I dispute Jacob Saulwick's assertion that only councils in well-to-do areas could afford to challenge forced amalgamations ("Policy about-face a bit rich", July 28). Leichhardt Council was among the best-performing councils financially. Yet the then Labor mayor, Darcy Byrne, and the other three Labor councillors voted with the Liberals against a motion put forward by the independent councillor, John Stamolis and the four Greens councillors to take legal action against our forced amalgamation. If that motion has been supported by Labor, we would not now be amalgamated. The party of the people betrayed them. Marina Garlick Balmain Until being taken over recently by Parramatta City Council through council amalgamations, we in Epping were the pimple on the bum of Hornsby Shire; totally neglected. In an act of bastardry Hornsby Council allowed six-storey developments up to our back fences. We will very soon live in a chasm. Parramatta Council has been proactive in its attempt to help us.

We have also seen a huge increase in street cleaning and general improvements since it took over. Any attempt by Hornsby Shire Council to take back Epping would be met by considerable civil disobedience, led by this septuagenarian. Kate Chivers Epping Whose money does the Premier think her government wasted on advertising, implementing, defending in court, then ultimately abandoning the ill-fated merger fiasco? I guess that's also our problem, not hers. Dennis Bobyn Mosman Did journalists miss a scoop? The June 17 issue showed a prominent Waverley Council advertisement for a director on a five-year term and two permanent executive managers, not the long-term recruitment expected from a council anticipating amalgamation.

Ray Johnson Bondi Beach The most surprising aspect of the government's decision to listen to richer Sydneysiders' opposition to council amalgamations while ignoring that of less wealthy citizens is that anyone is surprised. Norm Neill Darlinghurst Danukul Mokmool death shows need for more mental health funding It is with great sadness that I read about Danukul Mokmool ("A violent end to a troubled life," July 28). This young man represents a significant proportion of patients treated within the mental health system, and as a psychiatrist I sympathise with those who have been involved with his care, treatment and rehabilitation as well as his family who must be devastated by their loss.

This incident highlights again the desperate need to adequately fund mental health, and drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services. It also serves to highlight the difficult job police have. To reduce the risk of fatal outcomes, it is critical that police receive specialist training in how to engage those with mental illness. Dr Terrance Lim Hornsby In the early 1980s I was a police officer stationed at Balmain. The Richmond report came in which recommended moving mentally ill people out of institutions into community care. The many homeless on the streets is a result of this failed policy. I have had people suggest to me that police should use a baton on these people who have a knife. The problem with this is you get one shot with a baton and, if you miss, your family never sees you again. I have also experienced the immense strength psychotic people can have. We had a man in a padded cell and there were two of us holding down his leg. He lifted us like we were not there – even after the doctor had injected him.

I feel for police involved in these incidents who are being judged by people who get their information from fictional TV and movies, rather than from those doing it for real. Glenn Holmes Katoomba Art win a shock unless you like scribble I wonder what Olive Cotton would have thought of the winning "portrait" by Justine Varga of her grandmother (Editorial, July 27). The question is does the work impress because of the idea or technique, or is it a choice made to shock. To me it is a punch on the nose to others who respected the terms of the competition. I don't think looking at a scribble or a dribble of saliva is particularly uplifting or interesting. Jill Power Manly Vale

Greenway appeals The recent comments about Greenway flats, as they were known, took me back to when I was growing up in Neutral Bay. I watched Greenway being built and I thought it was the most beautiful building I'd ever seen, and I used to ask my mother if we could live there. Even now on my occasional visits to Sydney I regard Greenway from the train at Milsons Point with great affection. Jennifer Nichols Casino Boris and Julie – yuck The love-fest between Boris Johnson and Julie Bishop is more sickly than an episode of The Bachelor. Neither have any long-term star power as their respective political parties will be booted out, probably next year. And the audience knows how it ends. Lots of selfies at B-list social events to keep in the media spotlight, or worse, emulating Mark Latham.

Wendy Atkins Cooks Hill Section 44: Courts have no business messing with the law Under the constitution there is a separation of powers. Parliament makes law, the judiciary adjudicates by interpreting and applying law where its meaning is in dispute. Mark Kenny ("Doctor's case highlights an absurd rule", July 28) seems to hope the High Court will make law of his (and many others') personal liking. Ceding law-making powers to the court is not only unconstitutional but, when one thinks about the ramifications, too high a price for the people to pay. We would have no hope as a democracy if that were to happen.

Ross Drynan Lindfield Malcolm Roberts, not good enough! We need empirical evidence ("Conflict over Roberts' statements on his status", July 28). And on the subject of your good self, how about some evidence (empirical or otherwise) of the great works you have done for our country since being elected to Parliament. Naomi Wulff North Wahroonga The recent citizenship debacles highlight the inconsistencies in our constitution. We have a British monarch as the head of our country, yet any minister who has British citizenship (or any other nationality) is ineligible for office.

