Hartcher is right, now is the time for an election campaign focused on evidence-based policy not name calling, personality or half-truths. It's time to make Australia decent again. - Don Smith, Ashfield Imagine what the country could do with $387 billion over 10 years ("PM draws up tax battleline", April 12). Better schools and hospitals, more scientific research, water security and more money for the ABC. Much better in our hands than in the pockets of the privileged or big business. - Tom Orren, Wamberal Heights The PM in his sales pitch to win the election, uses the words "fair go for all Australians". Pensioners and recipients of welfare for various reasons do not receive the same "fair go" after working most of their lives, contributing to this country's growth and "lucky country" reputation. MPs just retiring from this Parliament receive about $200,000 for the rest of their lives plus many other benefits. They will never go on any pension like the majority of Australians. Pensioners, after means-testing, receive approximately $700 per couples per fortnight. This is not a fair go for all, it is not equality and contributes to the lack of trust that Australians have for politicians. Russell Coburn, Bonny Hills When I place my vote in the forthcoming May election, I'd like an assurance that the person elected will stay in the party that he/she was elected in and that he/she will stay for the duration of their term. Is that too much to ask? Lia Friedler, North Sydney

Rugby Australia must respect Constitution The Australian Constitution states that the Commonwealth may not prohibit free exercise of religion ("Rugby Australia set to sack Israel Folau", April 12). I do not agree with Israel Folau's version of religion but as an Australian I must support and am bound by the Constitution, which Australian Rugby must be careful not to violate. - Francis Payne, Killara As a Christian, I do my best to follow the teachings of Jesus. "Judge not, lest you be judged" is one of my favourites. - Peter Mahoney, Oatley Who is Israel Folau and who cares? I came to Australia as a refugee from a communist country where you were jailed if you publicly expressed a personal view that contradicted the government's official dictum. Please, don't let that happen here. - Maria Morton, Wahroonga Folau is entitled to express his opinion in public as long as he does not advocate violence between people. - Elizabeth Vickers, Maroubra

It's a shame that Folau didn't add tattooing to his list of naughtiness, as it's clearly forbidden in Leviticus. But then he wouldn't be the first person to cherry-pick items from the Bible. - Tony Shaw, Mudgee Where were the free speech warriors when Scott McIntyre was sacked from SBS and Yassmin Abdel-Magied effectively sacked from her ABC role for making comments about Anzac Day? Folau has not been prevented from speaking his mind, but his employer sees his communications as against its policy and subsequently sacked him. - George Maniatis, Dulwich Hill Someone needs to tell Folau that there's a long-standing tradition in this country called "live and let live", which is how we all manage to rub along together despite our differences. - Mary Roberts, Wollstonecraft I guess Izzy will be off to the Crusaders. - Peter Hayes, Port Macquarie

Energy-efficient drive I write this from the Nullarbor township of Eucla, driving back from Perth in an electric vehicle (Letters, April 12). Getting refuelled is no problem because electric power is available at every settlement. Sure, the electricity is diesel-generated, but the result is still more energy efficient than a petrol car. A mix of diesel and solar generation will support a growing fleet of EVs criss-crossing the continent. - Janet Aisbett, Newcastle East If there is no petrol any more, how will I run my 1926 Austin 12? Is the magnificent sight and sound of vintage cars on a sunny weekend to disappear? Is my Edna to become extinct? - Eva Elbourne, Normanhurst It was generally believed that the reason Sydney got rid of its perfectly serviceable and non-polluting trams was due to pressure from the oil companies, which succeeded in having trams replaced with buses. This sort of pressure against electric cars must not be allowed to prevail again, particularly in view of the great irony of the new light rail network now under construction. - Coral Button, North Epping For those who think electric cars are scary you better buckle in because you are going to find the coming decades a very bumpy ride. In this life, the future is scary, exciting and unavoidable. - James Buckman, Enmore

Selfish Assange still merits help from his government Much is going to be made of the threat to journalism and freedom of speech as a result of Julian Assange's arrest in London. I beg to differ ("Assange hauled from embassy and arrested", April 12) . Julian Assange gestures as he arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Credit:AP Assange unilaterally decided to release vast amounts of classified data, without filter or comment. In effect, he therefore took no responsibility for anything, or the consequences, other than to act as a disruptor. His failure to release the same level of data from other superpowers undermines his claims to impartiality. His readiness to put lives at risk underlines his arrogance.

He is therefore in no way comparable to any decent journalist, whose aim is to offer balanced views and hold others, and themselves, to account. He is, in truth, as the British magistrate succinctly put it, "a narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interest". He represents the abuse of power more than freedom of speech. - Tim Parry, North Turramurra The United Nations have long established Assange's rights have been violated under international law; and given his poor mental and physical health, it is disheartening that our government, for all its lip service about protecting human rights, is not doing much more to assist and stand up for him. - Steve Ngeow, Chatswood The "narcissist" has been dragged out and found guilty of jumping bail. When he is dragged back to the US and found guilty there of leaking state secrets, he shouldn't worry too much - his mate Donald Trump will surely pardon him for his help uncovering dirt on Hillary Clinton.

