The Coalition had a decade of inaction on climate change. “Back on track” is a disaster for people and the environment. Nothing else will matter if global warming keeps increasing. People,flora and fauna will die if they lie down on the track looking back. I say no to negativity and backtracking. Australia has natural resources to use in the urgent need to reduce the warming of the planet.Bea Hodgson,Gerringong

Let’s get AustraliaBack in Black (with thanks to AC/DC)John Swanton,Coogee

While I greatly enjoy railway analogies,I fear the result of Peter Dutton’s new slogan will be like the good-value red wine brand,Train to Nowhere.Bruce Mumford,Moss Vale

The Coalition is going to get the country back on track. Back to Australia before the last election and it was in government. Back to 6 per cent inflation,budget deficits,5 per cent unemployment rate,tax cuts for the top income earners,coal and gas. Back to minimum concerns for our changing climate.Roslyn McDonald,Nowra

Peter Dutton wants us “back on track” but forgets that his lot was “off the rails” and the country is still recovering from nine years of their incompetence,including Robo-debt and a lack of energy policy. I also remember $13m spent to persecute one family,purely for political point scoring. Our country can do without his party’s immorality and lack of compassion. Let’s vote for positive candidates who have the best interest of the country at heart,not for those ambitious for their own aggrandisement.Marion Wood,Mosman

Dutton’s get Australia “back on track” is an unfortunate turn of phrase if he has dismissed the need to change direction on carbon emissions and climate change. It may work well in the party room,but governments have to deal with real-world problems including the increasing incidence of extreme events like the LA inferno and other features of climate risk like the diminishing insurability of homes and businesses.Jim Allen,Panorama (SA)

Although the Albanese government has been underwhelming,at least it is trying to make Australia a more decent society and address global warming. In contrast,besides an extremely questionable nuclear power policy and cutting immigration,the Coalition under Peter Dutton has nothing of note to offer. During the Coalition’s last term in office,it is difficult to recall one policy that alleviated poverty,reduced inequality and improved the lives of people who were struggling. If the Coalition happens to win the next federal election,once again the country will be treading water. In these extremely challenging times,the country cannot afford a do-nothing government.Alan Morris,Eastlakes

Left right out

The causes of the apparent rising popularity of the right can be found in social change,the wealth gap and the internet (“Trudeau,Biden and Ardern are done. What’s eating the global left?”,January 13). We have become isolated through affluence. Living alone in our McMansions,no longer in extended families with our priorities shifting to consumerism and self-entitlement,exacerbated by online shopping and rabbit holes,we have lost our tribe and community. When we venture outside,it is alone in a car or walking,head down,screen fixated. We don’t know our neighbours. Those failed by the widening wealth gap look for someone to punish,especially in authority,and are susceptible to populist rhetoric and empty promises. So what leader will appeal to us in this climate? One who wants us to help the poor,disenfranchised,disabled or refugees through significant change or one who appeals to our biases,anger,bigotries and self-interests?Rowan Godwin,Rozelle

Pint of view

The article by Paul Marshall about the cost of schooners struck a chord with me (“How a $13 schooner pushed me past the pint of no return”,January 13). At Sydney’s international airport,I paid $20 for a beer that was lucky to be schooner size. Late last year after a lengthy walk I was so thirsty for a beer that my tongue was sticking to the roof of my mouth. The walk finished near Circular Quay,so I wandered over to one of the pubs there and ordered a schooner,which was $12.50. If I had known the price before ordering,I could have chosen to take my swollen tongue elsewhere.Arthur Hennessy Gymea Bay

Musk out of focus

Some of us would be happy to crowdfund a good psychiatrist for Elon Musk (“How Elon Musk put a decades-old UK sex abuse scandal back on agenda”,January 13). A South African who emigrated to Canada,he is obviously triggered by poor people of colour moving into predominantly white countries. After hearing his father being interviewed and his views on Nelson Mandela,you can understand why Musk is in a sad place. Add in an addiction that keeps him posting on X 24 hours a day and the red flags are everywhere. This man needs an intervention.Wendy Atkins,Cooks Hill

Psyched-up student

I am a NSW psychiatry trainee nearing the end of training and I support the psychiatrists who have submitted their resignation letters (“Health officials scramble with mass resignation of state’s doctors”,January 12). Many have been my supervisors and teachers,and have inspired me with their passion and dedication to bettering the lives of their patients. They make me truly proud to join their ranks as a consultant psychiatrist. I am therefore horrified at how they are being depicted by the NSW Health Minister Mr Ryan Park as villains.Nicole Nahm,Macquarie Park

Terrible lessons from LA

As I look with horror at the graphic images of the destruction that nature has wrought in Los Angeles,I remind myself that I have observed,first hand,the building methods employed in the construction of urban housing in California (“LA’s fire chief is at the centre of a public spat with city’s mayor as wildfires rage”,January 13). To comply with regulations regarding safety during the ever-present danger from earth tremors and earthquakes,buildings of this category were constructed using wooden frames,plywood floors,plastic plumbing and with tar paper cladding and roofing. Walls and roofs were based with plywood. Walls were stucco and roofs sprayed with bitumen and spread with pebbles before painting. This would explain the total destruction of streets right down to the foundations.John Saunders,Evans Head

The idea of using backyard pool water to protect the home is very applicable to Australian towns,though a hose running at 100 litres/minute would not help at all. I have four Ember Defender sprinklers on my roof plus three fire hoses,all hooked up to two petrol-driven firefighter pumps that take water from my pool;all told,it cost less than $2000. It takes about two minutes to start the whole system,which hopefully should be enough time. Within 40 minutes,the pool will be empty,yet I may still be alive – and the house may still be standing.Andrew Brown,Bowling Alley Point

California’s claims that “the fires are impossible to stop” should be a wake-up call for the NSW Rural Fire Service to get our bush fire fuel reduction done. Surely prevention is always better than cure;less fuel means less fire.

