My concern is that what is being asked for is freedom to vilify and discriminate against individuals and groups of people with different beliefs. There is no room in our society for vilification on the basis of belief. - Renee Koonin, Vincentia Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Would this mean all those advertisements for mathematics or English or science teaching positions in the partially government-funded private schools, stating religious beliefs as a requirement, or needed a reference from a minister of religion,will now become illegal? - Don White, Frenchs Forest I wonder whether the right to religious freedom would also permit an atheist teacher in a religious school to denounce the existence of a God? You can't have one without the other. - Manuela Epstein, Pyrmont



Institutions that take the public dollar have no intrinsic right to demand a religious belief, unless the person's role is to specifically teach or promote that belief. - Andrew Pitt, Kiama Heights Religious freedom; another term for overt discrimination. - Rodney Crute, Hunters Hill Will the proposed legislation protect the practice of slavery, child marriage or stoning, all condoned in the Bible? In a civilised society there is no absolute freedom. The test of the boundaries of religious freedom should be no harm to other people. We have long accepted no one should be judged on the basis of gender, race or sexual orientation, surely an employer has every right to restrict an employee's public behaviour that harms people and offends a large proportion of its customer base. - Han Yang, North Turramurra Unfortunately it appears that changes to laws about religious freedom are caught in paradox: they appear to want discrimination on grounds of religion to be legalised to protect religious freedom. I don't know how any such law can be coherent. - Jon Marshall, Lilyfield

In the current political discussion "religious freedom" and "freedom of speech" are used with abandon but their real meaning, taken from the context where they are used, is "freedom to practice bigotry". Having mistakenly returned the foxes to the Canberra hen-house, we must be alert and alarmed regarding their aims and actions. - Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky In his haste to provide legislative support to Folau's god, does Joyce realise he's on Izzy's list of sinners set to burn in hell? - Don Smith, Ashfield Time for First Nations recognition well overdue Congratulations, Ken Wyatt ("Wyatt plays it by the buka to make history", May 30). First Nation Peoples are the only genetic Australian race. They deserve cultural and historic respect. To ignore the history of our land is to deny the richness and tragedy of our past. Makarrata is the only way forward. To politicians: get it done now. We'll mature as a nation. - Judy Morgan, Upper Coomera

It is understandable that the Coalition do not want to rush the referendum on the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders ("We can't rush referendum", May 30). The risk of defeat is an obvious reason but the longer they leave it, the closer the next election will be. A government lacking seriously on any policies will need something just before the next election so they can claim they have achieved something. - Robyn Lewis, Raglan I trace my family involvement in Australia back to the First Fleet, and am not of Aboriginal blood ("Strong silent type: Walker won't sing anthem", May 29). But, like Cody Walker, I don't believe the current national anthem reflects the Australia I love. It is certainly nothing to sing about. - Patrick Russell, Sanctuary Point As a 65 year old white woman born and raised in Australia, I also refuse to sing our national anthem ("'If it's not going to stand for my people, why should I sing it?", May 30).

Our golden soil has blown away, toil doesn't usually bring wealth, we are destroying nature's gifts, Australia is now both unfair and multicultural, they never were our boundless plains to share and we repel those who come across the seas. We need a new honest anthem we can all sing with pride. - Jan Christensen, Balmain As more Australians support constitutional recognition for our Indigenous citizens, surely it is time that our national anthem should also do this. This most ancient culture must be reflected in a way that our current anthem certainly cannot do. Far more than a token added verse is needed and it might well be time to, once again, seek a more representative musical symbol. Most of us can think of at least one prime contender. - Kathleen Chivers, Vincentia Driving into Canberra from the north, there is a large sign that says "Welcome to Ngunnawal Country". Such signs are common in NZ, where Maoris have been accepted since the Treaty of Waitangi in the 1840s, but not in Australia. Erecting more "Welcome to Country" signs on main roads or within communities would benefit Indigenous people without a lot of cost. It is about history and respect. - Glenys Quirk, Forster

Get rich generation ignore society Thank you for a truly thought provoking article. It's central theme is, regrettably, well beyond my Baby Boomers' generational grasp ("A view of wealth to make us richer", May 30). Witness the obsession that encourages unrelenting individual wealth creation regardless of the consequences for the rest of society. Consider negative gearing. Despite the well documented restrictions of home ownership for following generations, we have elected leaders who own 13 properties each. Until we have elected representatives who lead by example, instead of playing politics calibrated to appeal to our lowest common denominator, l don't see a chance of change. - Cleveland Rose, Dee Why

Capitalism is broken It was reported that investors rejoiced at Telstra's plan to retrench thousands of workers to improve profits ("Investor joy as Telstra slashes costs", May 30). I am an investor in Telstra and this modern method in searching for profits is an abomination. It forces workers on to unemployment, reduces available jobs and does nothing for the economy. Perhaps it is an example that capitalism can no longer serve the population. Australia is much better off with all available workers in well paid full-time employment than a select few being paid millions of dollars to generate larger profits. - Barry O'Connell, Old Toongabbie

