Caught out, day 2: I could always believe in the captain, but not now

John Tingiri, Mornington

There must be a wholesale clearout

The only way for Australian cricket to regain any respect is for all of those involved in this shameful episode to be banned from ever representing Australia again. If that means we fall to the bottom of the rankings, so be it.

Richard Morris, Drouin

Where was the one to say, No

The leadership of the Australian cricket team made the decision to cheat. How sad that during that discussion no one had the integrity or leadership skills to say, "I want no part of this, you must not do this and if you do I will report you to anyone who will listen."

Paul Zebrowski, Watsonia North

There is a bright side, sort of

On the bright side, if the scandal is any guide, Australian cricketers are really, really bad at cheating. So bad that clearly they haven't been cheating as a matter of routine.

Janice Keynton, Ashburton

Better Richie was not here for this

"Disgraceful performance, one of the worst things I have ever seen done on a cricket field." Those were Richie Benaud's words after Greg Chappell ordered Trevor to bowl that underarm delivery. I'm just glad Benaud wasn't around to witness this. It would've broken his heart.

John Bastiras, Elsternwick

Australian cricket: values-free zone

The Australian cricket team's coach's statement – "My job is to win games" – said it all. Australian cricket is now, at heart, values free, apart, of course, from chasing the dollar. Young Australians look to their sporting heroes as role models.

Jennifer Gerrand, Carlton North

Without decency and honour, there is nothing

We now know, from Steve Smith's lips, that the team's "leadership group" was "in on" the ball tampering plan. How can this be? What level of renunciation of just normal human decency is needed, much less, what gross dereliction of national honour, to do this? If decency and honour are dead, the game is dead. You wouldn't even let Kooweerup North cricket team get away with it, so why Australia?

Robin Rattray-Wood, Rosanna East

The game was lost to me years ago

At least ball tampering is intimately connected with the mechanics of the game. Australia's cricket administrators and male players lost me years ago with their inane sledging, ungraciousness in both victory and defeat, and whingeing any time an opponent had the temerity to join the Australians' race to the bottom.

Katrina Fanning, Ballarat

FORUM

Unfair to children

What can we say to our grandchildren, now on the cusp of adult citizenship, about Australia as the land of fairness, decency and moral integrity?

Yesterday's headlines in The Age of "Smith's shame", "Banks compelled to sign code of conduct", "ACCC vows to toughen up on rip-offs, rorts", "Concessions for wealthy reach $68bn, analysis finds", "Doctors name, shame insurers", "Deal-making on corporate tax measure", "Poor obesity report for food firms", "Sympathy's owing to the truly poor – not the self-funded retirees" all point to the moral failure built into the consumerist, competition-based society in which we now live.

We exhort our grandchildren to see through "fake news", to stand up for equal rights and equal opportunity, to embody in their actions honesty, justice, respect for others, a fair go for all, yet here we have the ultimate symbolic failure of all: "It's just not cricket!" Smith's shame is the nation's shame, shining a laser light into the myths that surround us – the land of the fair go (with private schools funded better than our public schools), equality for all (where tax breaks help the wealthy, yet unemployment claims are delayed and benefits slashed), of a mateship distorted into cheating and lying to protect your mates, of Australia as the world's most successful multicultural nation (with legitimate refugees confined to remote island prisons), and banks, food giants, media corporations dodging not just tax but exploiting those most vulnerable in our community.

Small wonder young people are cynical about politics. It may always have been thus, but we need more moral outrage like that of the young Americans leading the way on gun reform. If you can't trust the adults, speak up yourselves. It's your future at stake, not just ours.

Don Edgar, Fitzroy

Wrong focus

When a boy, in Kew, has his rights infringed by having his haircut there was limitless prime media space given to the protests. When a man in Broadmeadows has his rights infringed by over nine years in a detention centre prison the thousands who protested at the Palm Sunday March were ignored.

How can a man imprisoned in detention since 2009, though found to be a refugee in 2010, not get the space given to a hair cut?

Kate Kennedy, Coburg

Shining a light

Thank you Ross Gittins (Comment, The Age, 26/3) for yet again shining a light of clarity, fairness and truth on the mean and selfish among us older generations. They portray their selfishness and greed as sanctimonious self-sacrifice and allow themselves to be considered as under attack by suggestions they get their snouts out of the trough. Meanwhile, the truly poor and unemployed are not noticed as they are yet again punished by this current government and its duplicitous supporters.

Kath McKay, Upwey

Morally bankrupt

If there were any more evidence required as to how morally bankrupt this government is look no further than its pursuit of corporate tax cuts ("Concessions for wealthy reach $68bn, analysis finds", The Age, 26/3) in light on the Anglicare report on the cost of privilege.

I sincerely hope Derryn Hinch and Tim Storrer are taking note.

Ann Maginness, Altona North

Easy credit perils

Your editorial "Labour and capital need to collaborate" (24/3) makes a lot of sense. The enemy of both goes unnoticed when industrial relations is simply presented as a fight between the two.

It's beyond time for business and unions to see that the effect of easy credit is to generate real estate bubbles, bank super-profits, a profit squeeze in productive enterprises, and to delimit wage incomes severely. Banking and real estate have clearly inflated our bubble, so it would be instructive to learn what part of last year's 20per cent increase in business profits came from these purported "service" industries. It's wrong that the royal commission into banking has been denied the ability to investigate such macroeconomic issues.

Bryan Kavanagh, Mount Waverley

Business incentive

If the big business lobby is so keen to persuade us that tax cuts will lead to higher wages, it will no doubt be writing to the Fair Work Commission in support of the ACTU's claim for an extra $50 a week for those on the minimum wage.

