Last Post: Gaping hole in the pro-voice case, and the ‘CEOs’ association’ should get back to business

Anthony Dillon (“Voice must avoid identity politics and talk of treaties”, Commentary, 26/12) and John Egan (Letters, 26/12) both provide very sensible advice for considering a voice to federal parliament. If you wish to fix something considered broken, the first priority is to accurately define the problem. This remains the gaping hole in the Yes case.

William Mapleston, Ashgrove, Qld

We note that the “association of CEOs’’ has joined the guessing game in deciding to endorse the Yes side of a referendum on a voice, of which we have little detail. Have they canvassed their employers, their shareholders? Probably not. My suggestion is stick to your knitting and let the populace make up its own mind.

Graeme Garde, Coolum Beach, Qld

I felt a sense of injustice reading a news headline on Boxing Day. Vladimir Putin says he’s ready to negotiate but blames Ukraine for not coming to the table. This is like domestic violence perpetrators. Never their fault. The victim made them do it.

Claudia Tregoning, South Plympton, SA

Nick Cater (“Words for a year that made very little sense”, 26/12) makes some amusing observations on words that have entered the language, but he needs to add ‘‘candlelighting’’ to describe the absurdity of the Albanese/Bowen plan to reach net zero from a mixture of wind/solar renewables and endless new poles and wires.

R. Watson, Sunnybank Hills, Qld

One can tell Nick Cater is a man of words, not only from his astute personal definition of that woke word “woke” – “a condition that affects one’s ability to define a woman in four words or fewer” – but also by his accurate grammar in using “fewer” instead of “less”.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

The overuse of the word unprecedented is, well, unprecedented.

Steve Moore, Erskineville, NSW

In the past 100 years the world population has gone from about 2 billion to about 8 billion. The priority right now should not be futile ructions about climate change, but getting to the root of the problem: population.

Peter Lauricella, Beerwah, Qld

Especially at this time of year, with its conspicuous expenditure on the meretricious, it may be worthwhile considering the reintroduction of the Laws of Sumptuary introduced during the Renaissance era in order to limit overt displays of wealth.

John Sheldrick, Peppermint Grove, WA