Health issues: Battling to ensure my parents are cared for

Ross Jones – "When it's OK to be not feeling OK" (The Age, 1/5) – demonstrates how a person who suffers from a mental illness can recover and contribute to society. It is to be hoped that the hard economic evidence, provided via research by KPMG, will mean funding for mental health programs will be seen less as a "charitable" concept and more of an investment in the future.

With one in five Australians affected by mental illness each year, the proposal for "investing to save" should be front of mind for state and federal treasurers, not just health ministers. The evidence shows that mental illness costs billions of dollars. If society cannot relate to the personal anguish which it causes, there is now a straightforward economic argument for the better provision of mental health services.

Ross Jones took a risk 10 years ago when he told his employer that he was suffering from a "major depressive event" and needed time off work. His story may encourage employers to support staff who suffer from a mental illness.

Helen Goodman, Williamstown

Why do I need to visit my GP for a referral?

Why do so many things, including health care, have to be made so difficult? Shortsighted as a child, I have been seeing ophthalmologists routinely for 60 years. In the last few years, as I have developed additional problems with my eyes, I have had to attend more regularly. Even though a GP has never examined my eyes, almost every time the specialist wants to see me again, I have to visit my GP (a half-hour round trip), wait among patients who could have infectious diseases and pay for the consultation – simply to obtain a piece of paper, a referral. That waste of a GP's time and my own, combined with the waste of my money, irritates me every single time. We have 21st century technology at our disposal; there must be a way to make the system more efficient than this.

Christine Duncan, Surrey Hills

When will these people get some certainty?

The government has spent much time and money reviewing disability pensioners to assess their eligibility for it. Those who were born with severe Down syndrome, and those born with severe intellectual or physical disability, living in care, were among those subjected to the tortuous review process. Many were forced to have costly IQ tests repeated, as if somehow it had magically improved. Not only does this demonstrate an appalling ignorance of such conditions, it is devoid of compassion.

The outcry from traumatised family members was such that a joint government inquiry resulted. Now we are told that the Medicare levy will not be increased to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme (The Age, 28/4). Surely these people and their valiant families deserve a sense of certainty into the future. Haven't they been tortured enough?

Julie Conquest, Brighton

THE FORUM

Cost of human suffering

The Victorian government will spend millions bringing in physically distinct mental health units in public hospitals (The Age, 2/5). Finally, this is an acknowledgement of the failure more than 30years ago of the closing of Victorian mental health hospitals. This policy was called "mainstreaming" and was implemented to save money.

The economic technocrats who closed Larundel, Mont Park and other facilities put dollars ahead of the welfare of the mentally ill. Victoria threw away the ability to care for them in appropriate settings. (These hospitals were sited on generous blocks of land with trees and gardens that helped the ill in their treatment program.)

They also discarded the culture and managed care, introduced by Dr Cunningham Dax, which made this state a leader in this field. Sadly, the technocrats are long since gone and cannot be held to account. The cost in lives and human suffering can never be recovered.

David Fry, Moonee Ponds

Safe, so taken for granted

Recently Labor indicated to Maribyrnong City Council that it should expect a generous $705million to redevelop Western Hospital (Footscray). Suddenly this has disappeared from the state budget. The western metropolitan region is the fastest growing one in Victoria, with an annual population growth of 30,000 forecast. Could the reason for the disappearing money be that we are a safe seat? I cannot help but be sceptical.

Ken Betts, Seddon

Teach, and bill, by the hour

Teachers should follow the advice kindly offered by Queensland MP Andrew Laming (The Age, 2/4) and just work the hours for which they are paid. The entire education system would crumble within a week. Imagine, however, if teachers could actually charge their "billable hours", like lawyers and other professionals. The ensuing education budget blowout would reflect the current reality of unpaid overtime and the systemic exploitation of teachers.

