Last Post, December 11

Universities are also undermining the tenets of science.

An increasing number of universities have developed policies that threaten free speech, but James Cook University has developed policies that undermine the basic tenets of science (“No debate please, you’re at university now”, 10/12). Karl Popper’s “Falsification Principle” seems to have taken second place to JCU’s code of conduct when Peter Ridd was sacked for questioning research about the Great Barrier Reef.

Maureen Anderson, New Farm, Qld

Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan wants a review of the national curriculum. Surely, a review of teacher training should come first. If teachers don’t know how to teach students to spell, read and solve problems, then playing with curriculum content is pointless. More of the 3Rs and less of the 3Cs (creative, critical and curious thinking) is dangerous in a rapidly changing and competitive world.

John Langrehr, Leabrook, SA

Climate change is real and it is caused by human beings who are in plague proportions. Nature will have its way in due course by wiping out 90 per cent of that plague and the world will return to its natural order.

C. H. Ainsworth, Kingscliff, NSW

I’d take these schoolchildren protesting about the Adani coal mine more seriously if they first went and spent a few months with an Indian family living without power.

Michael Guppy, Moruya, NSW

Someone should explain what ailments the children of refugees suffer that cannot be treated by local doctors on Nauru and Manus Island.

David Hill, Russell Island, Qld.

Yes, Russell Graham (Letters, 8/12), not only do the French think we are stupid, we have confirmed it with our continued commitment to the ridiculous Paris agreement.

Mark Sproat, Lyons, NSW

I wonder how many of those alarmed about the privacy implications of legislation requiring technology companies to assist our security agencies to investigate suspected terrorists, drug traffickers and paedophiles, have wi-fi connected listening devices such as Google Home, Amazon Echo, Alexa and Apple HomePod, in their house.

Denis Meredith, Bella Vista, NSW

The rising of parliament for summer is said to mark the beginning of the silly season. Many will see it as ushering in respite from inanity.

M. F. Horton, Adelaide, SA

Surely a fall in house prices is something that most Australians want. If they don’t fall substantially, very few people will be able to afford them and the country will become a nation of renters — if not a nation of increasing homelessness.

Con Vaitsas, Ashbury, NSW