I am 89 and I received no education at school about how Australia is governed, my role and responsibilities as a citizen, and how to undertake that role. Nor did I learn about the difference between state and federal governments, who has responsibility for what and who one pays for what. It was not until I served as a local councillor that I understood the structures and processes of government.

If you do not know who controls things, who has the power to make change, and how to communicate with them, there is no way you can be an effective citizen of a democracy. This gap in our political education has led to widespread apathy and ignorance, which in turn has permitted politicians to become disgracefully self-serving and to live in a bubble, isolated from the people they are meant to represent. If we want democracy to survive, it is high time we gave proper weight to educating people about it.

Kaye Cole, Princes Hill

Why the studies of society must become compulsory

I am a retired humanities teacher from the 1980s, when study of our political system was a part of the curriculum. I was given free resources and professional development from the Electoral Commission to run mock elections and demonstrate the nuances of voting. The VCE subjects sociology and international studies taught about gender, identity and global issues. However, they were not compulsory. In the 1990s, VCE Australian Studies was compulsory but got little support from the profession. It morphed into sociology.

Humanities and history have always been the poor cousins of the career-oriented subjects. Governments do not want to promote them as it suits their agenda for people to be ignorant about the system. Unless studies of society become compulsory, this dumbing down will continue and we will be the poorer for it.

Paul Brown, Da Nang City, Vietnam

Australia lacks a culture of educational excellence

For more than 20years, I taught civics and citizenship education (CCE) and provided professional development to other teachers. However, to be fair to Stephanie Lee's teachers, I do not know if my work had any lasting effect on adults' understanding of the political system. There are many reasons why CCE remains poorly delivered: a crowded curriculum, a curriculum hijacked by narrow interest groups and a shortage of excellent teachers.

The core problem is that Australia has no culture of educational excellence. We accept "near enough is good enough", and we reject hard work in the classroom and a disciplined approach to education. Until we wake up to this problem, Australia's education achievements will continue to fall as other nations' rise, and we will continue to get the political "system" and politicians we deserve.

Pam Cupper, Dimboola

The value of visiting our state Parliament

We used to have a great Electoral Education Centre in Melbourne which ran sessions for students and adult migrants. However, it was closed by a federal government which did not see the need for it. The Parliament of Victoria has a very strong education commitment, and receives visits from thousands of school students every year. Civics is an important element in the curriculum and is usually treated as such by schools. Stephanie Lee should visit the Parliament of Victoria's website and go to Parliament. There are guided tours on non-sitting days. She could also ask her parents or another adult to explain the bare bones of voting.

Megan Peniston-Bird, foundation education officer (1994 - 99), Parliament of Victoria

THE FORUM

Will the dollars be enough?

Your editorial (The Age, 19/02) highlights the bipartisan push for better teaching and draws attention to Labor's initiative to provide "1000 top students and professionals" with financial incentives to undertake a teaching qualification and then work for at least four years in the public education system. This initiative has some better features than the Teach for Australia program.

However, the federal government's commissioned report evaluating that program found that while principals and other stakeholders were enthusiastic about it and the calibre of those who were recruited, there was concern about the recruits' retention rates.

It is questionable whether financial incentives and excessive regulation on entry requirements for teachers, and setting more standards for teachers' work, will give recruits the motivation to work in public education for long periods. An alternative discourse by the media and governments is required if improving student learning data in public schools is to be the measure of success.

Arlene Roberts, McKinnon

Retail's cut-throat world

Unfortunately your article, "Lingerie job 'like Hunger Games"' (The Age, 20/2), does not surprise me. I am a retail worker for a women's clothing store. The pressure to sell is enormous and goes above and beyond what is seen on the shop floor.

Not only this, but the pressure to "look" good, by wearing enough makeup and fake tan, is equally such. Almost every person I work with has had an experience similar to that of staff at Victoria's Secret. Stories of underpayment, using humiliation as a method of selling and encouraging sales is a sad truth that is only to be expected in the cut-throat world of retail.

Name withheld, Carnegie

Exploiting the young

Yet another story of corporate greed. I feel sorry for our young people, looking forward to their first job, keen as mustard and willing to work hard. Young innocent lambs off to the slaughter.