Rob Dalton, Torquay

For the love of music

Yes, Aaron Searle (Comment, 3/5), 38 hours would be brilliant, especially for music teachers. You forgot to mention the administration involved in organising performances, Eisteddfod registrations, sound and light companies for productions, communication to parents and staff, travelling to venues at night – all this while teaching classes, choirs and instrumental groups. For more than 20 years, I lived and breathed school music, and certainly do not regret this time as the goal was to promote music education.

Ghillie Thompson, Camberwell

Corporate responsibility

While there is no doubt a national strategy is needed to ensure the right teaching skills and capabilities are put in place, what practical support takes place now? How many corporate personalities who serve on ASX 100 boards and who build their network by mentoring the next wave of company directors, sit on the boards of underfunded and underperforming schools? Hopefully a few. Can we hear from them?

Joanna Wriedt, Eaglemont

Key question of money

The businessman David Gonski has been wheeled out again to review school education. This time his brief prevented him from referring to the elephant in the room – the immoral overfunding of private schools and the shameful underfunding of public schools by the federal government.

Matthew Kelly, Upwey

Been there, done that

Andrew Cameron (Letters, 3/5), I can tell you why you will not get those "wise, old-school teachers" back in the classroom: they are enjoying life, they are not preparing classes or marking students' work at night, and they are tired. They have seen these political circuses before.

Sue Anson, Mount Macedon

Please, please notice me

Andrew Laming, do you know what teachers would say about someone who picks fights for ridiculous reasons? That you want attention. That you are one of those people who do not care if the response is negative or positive, as long as you are noticed. Next up: your lame poke at social workers and nurses.

Lisa Dooley, South Melbourne

Save our precious forests

Justin Baker (Letters, 2/5) correctly points out the effects on human health of our state government's prescribed burning policy. Has he given any thought to the devastating effect these fires are having on the ecology of our forests? The East Gippsland forests are tinder dry following a "one in 20-year" dry period. Soaks, dams and other waterways have dried up and living organisms of all types are struggling to survive. Despite this, the Environment Department, in its wisdom, decides to burn what forage is left, at the same time destroying refuges and breeding sites. It is time to extinguish this policy, re-examine the evidence and prevent the unnecessary destruction of our environment.

Howard Connor, Sale

Save our precious lives

I recall smoke in the air for several days in February 2009 as a consequence of wildfire that had a much more devastating effect on people than just making them feel unwell. It is unfortunate that some people have experienced discomfort. However, this is a necessary consequence of preventative fuel reduction burns when compared to the loss of 170-plus lives, thousands of homes and the ongoing trauma to those who suffered on Black Saturday. Your country cousins ask for your understanding.

Ian Symons, Drouin

We need a robust ABC

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has censured the ABC and political editor Andrew Probyn for calling Tony Abbott "already the most destructive politician of his generation". Which he surely is.

Meanwhile, he and his ilk clamour to speak with Alan Jones, who advocated that Julia Gillard be put in a chaff bag and taken out to sea. The hypocrisy of the conservatives and their ultra-thin skin is one of the most disturbing aspects of our political landscape. They want to hold the ABC to standards well above those that they engage in. A robust ABC is vital for our democracy. Would it have been questioned if it had, say, called Mark Latham "the most aggressive and angry Labor leader in recent times"? I think not.

Tony Newport, Hillwood, Tas

The high cost of disposal

If, as Kate Molony (Letters, 2/5) suggests, we introduce a pay-per-use waste and recycling system, can I recommend that we include the cost of disposing of an item in the upfront purchase price?

Currently we pay this cost via our council rates. However, if we were alerted to the true cost of disposal at the cash register, we might think twice about purchasing an item in the first place. This system would reward people such as Kate, who generates very little waste, and discourage the dumping of items such as mattresses and tyres, as the costs to dispose of these correctly would have already been paid.

