Whatever one thinks of abortion it is essential to decriminalise it. I disagree with church leaders whose only response is "to pray and fast" and judge. It is complex and very sad for all concerned.

- Anne Garvan, Chatswood West I don't understand the religious component in the discussion about woman who require terminations of pregnancy. If the argument is that it is against their god's wishes then any woman of a religious persuasion would simply not have one. And for the other group of woman that don't have a religious objection, if they so do choose isn't the fallout between themselves and whatever god they choose (or not) to invest belief in? Why is it of any business of any religious group. - Ray Smith, Blacktown

I'm guessing a majority of religious leaders do not have a uterus and quite possibly have not been victims of rape. - Edwina Considine, Bellevue Hill What a shame the men in power opposing legal abortion in NSW don't put their energy into something useful. With 13.8 per cent of kids living in poverty (higher than in any other state) imagine what a difference they could make to all those young lives if they committed to improving them rather than fixating on controlling reproductive choice in women who are quite capable of making their own responsible decisions.- Dorin Suciu, Valentine So now that men will rule on women's rights to decide on their reproductive rights, our women politicians might like to bring forward a bill to mandate compulsory vasectomies for all males whose partners request it. - Peter Skinner, Beecroft Not in my jean-etic make-up

The love for jeans has been for me the love affair that never was ("This is how we're wearing jeans now", August 4). Am I the only person in the world who hates jeans, and has never owned any? I am still trying to fathom why so many people want to wear look-alike clothes made of stiff material, guaranteed to fade fast and look shabby, and often "enhanced" by frayed edges and holes. I prefer to dress in an individual way. No denim for me. - Nora Hinchen, St Leonards Time we woke up It's disappointing to see that negative views towards unmarried women are still so deeply embedded in our language and culture.

Take the concept of "bridesmaid" suburbs, as the "second-best options for buyers" ("Why these ‘bridesmaid’ Sydney suburbs have outshone their waterfront neighbours", August 4). It's time we left this kind of outdated terminology where it belongs – the past. - Alex McAlpin, Waverley Imitation, not appropriation The design of the Villeroy & Boch tableware is decorative and "devoid of any type of cultural value" ("Villeroy & Boch blasted for Aboriginal art 'misuse'", August 4). It is is not misappropriating Aboriginal art. The design is derivative of a style of art found among Aboriginal desert peoples, and imitates designs also found in the southern part of the sub-continent, Sri Lanka and south-east Asian batik. - Carolyn van Langenberg, Blackheath

Not modesty, poverty That our Prime Minister says the Coalition will not engage in “unfunded empathy” when it comes to raising the Newstart allowance, meanwhile ducking a question about whether he could live on the payment indicates the level of his and their complete incomprehension of the reality of life for so many people in our community ("Bludgeoning the jobless: It's a work of decades", August 4). To then go on to call $227.85 a week “modest”, and that “the best form of welfare is a job” is insulting and elitist. There is nothing modest about that amount of money – it is poverty. Prime Minister and your government: Increase the Newstart allowance, monitor job placement providers' performance more assiduously with genuine penalties instituted and start behaving towards those less fortunate than your good selves in a way that you would wish to be treated. - Linda Shaw, Braddon (ACT)