Barry Lizmore, Ocean Grove

Realising the dream

Roy Grounds' original design for our Arts Centre theatre building was a copper-clad spire, as part of his trilogy of geometric shapes. Sadly, spiralling costs caused the design of the spire to be compromised in spite of all of the pennies donated for the purpose by Victorian schoolchildren. Could the revamp of the arts precinct at Southbank (The Age, 20/2) include fulfilment of Sir Roy's original concept?

Jane Washington, Frankston South

Shameless conduct

Australia's US ambassador Joe Hockey asked embassy staff to meet a corporate travel company before it lobbied for government work (The Age, 20/2). This is an outrageous abuse of privilege. The fact that Mr Hockey is also a shareholder in the company run by "a close friend" – who is also a Liberal Party donor – makes this matter even worse. Does he have no shame? Is this not the same Joe Hockey who, as treasurer, lectured us all on the need to be "lifters, not leaners". Well, clearly, Mr Hockey and his friends enjoy special privileges that undermine the veracity of his simple dichotomy. Truly, it seems the ambassador's hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Malcolm McKinnon, Fitzroy

Come clean on savings

The revelations regarding the tender process for the $300million per year corporate travel contract are more disturbing than the specific ministerial flight arrangements.

As reported, a "veteran finance department official ... sought to cut margins and save the government money". If the margin on $300million were shaved by 0.5per cent, taxpayers would save $1.5million per year. Were the recommended savings applied to the contract, and if not, why not?

Mary Cahill, Brunswick

But if Mathias can do it ...

Can people now use the "Cormann defence" when they are caught receiving too much in Centrelink payments or they travel on public transport without paying a fare?

Jennifer Borrell, Coburg

MPs' impossible vow

When our politicians are sworn in, perhaps their oath could include: "Thou shall not lie to the electorate". Frankly, is there just one member of this government who has not told a lie, be it a white one or deliberate? I wonder how they sleep at night.

John Hart, Bright

I want a magic card too

Finally it makes sense how our government has mysteriously been able to forecast a budget surplus in less than a year. Our finance minister has, in his hands, a magic bottomless credit card that never has to be paid back. Why didn't they just say so?

Roan Plotz, Preston

Investigate the MPs' rorts

I have bought tickets quite a few times from Helloworld. It has never forgotten to take the payment out of my credit card. However, lucky Mathias Cormann got his tickets for nothing. He did not realise he had not been charged but he paid the outstanding money to Helloworld when it all became public. These politicians are getting away with blue murder. An investigation needs to be carried out.

Sheridan Rodgers, Berwick

Christmas Island outrage

Our government says it will send sick asylum seekers, transferred from Nauru and Manus, to Christmas Island unless they require specialised treatment only available on the mainland. This is a nasty trick to appear to be complying with the bill passed recently. Bill Shorten also says it is "fine" for those needing medical attention to be brought to Christmas Island if the required health services are available.

However, a recent interview with a senior administrator on Christmas Island revealed there is only a six-bed hospital available, no surgery takes place within it and there are no mental health specialists. Hopefully, Mr Shorten will make a statement that, due to this situation, he will no longer support the Coalition's proposal. If he does not, he may well have lost the election.

Malcolm Ellenport, East Brighton

End packaging madness

The recycling crisis has not been caused by China, commodity prices or government policy. It has been caused by the profligate use of packaging. It is everywhere, but most outrageously and wastefully in the big supermarkets' fresh food sections. The only items that need plastic boxes, wrap or bags are loose berries. Not apples, peaches, tomatoes or beans, and certainly not for bananas, sweet potatoes, sweet corn or zucchinis. And grapes in boxes? Really?

It will be hard to ban this, but it must be done, and soon. We also need to act on single-serve sizes of yoghurt, juice and processed fruit and the unnecessary cheese and cracker combos. Do people not have bowls or small, reusable containers? And does mere convenience justify this waste and ultimate addition to our emissions load? Only 16per cent of plastic is actually recycled. The only realistic way to increase this proportion is to produce less of it. Many individuals and business are not acting on this. It is urgently up to government.

