It is a sad indictment of our current crop of political leaders that they refuse to seize the opportunity in a time of crisis and take steps to bring about fundamental change in how we deal with climate change. To say that anyone with the temerity to raise this now is playing politics, is an absurdity, and is itself playing politics. It’s time for politicians to be brave, stare down the naysayers, and propose bold initiatives. The time for sitting on the fence is over. - Terry Liddicoat, Erskineville It appears that Coalition MPs can’t do two things at once - show compassion to those affected by the bushfires and have a civil, fact-based discussion about climate change and its impacts. If not now, when? This is not going away. The sand politicians’ heads are buried in is going to get mighty hot - the soil is already burning. - Laura Beaupeurt, Callala Bay Can the LNP go any lower (“Minister tries to hose down gaffe”, November 14)? NSW public servants attending the AdaptNSW 2019 Forum were gagged from discussing the link between bushfires and climate change by the NSW Department of Environment. To send public servants to such a conference but forbid them from discussing the main factor causing these changes in bushfire behaviour is an absolute disgrace. - Peter Arthur, Artarmon The time for further discussion of climate change is past. It’s time for action. If our leaders don’t know where to start, how about stopping approval of more coal mines, focusing on development of renewable energy sources, reskilling people to work in sustainable areas and addressing the reduction of carbon emissions. I am not a capital city greeny; I live in the country but I think I might go and drown my sorrows in my latte. - Sue Runciman, Dungog

Comments linking climate change to bushfires fires do not represent the ''politicisation'' of the debate. They represent the ''science-ification'', something sorely needed in the debate. - Tim Spicer, Strathfield In Europe, where we have just spent some time, the impacts of climate change are recognised and climate change is a scientific fact. We return to Australia and the 20th century where people have “beliefs” and to discuss climate change is just “bad form”. I despair. - Sue Martin, Clareville I was dreaming to think pollution tax could be real For a very brief moment this morning, I thought I had woken to a better, new and different world ("How good is this carbon tax?", November 14). Admittedly, I was only half awake when I read Jessica Irvine’s opinion piece so I could probably be forgiven for missing that damned asterisk. Out, damned spot, out! - Donna Wiemann, Balmain I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the leaked copy of Scott Morrison’s budget update. How clever of him! Call it a Pollution Tax – god forbid calling it a carbon tax. "At last," I thought. "Someone is going to take up the baton so bravely carried by Julia Gillard." But wait. Oh no. It's only a satirical piece by Irvine. Too much to expect this government that's so deeply entrenched in the '50s to do anything that might save us from the devastating effects of climate change. If only we could persuade Gillard – with her foresight, intelligence and passion – to return to politics. I think she would get a warmer reception today. - Jan Bohan, Eastwood

Is it too much to hope the PM might bring in a pollution tax as suggested by Irvine? My superannuation fund tells me that it has joined 477 global investors that manage $US34 trillion and are calling on world leaders to enact strong policies to reduce global emissions. Will Morrison follow the smart money? - David Curtis, Fairy Meadow If only we had a PM with enough moral fibre, Irvine’s imaginary mid-year budget speech could become a reality. If Morrison had any commonsense, he would realise that this would guarantee his re-election. For the want of humility, moral fibre and commonsense, Australia will forego a vital opportunity and we will pay a great price. - Graham Lum, North Rocks Ever since the carbon tax was axed, the discussion has focused on who pays the tax and how much. No consideration has been given to the other side of the equation: what happens to the extra funds raised? The beauty of the Canadian approach, as well presented by Irvine, is that 100 per cent of the tax is rebated to taxpayers so there is no scope for the government to squander away the money. No one is worse off. Each of us can choose to use the rebate as we see fit; we can choose to use the rebate to pay for energy or we can use the proceeds for something else. There is clearly a social cost to carbon emissions, and all the pollution tax/rebate scheme does is price in what economists call "the negative externality of carbon emissions". - Larry Case, Turramurra Irvine’s ''leaked'' PM’s speech on climate change is an absolute gem. Jessica for PM! - Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

Indigenous invitation and voice essential Australia Day is the most disrespectful act white Australia has continued to observe (''Inner city council axes Australia Day'', November 14). Indigenous people have inhabited this land for thousands of years, and they must be given several acts of recognition. The Aboriginal culture is rich and complex. The dreaming shaped the beliefs and customs of the these people. The story of the Rainbow Serpent is the starting point in time for Indigenous people. They should decide if and when this is celebrated. Australia's Constitution was thrust upon the Indigenous population by white invaders. Indigenous people must be given the opportunity to outline a constitution that encapsulates Indigenous culture and how the white Australian occupation can be integrated into a constitution that recognises the history. Indigenous people should drive the wording that gives them the opportunity to state that they are the original owners.

