Matt Kean’s response to the Liberal onslaught says it all really – it’s about an opportunity to serve all Australians and contribute to the role of public service (“Kean’s new climate role heightens energy clash”, June 25). Coalition members should reflect on these words. This is an important appointment by the federal government that provides an opportunity to contribute to the global a problem and help all Australians achieve stability with electricity prices as well. Robert Mulas, Corlette
Kean on renewables.Credit: Matt Golding
It was politically wondrous to behold the confected outrage expressed by various Coalition identities at the announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that he had appointed Kean, the former NSW Liberal treasurer and energy minister, to the role of chair of the Climate Change Authority, with one, Barnaby Joyce, describing Kean as “treacherous”, and that he should have joined the Labor Party after finishing his high school education. Eric Palm, Gympie (QLD)
Kean might remind Joyce that Australia is set up as a nation of people; not as a civil war or a footy scrum. Bev Atkinson, Hunter Valley
How refreshing that Labor have appointed a Liberal to chair an important climate change authority. Genuine bi-partisanship between intelligent parties would seem to be the common sense answer to many of our woes. Micheal Traynor, Bellambi
I hear murmurs that the new chair of the Climate Change Authority “should be a scientist”. Was the previous chair a scientist? Members such as Dr Cathy Foley and Professor Lesley Hughes have scientific backgrounds and relevant expertise that Kean can draw upon. Salle-Ann Ehms, Glebe
Mike Foley’s fact-checking about claims in the nuclear debate should be promoted far and wide (“As nuclear debate fires up, who’s on the money?”, June 25). They certainly confirm what Niccolo Machiavelli said many centuries ago, and still holds true: that “politics have no relation to morals”. The term Machiavellian has since become a synonym for “facts marked by cunning or bad faith”. And that’s a playbook that worked so well for Peter Dutton and the Yes votes that he’s now gone nuclear. Anne Ring, Coogee
What a relief to read Foley’s fact-checking. I’d lost count of the dollars, the decades and the goal itself. Please keep this common sense ready reckoner going on all the big issues and the promises, so we can cut them out and keep handy. Glenda Gartrell, Newtown
Regardless of whether Dutton ever pursues a nuclear option, he has achieved his principal objective of focusing the media spotlight solely on himself for the past week. Jeanette Heys, South Turramurra
It’s time the Albanese government realised that to beat Dutton at the next election they need to lift their game. Big time. No matter how Dutton behaves no amount of scoffing and mockery will convince voters to ignore his false promises of cheaper power. Anything paraded as a cost of living relief, albeit 15 years down the track, will resonate. Time for the Labor government to counter with serious, achievable solutions that will further encourage investment in renewables and offer short-term relief for consumers. And I mean now. Donna Wiemann, Balmain
I wondered about starting an empty Coke can appeal but then I remembered that we’d only need one or two a year for our nuclear waste (Letters, June 25).
William Forbes, Medowie
Where can the rest of us apply to be governor-general?
When many people are suffering from a cost of living crisis, the Albanese government grants a $214,000 pay increase to the incoming governor-general, Sam Mostyn (“Salary boost for new GG”, June 25). Why? It is a role that I suggest doesn’t connect with the majority of Australians who are suffering trying to obtain salary increases of 4-5 per cent, yet this person receives an increase of 43 per cent. Most people would love to have the present GG salary of $495,000, and I believe Mostyn could survive on it also. Norman Arnott, Forestville
It’s tough life at the top. A plush government home in Canberra and taxpayer-funded servants at beck and call and a chauffeur-driven car. This is a job that entails little actual work. There’s clearly no justification to increase the governor-general’s pay from $495,000 per year to $709,000. I dare say tens of thousands of Australians would allow their name to be put forward for such an arduous job at the old going rate. Robert Jacobucci, Canley Vale
When you consider that the first governor-general (the Earl of Hopetoun) in 1901 was on the massive annual salary (for then) of £10,000 and the multi-million-dollar remuneration packages so blithely given these days to battalions of corporate executives, $709k fixed for five years for Sam Mostyn seems positively miserly. Adrian Connelly, Springwood
Incoming governor-general Sam Mostyn is set to receive a generous yearly pay packet of more than $700,000.
