As businesses make vaccinations mandatory, you see Scott Morrison and his government sit back and watch as these businesses navigate the legal minefield they may face from recalcitrant employees. Government makes law, so is it too much to ask for it to show leadership and clear the way for businesses by passing a law to help? Tim Douglas, Dulwich Hill

How could the rulers of our society not plan for supply of vaccines not outstripping demand (“PM says vaccines for everyone despite government’s own plan”, August 6). Dark clouds are gathering as healthcare plummets due to the supply of vaccines not keeping up with demand. Politics and vaccines don’t mix. Too much politics and not enough vaccines, here in the dis-united states of Australia. Richard Ryan, Summerland Point

Your correspondent states she needs no incentives to get vaccinated other than to travel freely in her home state (Letters, August 6). While the majority of people might agree, the fact remains that up to 30 per cent of people are still, for a variety of reasons, reluctant to get the jabs. These people need to be encouraged to vaccinate so we can reach the 80 per cent herd immunity necessary to return to something approaching normality. Robert Hickey, Green Point

The COVID-19 ‘top’ 40

For anyone watching recent COVID-19 carry-ons, Bob Dylan’s Idiot Wind would be the song to best capture the moment (Letters, August 6). Phil Teece, Sunshine Bay

Looks like September by Earth Wind & Fire is off the playlist. Helen Macfarlane, Surry Hills

Sorry, Peter, Paul and Mary – (Not) Leaving on a Jet Plane. Judy Klein Double Bay

I nominate Things (thinking ’bout the things we used to do) by Bobby Darin. But I particularly like the version by Ringo Starr. Cath McGirr, Ettalong Beach

Is the Premier’s map the Road to Nowhere, or at best Livin’ On A Prayer because “we’re only half way there”? George Zivkovic, Northmead

With all the lockdowns, I nominate Losing My Mind by Eskimo Joe. Jamie Stevens, Lilyfield

The song that’s going over and over in my head is The Animals’ 1965 hit We Gotta Get Out of This Place. Margaret Hamilton, Blackheath

How prescient is Graeme Connors’ A Little Further North re COVID’s movement? Bob Hall, Wyoming

My wife is in hospital and I haven’t seen her for weeks. It seems I won’t for many more, so my lockdown song is When Will I See You Again? by the Three Degrees. Barry Riley, Woy Woy

HSC is not make or break, so why add to the stress?

The Premier’s claim that it is a legal requirement for HSC students to sit a public examination is not right (“Safety of those in Year 12 is more important than an exam timetable”, August 6). Her ill-thought-out HSC policy makes no sense unless it stems from her narrow view of the HSC’s importance in the scheme of things. Unfortunately, for already-stressed Year 12 students, her decisions have only increased anxiety.

The HSC’s status is already over-hyped. Why, then, give students the impression that this exam is so crucially important that precious Pfizer vaccines have been taken from others and diverted to them? And why make students feel, for the sake of this qualification, they must return early to the dangers of in-class learning when they might not feel safe doing so? And then, why confuse them further by changing the plan?

The problem is, HSC students are victims of a system that feeds into the myth that this qualification will make or break them. It won’t. Right now, what these 2021 students need from Gladys Berejiklian is not further stress; they need a definite, set plan in place so they can re-focus on their studies. Pam Timms, Suffolk Park

The educational experiences of the 2021 HSC cohorts, with both their year 11 and year 12 studies seriously disrupted, are significantly different from those of all other previous HSC years. Hence, the Premier’s view that every student must sit a public examination process is a blinkered one. Different times call for different procedures. Col Shephard, Yamba

Election over elimination

As David Crowe shows, our national leadership is just focussed on winning the next election, not on its real job (“PM’s sermon from a ‘muddy track’”, August 6). Throughout this pandemic we have unfortunately had politics as usual. As well as a national cabinet, how much better situation would we be in if our federal government had moved to a “war footing” government comprised of both major parties and using the best talent from both sides. Politics and winning the next election could then have been put off until COVID was substantially beaten. Unfortunately, that would have taken real leadership which is so lacking in our political class. Terry Goulden, Wentworth Falls

The sheer arrogance of many who enter political life is their presumption that they have an exclusive understanding of society’s needs (“National cabinet not entitled to secrecy”, August 6). Too often, from local councils to Commonwealth bodies, we are dismissed with the “in confidence” cover-up. These smug autocrats do not understand that these “confidences” should be directed toward their bosses, the public, who employ them. They are the public’s servants, not a neighbourhood gang of boys running a secret club in a cubby house. Open and non-secretive government will only give the public greater confidence in its elected servants. Donald Hawes, Peel

