Folau's tweets are confronting and frightening and should never be confused with providing the public with information, as Assange has done.

Sue Lyons, Carlton North

It's called faith for a reason

I have to disagree with elements of the article by Elizabeth Farrelly (no relation). Firstly in answer to the question "should we punish the truth tellers", the answer is obviously no. Julian Assange proposes that he is telling the "truth" we need to know, and this been backed up by indisputable evidence. Israel Folau's "truth" is an espousal of faith and doctrine (Faith: strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof, Dictionary.com), about as removed from "truth" as is possible.

Secondly his list is a catalogue of the misdemeanours of modern lifestyle choices – except homosexuality. If he and his church still believe homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, then they are even more out of touch than their 15th century view of society.

To further assert that "Religion is no more a 'choice' than is homosexuality" is ridiculous. I was born into a very religious family but I unrepentantly outgrew it.

I sincerely doubt that homosexuality offers the repentance option. Folau was quite rightly called out on this.

Stephen Farrelly, Donvale

Free speech was not the issue

Like Elizabeth Farrelly, I also shed tears for Israel Folau's plight. But Folau's case is not about free speech; it is about breach of employment terms. Rugby Australia has the moral and legal rights to sack him.

But Julian Assange's case is different. Breaking into and dispersing government security data is a crime. But when the security data is about crimes committed by the US administration in the global murder of innocent people by waging wars premised on lies, then ordinary citizens have an inalienable right to break the law. This is what Chelsea Manning and Assange have done and can be compared to what Daniel Ellsberg did with the Pentagon Papers. Their act was to save lives, not to destroy them.

Bill Mathew, Parkville

Of course he had to be silenced

May I point out, in response to Elizabeth Farrelly, that if "celebrities" are allowed to include homosexual acts in lists of unacceptable behaviours, people might conclude that homosexuality is behavioural, not genetic, and is as open to criticism as any other behaviour. Of course Israel Folau must be silenced.

Albert Riley, Mornington

Remember when the earth was flat?

Elizabeth Farrelly writes that "it [public condemnation of Folau's homophobic statements] regards Folau's beliefs as a choice". They are. All beliefs are a choice. We choose a religion (or have one thrust upon us). Facts are not choices: I can believe whole-heartedly the earth is flat if I want, but science proves otherwise. Religious leaders persecuted Galileo for pointing out that even primitive science showed the earth was not the centre of the universe, but orbited the sun like all the other planets. Today, Galileo's facts are so entrenched that most people don't know who Galileo was or that this was ever something to be questioned.

Louise Moran, Belmont

THE FORUM

Not my idea of reality

I've just read an advertisement for Sleep at the 'G, an event where people with a home can raise money for people without one. They get to sleep, undercover and with toilets, food and security available. And there's prizes and meditation sessions and, wait for it, a "fun sleepwear fashion competition".

But the homeless aren't invited.

The event touts itself as a place where you can "learn first-hand about the core issues behind homelessness". Fortunately, the organisers are keeping those same people well away from you so as not to spoil the "live music and entertainment" or get in the faces of the "well-known identities".

I'd like to see an event where they invite the homeless to stay at the 'G, enjoy a hot shower, a toilet and maybe get some food and medical care.

In fact, with Melbourne's sporting facilities each only being used for a few hours a week, why aren't these buildings open every night to anyone sleeping rough?

Angus McLeod, Cremorne

Painting a thousand words

How apt that in Jim Pavlidis' cartoon (20/4) based on Salvador Dali's painting The Persistence of Memory the pocket watch is showing the time as a few minutes to midnight, while at the same time Scott Morrison is melting and Tony Abbott is looking on relaxed while doing nothing. Pretty much tells things as they are.

Tony Healy, Balwyn North

Morrison's glib myth

The Prime Minister is still claiming, falsely, that the Coalition is the best manager of the economy. This is not true historically as over the last 30years the economy has been fine, regardless of which party was in government.

