Badgerys Creek airport would be a boon for the west

It's a good thing the ALP's conference voted not to privatise the ABC, but it's a shame this isn't a matter of bipartisan agreement.

There are great institutions that need bipartisan support to be effective, and the ABC is one of them. - Tom Mangan, Woy Woy Bay

As if any further confirmation that a microscope and a pair of tweezers was needed to tell Liberal from Labor these days, it came on Sunday as a group of anti-Western Sydney Airport protesters turned up outside NSW Labor's annual conference to impress their wholly reasonable opposition to a curfew-free airport and the incompatibility of aircraft noise with the peace and tranquility of the Blue Mountains National Park.

A delegate sauntered down the Sydney Town Hall steps, peered down his nose at the protesters, and with gob-smacking arrogance, sneered, "You'll survive". - Colin Andersen, Lapstone

It is wrong to suggest that the policy of Labor only works if it can change the law ("A key moment in Labor's fight", July 2).

No major party, Labor or Liberal, can actually – by themselves – change the law. Only Parliament can do that and to do so means working with all parties represented to bring policy into legislation.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard managed to do that very effectively, although hardly anyone gave her the credit. - Professor Michael Blissenden, School of Law, Western Sydney University

Surely the Labor leadership is handing electoral victory to the Coalition in NSW and Australia as long as they persist with Foley and Shorten as leaders. Neither man inspires confidence with the electorate. Labor must be worried or happy to remain in opposition. - Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

Sense of entitlement over childcare rebate a concern

Renee Richards' opinion piece raises many good points, but sadly misses the most important point of all when discussing social policy ("I'll be paying $45 a day now to go to work", July 2). Yes, she is highly educated and trained, making a valuable contribution to society, and has an inalienable right to be at work. Clearly, she deserves every good thing that has come her way – including the good fortune to have a partner that helps her family bring in more than $351,248.

And this is the point she is missing: she and her partner are well able to pay for childcare without the need for government support. Out there in society are less fortunate individuals whose children also deserve that very valuable early childhood education. Just as the government does not pay the pension to self-funded retirees who are lucky enough to be in a position to care for themselves, neither should high-earning families be expecting government support when there are so many needy families who could not access childcare without it.

It is all about equal opportunity and social compassion – not about entitlement. - Carol Murphy, Port Macquarie

I struggle with the claim that removing childcare subsidies for high-income households devalues the work skills of the mother.

Surely childcare, as a household expense, is shared by both parents.

There are many problems that need addressing in the area of childcare. Key issues would be adequate wages for childcare workers, access to quality childcare in all areas of the country and greater flexibility in working hours.

I'm not sure that a government rebate for households with income over $350,000 is high on the priority list. - Anne Kirman, Kellyville

Richards' argument supports the unfortunate view that mother's are totally responsible for the costs of childcare. In this day and age, both parents should be equally responsible for the costs of childcare. - ​Diana Ryall, Birchgrove

As a public hospital nurse, I highly value physiotherapists. However, I should not have to subsidise their childcare when their partner is earning above the very generous thresholds. - Penelope Montgomery, Nimbin

The choices that this particular couple make in terms of childcare and career opportunity costs should not concern the government or the public.

The Childcare Subsidy Scheme is a tool devised to address inequalities apparent in society. It is there to facilitate education and employment opportunities for families on lower incomes. It is not there to make childbearing a zero sum expense. - Ann Patel, Oatley

Balled over

Russia's surprise win over Denmark at the World Cup: will the conspiracy theorists put this down to meddling by Vladimir Putin ("Cheers for fears: defiant Russia keep Kremlin's winning streak alive", smh.com.au, July 2)? - George Fishman, Vaucluse

Socceroos are now in the elite group with other departees: Argentina, Germany, Portugal and Spain. - Mustafa Erem, Terrigal

Night of nights

Grant Denyer wins the Gold Logie for a cancelled show. Could he have become Prime Minister if he had a successful show ("Golden night of nights for Denyer", July 2)? - Dennis Fitzgerald , Box Hill (Vic)

Seasonal hiccups

My only problem with a Dry July is that it will followed by an unusually Wet August ("Mocktails all part of the fun in global cancer fundraiser", smh.com.au, June 28). - David Ginges, Killara

Longer working day

For more than a century in developed countries, we have embraced the eight-hour day. I had presumed it was a non-negotiable element of employment in the modern world. Flabbergasted that Austria plans to legislate for a 12-hour day ("Viennese protest over 12 hour working day", July 2) - Lorraine Hickey, Green Point

Central revamp needs function over form

It's unfortunate that so much attention is being paid to the architectural re-vamp of Central Station and so little to its functional requirements as a transport interchange ("From drab to dramatic urban hub", July 2).

Thousands of hours of accumulated travel time could be saved by having across-the-platform interchanges at Central between the Chatswood-Bankstown Metro and the proposed City-Parramatta Metro.

