PM’s need to appear ‘tough’ exposes his key weakness – Sydney Morning Herald

Interesting choice of words by the PM in parliament in the debate over his phone call to the NSW Police Commissioner - when referring to the Opposition he said: "On the next day they sought to trump up something else." Freudian slip? Was there a quid pro quo? - Peter Paige, Moss Vale

With Morrison increasingly copying his pal Trump, surely it cant be long until the PM starts demanding a wall somewhere. - Nick Andrews, Bellevue Hill

One can only presume that it is the success and popularity of Clover Moores style of politics, free from the influence and pressure of party-political operatives and back-room vested interest groups and lobbyists, that even as an independent mayor of a local council in NSW she is seen by a minister in the federal government as a "political opponent" and becomes a target for "an impossible claim" ("Morrisons judgment failed him and now hes totally exposed", November 28). - Harvey Sanders, Paddington

The former immigration minister who wouldnt reveal on-water matters now, as PM, wont reveal off-water matters either. So much for transparency in government. - Merilyn McClung, Forestville

I think it's about time the rest of Australia woke up to how Quiet Australia works. When the most powerful politician in the land makes a quiet call to the state's most powerful police officer, the nature of that call should remain just that - quiet. Enough of these quite frankly disrespectful questions. Next thing a certain kind of nosey Australian will be demanding to be told about the government's policies on energy, the drought, bushfires and climate change. As we hurtle towards the summer holidays let's get on with the Christmas shopping, the Test and say a quiet prayer for Australia. - Nick Franklin, Katoomba

Morrison is just like any other average bloke, right? What quiet Australian wouldnt have a quiet chat to the police commissioner if their colleague was under investigation? - Mark Pearce, Richmond

That reminds me; I must call the NSW Police Commissioner to discuss my recent speeding fine. - David Farrell, Erskineville

Clive James, an Australian icon and iconoclast has departed, stage right (''Clive James: Literary and TV giant dead at 80'', November 28).

Much more than the Kid from Kogarah, his sharp wit and verbal skills flourished in foreign soil and he held up a mirror not only to the pretentiousness of much of the manners and morals he found abroad but he was ever aware, like the true artist, of his own fragility and limitations.

We are fortunate not only for the memories of this great raconteur but for the rich vein of profound thoughts he left us in his memoirs and poems. - Eugene OConnor, Terara

There were many highlights, and James himself noted, some regrets. He executed the craft of wit with his unique style. A stand-out from my youth was watching on New Years Eve his take on the years people and happenings.

Handing out awards, as often was the case, the recipient was not present in the studio. Straight-faced, James would announce they were unable to be there. Now as the tributes flow Clive James will loom large as he accepts the recognition deserved. - Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook

Poet, memoirist, literary critic, chat show host and tango enthusiast: just some of the attributes of the Kid from Kogarah. With his gravelly voice and crinkly eyes, he beguiled his audiences and his sparkling prose left his admirers wanting more. He and I were born just weeks apart and I would have been grateful for a third of his talent. - Joan Brown, Orange

One of Clive James's greatest achievements was translating the 500-odd page medieval Italian text by Dante, The Divine Comedy, from its original Tuscan dialect into English. He did this for his wife, a Dante scholar. The result is breathtaking; one of the greatest translations of Dante that we have. - Dale Bailey, Five Dock

James was one of Australia's most brilliant and prolific writers, yet not one of his books or poems are prescribed texts in the NSW HSC English curriculum. It is a sign of the greatness of the man that he saw the funny side of his exclusion, as he had the ability to extract humour from the most unlikely of places. - Tony Letford, Wentworth Falls

I have an abiding memory of James one late summers afternoon at the Quay, sitting at his favourite restaurant observing the passing parade, a quizzical look on his face, thoroughly in the moment but apart at the same time. - Diane Hughan, Woolgoolga

He shone so brightly to the last, and then was gone. Vale Clive James. - Meredith Williams, Dee Why

A group of eminent climate scientists has issued another warning that the world faces a "cascade" of climatic "tipping points" when change becomes irreversible unless emergency action is taken to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are directly or indirectly caused by humans ("Tipping points 'dangerously close'", November 28). Unless we can avoid these tipping points, sea levels could rise as much as seven metres, and temperatures could become unbearable in coming decades. These events could in turn cause mass migration from low-lying regions.