In addition, the Coalition is unable to give leadership or even assist with the essential transformation of the economy from fossil fuels to clean energy. They are still dominated by their climate-denying hard right. In perfect contrast, Labor's broad reform plans do face this economic necessity and show what must be speedily done to achieve a healthy economy and bright future.

Scott Morrison's false claim of best management has become a glib myth and he should stop saying it ad nauseam. He'd look far better if he'd level with the nation and stick to genuine, fair dinkum truths.

Barbara Fraser, Burwood

Here's your answer

Tony Walker's question "Where are the boundaries between acceptable criticism of Israel's behaviour, and criticism that might be interpreted as prejudiced?" is easily answered (Comment, 18/4).

The widely recognised International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism explains, "Criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic."Obviously Walker's examples – criticisms of Israeli settlement expansion or the new nation state law – are not anti-Semitic, although not immune from factual or analytical challenge.

However, criticism can risk straying into anti-Semitism in ways listed by the IHRA definition – including "applying double standards" to Israeli behaviour, "dehumanising, demonising, or stereotypical allegations about Jews ... or the power of Jews as collective", "accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel ... than to the interests of their own nations," or "claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour".

Melissa Parke has called for a one-state solution – effectively Israel's dissolution as a Jewish homeland replaced by a majority Palestinian entity; publicly supports the discriminatory Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, which demands Israel alone of all the world's nations be punished by complete economic, academic, and cultural sanctions; and made comments arguably recalling traditional anti-Semitic tropes about supposed Jewish power.

Such stances surpassing mere criticism, and contradicting ALP policy, therefore unsurprisingly have raised troubling questions about both her motives and the appropriateness of her claims.

Dr Colin Rubenstein, executive director, Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, South Melbourne

Not a pretty picture

Notre-Dame has places in many different hearts. What the response to this fire shows though, is that the wealthy can choose to come out of hiding with boundless generosity while the ordinary man has to grovel (after he's helped someone else get rich) for the basics.

It's a picture of a feudal world which is not now and never was acceptable.

Carol Oliver, Musk

End this phoney war

People say that we are sick of the climate war, but is war a thing that one gets sick of? Not according to my recollection.

An octogenarian, I am old enough to remember what it was like to be alive during World War II. As I recall, the predominant sense at that time was of the importance of winning the war.

And now, as we become increasingly aware of the need to "wage war" on climate change, I sense a similar feeling of the importance and urgency of winning. What might well be experienced as sickening is the "phoney war" we still find ourselves in.

This is evident nowhere more clearly than here in Australia, where our national government has for too long suffered paralysis of mind and muscle: aware of a threat, but unable to recognise its real character, or the need for action to counter it.

As 15 year-old Swede Greta Thunberg might put it, "We know what needs to be done. It's time to just do it."

John Gare, Kew East

Opportunity knocks

"The students are revolting" ... over climate change, and many will be voting on May 18, yet the Coalition government appears oblivious to the writing on the wall.

We can only hope that the Labor Party is paying attention, and if elected will actually seize the opportunity to do more than talk about tackling the issue.

As economist Ross Garnaut points out, there is a "mind-boggling potential for Australia's post-carbon economy becoming the world's energy superpower" (Comment, 20/4). Fingers crossed.

Rosemary Taylor, Castlemaine

Playing with the NDIS

Bravo, Jim Pavlidis, for your cartoon in Good Friday's (19/4) Age for your depiction of the NDIS cross, carried by a person in a wheelchair. The NDIS is doing great work for some, but for many it has become a nightmare and a huge cross to bear. Unmet need, delays in funding necessary equipment crucial for people's wellbeing, daily functioning and safety. Much of this is a direct result of the Coalition's approach to the running of the NDIS and disability support in general from when they took office.

Placing a banker in charge and removing those with lived experience of disability on the board has been a disaster. But not it seems to the Coalition's budget line of using unmet funds from the NDIS and calling it good monetary management.

When the Productivity Commission recommended the NDIS be implemented, they said to do nothing would cost far more. Shame on Scott Morrison to imply the NDIS is fully funded by his government yet not ensure it be implemented as the legislation dictates.

