Hastie by name, "hastie" by nature.

Graeme Tychsen, Rankin Park

China has a completely different system from us and a different set of values but China is not our enemy and we have become dependent on them for our financial wellbeing. You would not think so the way they have been portrayed by our government.

Ken Morehouse, Wangaratta (Vic)

Let there be no mistake, Andrew Hastie's outburst under parliamentary privilege is a deliberate act to sabotage Malcolm Turnbull's leadership.

Can anyone seriously believe that such an incendiary outburst would not normally be discussed with their leader?

Andrew Hastie is a member of the far-right of the Liberal party and he, along with others such as Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews will stop at nothing to end Turnbull's leadership.

Think about that for just a minute: members of parliament are deliberately undermining their leader in order to further their own ideological beliefs.

They are not in parliament to represent most Australians or to progress Australia, they in parliament to further their own narrow, self-interest.

I look forward to an election where the people can decide whether they want Australia to stagnate or to be forward-looking under new leadership. - Maureen Jones, North Rocks

China considers itself the dominant power here and as such Australia should be in its sphere of influence. China is Australia's number one trading partner, but does not share its value system. There is palpable tension in the relationship.

China is manifestly unhappy with the government because of its proposed legislation opposing foreign interference in a nation's internal affairs and is very angry at the worldwide attention this is getting.

It is imperative that Australia holds fast to its commitment to the rule of law however costly that may prove to be in terms of trade. - Michael Kennedy, West Pymble

Congratulations to Andrew Hastie for telling it the way it is. Why is everyone else being so coy about the subversion of our political system by the Chinese? - Deborah Webb, Huntleys Cove

It seems to me that with Andrew Hastie, we finally have someone in parliament who is worthy of being there. - Stewart Copper, Maroubra

Not just female royals who make sacrifices for love

Richard Horsburg implies that the Duchess of Sussex betrayed feminism when she gave up her name and renounced her citizenship (Letters, May 24). However, Prince Philip also gave up his Greek citizenship and his Greek title when he married into the British royal family.

Later, when Elizabeth became Queen, he gave up a promising career in the navy. - Tony Brownlow, Cronulla

Perhaps some of the things that the new Duchess of Sussex supposedly found attractive as a 36-year-old feminist paled into insignificance compared with having a husband who has promised "to love and cherish her, honour and protect her, in sickness and in health", according to the Prayer Book service, and with it the offer of "mutual companionship, help and comfort ... both in prosperity and adversity". - Nan Howard, Camden

Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, will pursue her feminist causes without her husband's interference. Princes Harry and William are the sons of Princess Diana. She truly related to the people as was so evident with the public outpouring of grief at her death. She was a "hands-on" mother, which her sons have not forgotten. There is little doubt the Duchess of Sussex will carry on her work in a similar manner with her husband's support. - Lorraine Nelson, Frenchs Forest

So the Duchess of Sussex is settling into her golden life as a royal wife, though I'm not sure that "life" is the right word. Pity we can't ask the proverbial "Bird in a Gilded Cage". - John Christie, Oatley

As the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle could insist upon being referred to as "Your Royal Equal". After all, for a self-professed egalitarian, what does the term "Your Royal Highness" actually denote?- Jacinta McManus, Rozelle

Sparkling memories

Is anyone old enough to remember that yesterday, May 24, was formerly known as Empire Day, but more revered for the associated celebration in the evening, Cracker Night, which was high on the not-to-be-missed list for most children.

Crackers could be easily bought many weeks before the event, resulting in the storage of an impressive arsenal of fireworks such as double bungers, double happies, tom thumbs, jumping jacks, flower pots, catherine wheels, sky rockets and the like on the night. Accidents could occur and they frequently did!

The lack of safety regulations in those times would bring a tear to the eye in utter disbelief for the safety regulators of today. - John Fryer, Ryde

Lost in pronunciation

So where do we draw the line? Haitch may be a common pronunciation but it is spelled aitch in the Oxford dictionary (Letters, May 24). There are other common examples in everyday speech.