Crucial climate forecast

Those involved in the divisions within the federal government over farm management relating to water quality issues affecting the Great Barrier Reef need to acknowledge one crucial forecast (“Coalition split on reef pollution regulations”, August 6). CSIRO maintains that, as a consequence of rising sea temperatures, there will be enhanced potential for extreme rainfall leading to greater flooding and soil erosion. Not only will this lead to increased discharge of floodwater, sediment and nutrients, the threat of associated pollution may well cover an enlarged portion of the Great Barrier Reef. There may be fewer tropical cyclones but those that do occur will be of greater intensity. Roger Epps, Armidale

Flames threaten a coal-fuelled power plant in Turkey (“Blazes cause devastation across the globe’ ’, August 6). This is Mother Nature telling us humans what should be done to mitigate climate change. Cornelius van der Weyden, Balmain East

Grow cultural awareness

It seems more likely that the echoes of the White Australia policy linger in our definition of who is Australian rather than who is allowed to migrate here but the need for a public discussion on population and associated issues is overdue (“Minister calls for population policy to keep up with trends”, August 6). While high migration has changed our cultural composition, positively, and driven our GDP, it’s not all positive. There have been huge and ongoing lags in services keeping up with our growing population, and there are some aspects of our city which are certainly much less pleasant for all the growth. If we are to have an increased population it must be done to the benefit of all of us, not just those in the construction industry. Colin Hesse, Marrickville

Age is just a number

At last, someone writing positively about old age (“Don’t dare call me young for my age”, August 6). As a person not too much younger and holding degrees in librarianship, linguistics and law, I can well sympathise. Why patronise the older generation? Much better for us all to hold as truth, as I do, the following words: “We do not believe in, or acknowledge, any difference between age, race or gender”. Ruth Elston, Wollstonecraft

Henderson a pop star, too

Most people may remember Brian Henderson as a newsreader but to me, as a migrant newly arrived in 1960 from a family without a television, he’ll always be the young compere of the pop music program Bandstand (”Newsreader set a rare benchmark”, August 6). Norm Neill, Darlinghurst

Speaking to hear words

Elizabeth Atkins, please note that bloviation has now become the new “lingua franca” (Letters, August 6). It’s the inevitable outcome of living in a Morrison kakistocracy Bill Thomas, Castle Hill

Skate mandate

I disagree with your correspondents: skateboarding requires superior skills, as does surfing (Letters, August 6). These are both new age sports and need recognition. The younger generations are doing their own thing, unlike the traditional Olympic events. Let’s support them. Patricia Glanville-Miller, Hunters Hill

Forget skating/hopping/stepping/jumping; is there anything dopier than a few grizzly guys, outfitted in harnessy thingos, climbing up a wall while looking very serious? Drives me up a wall, that’s for sure. Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield

It’s been thrilling to watch our track and field athletes genuinely compete on the world stage at Tokyo. Some have achieved personal bests and broken national records. It is now time for Australia to build on this success and contend the hosting rights to the World Athletics Championships in either 2025 or 2027. Ian Fowler, Asquith

It’s great our women are in the Olympic beach volleyball final. But why does their ruling body insist on skimpy bikinis when they are exposed to sun and high temperatures? Can’t wait for the men’s event; assume all the men will be similarly attired. David Ramsay, Bexley

Is there anything more ridiculous than a walking race? How about a hopping race - the feet could be alternated every five hops. Or maybe a running backwards race? Ian McCullagh, Birchgrove

Postscript

Our extended lockdown-lite, the vaccination stroll-out and growing COVID case numbers have come crashing together to form a sense of gloom over letter writers this week. Catching up for elevenses with the Premier and Chief Medical Officer has become a tough date, and many wrote to say that not only had Gladys Berejiklian seemingly “given up”, but they were about to do the same. “Wake me up when it’s all over,” some wrote.

As Ian Morris of Strathfield reminds us, in the movie Groundhog Day Bill Murray was woken by the clock radio playing I’ve Got You Babe, and then lived through yet another identical day. “What a perfect analogy for life in lockdown,” he writes. It may well be, but letter writers have shown over the years that they have a way of making us smile, providing us with laugh-out-loud moments and have never-ending brilliant ideas. In this difficult time, we’d like you to share your strategies for coping, tell us what keeps you happy at home, and help Sydneysiders brighten up their days. Let us know what you’re doing to get through the days and what makes you smile. Are you learning a new skill or is television the perfect escape? Are you, like Jan Perry of Chatswood West, enjoying the Herald Target puzzle so much you’re hoping that rather than requiring the usual 14 words to complete, it is upped to more than 50? “Otherwise, we might have to face up to chores we’ve been putting off,” writes Jan.

Your tips and bright ideas will be published in a special edition of letters in print and online next Saturday. Please mark them “lockdown bright” in the subject line. Look forward to hearing from you. Stay safe. Pat Stringa, Letters editor

• To submit a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald, email [email protected]. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.