Tony Abbott has shown his complete lack of understanding of the rules of the game in his speech to PM Abe, when he mentioned the war. Rob Venables Bermagui I suppose we should be grateful it was Shinzo Abe and not Angela Merkel who visited this week, or we might have been told by our incredibly inept Prime Minister how ‘‘honourably’’ the German army and the Waffen SS behaved during World War II. William Franken Rose Bay Bert Candy and Rod Hughes have acutely expressed how many of us feel about the latest grovel by our Prime Minister (Letters, July 11.) My late father said he would fight a German soldier in North Africa, which he did, any day, rather than go through the horrors of fighting the Japanese in Papua New Guinea. Years in Broughton Hall at Callan Park after his return from that war was the result. I suggest that Brendan Nelson at the Australian War Memorial timetables in a Tony Abbott re-education program. And lest we forget, China was Australia’s ally in World War II.

Wendy Atkins Cooks Hill Could any of his many spin doctors remind the Prime Minister that kamikazes were surely convinced of doing the ‘‘honourable’’ thing by their country? It baffles me that an Australian prime minister would ever praise the soldiers responsible for the ‘‘Battle of Darwin’’, but maybe not, as it is for him probably still short of any way to get what he wants (trade agreement?). Considering also his latest words about Sri Lanka and the asylum seekers fiasco still developing, could any of the spin doctors help him with the classification and recognition of "goodies and baddies", because I am seriously considering applying to became the next doctor on the payroll. Stefano Guicciardi Nambucca Heads How dare you speak in praise of Japan’s military skill in World War II, Tony Abbott? Your statement is appalling and insensitive to all Australians. Remember Australia? You are supposed to be representing its people. That would be the men and women who were starved, butchered, raped and tortured. The ones imprisoned and worked until it killed them. The ones whose Red Cross boxes were stolen by their captors. My uncles and my father witnessed their unspeakable atrocities. You shame us all with your cruel policies. You insult us with your words. Not in my name. How dare you. Jenny Rollo Putney

Wool industry involves animal suffering After the release of a new PETA US investigation into Australia’s wool industry, it’s clear that wool garments are likely the product of appalling animal suffering. The investigators visited 19 wool sheds in Australia and documented that shearers punched struggling sheep, poked them in the eyes and routinely jabbed them in the face with sharp clippers – attacks that left many animals bleeding. Workers stamped on sheep and stood on their heads and necks. They dragged sheep by their legs and slammed them against the hard floors of the shearing sheds. Most shearers have an incentive to work as quickly as they can because they are paid by volume, not by the hour. As a result, most sheep are cut – some severely – as they are being shorn. The PETA US investigator saw workers use needles and thread to sew shut the most gaping wounds, without providing the sheep with any pain relief whatsoever. Kind people would agree that electrocuting a fox for fur is wrong. The pain and fear endured by sheep in the wool industry is as real and acute. When you’re shopping for clothing, please read the labels. If a label says "wool", leave that garment on the shelf.

PETA Australia is publicising the PETA US campaign locally to ensure it reaches Australian audiences. Jason Baker, Director of Campaigns, PETA Australia Misinformation in relation to Masters Elizabeth Knight's column (‘‘No place quite like homewares’’, July 11) makes a number of errors that cannot be allowed to stand uncorrected. Knight did not need to ‘‘wonder whether Lowe’s would be willing to extend’’ its joint venture with Woolworths. It has been extended until October 2015.

We have also previously stated that 90 stores would be built by the end of financial year 2016, not 150 as stated in the article. Knight states our rationale for entering the home improvement market was all about taking on Bunnings. This is wrong. Home improvement is a $45 billion market with 5 per cent annual growth and one dominant retailer with 15 per cent market share. The rationale for entering this market remains strong. You cannot compare the performance of Bunnings, a mature operation, with Masters, which is still a start-up. Masters is a very young business and we remain confident it will be a long-term profit contributor to the Woolworths Group. Matt Tyson, Managing director, Woolworths Home Improvement Role for bus lanes

Some readers may have misinterpreted the article ‘‘WestConnex lane warning’’ (July 11) to mean that the NRMA is opposed to bus lanes on Parramatta Road once WestConnex is built. This is incorrect. The NRMA has been fighting to ensure Parramatta Road becomes more accessible for public transport following the WestConnex construction. We are, however, urging the state government to ensure that, in the event of a major incident in the WestConnex tunnel, emergency arrangements can be in place to ensure vehicles can temporarily access Parramatta Road bus lanes until the incident is resolved. Peter Khoury, Head of media, National Roads and Motorists Association Convocation a forum worthy of recognition The editorial ‘‘Sydney Uni fee revolt well-meaning but misguided’’ (July 10) is itself a well-meaning but misguided analysis of our proposal to convene a meeting of the University of Sydney convocation to debate the federal government’s proposed changes to higher education.