Meanwhile, hundreds of stateless refugees desperate to become Australian citizens languish in our detention centres indefinitely. Andrew Partos Seaforth Thank God for my dual citizenship, kindly granted to me on my marriage to a Swiss. Now I have somewhere to escape to when things get too hard to handle in this mad country. Judy Burer Palm Beach. Joyce's values do not hold water

So Barnaby Joyce condones cattle rustling as being of similar importance to the theft of water ("Joyce unloads on journalist's water theft report", July 28). It seems our Deputy PM cannot distinguish between theft from an individual and theft from a nation. Someone should explain to him that the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is not a construct of "greenies" but an attempt to allocate a community-owned resource equitably all along the system, not just at the top end. Carole O'Dwyer Toronto Brave words, Barnaby. I notice however, that you were on a soapbox in a Victorian pub. Methinks your brave words would not have been so brave in a pub along the South Australian Murray. Lee-Ann Groblicka Turramurra

Method in SRE gladness Robyn Bernstein (Letters, July 28) when it comes to teaching Special Religious Education in public schools why isn't it fair that children are taught some of what those attending faith-based schools have included in their curriculum? Surely it's fair that they hear why Western society celebrates Christmas and Easter or Islam observes Ramadan. Isn't it better that they are informed of the true meaning of each celebration rather than the fake version peddled by retailers? Nan Howard Camden

Flawed legal system Napoleon said his monument would be his reform and codification of the European inquisitorial legal system. ("Every budding little Napoleon needs a good early education", July 28.) His system is now the mostaccurate, cost-effective and widespread; it affects twice as many as the adversary system we got as a colony of England. Napoleon's system seeks the truth and is run by trained judges; about 95 per cent of accused are convicted. Our system does not seek the truth and is run by trained lawyers; about half accused are convicted. Evan Whitton Glebe

Value all students I am sure there are many nine-year-old, year 4 children who wouldn't fully understand the meaning of "stressed" unless it was impressed upon them by parents and media ("Year 4 students feel the OC test stress", July 27). By saying that "you only get in if you get into the top 90 per cent of something", would indicate a lack of fully understanding of the situation. Again, in saying "I want to stay at Summer Hill and there are only 30 places", seems to indicate the child is unaware that there will be a number of other year 5 classes next year and, guess what, they will be taught by teachers who have the same training as those taking the OC Classes. So where are the children getting their notions from? We are not all good singers, we are not all good athletes and we are not all equally intelligent. Children who do not get into a OC Class should be valued for the talents and attributes they do have and educated accordingly. Brian Collins Cronulla

Enlightened voice At last, a mature person intervenes in Australian political debate, making her point calmly, backed by sound reasons, and without abuse ("Voice of reason in debate on autistic students", July 28). Bravo Ivory Clark! It's a pity some of the people older than nine years of age don't copy her. Jim Mackenzie Lane Cove Planning excellence almost guaranteed Don Smith (Letters, July 28) need not be concerned that our "new array of road super tollways" might be designed for left-hand-drive vehicles. Given our government's planning record to date, I'm sure that they would undertake a precautionary trial: left-hand-drive only for trucks and buses for the first year, and if that works OK then extend it to cars and utes.

Kevin Harris Beecroft With a proven track record of incompetence by the NSW government, one wonders how the Harbour Bridge was ever built. Initially I thought that its engineer, John Bradfield, must have been an alien who happened to land in Sydney to lead the way. Then I discovered the facts: yes, he was an alien. He was a Queenslander! Stewart Copper Maroubra Counting Ruddocks If Philip Ruddock fails ("Ruddock eyes return as Hornsby mayor", July 28), he should look into releasing some of his parliamentary speeches for those who suffer insomnia.

Peter Miniutti Ashbury Question of judgment What about using senators to judge the Archibald? ("Mitch Cairns' portrait of Agatha Gothe-Snape wins Archibald Prize", smh.com.au, July 28) Greg Thorp Turramurra Postscript

It might be said that the news week was one some people would rather forget, but correspondents were adept at tying up the loose threads. "Federal MPs neglecting to check their citizenship status, Barnaby forgetting he had been to England, Felicity Wilson forgetting where she had lived over the past 10 or so years; it's a comfort to know I'm not the only one suffering memory loss," wrote Coral Button, of North Epping. There had to be some levity at the expense of our elected servants. "Barnaby Joyce says Senator Canavan's mother was 'at her wit's end' but Canavan himself says he was 'unwittingly' signed up for Italian citizenship. Seems like there is a lot of wit about," wrote Ciaran Donnelly, of Lane Cove. "I have suspected for a number of years that Labor senator Doug Cameron may not be solely an Australian citizen," offered Riley Brown, of Bondi Beach. "For some reason I just cannot figure why I have that suspicion." The Premier's reversal on council amalgamations opened the floodgates as the week ended. "Some people may criticise Gladys Berejiklian of doing another so-called 'backflip', but surely it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind," wrote Carolyn Wills, of Cremorne, thankfully not a male. "OK Gladys, it's time to come clean on the secret sale of Our Harbour Bridge and Our Opera House. You've probably already done a deal on Our Royal Botanic Gardens. When can we expect an announcement?" said a rather less forgiving Llieda Wild, of Eastwood. Just when the Shane Warne jokes were being wrung dry, Tony Judge, of Woolgoolga, gave us one last chuckle, asking: "Did Matt Canavan's mum also give him diet pills?" Added Ross Pulbrook, of Wyong: "My Mum ate my homework?" Mark Sawyer Acting co-Letters editor