marriage equality!

• December 9

The MCG, built before the 1956 Olympics, hasn't been knocked down and rebuilt.

• December 8

This government prioritises unnecessary sporting stadiums over the very real need to address homelessness and housing affordability.

• DECEMBER 10

Having recently added to my eight solar panels a further 10 panels and a battery at a cost of $5000 I have received my first full quarter bill. The reduction from $460 to $26 is fantastic.

• December 7

There is not much that is Christian about the holier-than-thou attitudes of Minister Porter for bashing the poor.

• December 6

Concerns at the expenditure of more than $2 billion to rebuild Sydney stadiums dominated our letters inbox. Today we have given over most of the page to those views. We didn't receive any letters in favour of the proposal by NSW government.

• December 5

The ALP and the federal Coalition are not the only politicians who look to China.

• December 4

John Barilaro couldn't even organise a few baseball bats for the electors of New England ("Barnaby rejoices as New England re-elects its deputy PM in a landslide", smh.com.au).

• December 2

Sam Dastyari has put the business interests of a foreign individual ahead of the concerns of Australia's security agencies.

• December 1

Malcolm Turnbull has demonstrated that he can religiously follow the instructions of the big banks.

• DECEMBER 3

If more young women are taking up smoking, perhaps it's time the Cancer Council  altered their anti-smoking ads on television. ("Women hit by rise in cancer deaths", November 26) Show a woman who has been smoking for years with a close-up of her face and all the wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. This could be more of a put off than the threat of lung cancer.