I selfishly want my local cafe and pub to remain open so that I can enjoy myself. I also want businesses to be economically viable and for staff to remain safe and employed. So, yes, Minister, fine the venues. But also do something about the patrons. John Circosta, Brunswick Heads

Illustration: Matt GoldingCredit:

I'm jumping to the defence of young people reportedly blase about physical distancing. Surely it becomes impossible to simultaneously permit "grown-ups" to hug, push, sweat, grapple and spit on the NRL field. Rule No.1 of leadership and messaging: consistency. Simon Rushworth, Gladesville

Another day has passed with hundreds of cases in Victoria still under investigation. At the rate this is going, it remains to be disclosed whether Victorian authorities are still able to accomplish contact tracing. If not, then all the debate over elimination versus suppression become moot and academic (Letters, July 17). Cristina Corleto, Stanmore

Another shot in the dark by Scott Morrison: $400 million to entice American film producers to come here to make blockbusters ("PM's lure to Hollywood as jobless rate hits 22-year high", July 17). It is not April 1. Our performing arts people have suffered to such a degree through lack of government support that it will take a long period to recover. Pour the money into Australian productions, whether for stage or television, dance and design. Keep our performers in front of house while at the same time keeping employed the great skilled artisans who work behind the scenes. That would be money well spent. Patricia Slidziunas, Woonona

Another thought bubble from the PM, or another favour for the USA? Why not inject "more than $400 million" into the Australian film production industry, rather than Hollywood? And who will the 8000 jobs a year go to: Australians, or US citizens working for "major film productions to bring them to a safer country with relatively little COVID-19 spread"? Perhaps invest in long-term local interests, such as universities, where mass job losses continue following the pandemic, atop historically low public funding. Which of these investments has potential for the greatest national return, and best long-term jobs and economic outcomes? Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville

Time to make a Hollywood blockbuster in Australia called The Return of Smoke and Mirrors. The grand announcement by our PM amounts to a four-year extension of existing funding beyond 2027. I fear this pitch will not bring genuine confidence to the Australian arts industry, business investors or general public at this time, especially when borders are essentially (and rightly) closed. Lorraine Hickey, Green Point

The US is so desperate to kickstart its economy they're prepared to let many thousands of people die in the process. You'd have to think that allowing any part of their film industry to go off-shore is somewhere between slim and nil. Bruce Hulbert, Lilyfield

Australians deny equinoxes and solstices, maintaining that seasons change the first day of the month, but they do believe in astrology. Unbelievable ("Astrology may be wrong, says science", July 17). Alberto Bizcarra, Rozelle

For a period of time, I was represented by women, from local government up to the very top (Letters, July 17). Clover Moore, Carmel Tebbutt, Tanya Plibersek, Marie Bashir, Julia Gillard and Quentin Bryce: what a formidable team. Nick Walker, Erskineville

Does the Friday cruciverbalist DA know the meaning of the word "quick" (Quick crossword, July 17)?Paul Marx, Wentworth Falls

When it came to free speech in our household, my father would say to his four children "that everyone gets to have a say". But then we would do it his way (Letters, July 17). Peter Nelson, Moss Vale

Amen ("Vatican says bishops should report sex abuse to police", smh.com.au, July 17). Edward Loong, Milsons Point

"Founding fathers" (Letters, July 16)? Who are they? And if we have some, who are our founding mothers? Sandra Pertot, Diamond Beach

Yes, indeed, Scott Morrison, "a National Integrity and Corruption Commission, with real teeth" is needed ("Australia's dirty secret v open justice", July 17). One that captures, if need be, even its own creators, as happened in NSW with ICAC. While everybody fears the retreat of democracy in the world and while the Australian government, quite correctly, attacks China for its attacks on freedom and democracy, it must also submit itself to scrutiny. Retreating from such exposure to be investigated is a retreat of democracy, it is joining the ranks of those we criticise, it is contributing to the decrease in democracy, it is to wear a diluted hue of the same colour, it is to become like them. John Colussi, Wahroonga

People concerned about the role of TAFE in the JobTrainer scheme must be doubly concerned with the news that NSW TAFE's managing director has plans to "commercialise" TAFE ("New training aims to blend paths", July 17). The reliance of fee-paying overseas students has corporatised and de-intellectualised our universities. How horrible they are planning this for TAFE. This is just another excuse to reduce public funding of a public institution. Marie Healy, Hurlstone Park

As a former engineering apprentice and retired educator, my heart lifted when I read Steffen Faurby's plans. So-called NSW "technical education" has a proud history and optimism for its future in these troubling times is doubly welcome. We taxpayers pray that lessons have been truly learned after the VETFEE-HELP scheme. Ian Muldoon, Coffs Harbour

When will we never learn ("Creative plan to bring Coogee back to life", July 17)? High-density people congregation areas such as the one proposed at Coogee Beach is not the way forward in the new world. Chris Webb, Cremorne

The abolition of the various trusts managing Sydney's parks and their incorporation into a new Frankenstein-esque bureaucracy is the opposite of what is needed ("Super agency to guide parks' future", July 17). The aim should have been to fully fund and democratise these trusts with elected local community representatives. This is precisely the kind of trust that the Friends of Callan Park and the former Leichhardt Council advocated for the forgotten jewel of Sydney's parklands, Callan Park. It is a pity the Minister for Planning's retrograde step may obscure his historic announcement in committing $10 million to enhancing the open space at Callan Park. Hall Greenland, Friends of Callan Park