Trump always repays those that helped him get elected, right? - Henry Spirek, Orange Assange has nothing to worry about. Australia's many fearless defenders of free speech, like the Institute of Public Affairs, will rise up as one to demand his freedom. - Andrew Worssam, Bondi We have a clear duty to bring Assange home. He is an Australian citizen. Australia was eventually forced, kicking and screaming, to understand its duty to Australian citizens David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib. I live in hope. - Jeannette Tsoulos, Pymble Surely the unfortunate Assange is the ultimate example of being too smart for one's own good. - William Franken, Rose Bay Who will now look after the cat? - Trevor Sheridan, Charmhaven

Send Adani coal effluent away from Reef Adani Mining CEO Lucas Dow knows all about the Great Artesian Basin and asserts it is safe from the mining process (Letters, April 12). OK, if the wretched stuff has to be dug up and sent to be burnt in India to assist with more quickly melting the Himalayan ice cap, so be it. It's just that our Great Barrier Reef shouldn't be sacrificed in the process. There is so much money sloshing around at present, we should build a rail line from the mine joining existing rail to Mt Isa and across the Barkly Tableland to Tennant Creek where it would join the Ghan line to Darwin where any coal or oil spills are only going to affect crocodiles in the harbour. - Lance Dover, Pretty Beach The words of the CEO of Adani Mining, would carry a bit more heft if Scott Morrison's timing of the calling of the federal election hadn't prevented the CSIRO from providing the Senate estimates committee with their evaluation of the proposed mine. - Bruce Hulbert, Lilyfield Recent attention to Adani's groundwater management plan is important but it remains only part of the much wider moral dilemma raised by the proposed Adani mine. The uncomfortable truth is that Australia is already the world's largest coal exporter at more than 35 per cent of the total coal export trade. Climate change has no geographical or national borders - we are all in it together - so surely it's time for our leaders, of all political persuasions, to rethink this massive expansion into fossil fuel. - Rob Firth, Cremorne Point

Dow states that "there are hundreds of conditions imposed on the Carmichael project to protect the environment ". In reality the only condition that will protect the environment is the one not included; no new coal mines. - Paul Doyle, Glenbrook Theatre company more culpable than actors If all Eryn Jean Norvill wanted was an apology why didn't she approach Geoffrey Rush and explain how she considered his alleged behaviour to be unacceptable ("Rush wins landmark defamation case", April 12). Complaining to the management of the STC but requesting that they not inform Rush was pointless. Norvill raises the issue of a power imbalance in the entertainment industry as there is in most industries. Perhaps it is time for large theatre companies to include on their staff someone who can help set boundaries, for what one actor may consider innocuous, flirtatious behaviour another would consider sexual harassment. - Rodney Crute, Hunters Hill It is an employee's right to take their complaint about sexual harassment to their employer. It is the employer's obligation to investigate that complaint effectively. What does the scenario now being played out say about the Sydney Theatre Company's effectiveness in this regard? - Cathy Davitt, Waverley

Sexual revolution defence a test of faith If the sexual revolution of the 60s triggered misbehaviour in priests then it must have been because God allowed the revolution to take place as a way of testing his people, just as he tested Job, though differently. It would seem that many, many priests failed the Job test ("Ex-pope says sexual revolution led to abuse crisis, drawing ire", April 12). What next from the great trickster in the sky? The fast-food test of gluttony? - Keith Russell, Mayfield West Blacker holes Amazing: we have a picture of a fuzzy doughnut 500 million trillion kilometres away ("Humanity stares into black hole abyss", April 12). Come on scientists and astronomers, stop wasting huge amounts of money, time and energy as we stupidly shuffle into a human-made black hole, right here in front us. - Michael Troy, Fairlight

At first I wasn't sure if this black hole was caused by a collapsed star or by yet another British attempt at Brexit. - Peter Miniutti, Ashbury Winning streaks What do Gust of Wind and First Seal have in common? Both horses beat Winx in her six losses in a row when she was still a filly ("What more is there to say as Winx hits home straight", April 12). Black Caviar was 25 from 25, even though in sprint distances, not middle distances. Both Winx and Phar Lap have had losses to blemish their records. Winx has been magnificent in the past four years.

Phar Lap carried a country during his career. Why choose between the three? Just rejoice that they existed and enthralled a nation.- J-Alice Hofler, Narrabeen Winx Winx, say no more. - Jim Dewar, North Gosford Postscript Last week we discussed the devastation wrought by Alzheimer's as relayed by two of this page's regular contributors. It was clear from the responses that the suffering is widespread. "There seems to be little progress in halting its progress," observed Alastair Browne, of Cromer Heights. "A little understanding by friends and relatives goes a long way to assisting the mental stability of the carer." "Life is even harder for people with non-Alzheimer's dementia and their carers, of which there are thousands," wrote Elizabeth Wiedemann, of Ermington. "Often nobody is sure exactly which type of dementia they have. PBS funding for the various drugs that help is not available without a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, despite neurologists and carers being convinced that they help. There is less understanding in the community as the symptoms are much more varied. Often that lack of understanding extends to friends and family that don't live in the immediate household. This is isolating and heartbreaking."

Emotion, if at least bittersweet, was generated by news of the uncertain future of the Manly ferries. "Quintessential Sydney," wrote Ray Alexander, of Moss Vale. His childhood memories of the ferry trip: "A violinist playing Jealousy, a stroll down the Corso, a dip in the surf, a choppy trip back passing the Heads. In all, a great adventure." This editor, who grew up "seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care", basks in the memory of a pre-OHS time when schoolboys running late for the departing boat could chance a leap off Circular Quay's wharf 3 across a precarious metre or two of open water onto the deck, with the complicity of smiling deckhands. Such tales for the young folk! Mark Sawyer, Letters co-editor To submit a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.​