Access all areas Your correspondent Pauline Trenerry need not worry about getting on and off the new trains (Letters, May 30). I took part in the consultations on access for people with disability and we were assured that all the stations are straight and there is a minimal gap between the train floor and the platform, which are both at the same level – no need for a ramp. Every station also provides unimpeded wheelchair access from the train to the street. There are many other features that make access for people with disability easy and safe. - Stein Boddington, St Clair I encourage your correspondent to take a driverless train and see how well the disabled are catered for. The platform and the train entry is the same height and the gap is negligible, there are many seats raised for them in each carriage and signs along the platform for their best entry points. Full marks to Gladys Berejiklian and her team for the remarkable services, despite a few teething problems.

It was a wonderful experience riding on the train, which was patronised well into the western end. - Alison Stewart, Waitara Lucky they had a spare human driver in the cupboard to take over ("Metro trains hit first-week glitches", May 30). - Tim Schroder, Gordon Unenviable record The Minister for Energy and for Emissions should be very pleased ("Australia's emissions up for fourth straight year", May 30). If he continues the good work, by the end of his term he will have helped increase emissions for seven straight years, a possible world record. - Chris Moe, Bensville

Mean streets of Sydney I live regionally. I go about my business at any time of day or night feeling absolutely safe. At least once a year my wife and I have an urban escapade; a few days in the big smoke ("One-punch victim's dad backs lockout review", May 30). I'm getting old now but still near enough to 188cm tall and definitely lots of kilos to back it up. I'm fairly self-assured. Even prior to the lockout laws, Sydney was a terrifying place to navigate at night. I have been abused, threatened and physically assaulted merely walking the streets of the CBD or the Cross and even as far south as Sans Souci or west to Strathfield. Car-based thugs have even attempted to separate us and drag my wife into their vehicles. And you want to reintroduce the drunks into this equation? We still go to Sydney but we are happy to close up shop early. - Paul Hutchinson, Shell Cove If the lockout laws are relaxed it should be done for a provisional period and reviewed after, say, three or six months. Europeans know how to drink responsibly. Let's see if Australians can be given a second chance. - Betsy Brennan, Wahroonga

Reset ABC's voice "Sometimes I think we might be biased. I think sometimes we could do with more diversity of views," Ita Buttrose has said ("Buttrose spies bias at ABC, not job cuts", May 30). Or in other words, let's have more totally uninformed people putting forward their own unsupported ideas as legitimate debate with experts. When it comes to bias, the ABC is the last place to investigate. - Alynn Pratt, Killara One must agree with Buttrose about the "bias" shown by ABC staffers. As we are a democratic country and all citizens have the right to vote in any government they want to, all government departments, including the ABC, should be staffed with cross-section of people and not just the Left wing who totally dominate the "voice" of the ABC. - Brian Pretorius, Breakfast Point

Scottish fantasy a hoot Epping Heights Primary School celebrated its 50th anniversary by decorating its library with a faux-art fantasy theme (Letters, May 30). I suggest Scots College follows suit to achieve its Scottish castle theme. A big saving and the money could be better used in the public school sector. - Patricia Strauss, Cheltenham Save us from Adani As Bill Laurance states:, Adani is about more than one sweet bird ("Clock ticking for Adani and one sweet bird", May 30). It is about preserving the biodiversity of our natural world and saving the things that make us smile which include the black-throated finch. - Sally Spurr, Lane Cove

Laws for the people This initiative is long overdue and would de-politicise policy making, allowing legislation to be properly considered and the interests of the community represented ("Push to overhaul how laws are made", May 28). We hope this approach is adopted when the NSW Parliament next considers voluntary assisted dying laws which are supported by over 85 per cent of the community and have been proven safe and effective in other jurisdictions where they have operated for many years. - Penny Hackett, president, Dying with Dignity Dead funny It seems the marketing strategy of using a euphemism wherever possible is very much alive in the funeral industry. An ASX-listed company with funeral homes and crematoria across Australasia has "119 outlets" ("Flu propels funeral homes", May 30). - Col Shephard, Yamba

Priority check At long last, an uplifting article on what matters most: real football ("Liverpool diehards seek 'sweet ending' in Madrid", May 30). - Mustafa Erem, Terrigal Recalibrating... Given all the recent computer and technological glitches with the NAPLAN exam, maybe the acronym stands for Not All Pupils Logon Absolutely Necessarily (Letters, May 30)? - George Zivkovic, Northmead How good is ... NAPLAN? - Susan Lindsay, Marrickville

Suck it up With a below average rainfall forecast, dams at low levels and water restrictions looming those who voted against meaningful climate change action might have to drink their beloved tax cuts. - Thos Puckett, Ashgrove Poor sport I wouldn't like Bernard Tomic teaching my children anything (Letters, May 30). - Robyn Hansen, Pennant Hills The best way to help Tomic would be to teach him some manners. - Lorna Denham, Cardiff Heights