Liberal Party president Tony Abbott describes the Reformers as “a group of enthusiastic young Christians with a strong sense of mission” (“Abbott says ICAC a factional hit job as Taylor faces questions”, August 3). It all sounds so harmless, but what is that mission, exactly? Christians in this country are afforded every freedom to conduct their own lives within the guidelines of their religion. If they oppose same-sex marriage, no one will force them to have one. If they oppose voluntary assisted dying, they will be permitted to die in protracted agony. But that’s not enough for these people. They’re determined that we should all observe their beliefs, whether we share them or not. They’ve clearly, and wisely, given up on encouraging Australians into their churches to hear and live the Christian message voluntarily. Their strategy now is to gain control of a major political party and impose their dogma by force of law. There’s something deeply disturbing about a group of callow, overindulged men who consider themselves qualified to tell me what I may or may not do. I’m pleased that, in this instance, the mission failed. But I’m also wary that they, or others like them, haven’t given up trying. Len Keating, Balmain East

Abbott seems to have been blessed with a wonderfully elastic and accommodating conscience. He says the Reformers are simply a group of enthusiastic youngsters and their “shit sheets”, comparable to the “dirt files” he and Peta Credlin compiled on the Labor Party, were just business as usual for the Liberals. What about the redirection of Catholic Schools’ funding to these Reformers, their attempts to stack a local council with supporters of a discredited developer and to rid themselves of anyone who might oppose their schemes, such as Building Commissioner David Chandler? They’re all just internal party squabbles and could never be perceived as corruption. On the other hand, Abbott investigated Bill Shorten via a Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption and set up another to investigate the activities of someone Julia Gillard had dated 20 years earlier. Vast amounts of public money were spent on these attempts to blacken the characters of Shorten and Gillard, yet both were ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing. Judging by his past behaviour, and his famous comment that it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission, Abbott’s ethics and moral values are clearly swayed by his political alliances and a belief that the end will justify the means. Merona Martin, Meroo Meadow

The ICAC inquiry “involves no conceivable corruption”, says Abbott. No conceivable corruption in activities that allegedly involve misuse of taxpayer or parent funds, that seek to subvert electoral processes, that involve banned donors and covert payments, that go right to the top of Catholic Schools NSW? Once this ICAC round concludes, more investigations by the NSW Auditor-General, NSW Electoral Commission and Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission are warranted. Serious consideration must be given to removing charitable status from the multimillion-dollar enterprises that operate faith-based schools. Alex Byrne, Forest Lodge

Au contraire, Tony Abbott – illegal donations, fugitive developers influencing government and diluting the principle of church and state separation are absolutely the business of the ICAC (“What we learnt in the first week of ICAC”, August 2). Democracy is, especially in recent times, under attack and must be defended. It is concerning that the president of a major party doesn’t seem to understand this. Paul Doyle, Glenbrook

It’s time to call it a day, Tony. Your irrelevance petticoat is starting to show. Not only did you and your worldview lose the prime ministership and your seat in parliament, but dismissing the questionable behaviour of the Liberal Reformers as merely “internal party squabbling” is surely the last nail in your coffin. Limelight deprivation hurts, I know, but surely you can see it’s time to put your feet up, or go for a surf to clear the mind, read a good book and watch something other than Sky After Dark. Bill Young, Killcare Heights

Abbott shows once again how senior Liberals confuse morality and ethics when he claims that no one was pursuing personal enrichment. Yes, the Reformers might be fine, moral Christians. But any time public money is involved, it is ethical behaviour we demand. What they consider “morally right” is not necessarily in the public interest. When will they learn? Donald Green, Cobargo

Tony Abbott is accusing the ICAC of weaponising itself against party factionalism instead of delivering justice, in what to him is an “internal party squabble”. It becomes a bit more than squabble when the faction concerned is alleged to have taken money to which it is not entitled to further the cause of its party faction. Some may rightly see this as a matter of corruption. Isn’t that what the AC in ICAC stands for. Brian Collins, Cronulla