Well planned cities around the world have it. Even our revered Dr Bradfield adopted it for this very same station, 80 years ago. It's not too late to fix it. It just requires Central's two metro platforms currently under construction to be placed one above the other, instead of side-by-side, as is currently planned. - Kevin Eadie, Drummoyne

Oh dear, another set of plans for Sydney, the refurbishment and glamourising of Central station.

Given it has been years since they closed the old dining rooms on the concourse with promises that very soon there would be a new food area, I implore this state government to desist.

Just leave Central as it is and get the trains running on time and the light rail finished along George Street. Please don't stretch our credulity any more. - Nola Tucker, Kiama

All very swish but will more seats be provided and comfortable ones at that? The "park bench" wooden plank seats are extremely uncomfortable and although there are not many, you usually don't have to wait too long to sit down as they become quite painful to sit on for more than a few minutes. - Valerie Craig, Orange

Perhaps after John McAslan has finished revamping Central Station without demolishing it he could be persuaded to stay on and fix the two stadiums. - Ramon Jones, Carcoar

The right medicine

GPs warning against pharmacy tests seems contrary to the notion of the complementary roles of GPs and pharmacists ("GPs warn again pharmacy checks", July 2). Walk-in chemist's checkup and advice on treatment of common ailments can help with alleviating the long and frustrating GP bulk billing queues; while GPs can deal with pharmacy referrals and seriously ill- patients. Something about win-win. - Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

It's plain that pharmacies are motivated by money but I'm also certain that some doctors are, too. - Sarah Benmayor, Bondi

Matter of life and death

Amanda Vanstone has written a thoughtful and sensible piece on the right of a dying person to choose ("Can't we be decent people at the end of our lives?", July 2). Why do those of us who believe in euthanasia have to endure unbearable pain and suffering because the lawmakers won't pass a law that the majority of voters want?

As Vanstone says, if you think it's against God's law then don't do it and God will deal with the lawbreakers. I'd rather take my chances. - Karen Hunter, Lindfield

Vanstone urges us to be "decent people at the end of our lives" . Why wait until then? - Nick Andrews, Vaucluse

There are four words that summarise what Vanstone has said: my life, my choice.

I believe having the freedom and choice to die with dignity is the cornerstone of both a democratic and benevolent society. - Sue Casiglia, North Ryde

I have never understood why people like Kevin Andrews think they have the right to tell the rest of us how we should manage our death. It is not as though there is a shortage of humans on the planet.

If some of us want to choose the time of our exit due to ill health or old age, why should we be forced to prolong it? Especially as something like 60 per cent of the health budget is spent on the last six months of life.

If you do want to stay as long as possible, good on you. Go for it. But if you want to end it because life is no longer worth living, whose business is it but one's own? - Sue Milliken, Queens Park

How did Amanda Vanstone reach her understanding of life "as being the wonderful opportunity that comes after nothing and is followed by nothing?" That sounds like an act of faith in absurdity. - Mark Porter, New Lambton

Coal flavoured water

Apparently coal mining is polluting Warragamba Dam ( "Inaction over salinity cause for complaint", July 2).

The Coalition government claims coal is good but it seems to be bad for drinking water . - Paul Doyle, Glenbrook

Peak of performance

Your story on the Myers-Briggs personality assessment pointed out that the MBTI isn't useful for hiring or selection but it didn't make clear it was never designed to do so ("Are personality tests like Myer-Briggs just corporate astrology?", June 26).

The MBTI publisher, CPP, has always been against using it for any kind of selection, including hiring. Rather, the MBTI was designed to help get the best performance out of those you're working with and a wide body of data published recently shows that, when used properly, it accurately measures what it's supposed to.

While the article is dismissive of the MBTI creators, it should be noted that Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs were college graduates who employed scientific method in its 20-year development, working with Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ, a major test publisher.

As Professor John Johnson of Pennsylvania State University wrote in Psychology Today, "A hard look at the common criticisms of the MBTI indicates that none of these criticisms hold up". - Cameron Nott, Managing Director, CPP Asia Pacific

Addicted to pokie profits

Gary Van Duinen's death is a tragic reminder of the damage poker machine addiction can have on an individual and their family ("The night Gary lost everything", July 2). Sadly the devastation of addiction, experienced by the Van Duinen family, is continuing.

Clubs and pubs dependent on poker machine revenue should look at a business like the Scarborough Hotel in the Northern Illawarra. This pub runs on its service and the quality of its product. Other clubs and pubs, that want to be a positive in the community, should follow their example. - John Cotterill, Kingsford

Return to sender

Who has organised the Woollies plastic bag fiasco in regard to online shopping (Letters, July 2)? Instead of receiving my shopping order in numerous grey single use plastic bags that Woollies provided free of charge, I now receive my order in larger reusable plastic bags that I have to pay for. But these cannot be returned for reuse in the online shopping cycle. This very unhappy camper thinks somethings going to have to change and soon. - Maureen King, Lane Cove