The rewording of the present constitution to recognise Indigenous people is a travesty. They should be asked to recognise and invite white Australians into this land. - Anthony O’ Hara, Terrigal Build proposal strongly If recommendations are adhered to, then there should be virtually no construction problems with newly built homes (''Repair of building sector 'beyond even a superhero''', November 14). It is poor workmanship coupled with bad work practices that cause the majority of construction defects in new homes. Any proposal of an "independent statutory body" led by the building commissioner would need to have a proactive mentality regarding contractor and sub-contractor qualifications, their understanding of the building regulations and ability to adhere to them. In recent years, bad workmanship has flourished through ignorance and poor supervision of the rules and regulations and the ensuing reaction has been reactive rather than proactive. - Stewart Smith, Tea Gardens

How much trust do we have in the state government that it can get it right when setting up a building commission, to review existing faulty buildings and provide oversight for new developments? Regrettably, most of us, if not all, have lost confidence in governments at all levels and cannot see any of them doing anything right. We have not demanded enough of our politicians, who are supposedly working for us as our elected representatives. - Stewart Copper, Maroubra Trams powerless Why does the technology chosen to power the new trams not include on-board energy storage such as batteries and/or capacitors (Letters, November 14)? This would enable the trams to safely get to the next tram stop and also to clear any road intersection during a failure of the power system. Instead we have an "proprietary" system for the "overhead wire free" section from Town Hall to Circular Quay with a customised way of using power from the ground that is dependent on electricity being available from the grid. Modern light rail systems in Europe use on-board energy storage with charging done while the tram is stationary. But not Sydney, where the only power between Town Hall to Circular Quay is "proprietary" and no other trams can operate in this area.

We will be beholden to one company forever with the risk of blocking roads whenever the power fails. Why? - Brian Hastings, West Ryde I was hoping that the new sleek trams would be free of advertisements plastered all over them, but it seems a contract has been let for that purpose. Let's hope we can see out of the windows on a rainy night to find out where we are, unlike on the buses where one has to stand near the front door to have any idea. - Robert Towns, Clontarf One step backwards Good on the CFMMEU for demanding a separate toilet for a female worker on site (''CFMMEU fined $50,000 after refusing to work without female toilet'', November 13). I find it very disturbing that they were fined for this. As a young female engineer in the 1980s, at times I had to share a male bathroom on site. It was horrible, particularly as the arrangements made for me to use the bathroom increased the hostility of some male workers towards having women on site.

Fortunately, after a quick word in the ear of senior management, we got a female bathroom. This meant that more women felt safe enough to work on site. Female toilets are a vital measure in improving women's participation in non-traditional areas. It was a no-brainer 30 years ago, but we have clearly gone backwards. Thank goodness for strong unions. - Andrea Bunting, Brunswick VIC Aunty's on fire I take exception to people calling out the ABC for not broadcasting the Olympics (''Don’t let Aunty rely on cake stalls'', November 14). As a member of a community badly affected by the bushfires, I can tell you we cannot do without the excellent 24-hour coverage of the fires by ABC local radio. The information they convey to us is up to date and accurate. Olympics? What Olympics? I thank the ABC and their excellent presenters from the bottom of my heart. - Christine Tiley, Nana Glen After five years of federal government budget cuts, and yet more cuts demanded, it is inevitable that iconic programs such as the Olympic Games will disappear from the ABC. And your correspondent gets indignant and blames ABC management for this? In case your correspondent has not noticed, the loss of exceptional expertise in news, drama and other sports has been happening relentlessly since 2014. How long before the ABC disappears all together? - Bruce Spence, Balmain

I couldn't give a chocolate-coated stuff about the ABC foregoing coverage of the Olympics.

One channel not broadcasting them would be a welcome break. - Alan Baird, Rose Bay New distractions Is it just me, or was juggling a street directory on your lap trying to find the right page and the street at G5, or searching for the right CD from your ''collection'' on the car floor any safer than using this little device we all know so well (''Technology puts brake on drivers using mobiles'', November 14)? Maybe it really shows how far we have come in making driving safer. - Jeff Trout, Avoca High on life Although it is not known what has happened to the Italian wild boar that dug up the buried stash, I’d suggest that they’re now living high on the hog ('"Wild boar sniff out cocaine", November 14). - William Galton, Hurstville Grove

In the stars Sharing birthdays with famous people: George Bernard Shaw, Mick Jagger and John Howard all share the same date of birth (Letters, November 13). Makes a real mockery of astrology. - Michael Kruger-Davis, Gillenbah My mother, who was known for her decreasing absence of tact as she aged, was gleefully keen on telling me that I was one day older than Sigrid Thornton; and "my, hasn't she aged well!" - Fiona Haines, Pullenvale QLD I can't see why all the bally-hoo over coinciding birthdays. With two teams plus the referee on a soccer pitch (23 in all), the probability of any two of them sharing the same birthday is more than 50 per cent. I've got the spreadsheet to prove it. - Steve Moore, Leumeah Step up, NRL

Some years ago I was in Penang, at a hotel frequented by end-of-season Aussie football teams ("League needs to bring back the 'third man in", November 13). I have never forgotten the sign in the restaurant: ''Please do not hit the staff. We really do care''. - Bob Phillips, Cabarita To submit a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.