The person the Liberal Party has elected as its president proves yet again that he is completely out of touch with the zeitgeist. He minimises the Reformers’ behaviour as letting their “enthusiasm get the better of their judgment”. This is the same person who called the science of climate change “absolute crap”. Best of luck to the electoral prospects of the Liberals with this kind of enlightened leadership. Graham Cochrane, Balmain

I wonder if Abbott would be attacking the ICAC so ardently if it were investigating a secretive group of “enthusiastic” young Muslims who were trying to stack Labor Party branches with favoured candidates while potentially using funding from property developers and the Islamic Schools Association of Australia. Jeff White, Killara

Pop the sneery bubble

It’s a pity George Brandis’ Petersham upbringing didn’t make him a more forthright critic of Tony Abbott’s anti-immigrant stance back when he was a cabinet minister in Abbott’s government (“Whiter nation isn’t the Liberal way, Tony”, August 3). But better late than never, I suppose, even with his usual sneering disparagement of anything done by the political left but indulgent understanding of the faults of everyone else. As for Abbott, given his conservative upbringing, right-wing student activism, religious vehemence and hero-worship of staunch ideologues such as B.A. Santamaria, I doubt a different formative environment would have made the slightest difference. And I suspect that Petersham is all the better for his absence. Adrian Connelly, Springwood

Nice essay from George Brandis about growing up in Petersham and schooling in Lewisham, and lamenting that Tony Abbott lacks an awareness of multicultural Australia. It’s just a pity he still cannot resist childish epithets such as “Bollinger socialists” to describe the current locals. My mother grew up in the area, my uncles went to his same school and my aunt and uncle lived in Lewisham and Annandale for decades. I still know people there but doubt any are socialists and am pretty certain there’s no Bollinger in their fridges. Just drop the silly tags, George, stick to the point, make a good argument and rise above the current type of childish behaviour that is on display at the ICAC hearings. Tony Sullivan, Islington

I cannot think of an article by George Brandis that I’ve fully (or even partially, most times) agreed with. Until now, with his fascinating account of the Liberals, in their day, leading the march towards a multiculturalism that he so positively and powerfully endorses. As someone who did live in Petersham and whose family is a potpourri of Anglo-Australian, Hungarian-Jewish, Malaysian Asian, Bangladeshi and Spanish blood, I see us as a truly Australian blend that Tony Abbott and Pauline Hanson would reject (to paraphrase John West). Anne Ring, Coogee

Surely, George Brandis isn’t denying Tony Abbott’s right to be a bigot? Bevan Wilson, Bondi

Level paying field

Margaret Collins makes a good start when suggesting all politicians’ children attend public schools (Letters, August 3). Let’s extend this to giving politicians free public transport instead of COMCARs, have them use the public health system for all medical needs, and peg their salaries to the average wage of workers across the country. Living the life of the majority of constituents is the only way they can understand where the money actually needs to be spent. What’s good for the goose ... Jane Lieschke, Woonona

Down the rabbit hole

Rodger Shanahan writes that nobody is the wiser as to why Donald Trump went to war with Iran, nor what the strategic aims of the military operations were (“Trump’s ‘short war’ is spiralling out of control. His personal failings were the trigger”, August 3). A self-reflection by the Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland captures Trump’s thinking in the planning and ongoing execution of this war, specifically: “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there” and “I’m not crazy; my reality is just different from yours.” Tragically for the world, the tale of Trump in Wonderland is far removed from the genre of literary nonsense. Paul Casey, Callala Bay

I’ve given up reading articles that start with “President Trump announces …” – I will now wait until an item with some corroborating evidence appears. We find ourselves in an unusual situation in which a statement from the White House or the Kremlin can be viewed with equal suspicion, and that the words of an Iranian spokesperson are more reliable than US government announcements.**Michael Size, Allambie Heights **

Sky-high prices falling in

Shane Wright has been rightly and doggedly reporting on housing prices falling, but has had little to say about rentals, where the greatest affordability problem lies (“House price fall accelerates as rate rises and budget policies hit”, August 3). State and federal governments have conveniently left this out of their conversations on housing, and it seems many journalists’ attention is on first home buyers’ travails rather than interrogating this more serious affordability crisis for the less wealthy. The rental market continues to drive many into poverty, and it is not falling like house prices; this is not reported enough. Politicians and the development and investment industries need to be held to account to explain and rectify the stubbornness of this great inequity. Christopher Hill, Kensington

