The tragic capsizing of a boat carrying African migrants off Italy highlights a stark contrast in the way asylum seekers are treated. The Italian government declared a national day of mourning to remember the hundreds believed to have perished. In contrast, our Prime Minister did not even extend sympathies on behalf of our nation when a boat headed for our shores sank off the coast of Java last week, killing 31 people. Our countries share the same set of challenges in relation to refugees; thousands of asylum seekers flee their country of origin headed for the safety of Italy, as they do Australia. There has been a large increase in asylum seekers travelling by boat in recent years to reach our respective shores. Yet Italy processes asylum seekers onshore swiftly and accepts many more refugees than does Australia. Rather than spending billions establishing and maintaining detention centres in other countries, it would be more financially astute and humanitarian to process asylum seekers quickly onshore where they can establish a new life and contribute to our great nation. Amanda Searle, Blackburn South

The Australian way

An asylum-seeker boat sinks and Italy declares a day of national mourning. An asylum-seeker boat sinks off west Java and Australia says nothing for more than 24 hours before issuing an official denial of reports that we ignored repeated distress calls from the stricken vessel. Makes you proud to be Australian. Rod Beecham, Monbulk

Secrecy helps us ignore obligations Compare the compassion of the Italian authorities with the response of the Abbott and previous Labor governments to similar events in our region. It highlights once again the continued politicisation of this global human tragedy, where people are forced to flee from violent conflicts. In the Australian context we have now added secrecy and the appointment of a three-star general to wash our hands of our obligations regarding these continuing international tragedies.

Judith Morrison, Mount Waverley Thought control Tony Abbott states he wants politics out of the headlines. The underlying attitude is that he and the government will decide what we need to know - our politicians know best and have the right to control communication. There is a belief that if communication is blocked the politicians can get on with ''business'' without needing to consider the community's views. Control of the media; policy formulation and implementation hidden from the electorate; and a related view of a ''God-given right to rule'' are early steps in the formulation of hardline governments. Australia's new government must be stopped from ''thought control'' before it's too late. Malcolm Ellenport, East Brighton



You work for us Have Mr Abbott and his colleagues forgotten they are in the employ of the Australian people? I can't think of any other boss who would put up with their employees refusing to tell them what they are doing to earn their daily dollar. Day after day the headlines are: ''Minister refuses to reveal'', or ''Abbott refuses to comment''. Are we as a nation prepared to be treated like fools by our government? Probably. Ian Smith, Whittlesea



Selloff is short-sighted Congratulations, Shane Green, on your excellent article on apartment towers (Forum, 5/10). One sentence fairly leaps off the page: ''It's a disturbing trade-off: short-term economic gain in exchange for a city permanently scarred.'' The government is indulging in more short-term gain by selling off ''surplus to requirement'' education land. This is foolish when the city is growing so fast. There is no planning for the future or recognition of the need for schools in areas of growth. In Darebin, for example, this is happening to two schools - Ruthven Primary School and Preston North East Primary - despite community opposition and statistics that prove demand exists. Marion Harper, Reservoir



Protect our heritage Five historic theatres were saved in the 1980s by an extraordinary community effort supported by the Melbourne City Council. The theatres, in need of restoration, were seen as sites more profitably developed, such as for multi-storey car parks. Even the government argued that the new Arts Centre had rendered the theatres obsolete. Here we go again. Jinshan luxury hotel chain sees the century-old Palace Theatre as an investment opportunity. Despite its individual heritage protection and that of the parliamentary precinct in which it stands, this will be lost if a high-rise hotel goes ahead. The nearby Windsor Hotel development is a convenient precedent. The superiority of the property market over the citizens in city development must stop. State governments must be required to protect our heritage rather than leaving it to ill-resourced community action led by the National Trust. Angela Munro, Carlton North



Left stranded I note the state government's dismissal of the call for public transport to run through the night (The Age, 4/10). My 18-year-old daughter and her friends were stranded in Newport on Friday night trying to get back to Yarraville. The last bus is at 9.05pm and the last train is at 11.50pm. They spent 30 minutes on the phone to a taxi service, before finally giving up and walking the four kilometres home. They arrived an hour past their curfew, upset and apologetic for worrying their parents. My daughter is not Cinderella. Her carriage should not turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight. She lives in the world's most liveable city, except if she wants to get home on public transport at night. Kat Perdriau, Yarraville



Falling short The article ''International uni students choosing myki trips over meals'' (31/9) highlighted an important strategy developed by the City of Melbourne examining the challenges faced by international students. Unfortunately, the discussion that unfolded on The Age's website in the comments section ranged from the casually offensive to overtly racist. The 125,000 international students living in Victoria provide a $4.5 billion boost to the economy and add a great deal to the vibrancy of our city. Anyone who suggests Victoria would be ''better off'' if international students ''get a life, stop whinging or go home'' fails to understand the significant cultural and economic contribution made by international students and the genuine disadvantage some experience. I am disappointed that some of the comments were published in contravention of The Age's own policy - that ''any comments that can be reasonably considered offensive, threatening or obscene will not be allowed''.