While you graciously acknowledge – indeed, amplify – all the substantive points we have made about the proposed deregulation of fees, you misunderstand the rationale behind a meeting of convocation. Convocation is characterised by its solemnity, its dignity. In fact, the last address made to convocation was by Sir Robert Menzies, the great champion of the expansion of higher education. Convocation is ordered, structured and civil in its deliberations. It is the antithesis of radicalism and disruption. It draws on the great traditions of a great university. It is a forum that a father of conservatism, Edmund Burke, would recognise. We applaud the eloquence, sincerity and commitment of the vice-chancellor, Michael Spence, in his efforts to seek a wide range of views. Our humble proposal for a meeting of convocation does not preclude a meeting where a strong student voice can be heard. Nor does it preclude the Herald’s commendable suggestion of a national summit on higher education.

Andrew West, Catriona Menzies-Pike, Verity Firth and Patrick Massarani Fellows of Senate (elected), University of Sydney Bamboo benefits I am afraid that, despite myself being a first generation Asian migrant to Australia, I must disagree with Dr Tim Soutphommasane’s assertion about the presence of a so-called ‘‘bamboo ceiling’’ (‘‘ ‘Bamboo ceiling’ blocking Asian Australians, says commissioner’’, July 11). In fact, I think the opposite may be true. I have often looked at employment classifieds only to read the fine print that states fluency in an Asian language would be advantageous to the applicant. In short, please don’t apply if you speak only English. Our national language is English and to shut people out because they speak only English is reverse racism and worth a penny of our collective thoughts. Ashwin Garg Strathfield

Asian Australians are especially conspicuous by their absence on the benches of all courts in the land. However, with their increasing numbers studying and practising law, hopefully, appointments to judicial office will reflect their presence. Edward Loong Milsons Point All rights but no responsibility How can people complain of Australians being too dependent on the government when we have removed personal responsibility from any consequence of people's lifestyle choices. It is everyone else’s fault if you smoke, fall over, cannot read instructions properly, are uneducated, poor or addicted to a drug. If you misbehave in class you shouldn’t be disciplined, or if the police tell you to do something you don’t have to comply because you have rights. We have a society that believes in rights without the corresponding personal responsibility. The obvious consequence of this type of thinking is a dependent society that looks to the government for all its needs and blames everyone else for personal failures.

The balance of responsibility and rights is lopsided and if not corrected will lead Australia to a sorry state of affairs. The “nanny state” is an apt description of the state of affairs in Australia. Brendan Manning North Epping Ringmaster's wails Tony Abbott now laments the distractions of the political ‘‘circus’’, and that stereotyping and pigeonholing detract from public debate ("I will fight on: Abbott", July 11), yet it wasn’t that long ago that he fronted placards bearing slogans such as ‘‘Juliar’’ and ‘‘Ditch the Witch’’. No doubt the transcript of that public address discloses ringleader Abbott imploring the crowd to drop their signs and engage in considered discussion about the challenges posed by climate change, and how best to work with the government to develop and implement the most appropriate and timely measures to meet said challenges.

Iain Bailey Asquith Tony Abbott is correct, he is not a ‘‘preserver of the status quo’’, he aims to increase the power and importance of the wealthy (especially miners and road developers) at the cost of everyone else. He is aiming to replace democracy with American-style corporate feudalism. Jon Marshall Lilyfield 'Normal' change of tune Well, now. Tony Abbott would have us believe that dealing with minor parties in the Senate is ‘‘situation normal’’, despite saying last year that ‘‘there will not be deals done with independents and minor parties under any political movement that I lead’’. I’m reminded of Humpty Dumpty in Through the Looking Glass: ‘‘When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less’’.

The question, Prime Minister, is whether you can make words mean so many different things. Ben Stevens Leichhardt Upfront nerves remedy With the abolition of the carbon tax legislation almost a fait accompli, I am just a little nervous with warnings already being made by some of our major providers of goods and services that consumers should not expect flow-on cost savings when this legislation is finally repealed by the government. As most Australian consumers, like it or not, adjust to cost of living fluctuations, I for one would willingly accept a direct upfront payment of my annual $550 cost-of-living savings promised by the Prime Minister.

How his government collects the carbon tax impost avoided by those emission polluters who so emphatically supported his repeal campaign is a problem of his own making. Good luck. Bruce Cumming Pottsville Beach Short memories The government is justifying the axing of the carbon tax by saying that the people voted for its removal at the election. I remind the government that they also voted for other policies that the Coalition has since abandoned. I wonder if voters would vote the same way about the carbon tax now? Perhaps Clive Palmer has been doing some recent polling?