Les Cope, Menzies Creek

A more poetic fantasy

Currently at Easter various non-believers complain about Christianity.

Those who complain Christianity is a fairy story should consider the Big Bang theory, the current origination myth. For anything to happen, the coming election for example, a place and a time for it to happen has to pre-exist. Yet according to the Big Bang theory, space and time came into existence with the bang. There was no "before the Big Bang". Therefore there was no pre-existing space and time for the Big Bang to happen, therefore it did not happen.

The Christian theory, "God said let there be light, and there was light", may be equally fanciful, but at least it's more poetic.

Tristam Elliott, Warrnambool

Ambassadors galore

For goodness sake can we stop misusing the term ambassador. An ambassador to the US? Fine. That's a job that creates great opportunities for our nation. James Hird has been suggested as an ambassador in the AFL for mental health? Fabulous. A great idea to use his experience of such issues in the hopeful betterment of those who struggle. But to call someone an ambassador because they help sell things? Oh, please.

Dave Quinn, Collingwood

Coal, coal, coal ...

Does Scott Morrison's understand the term "sustainable" when it comes to economic management? I have yet to hear him mention jobs and growth in renewable energies.

Is he not predicating the economy on our trade in coal? Coal has not reduced power prices, is no assurance of future jobs and is now proven to be the leading cause of rising carbon emissions.

Not only is Morrison blind to the effects of coal on our climate, he is apparently also blind to the term "sustainable" when it comes to economic management – all of which makes me wonder if Morrison is also blind to our future prosperity and is living in the past.

Laurelle Atkinson, St Helens, Tas

Switching the goal posts

The grand AFL cultural strategy for Australia – secularise Good Friday and sacramentalise Anzac Day. It brings moneylenders and temples to mind.

Trevor Hay, Montmorency

Did I hear correctly?

I'm sure I heard it: an actual acknowledgment by a political heavyweight that the other side just might have a good idea. A little speck of humility illuminated against the arrogant and constant criticism of each other's policies. Although tempered in their approval and adamant that "they would do it better", for a moment I was exposed to a tenet of mature leadership.

Good leaders recognise that they have a responsibility to seek and action the best ideas, irrespective of origin. Is it so bad to admit that you haven't cornered the market on political intelligence? I think not. Just maybe, in fact, it shows that you have acquired political wisdom.

Jaroslaw Kotiw, Strathfieldsaye

AND ANOTHER THING

Politics

It was a relief to have rather less of the shouting and abuse over Easter. It should continue longer.

Colin Jones, South Melbourne

Had a chopper hovering over us the other afternoon. Couldn't help wondering if it was Greg Hunt trying to find his electorate.

Susan Daniel, Blairgowrie

The federal government's Urban Infrastructure Minister, Alan Tudge, says, "Victorians will never forget that Labor wasted $1.3 billion to cancel the East West Link": the state election result suggests Victorians think otherwise, or has he forgotten that?

Richard Aspland, Rosanna

How can you promise substantial tax cuts in 2025 even though you have no idea what economic conditions will be like then and still call yourself a superior economic manager?

Phil Alexander, Eltham

I know how this ends

No matter how many surveys into gender inequality in pay, the results will always end the same way ... women much worse off than men in retirement.

Marie Nash, Balwyn

What a feast

Danny Katz (20/4), your Passover feast was absolutely magnificent.

Reg Murray, Glen Iris

Furthermore

The government says no need for a water royal commission. They also said there was no need for a bank royal commission.

Les Anderson, Woodend

Millions in water buy-backs by Liberals – in dry times this smacks of non-delivery of an invisible substance.

Rex Niven, Eltham

If we're going to buy back water that doesn't actually exist, but was ours in the first place if it did, could we at least ensure the funds stay in Australia?

Steve Melzer, Hughesdale

Finally

Is Scott Morrison a creationist or an evolutionist?

Graeme Walters, Mount Waverley