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan came into effect on June 30, 2019. One year later there is still a major shortfall in water recovery, mainly in the Northern Basin that feeds the Darling River ("Department failed taxpayers with water buyback program", July 17). The auditor-general report found that private deals with irrigators are not the best value for taxpayers money. The cheapest, most efficient way to get water back into our rivers, to prevent catastrophes like the fish kills in the Darling, is to run voluntary, open tender buyback programs. Combine this approach with targeted investment in regional communities to assist economic diversification and improved services, then everyone wins. Bev Smiles, Pyrmont

Bob Carr's article ("Gas isn't the clean fuel we thought it was", July 16) argues methane emissions from natural gas could outweigh its benefits of delivering a lower emissions future, referring to a study from Nature journal in February by University of Rochester academic Benjamin Hmiel. Citing the article in unqualified support ignores the caution that one of the study's authors told the New York Times in February: "These measurements are incredibly difficult. So getting more data to help confirm our results would be very valuable that means there's quite a bit more research to be done."

Research into fossil fuel emissions is ongoing and it does not support the University of Rochester's findings. Leading atmospheric chemistry academics responded publicly to the release of Nature's publication, with Harvard professor of atmospheric chemistry and chemical engineering Daniel Jacob telling the Washington Post the study's claim that fossil fuel methane emissions are higher than previously estimated was wrong. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has pointed to natural biogenic sources behind the increase, a point supported by the Global Carbon Project that emphasised the fact that the broader scientific community does not support the view that fugitive emissions from oil and gas production are causing a global methane spike.

In Australia, CSIRO's GISERA has measured the full life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with an operating onshore gas project in Australia. The report found life-cycle emissions could be reduced by between 31 per cent and 50 per cent when compared with coal-fired power generation. It also found indirect and external greenhouse gas emissions associated with the LNG production process represented around 1.4 per cent of likely future production, and well below other sources like landfill and cattle feed lots. Andrew McConville, Chief Executive of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

Your correspondent suggests a get-together for the Dismissal whingers and Kiwis still whining about the underarm incident, to help each other get over it (Letters, July 17). As an Illawarra Steelers fan still trying to get over the grafting of our team to the socks of the traditional big bullies to the north with the "red v", when we have a huge population and enviable football nursery of our own, I would love to be added to the guest list, so that I can show them that compared to me they really have nothing to whinge about. I may never get over it, but a good whinge and a party always help ease the pain (as long as it's nowhere near Kogarah). Andrew Cronin, Robertson

Congratulations Matt Peterson. I am trying, however, I haven't yet let go of the poor refereeing in the 1974 World Cup final between Holland and West Germany when Holland was defeated 2-1. Hermine Scheeres, Double Bay

In one hundred year time, all the Robs, Bills, Nigels, Nolas and Tinas will be well pleased with their fashionable names (Letters, July 17). Robert Sharpe, Bronte

I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. Shirley Brockwell, North Bondi

I was once corrected by a John Smith that John was not "common" but "popular". Bruce Valentine, Orange

All you Joans and Jans, Sharons and Karens: think yourselves lucky. My mother saddled me with the not very common name of Coralie. Over the years I have been called Carrolly, Carolyn, Caroline, Coralline and, mysteriously, Kylie. It was all too hard for my mother-in-law and she opted for Col, which I hated. No wonder I settled on my own simplification. Coral Button, North Epping

I have been happy to have an old-fashioned name until it cropped up north of the Tweed on a red-headed redneck. Pauline Paton, Centennial Park

I sympathise with the Sharons, Karens, Cheryls, Janes and Joans, but at least it's their own name that they have to live with. While I love my wife dearly, being called a Nancy boy does seem a little unfair at times. Stephen Foster, Glebe

"Once upon a time it was: 'What did you do in the war, daddy?' Down the track it could be: 'What did you do in the pandemic, gran?'" writes Margaret Johnston of Paddington. "I'll say, 'I wrote letters to the Herald', and the kids will laugh." Like us, she's not surprised many more correspondents are carrying on a conversation with the Herald's letters pages, particularly over the past few months. "Rather than just passively absorbing the (mostly bad) news, it's a way of engaging with some of those important issues that haven't gone away during isolation," she explains. "Though it doesn't quite substitute for scintillating dinner party conversation." It all depends on the dinner parties you're invited to, Margaret.

Although we received many letters about what was or wasn't revealed in the much-awaited Palace letters, the pandemic discussion continued this week. Many contributed to the mask-wearing debate, and whether the government should aim for elimination rather than suppression. Letter writers expressed concern about those deemed to be selfishly not abiding to rules imposed by authorities in an attempt to keep case numbers down. Carol Witt of Hunters Hill's frustration captured many writers' feelings: "Why are self-pitying, self-centred and self-entitled dare I say idiots getting so much air space to rail against restrictions and bleat about civil liberties? Shouldn't we be embracing any degree of lockdown as a luxury and figuring out how to help the millions who cannot afford it?"

She adds: "It is a bummer to be cooped up at home and horrible to feel lonely but it is ever so slightly better than being dead." In the meantime, keep writing. Pat Stringa, Letters editor

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No choice but vigilance in time of high virality - Sydney Morning Herald