Tony Sevil Uralla A matter of record When Julia Gillard led a government, without even a majority in the lower house, the polls were ablaze, the shock jocks incandescent and inflammatory slogans filled the sky – but on the floor of the house about 600 pieces of legislation were passed without a single defeat. Think of that for a moment and then switch to the present. We have a swaggering PM and chaos in legislature – nothing is clear, nothing is negotiated properly, and the Senate is a unrehearsed circus. Which do you prefer? Angela Sands Wombarra

Tony Abbott, the great wrecking ball, now has a wrecking ball of his own to contend with. Let’s see if he handles the situation with the same courage as Julia Gillard. What goes around, comes around. Lynne Poleson Kingsford He spoke too soon Remember when Tony Abbott told us that he had ‘‘people skills’’? Jack Mitchell Lithgow

Anyone seen Joe? Someone should put out an all-points missing persons bulletin for Joe Hockey. He seems to have disappeared. Patrick Dodd Wahroonga So accomplished Unlike the many letter writers and columnists (July 11) criticising the Finance Minister’s letter of the previous day, I am highly impressed with his ability to mislead and mystify, and add a little bullshit that baffles brains, all in the one speech.

Dean Hartigan Umina Beach Case for tradition and staying together Nedahl Stelio’s article (‘‘Making a break for it: When you divorce because your friends have’’, smh.com.au, July 10) on the possible social contagion of divorce made for intriguing reading. At the risk of channeling Reverend Lovejoy from The Simpsons, I’d like to suggest that the location and liturgy involved at wedding services will often act as a weighty deciding and grounding factor when embarking on such a significant relational decision as considering separation. Put simply, the popular practice of a couple writing their own vows in preparation for a vineyard ceremony, will indeed be both personal and profound, but will also lack a certain ‘‘higher accountability’’. Alternatively, the traditional physical process of marching down a church aisle and then making public promises both before God and a gathering of invited witnesses, actually builds in a form of a fail-safe, that rightly protects and constrains a couple at the startof their union. Granted, this is not a guarantee of lifelong faithfulness, or even happiness, but it rightly draws out the significance of what it means to travel the lifelong journey together ‘‘for better, for worse’’.

Peter Waterhouse Craigieburn (Vic) Of apes and cabinet Thanks Patrick Williams (Letters, July 11) for pointing out that the sequel to Planet of the Apes was State of Origin rugby league. Silly me – here I was thinking that it was a cabinet meeting of the current federal government. Phil Stanton Mullaway Checks and balances

The page one photo (Herald, July 11) shows a happy and very confident looking Clive Palmer while on page one of the World section another photo shows a happy and very confident looking Joko Widodo. Both men are wearing identical shirts – can anything deep and meaningful to be read into this? Stewart Smith Castle Hill The photos of Clive Palmer and Joko Widodo suggest they were wearing the same brand, style and colour of long-sleeve shirts. However, the former’s top couple of buttons were undone while the latter’s sleeves were rolled up. Was Clive displaying a propensity for getting hot under the collar while Joko was demonstrating a preparedness for getting on with the tasks ahead? Col Shephard Yamba Enough to numb you

We pay $3000 a year for health insurance. Following a recent relatively simple operation, the anaesthetist charge was $550. This week the reimbursement cheque arrived: $42. We won’t spend it all at once Denis Hornsby Johns River That's affirmative Yes, Chris McKimm, you’re right (Letters, July 11). Suzanne Wicks Potts Point

Drama or comedy? Perhaps reports on national politics should be moved to the entertainment section of the SMH. Allan Young Roseville Who was it that said ‘‘If you can’t control the Parliament, you can’t control the country’’? David Gourlay Lane Cove

Postscript The high seas was still a strong topic this week although this time there were a few letters if not actually in favour of Scott Morrison and his much-resented smug secrecy, then perhaps in favour of "stopping the boats" by any means, fair or foul, to save Australia from being over-run by endless refugees. Many made mention of the horror of "economic refugees", while many others pointed out that almost all of our forebears were exactly that anyway, so what is the problem. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann copped a beating for his letter on Thursday purporting to explain a point about how the new Future of Financial Advice reforms will "improve" such services. Readers found his letter confusing and believed FOFA as explained would do nothing to improve matters. In fact, they almost mocked Senator Cormann’s statement that it would remove "red tape" – everyone was in favour of red tape that keeps the bastards honest. Sri Lanka was also on the radar, after consul-general Bandula Jayasekara wrote denying torture in his country and challenged Fairfax Media to "to prove any case ... in Sri Lanka". Red rag to a bull, really, throwing down an opening like that to readers. Many of them immediately provided details of Amnesty International and United Nations reports of such human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, although fairly pointing out that neither side of the civil war there had anything to be proud of in that regard. Case closed. Towards the end of the week, the Senate became a topic, and that will, no doubt, play for quite a while to come.

Harriet Veitch, acting letters co-editor