A couple of questions emerge from the Coalition’s bizarre and dangerous stance on climate change and its unbridled support for the fossil fuel industry. Do they not believe in climate change and the impending catastrophe for their children and grandchildren if strong action is not taken? Or do they believe in climate change, but their opportunism is so great that will sacrifice our futures, knowing that a bipartisan serious approach to addressing climate change could play into the hands of their more conservative base, and thereby impact on their election chances? Also, it would nullify any attack on Labor over its more ambitious targets. It’s probably a combination of both. Either way, it is extremely irresponsible and reflects an appalling lack of vision. Alan Morris, Eastlakes

Coalition outed on economy lie

As an octogenarian with grandchildren who will inherit the outcomes of this election, I can only hope that most voters read Saturday’s article by Peter Hartcher (“Coalition can claim little mastery over affairs of state”, April 23). Australians, please wake up to what we are facing. Lyndall Dawson, Austinmer

Not for the first time, Peter Hartcher has shown that ScoMo and co’s claim to be the better money managers to be a lie. How hard would it be for Labor to hold up a simple graph of gross debt as a percentage of GDP over time? At every opportunity, they should highlight the Coalition’s period of “managing”. Neil Craddock, Wollongong

Peter Hartcher comprehensively debunks the Liberals’ claim to being “strong on the economy and strong on national security”. Yet so many believe this to be true. How is it that the public continues to swallow the lies? I’m horrified at the picture that Hartcher paints and furious at the falsehoods being peddled by Morrison and his enabler-in-chief, Frydenberg. Megan Jones, Pyrmo

Divisive element of RSL

Although I’m an RSL service member (“Last post for RSL unless it recruits new membership”, April 23), I question whether it is an organisation that is worth saving. I doubt if it is truly representative of the ex-service community. Generations of bitter old men have ensured that many people feel as though they do not belong there. As a humble national serviceman, I was proud to be accepted as a member, but my idealism soon took a hit when I found there were those in my local sub-branch who didn’t think Nashos came up to their standard. I found many Vietnam veterans suffered similar treatment. For that reason, many eligible ex-service men and women have left or refused to join. Now the RSL chickens of arrogance and prejudice are coming home to roost. Derrick Mason, Boorowa

Now, more than ever, we know that freedom is not free. On Anzac Day, we thank those whose immeasurable sacrifice has secured ours. Amanda Berry, Hamilton East

When will RBA move?

There is an election on, don’t you know? The Reserve Bank seems to know (“Election surprise from RBA on cards with super-sized rate rise”, April 23). Maybe that is why it has held off increasing the underpinning bank rate despite rising inflation and rising international interest rates. If banks pass on a 0.5 per cent rate rise on May 3, this will increase the monthly repayment on an average mortgage of $800,000 by $170 a month. OK for home investors. Under negative gearing, they can just write off most of their increased interest as income tax deductions. They can also increase rents. But how can owner-occupiers, particularly recent borrowers who are mortgaged to the hilt, cushion the blow? They do not enjoy negative gearing and they cannot pass on the rate rise to anyone. Can we therefore expect a lot more mortgagee sales? Perhaps Labor doesn’t want to win this election after all. Geoff Black, Caves Beach

How to spot bullying

Parnell Palme McGuinness wins the Everything Everywhere All At Once Wrong gong (“Shutting down discussion encourages the zealots”, April 23). And she does it from her first line. It may take a brave person to publicly express a controversial opinion, but in the case of Coalition candidate Katherine Deves, it takes an arrogant and insensitive jerk to hurl cruel insults at a vulnerable minority. You are brave only if you speak against power. When you speak down from the position of power to the powerless, you are cowardly and contemptible and you encourage the worst aspects of society to follow. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

Growth simply mindless

People such as Justin Hemmes who think Australia can grow to 40 million have no consideration for the consequences (“Sydney gets its mojo back with a ’real positive energy in the air‴⁣⁣, April 23). Every extra person will increase our carbon emissions, increase resource use (water), increase waste (landfill and sewage) and further deplete habitat to provide housing. It is not just koalas that suffer from housing developments but a vast array of wildlife already endangered from human activity.
Once 40 million is reached, what then? An increased population means more people are affected by climate change catastrophes. We need to stabilise and reduce our population to make it ecologically sustainable, not just nationally but also globally. As the anthropocene causes the sixth mass extinction on the planet, growth is not good. Karen Joynes, Bermagui

Justin Hemmes “honestly believes” our population should be 40 million. When should/would/could that happen? Overnight, next month, next year? Much discussion and decision-making about a sustainable Australian population policy is sorely needed, so the 40 million plucked out of thin air should be promptly put back where it came from. Col Shephard, Yamba

Neigh bother at all

Surely modern technology could print voting papers in equal mixed numbers of all combinations of candidate positions (“Ballot draw proves unlucky for MPs in key seats”, April 23). This would defeat the donkey vote, and I’m sure clever ways to print easily understood how-to-vote cards would be found. Talking of donkeys, while giving a pat to a neighbour’s jenny last week, I inquired into one of her enormous ears if she would ever consider voting for ScoMo. Obviously more discerning than some humans, her bray became a “neigh”. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell

Keep vaccine mandate

I commend companies continuing to require their employees to be vaccinated (“Major employers to keep vaccine mandate irrespective of government policy”, smh.com.au, April 23). I just hope it’s enough to protect workers from the likes of the maskless, 20-something guy shamelessly coughing as he wandered through the aisles in my local supermarket recently. Ross Duncan, Potts Point

Trust has disappeared

The election campaign just three years ago featured our fearless leader looking directly at the photo-op camera and asking, “Who do you trust?” Haven’t heard that expression this time around. Pretty much says it all, does it not? John Hinde, Millers Point

Number’s up

Your correspondent (Letters, April 23) worrying about the misuse of “less” and “fewer”, should add “number”. “Amount” applied to weight or volume and “number” applied to, well, a number of things. Now we hear and see the “amount of people on a bus” or “amount of cars on the road”. Ken Short, Blackalls Park

I’m tired of people saying “bunkering down”. It’s “hunkering down”. One of the many reasons I shout at the television. Jaqui Fitch, Bayview

The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Coalition defends PM’s decision not to call Solomon Islands leader
From Dirk: ″⁣The Morrison government didn’t just drop the ball in the Solomons – they didn’t even turn up for the game.

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