Instead of losing our minds about auction clearance rates, wouldn’t it be more useful to track the total number of sales, be it at auction, post auction or by private treaty? We keep hearing about falling prices, so we know properties are still selling. A low auction clearance rate might encourage sellers to switch to private treaty, but it is not a sound reflection of the market overall. Sue Hoad, Merewether

Catch with the tax

Taxing coal and gas exports might seem like a good idea and even help reduce the national debt (Letters, August 3). But what if the federal government becomes addicted to the extra revenue, as state governments have become addicted to gambling revenue? If that happens, we’re unlikely ever to reach our emissions reductions targets, and we and the rest of the world will go on suffering the consequences of climate damage. Better to keep coal and gas in the ground and find more responsible and sustainable ways to balance the federal budget. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills

One charge to rule all

Public transport costs in the Brisbane metropolitan area are now capped at 50¢ a day. This initiative had bipartisan support in that state’s parliament. Sadly, the Minns government has repeatedly said it will not go down that path, though there are plenty of reasons to justify a reconsideration. A capped charge would help address rising inequality affecting the younger generation, when over 65s can travel all day for $2.50, no means test required, but a young couple trying to raise a family must pay full cost. There are obvious environmental gains if more people in the community can be persuaded to travel by public transport, with less pollution and reduced congestion. The Middle East conflict is also putting Australia in a highly vulnerable situation should petrol shortages occur. All reasonable options to reduce our dependence on these products should be considered, particularly when many Sydney buses are being converted to electric. The sky has not fallen in since the 50¢ charge was introduced in Queensland, and the whole community benefits either directly or indirectly. The same could apply here. **Neil Austen, Collaroy **

Boomers, we need you!

With the removal of the extra rebate on seniors’ private health insurance, let us show that some of us pensioners are willing to go the extra mile (“Labor ignored internal report revealing toll of scrapping Baby Boomer health rebate”, August 1). In our case, we might think about downsizing again (we’ve previously released a very salubrious house to a young family). We then expect to have an increase in assets, which will take us off the pension and release our spacious unit to the next generation. We’ll be able to dine out more often, assisting the hospitality industry. This is only the beginning. A trip to Rookwood is not far off. As Tolstoy wrote, “How much land does a man need anyway?” John Flint, Naremburn

Western exposure

With the opening of Western Sydney International Airport, the spoiling of one of the world’s great national parks in the Blue Mountains has begun. We are already hearing noisy planes from both western Sydney and Bankstown airports, and the worst is yet to come. Fuel will no doubt be spraying over people, flora and fauna, as well as Sydney’s water supply. No matter that the premise for this airport was 24/7 operations, this is an outrageous assault on the health and wellbeing of the people of western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, as well as the visitors who wish to spend time, weekends or longer in this beautiful, pristine, once-quiet environment. A good sleep is a human right and a primary need to function correctly without causing accidents. The airport’s chief executive dared to assert without evidence that 80 per cent of the local population was in favour of the airport. Submissions show this is not true. The people and their environment in the west have been tossed aside for monetary gain. They deserve an overnight curfew at the very least. Julius Timmerman, Lawson

More gold? I’m digging it!

It may not have been the Olympics, but what a superb effort from our Commonwealth Games team. How amazing that a 76-year-old, Louise Hoskins, could win a gold medal. Congratulations to all who took part, not just the medal winners. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

Maps, apps, get there – perhaps!

On Sunday, I needed to make a short two-kilometre trip from A to B in inner Sydney. As I was unsure of the road closures and one-way streets, I entered the journey into my maps app. I was confused by the very circuitous route that it took me, but that turned to distress when it told me I’d arrived at my destination. Unfortunately, I was in an expressway tunnel underneath point B. Moral of the story – don’t blindly trust AI. Manuela Epstein, Pyrmont

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