Cameron Bourke, Geelong

Credit where it's due

Simon Westfold (Letters, 2/5) is to be commended for pointing out what has been ignored by much of the world's media – the ramifications of Kim Jong-un's visit to China a month prior to the summit with South Korea. The seeming bellicosity of earlier months was replaced by overtures to make peace with South Korea after that chat with Xi Jinping, not before. It is premature to discuss Nobel peace prizes for anyone.

Brian Kidd, Mount Waverley

Customers' 'stony period'

Despite all of the diabolical revelations of the royal commission, Shayne Elliott, the CEO of ANZ, is reported to have referred to a two-decade-long "golden period" for banks (Business, 2/5). Unfortunately not so for their customers. Also a most disconcerting perspective from one of the industry's current leaders.

Maurie Keenan, Balaclava

Danger of 'performance'

Westpac chief executive Brian Hartzer has gone for the old "don't look here, look over there" tactic when refuting claims about the quality of his bank's mortgage book (Business, 30/4). The fact that a loan is performing is no indication of whether it was originated compliantly or whether the customer can actually afford it.

Australians love their property and have an emotional attachment to their homes. A loan could be performing but a customer may be skipping meals, not using the heating in winter etc to ensure they can make their repayments (and potentially putting themselves into hardship).

Bank executives who continue to see portfolio performance as the "answer" to origination issues miss the point and as such, need to start asking different questions when presented with facts that may not fit their current view.

Nicholas Thorpe, Ivanhoe

A little courtesy, please

I am delighted that level crossings are being removed and I appreciate that the current closure of the Hurstbridge line will cause disruptions to our normal train travel. What I do not understand is why passengers feel the need to congregate by the doors. When there are loads of people wanting to get into a carriage, I implore those who are at the door to move down the aisle so that others can board. We all need to get to our destinations.

Narelle McLean, Clifton Hill

Aim for safety and beauty

For more than a year, Melburnians have tolerated the temporary security measures on Princes Bridge. Ugly concrete blocks and interlinked, red and white plastic barriers. Why can't Daniel Andrews and the Town Hall give us a more aesthetically pleasing solution to the obvious safety problem? For a supposedly sophisticated city, big on infrastructure spending, we are dragging our feet.

Andrew Blyth, Eaglemont

AND ANOTHER THING

Politics

The Coalition's latest slogan is "wake up call". That's something you book at a hotel, not a response to moral bankruptcy.

Kim van den Berghe, Highton

A facial recognition system and database, including driving licenses and passports? To think we were concerned about the Australia Card.

Joe Wilder, Caulfield North

All this talk of Trump receiving a Nobel Prize is damaging its prestige.

Tris Raouf, Hadfield

Macron visited Australia to thank Malcolm for buying $50billion of out-of-date submarines from France.

Peter Leith, Bogangar, NSW

Economics

According to ANZ chief Shayne Elliott, the "golden period" for banks is ending. Said with a straight face.

Andy Hannah, Macleod

The CommBank has lost 20million account records. It should look in the second-hand shop that sold the government's filing cabinets.

Jane Dubsky, Glen Iris

Cash and Shorten, who are talking about Newstart, get an $86-a-day meal allowance, plus a base salary of $195,000.

Andrew Mason, Highett

Julia Banks says she could live on $40 a day. She earns $547 a day, plus other entitlements.

Malcolm McDonald, Burwood

Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn will give up his $2.2 million bonus. My heart bleeds for his sacrifice.

Rod Smyrk, Sunbury

Pallas says: "Sometimes I can't believe how well the Victorian economy is performing". #MeToo.

Rosemary Taylor, Castlemaine

So everyone's a winner in the state budget except those in need of social housing. That money went to the AFL.

Bruce McMillan, Grovedale

Furthermore

Controlled burn-offs? That would be after the native animals were evacuated.

Cath Dyson, Mount Eliza

Deregulation of industries leads to greater vulnerability for corruption and lack of ethics.

Frances Damon, Tooradin