Lou Wilksch, Brunswick East

Governments must act

China stopped accepting low-grade waste from foreign countries nearly two years ago and no long-term solutions have been implemented. All levels of government have blamed each other and no one has addressed the key elements, apart from quick-fix funding to councils and waste handlers to continue recycling. Even recycling company SKM Services received funding from Sustainability Victoria, and look what has happened there.

The Victorian government should open the purse strings on the landfill levy and invest in waste-management infrastructure to ensure that quality recyclables can be produced. If this happens, the local and export market will take all that is recovered. Governments need to make hard, strategic decisions on recycling and perhaps seek input from the waste industry.

Steve Balmforth, Clifton Hill

Keeping cats indoors

Re Peter Barrett's article, "I've never liked cats ... until this one" (Comment, 19/2). Did his cat kill other native creatures before it started to annoy the snakes? It should not be outside in the first place. (This comes from the husband of a responsible cat owner.)

Shane Gunn, Heathcote Junction

No service, no payment

Now that SKM Services has been banned from accepting recyclables at two sites, and many councils are sending recyclables to landfill, will ratepayers be entitled to a rate reduction for a service which was not provided? I bet not.

Paul Reynolds, Wangaratta

When action is required

Melbourne criminal lawyer Melinda Walker says people have the right to defend themselves against intruders in their home but they are only "allowed to respond to a threat that is imminent. And it's all a matter of proportionality" (The Age, 20/2). Excuse me?

How is an intruder in one's home anything but an imminent threat? Another perspective worth considering: anyone facing such a situation may not have the luxury of getting on the phone and soliciting counsel in the heat of the moment. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by six.

Larry Hermann, Balaclava

The farmers' call to arms

Would someone please explain to me why Woolworths, Coles, Aldi et al decide what they will pay for milk? If it is unviable for the dairy industry to supply at a price that allows supermarkets to sell for $1 a litre, why do they supply it? Maybe the dairy industry needs to catch up with the rest of the world of capitalism – refuse to sell under cost. Yes, they would have to throw some milk down the drain, but how long would the supermarket be prepared to open without milk on the shelves? Farmers, this is your chance. Take it.

Peter Leonard, Wangaratta

The good and the bad

I agree with reader Jill Rosenberg – "A matter of trust" (Letters, 19/2) regarding doctors and politicians. The former take the Hippocratic Oath, the later are just hypocritical.

Ian Field, Williamstown

AND ANOTHER THING

Cormann

I wish I had so much money that I didn't notice I hadn't paid $2780 for flights.

Irene Bolger, Apollo Bay

I've just realised I wasn't charged for the BMW I bought last year.

Andrew McFarland, Templestowe

Cormann should cancel his credit cards. Cash transactions might jog his memory better.

Penelope Kerr, Alphington

Why can't Helloworld give me a free trip?

David Blom, Nunawading

Cormann could apply to be a bank CEO. He meets the criteria for "ethical" behaviour.

Diana Saad, Thornbury

How can you receive booked tickets when the flights weren't paid for?

David Bowler, Highett

Mathias, you're lucky you're an MP. In any other job, you'd be sacked.

Lou Ferrari, Richmond

We have lifters and leaners on the public purse. Hockey forget to mention the leeches.

Liz Jovanovic, Moonee Ponds

I suppose that if Cormann wanted the Herald-Sun delivered, or Foxtel connected, he'd ring Rupert.

David Baxter, Mornington

And I thought Cormann prided himself on being "methodical".

Jan Batten, Port Melbourne

Furthermore

People who are cruel to, or neglect, their animals (20/2) should be banned from owning them.

Jan Kendall, Hawthorn

Dairy farmers need to take collective action. Cast off the shackles, organise, or perish.

Rob Ward, Lake Tyers Beach

Barry O'Sullivan referred to "a bloody old Chinaman". How has he been elected? He's a disgrace

Di Donigi, Warragul

Thanks, Greg Baum (19/2), for allowing us to laugh freely. Cricket and your readers are the winners.

Antoinette Carter, Heidelberg Heights

Has Eddie brought the "Colliwobbles" to the Stars?

Lindsay Donahoo, Wattle Glen

*Sign up to editor Alex Lavelle's exclusive weekly newsletter at: www.theage.com.au/editornote.