Geoff Lawler, acting chief executive, City of Melbourne

Behind the figures The article ''Indonesian slips as favoured subject'' (4/10) states that Chinese study has grown to put it second only to French in VCE. The number of students from non-Chinese backgrounds studying the language has actually fallen to about 150, well below the other five commonly taught languages. The total number studying Chinese has increased because local students of Chinese background have increased to about 1200. Close to 2000 international Chinese students also now study Chinese as a first language. Jane Orton, Chinese Teacher Training Centre, Melbourne Graduate School of Education



Nuclear deception Labor mucked up climate change legislation and, it seems, was determined to allow the other great threat - nuclear weapons - to continue (''ALP nuclear backflip linked to US defence'', 2/10). It refused to endorse a call by 80 nations, at the last nuclear non-proliferation treaty meeting, for a ban on nuclear weapons, and even undermined the treaty's signing. Unlike with climate change, this decision cannot be blamed on pressure from the media and fossil fuel producers, but a determination to bind Australia tightly to American foreign policy. Militarism is clearly at play. It is no coincidence that this happened in the same term of government during which the policies of US troops training in NT and increased facilities for US ships were announced with little discussion in cabinet, let alone parliament and the community. Any reliance on ''nuclear deterrence'' is a threat to cause incalculable human suffering. Only non-nuclear weapons states can effect change in this area - we cannot wait for those that hold these weapons to give them up, without enormous pressure from others. It requires a whole new treaty. Let's hope our new government is listening.

Dr Jenny Grounds, president, Medical Association for Prevention of War

Sick of being ripped off If local telcos are wondering why sales of the new iPhone 5s and 5c have flatlined, perhaps it's because Australians are sick and tired of being ripped off on technology pricing. In the US, the price of the base models of the 5s and 5c are, respectively, $180 and $156 lower than in Australia. The early sales jump can be explained by purchases made by the tech-heads who must have every new model of everything, regardless of its utility, and business buyers, who are likely to be on telco plans and can write off the inflated cost against their income.

Fred Abery, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Give fans some hope The article ''Bending the rules results in a two-tiered competition" (Sport, 4/10) was chilling reading for fans of the least powerful AFL clubs. While this season may be an extreme example, consider that the Bulldogs, Saints and Demons finished 15th, 16th and 17th and that their last premierships were in 1954, 1966 and 1964 respectively. Fans have waited a lifetime for their day in the sun, and it is hard to accept the system continues to work against them. As the Franklin deal shows, free agency and other market-driven changes can work both ways for strong clubs but they always work against the weaklings. At the end of each season we have to endure our better players (Lake, Goddard, Sylvia, Ward, Dal Santo etc) being targeted, and so our rebuilding phase stretches on.

We don't have a level playing field; we have virtually institutionalised the strong v weak divide. It's time the AFL eliminated the injustices and restored some hope to despairing supporters. Greg Ware, Middle Park And another thing... Business

During the financial crisis, America had a rash of companies judged ''too big to fail''. Does Australia have companies that are ''too big to jail''? John Quinn, Avoca Leighton International: just another case of ''directors without borders''? Peter Barrett, Kew

Politics

If the ministers who could be described as the taxpayer-funded wedding crashers set the tone for the government, Mr Abbott can look forward to a historically short honeymoon period. Graeme Noonan, Phillip Island Gina Rinehart thinks so much of Barnaby Joyce, Julie Bishop and Teresa Gambaro that she shouted them a one-way trip out of the country. Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills Being Prime Minister requires more than a three-second sound bite for the nightly news. Perhaps that's why Mr Abbott now appears media shy.

Phil Alexander, Eltham Do you recognise the Republicans' tactics? If you cannot get your way you wreck everything including the economy. They are operating from the Abbott textbook. Rob McDonald, Sailors Falls Can't wait for the next anniversary of the RAN. We can show the world how we turned back the boats. Ralph De Rango, Glen Waverley



Elsewhere Phasing out eggs from battery hens is a great move. Now let's do the same with cheap clothing and footwear from ''human battery'' workers in developing countries. Vikki O'Neill, Narre Warren South Could Woolies now phase out pokies ownership in order to tackle human welfare concerns.

Kate Gotlib, Richmond Buddy Franklin-Mint. Jane Fisher, Black Hill Click here to submit a letter to the editor.