Despite such warnings, the Prime Minister and his disciples stubbornly refuse to listen. They persist with their welded-on support of coal, the dirty rock that began the era of global warming when global temperatures were headed towards another ice age and is still the chief culprit behind an increasingly uncomfortable and dangerous climate. - Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin, ACT

I always felt that climate change would one day undo the Coalition. It's all a big joke to them. But no amount of marketing from the Prime Minister can undo facts. The country is on fire in spring, and now the tipping point climate scientists warned of could be closer than imagined. What a national farce these fossils are to claim only they can "keep Australians safe" and only they can be trusted to run our economy. - Sue Young, Bensville

Climate tipping points are like stones thrown at an icefield: they seem irrelevant until the mountain descends onto the valley. This isn't nonsense, greenie panic or black humour. This is present reality. Tomorrow will be too late. Far, far too late. - David Neilson, Invergowrie

Pru Goward is right ("Here's a way to make health insurance more affordable for all", November 28). We need much more government investment into keeping well, rather than always throwing money at the pointy end of the health spectrum.

For far too long acute hospitals have been seen as the face of health. It is actually primary and extended care with a preventative and all-encompassing community health-wellness focus which carries the flag always under resourced and vastly undervalued. It's this sector which can free up hospital beds for those who really need them by keeping us healthy and at home rather than clogging up the system. Lack of whistles and machines that go "ping" doesn't seem to win votes though. - Judy Finch, Cedar Party

I agree that young people are being belted for taking up private health insurance ("Young, healthy and bled dry", November 28). However, when you are older there is the huge financial penalty for not having taken up private insurance by the age of 30. For my partner and I, when I looked into the costs in 2012 we were to be penalised by a 70 per cent premium, resulting in a $5000 yearly fee.Based on my investigation we decided to self insure and in the last seven years have saved approximately $40,000.

I would strongly advise any youngsters to forget about private health insurance and take up advice to commence a salary sacrifice into investments to the same amount. You will be amazed at how much you amass with time. - Graham Lawson, Birchgrove

Large and unplanned-for population growth is a huge concern for many but the "debate" is going nowhere as your correspondent points out (Letters, November 28). To call for a reduction in the largest single factor, immigration, elicits cries of racism which it's definitely not.

But the inescapable consequences of the mathematical laws of compound growth tells you that it can't keep going on. Someday, population has to stabilise. The only questions are when and at what level. Soon, and about the same number of people as now, would be good answers. What to do, when the political "leaders" will do nothing? - John Burman, Port Macquarie

Stephen Bartholomeusz frets about the "loss of corporate memory and experience" should there be further loss of Westpac directors ("Bank's fate should make all big company directors nervous", November 28). Directors and management in many large companies have placed little value on these factors in recent years as they retrench experienced staff and outsource key activities. - Jane Wilkie, Gymea

Congratulations to Warwick Farm Public School for creating a culture of high expectations for their students with the resultant improvement in their academic achievement and attitude to school in general ("Expectations great as a pupil aid", November 28). Good teachers know that students will stretch themselves with positive encouragement and demands which are not necessarily comfortable but always reasonable. A little stress is sometimes a requirement for meaningful and rewarding progress. - Max Redmayne, Russell Lea

We've already lost great chunks of the Sydney Domain, Parramatta Park, Penrith's Weir Reserve, and no doubt many other public parks to vested interests. Now Tempe Reserve is again under threat ("Sydney FC revisit plans for training base", November 28). To maintain some sort of balance, surely it's now time to return the Moore Park Stadium site to public parkland. - Kevin Eadie, Drummoyne

The "hidden disaster" of children lost to education will persist as long as governments accommodate a binary education system public and private and cannot ideologically accept that the operation and funding of the public system is the prime responsibility of any just system ("50,000 children missing school at any one time", November 28).

Of course there is a role for the private system but as long as its entitlements are skewed to the extent of folly the "missing children" problem will not be addressed. - Gus Plater, Saratoga

Yes, the cold water that comes out of the shower head before the hot water comes through is very collectable (Letters, November 28).

I collect five litres of cold water in a bucket each time I use the shower, and then use it to water my garden. Or flush the toilet. With a household of four people, that's 20 litres a day. - Mia David, Wollongong

Its time for the International Maritime Organisation to push for the abolition of noisy diesel powered ships. Not only will this improve air quality around the world, it seems noiseless electric powered ships will enhance the love life of migrating hump back whales (''Boat noise puts kibosh on whales romance'', November 28). - Cornelius van der Weyden, Balmain East

Growing up in a Catholic household in the '60s and having been taught by nuns for 13 years, the term ''modesty'' became a term that wrapped itself around the core of my being ("Modesty blazes a new fashion trail", November 28). However, for the first time in my life, I have bought a dress that gives me cleavage. Am I game enough to wear it? - Genevieve Milton, Newtown

When it is lighter for longer at the end of the working day due to daylight saving, conceivably this could encourage more people to go out and about in fossil-fuel emitting machines after they get home from work, increasing fossil fuel emissions (Letters, November 28).But increased fossil fuel emissions due to daylight saving are unlikely to have an impact on your curtains, if you keep the windows closed. - Max Hopwood, Zetland

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PM's need to appear 'tough' exposes his key weakness - Sydney Morning Herald