Raymond Allan, Dunolly

Power of youth

Looks like the kids are finally outraged and agitated ("Students in show of force", The Age, 26/3). I hope all politicians everywhere are taking note and feeling nervous.

Marisa Spiller, Harrietville

Extinction shame

I sadly agree with Peter Monk (Letters, 23/3) regarding the tragic extinction of the white rhinoceros in Sudan. In Australia the curious and unique Tasmanian tiger was also hunted to extinction in the early 20th century by man. Shame on us humans Down Under too.

Michael Ingleton, Clifton Springs

Labor pains

Labor, for goodness sake, adopt Labor for Refugees' proposals to increase intake and close offshore detention centres. In recent years my conscience has made me vote Greens because of your appalling positions on this issue. I love Labor. I am Labor. Make your refugee policy humane already and let me vote Labor again.

Lucy Hodson, Warrnambool

Privacy risks

It is sad but not surprising that all the political parties are silent in their response to the Malcolm Crompton's comments ("Former privacy chief lambasts 'incredibly secretive' political parties", The Age, 24/3).

All major organisations such as banks, retail shops, and communication companies, must comply with the Privacy Act. This includes ensuring that the data they have about us is accurate and protected, that individuals know why their data is collected and can require that corrections be made.

Maybe I am naive but I have no fears about the security and accuracy of data collected by my bank or internet provider. I do though have real concerns about political organisations that can spend vast sums on analysing electors' data.

With our compulsory voting system, political parties inevitably focus on specific booths within marginal electorates. The protection of that sensitive data is essential. It is therefore disgraceful that political parties, which wrote the legislation, have ensured that they do not need to comply with the Privacy Act.

As an active member I, and others, have raised concerns within the Liberal Party. I would like to think that there would be similar views being expressed in the ALP and the Greens. Eventually, common sense must prevail and exemptions for political organisations from the Privacy Act must be removed.

Michael Doyle, Ashburton

Leaderless

One thing is for certain with regard to the Australian cricket team. The leadership group has no leaders among them.

Dennis Richards, Cockatoo

Perspective, please

The cricket outrage over ball tampering highlights our lack of perspective and moral compass of government and media reporting. Of course, cheating behaviour should be condemned and exposed. However, this is sport breaking the laws of sport, not individuals and companies breaking the laws of the country.

I have not seen such outrage expressed by the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull or the saturation coverage of all media when companies have not paid workers correctly, whether it be salary or superannuation, or when major companies clearly profit shift to pay no or little tax in this country, or when water entitlements and buybacks have clearly been exposed as theft and corrupt.

When these and other practices have been exposed how slow and piddling has been the response of government, and the media coverage dribbles away. How long it took to get a royal commission into banks is an example of the paucity of action and outrage.

Let us show outrage about poor governance in areas that really matter.

Anthony Mignani, Barwon Heads

No, this beggars belief

Many things beggar belief Malcolm Turnbull ("It beggars belief", The Age, 26/3), including the notion that Australia is playing a "fair game" with refugees seeking asylum in this country.

As a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Australia is legally obliged to help and protect all those fleeing from persecution anywhere in the world. It is our obligation and moral duty as a nation to do this, not vilify them, lock them in detention, and throw away the key. Australian cricketers are not the only role models for correct behaviour for Australians young and old, so are our political leaders and national government.

Jan Epstein, North Carlton

Brainwashed

Huge outrage for the cricket cheats while largely ignoring human rights abuses. Brainwashing has done a great job.

Fethon Naoum, Portland

Tar and feathers

Anyone want to join me to welcome Steve Smith back in Australia? I'll bring the tar, you bring the feathers.

Chris Smith, Brighton East (no relation)

Wicket irony

The delicious irony. Malcolm Turnbull calling for "decisive action" after the ball tampering incident.

Damon Ross, St Kilda East

The real test

No one died.

Christine Duncan, Surrey Hills

AND ANOTHER THING

Facebook

Zuckerberg by name, Zuckerberg by nature. And it's just the tip of the Zuckerberg.

Julie Conquest, Brighton

In light of the Cambridge Analytica and Facebook leaking of private data, I'd like to coin the phrase, I've been Suckerberged.

Ed Veber, Malvern East

Cricket

How is it that ball tampering is a source of national shame but keeping a sick child on Nauru is not?

Helen Pereira, Heidelberg Heights

I've played, coached, umpired, followed and watched cricket for over 50 years but I'm afraid the game has lost me. It's no longer cricket.

Stephen Dinham, Surrey Hills

Another Tamper incident. Call in cricket tragic John Howard to investigate.

Jim McLeod, Sale

"Australian sportsmanship" – the latest oxymoron.

Peter Thomson, Brunswick

And where will the remains of Australian Test cricket be interred?

Ralph Sinclair, Newtown

Our prima donna cricketers threaten strike action then tarnish the game and our country.

Rob Head, Princes Hill

Forget about fines: make them walk home.

Henry Herzog, St Kilda East

Cricket is just the latest casualty of the "whatever it takes" culture. Enough.

Steve Melzer, Hughesdale

Furthermore

Surplus franking credits – the tax return you receive when you didn't pay any tax.

Greg Curtin, Blackburn South

Good try Amanda Vanstone (Comment, 26/3). Different PM, different problems, still not what we need and expect.

Judy Kevill, Ringwood

Message from Abbott to Turnbull: 29 [Newspolls] and counting.

Reg Murray, Glen Iris