In view of the massive increase in the GG’s salary in a time of cost of living crisis, one wonders if she is paying rates for her two residences, registration and running costs for her limousines, electricity, water rates, gas, the costs of her gardeners and her household staff, travel, medical costs, superannuation, laundry, telephone/internet costs, food, hospitality, newspapers. In fact, what does she pay for? As taxpayers who foot the bill, we are entitled to know, are we not? Tiit Tonuri, Cowra
Isn’t the incoming governor-general entitled enough with all the fringe benefits which come with her position? The Commonwealth must be flush with funds. Pastor de Lasala, Seaforth
What is the justification for the increase to more than $700,000? The GG should set an example of modesty not an attempt to match the high incomes of business managers. It strikes me as un-Australian frankly. Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach
Sam Mostyn’s 43 per cent increase on her male predecessor’s salary is indicative that her previous “corporate work campaigning on the economic empowerment of women” was certainly successful for at least one woman. Col Burns, Lugarno
Diluted e-cigarette ban boosts legal and illegal vape industry
Vapes have always been a Trojan horse for the tobacco industry (“Labor’s vape ban goes up in smoke”, June 25). Pragmatically, vaping should be banned altogether since any benefit for the established nicotine addict is vastly outweighed by the cynical recruitment of a whole new generation of addicts. The watering down of the proposed legislation by the Greens will be greeted with delight by both the legal and illegal vaping industry, and our children will ultimately pay the cost. Michael Hayes, Turramurra
Pharmacists complaining about distributing vapes because they are “healthcare professionals, not tobacconists” should check their shelves for nicotine patches and methadone vials … and surely increased foot traffic can’t be bad for chemist profits. Bravo, Mark Butler, for taking on big tobacco’s sneaky strategy to create a new generation of addicts. Anne Matheson, Gordon
Assuming chemists won’t want to sell vapes, I suggest they have a sign saying so outside their premises. Doctors should also have a sign in their waiting rooms saying they don’t give scripts for vapes. The unfortunate thing about all this is that it will just force the supply of vapes underground again. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill
Before we blame Labor for watering down legislation on vaping, we need to ask why the government needed to negotiate with the Greens at all. On yet another issue of importance to the health and, dare I say, productivity of the nation, the Coalition is found wanting. Whether it is vaping, the NDIS or energy policy, it is time for bipartisan action that puts ordinary Australians ahead of political game-playing. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls
So, vapes are to be sold in pharmacies. Hopefully, gin will be next for medicinal purposes only. Louise Bridle, Roseville
A positive plan for proactive pharmacies: Principle over profit … don’t sell them. Bob Scott, Eastlakes
Vapes in pharmacies are oxymoronic. Ivan Head, Burradoo
Diplomacy wins
Well, there you go. Quietly working behind the scenes, the Labor government has been able to negotiate a deal for Julian Assange to be returned home (“Julian Assange strikes plea deal with US, to walk free”, smh.com.au, June 25). Away from all the noise, diplomacy appears to have finally succeeded. Did anyone see that coming? I don’t believe that Assange should have had to plead guilty to any charge, but if that’s what it takes to get him home, so be it. I congratulate the government on this work. Graham McWhirter, Shell Cove
Anthony Albanese and his government, along with Andrew Wilkie and other Independent MPs are to be congratulated on their quiet diplomatic efforts to get Assange home to Australia. It was imperative to get this done before the possibility of Donald Trump occupying the White House, as he would not be likely to listen to any reasonable request. Justice has finally prevailed. Stephanie Edwards, Leichhardt
Julian Assange boards a jet to fly to the Pacific for his US court date.Credit: Twitter/WikiLeaks
Wonderful news, but please, credit where credit is due. Assange’s release from Belmarsh Prison is due solely to the tireless efforts by our previous Liberal government, in particular Scott Morrison in his role as PM, foreign affairs minister, immigration minister, home affairs minister, attorney general, ambassador to the UK, and chargé d’Affaires in Westminster and Washington. Well done Scott(s). Patrick McGrath, Potts Point
At last common sense and compassion have come together to see Julian Assange finally free. A win for investigative journalism. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill
Bullet point
Just one experience of Japan’s bullet train network will convince anyone that high-speed rail will go close to being that “silver bullet” (“High-speed trains are no silver bullet, but they could help shift house prices”, June 25). James Mahoney, McKellar (ACT)
ABC’s quality pedigree
All those who are picking over the bones of the ABC have failed to realise that the Coalition had a deliberate policy of starving the national public broadcaster of funding for years after numerous reassurances that it wouldn’t (Letters, June 25). The Coalition played a game of censorship and denied all Australians the opportunity of having a globally admired public broadcaster whose locally produced content was sought after around the world. This resulted in the oily rag running out of funds to produce and purchase the world-class programs that it was once able to in the open market.
So, before those who are disillusioned with the ABC call for its demise based on what it is currently on offer, think of what it has achieved both on radio, television and online. Fifty-plus Logie nominations speak for themselves. Lee-Ann Groblicka, Turramurra
A criminal tackle
Anyone who sees the open field hit on Maroon’s fullback Reece Walsh in State of Origin I knows it was a calculated move to take him out of the game (“Maroons see red over use of Walsh knockout tackle in Origin TV ad”, 25 June). In suspending the tackler for four matches, the NRL judiciary seems to agree. But I want to know what would have happened to the tackler if Reece had been permanently incapacitated or even killed in the tackle? Go the Maroons. Allen Greer, Sydney
Supply chain warning
As a type 2 diabetic, it’s great to hear that the federal government is considering expanding access to glucose monitoring technology (“Diabetes labelled national epidemic’that shows no sign of abating”’, June 24). As a user of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, may I respectfully suggest to Health Minister Mark Butler that there are supply chain issues that need to be addressed first before expanding CGM access. On April 23, I ordered a new pack of sensors. Usually, the order is filled within a day. I have now been waiting for nine weeks and have been without CGM for eighty weeks. Roger Gallagher, Merrylands
Picasso learns that everyone’s a loo critic
Good call for the ladies to have Picassos to ponder on while washing one’s hands when in the loo at MONA. After all men have been able to critique Duchamp’s Fountain for a long time now (“Cubicle cubism”, CBD, June 25). Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay
I’ve always thought the toilet was the best place for most Picassos. Barry Lamb, Eastwood
Lame caricature
Michelle Cazzulino raises legitimate points about the standards we should expect of senior politicians, like the prime minister and leader of the opposition (“Give me the burn of an acid tongue”, June 25). Dutton’s lame caricature of the prime minister is neither clever nor accurate, but symptomatic of a man out on a limb. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Pay rise
A residential cleaner for your home will ask for $50 an hour. No wonder regional areas such as Khancoban have trouble securing a “centre director” for $43.38 (“Alpine allure fails to attract new teacher”, June 25). Maybe double it and see where it leads. Margie Christowski, Roseville
Giant leap
I recall everyone at Strathfield Girls High School, watching the moon landing, when I was a young teacher. Thank you for the memories (Letters, June 25). Alison Stewart, Waitara
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