It was encouraging to read that Liberal MP Dr Fiona Martin accepted the link between mental illness and climate change in her final report for the 2021 government inquiry into mental health (“Young hold ‘snowflake’ to blowtorch”, April 17). While many worry that talking about climate change with young people only raises their anxiety, for sufferer Isaac Percy opening up to his family and friends had the greatest effect on lifting his mental health, and his anxiety attacks went away. Adverse human-induced climate change is here, and young people know it. The least adults can do is listen to their concerns and support them in their actions. Ray Peck, Hawthorn (Vic)

Insight man

Peter FitzSimons generally isn’t shy about his scepticism, yet he has passed on a wonderful little Easter homily from an elderly priest, Monsignor Tony Doherty (“Raising faith, doubt and the G word after 60 years as a priest”, April 17). No “gotcha” moments but a portrait of faith and lifelong engaging with people − in spite of some honest doubts along the way. In a society where religion is on the decline, the Monsignor knows that the funerals he conducts are still an opportunity for us to own our feelings of love and loss and acknowledge the transcendent in our world. Likewise, the joys at baptisms and marriages. Retirement? Perhaps not quite yet. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Passport ransom

The Australian Passport Office says to allow six weeks for passports then says it takes on average 17 business days (“Waiting times double in rush for passports”, April 17). So, we lose about three to four weeks initially and passports are only useful for nine years and six months. I want to nominate a start date of July 1 for my renewal. “No way,” said my federal member and the passport office. Why not? Our passports are among the most expensive in the world. Since July 1, 860,000 passports have been issued at $308 for each adult or $25 million approximately. When you have a monopoly, why bother offering any customer service? Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield

Cruise control

I’m an intrepid cruiser and as much as I want to see the return of these vessels, I do believe we now have the opportunity of tightening the rules and regulations of these ship movements (“Sydney prepares for return to cruising after two-year ban”, April 17). Long before COVID-19, cruise ships of all classes suffered from mass breakouts of gastro, influenza etc that usually confined the passenger to their cabin for a few days. My theory for this is that ships are enclosed spaces, and people live and eat in close proximity.

Consider that a ship of 3000 passengers disembarks Sydney at 7am and receives another 3000 excited passengers by 1pm the same day. The overworked, underpaid crew are frantic, cleaning out and presenting cabins for the new guest. The ship usually departs after 4pm on the same day as arrival. It’s impossible to deep-clean such a large area in a short period of time. Consider enforcing ships to remain overnight in port at the end of a cruise and receive new passengers the next day. This will allow the crew to properly clean without rushing. Dennis Halloran, Paddington

Your happy workplace

Justine Toh’s opinion piece was riveting (“Religious or not, we need more holy days”, April 17). Yet I believe that she equates productivity with materialism and greed. Perhaps by being more productive we can improve not only the workplace but also the world. The joy created in the workplace often flows into our lives ... can’t we make the workplace another “cathedral carved out of time”? Judy Archer, Hornsby