Even with the best aircraft available,LA has declared it can’t stop the fires this time. It is obvious that had it focused on fuel reduction over the past few years this current catastrophe would probably not be happening. In Australia,we wait for “a window in the weather”,when mechanical hazard reduction can be done at least around building and property perimeters with no unhealthy smoke or escaped fires. Much of the wildlife can be preserved,large trees can be protected and volunteers not put at risk.Martin Tebbutt,Bilpin

Dirty Dutton

Dutton seems to be resorting to the Trump theory that if you throw enough fraudulent dirt at your opponent,eventually something will stick (“‘Nasty’:Albanese rejects Dutton’s claim he is at fault for all antisemitism”,January 13). Hopefully,the Australian voter is more intelligent than that.Bruce Spence,Balmain

Novak,govak

Let’s hope Novak does not overstay his welcome in the sport. It would be sad to see the once extraordinary become ordinary (“Hungry for history:Why 24 slams and Olympic gold is not enough for Novak Djokovic”,January 13).Mustafa Erem,Terrigal

Pull of summer pools

Thank goodness for public pools – harbourside,beachside,Olympic. Nothing says Sydney summer more than a swim. Hesitating before immersion. Relief after momentary discomfort. Relaxation in cool and comfortable water. Bubbling breath mingled underwater with muffled shrieks from delighted children. Penetrating buzz of cicadas renewed on emerging,creating a taste of tinnitus for all and reminding us of the fecundity and warmth of a humid summer. I wouldn’t be dead for quids.Tim Coen,Ashfield

Gen Z responses make sense

Your Gen Z panel’s ideas about Sydney’s housing crisis made a lot of sense to this old Baby Boomer,but one element was missing – the urgent need for governments to set standards for design and construction and then to rigorously enforce them (“Sydney’s housing catastrophe is just around the corner. Gen Z knows how to fix it”,January 13). I am guilty of living in a house that is much larger than I need and would happily downsize if only the many apartments rising in my area were well-designed,well-built and just slightly larger than a shoebox. Alas,that is not the case,and the one
aesthetically appealing block,just over a year old,is already exhibiting mould,according to departing residents. Private certification has a lot to answer for.Geraldine O’Brien,Redfern

All credit to the young experts,but youth does not have the benefit of experience. Postwar government housing investment was in social housing,built for renting,accounting for one in seven postwar dwellings. The dramatic increase in homeownership was due largely to self-help,when thousands of young couples built their own extremely modest homes while living on site,mostly in garages constructed for the purpose,when they didn’t even own a car. I doubt the youth of today would find either option appealing.Liz Adams,Kareela

It’s so interesting to read how Gen Z plans to ease the housing disaster. There are some really good ideas. However,Australia has a black hole in the form of construction workers at present. We need engineers,plumbers,electricians,builders,carpenters,bricklayers and labourers before we even start to address the problems. There is little point in ideas when the means to do the job are not in place. As with health,we need the workers before anything can be done.Pamela Shepherd,Balgowlah

All omegas aren’t equal

Dr Kate Mahon is accurate in her assessment (“Could consuming seed oils give you colon cancer?”,January 11). The imbalance of dietary omega oils is correlated with inflammatory conditions that are associated with many chronic health complaints,including colon cancer.

Not all seed oils are unhealthy. Those used in many manufactured foods certainly are. One of the marked differences between seed oils that promote inflammation and those that fight it are in their balance between omega-3 and omega-6. Those used in common manufactured foods tend to be overwhelmingly higher in omega-6 than omega-3 in contrast to those healthier seeds such as flax and chia which are far higher in omega-3 than omega-6. Unfortunately,the omega-3 from flax and chia have limited human bioavailability.Camilla Brinkworth,Mullumbimby

Fast ferry? Not so fast

I wonder how practical a seafarer Helen Howes is,with her very fast ferry idea for Sydney to the Central Coast (Letters,January 11)? My understanding is that the fastest ferry in the world today is a catamaran operating in Argentina at speeds of up to 58 knots (107 km/h). On a good day,without a heavy swell,a Central Coast ferry might reach those speeds on the ocean leg between the heads and Lion Island,but it would be seriously compromised by Sydney Harbour traffic and the Brisbane Water channel,and draft limitations at both ends. I would doubt the ferry’s ability to even match current train speeds. Water craft tend to be steady and reliable,not speed demons.Seppo Ranki,Glenhaven

Rehashing travel history

Jordan Baker’s recollections reminded me of my first backpacking trip,in 1979 (“Grand discovery after dazzling days and carefree nights”,January 13). Wanting to travel on the cheap,I booked a ticket to travel to Amsterdam from Athens with the infamous Magic Bus company. At Zagreb,Yugoslavia,the bus broke down and the bus company’s “co-ordinator” wanted the passengers to pay for the repairs;we refused. Meanwhile,the two drivers on board would be either smoking hashish or drinking whisky while driving. When we arrived in Amsterdam at 3am,we stayed at a nearby low-priced hotel to wake up to rats running across the beds. As we checked into the official youth hostel the next day,the receptionist had to put aside the large fat joint they were rolling to take down our details. A nine-month backpacking trip that was full of surprises and risks.Con Vaitsas,Ashbury

• To submit a letter to theSydney Morning Herald,email letters@smh.com.au. Clickhere for tips on how to submit letters.
• The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge,champion and inform. Sign up here.