We commonly hear Wensday (Wednesday), Febuary (February), libary (library). Do we accept mispronunciation? I know language is constantly changing but what is acceptable and what is not?- Ronald Grimes, Mona Vale

Perhaps we could have an hourly honour of hubris for the heirs of "haitch''? - Jim Stanger, Berry

Paula Watson is surely marooned - she's confusing the two meanings of the word. Maroon as in castaway or abandon, and the colour maroon, usually pronounced "marone''. - Rosemary Lee, Glenelg (SA)

While we're discussing pronunciation, I'm compelled to ask why we've always persisted in calling our highest mountain Mount Kozzy-osco when my Polish acquaintances assure me it should be correctly pronounced Koh-shuse-ko. - John Lander, Killarney Heights

Safe house

Phew, the Opera House is safe ("Go-ahead for Walsh Bay arts hub", May 24)! - Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook

Integrated city key to city's future

Sydney could be a good global city if it followed world trends of developing good public transport ("We're a state divided by builders and termites", May 24). Building more tunnels is a regressive practice that allows for more cars and trucks on our roads.

Other world class cities are prioritising pedestrians and cyclists, thus making cities more liveable and healthier. Stuart Ayres needs to study the amount of time wasted by drivers sitting in "car parks" on our roads, while travelling to and from work.

Sydney can always cope with more people if we had a good, efficient integrated transport system. - Jan Wilson, Glebe

If Stuart Ayres is so proud of being a 'builder' why hasn't he travelled out west to discuss the proposed M9 mega motorway and freight rail corridor with the area's residents?

This Outer Sydney Orbital will destroy homes, prime agricultural land, heritage farms and historic rural properties and divide communities. This government will not be content until it has filled all of the "open green space" and "natural landscapes" in the Sydney basin with motorways, industrial sites and tightly packed housing. - Jo O'Brien, Camden

Public service brain drain

John Hewson outlines the problems of a federal public service denuded by spending cuts and efficiency dividends of the talent necessary to manage large scale outsourced projects ("Private sector rushes to board the latest Canberra gravy train", May 24). The states have similar problems. We see it in NSW where the government's incapacity to draw up and manage contracts for complex infrastructure projects such as the Light Rail and WestConnex has it being dragged through the Supreme Court by various contractors as the projects stall. - Geoffrey Briot, Stanmore

Grown-up pollies

Congratulations to Penny Wong and Mathias Cormann for showing us, and other politicians, how real grown-ups should behave ("It takes two to regroup after a halt in civilities", May 24).

Although on opposite sides of the political fence, they both recognise that they want the same thing: to make Australia a better place. If the "courtesy and mutual respect" shown by them could be mirrored by all other political "leaders", then politicians might find a corresponding surge in their own respect from the general public. - Alan Marel, North Curl Curl

Not so sweet charity

Sandy Mackenzie writes of her poor experience with charity marketing (Letters, May 24).

I had a similar experience when I called a charity to opt out of my monthly contribution due to a change in my economic circumstances. I was bombarded with calls, emails and I am still receiving letters two years later after many requests to please stop. Now there is no chance I will ever come back on board with them as they have truly shot themselves in the foot. - John Swanton, Botany

I also happily donate to charities but lately the milk of human kindness has been souring.

My mail box is full of requests for donations from charities I have never supported and some I have never heard of. I know they are having a tough time and I try to help but I am bombarded with mail and gifts, which I have no intention of using. What a terrible waste of money. - June Dibbs, Mona Vale

Do what I do; cross out your name and address, write in large letters "unsolicited mail" then add return to sender. I don't hear from them again. Now I just have to work out how to block incoming calls on my mobile. - Kerry Nunan, Wyoming

Sticky fingers

It's a bit rich for Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer to accuse the CBA of an "out and out gouge" with a proposed new annual fee on superannuation when the government itself takes 15 per cent tax from super contributions ("Slugged: minister slams 'gouging' CBA over fee", May 24).

If people are saving for retirement and thus saving the government heaps in future pension payments they, too, should keep their fingers out of the super biscuit jar. - Greg Thomas, Annandale

Catholic career men

The consequences of the conviction of Archbishop Wilson are far wider than for him alone ("Archbishop found guilty of concealing child sex abuse", May 23). The reverberations will certainly go around the world, as far as the Vatican, but they should be felt in the offices of every other Australian Catholic bishop.

To date, like their mostly unworthy predecessors, they have essentially been mere corporate men, whose principal loyalties have not been genuinely pastoral: they have been dogged defenders of the "company" and, of course, their own careers.

If they still have any notion of what constitutes "honour", then they would understand that they have only one choice. They must all follow the example of their Chilean colleagues and offer their resignations to the Pope. - John Carmody, Roseville

Attitude adjustment

I suppose the PM's affirmative action in retaining Ann Sudmalis will help the gender imbalance for the time being but I doubt it will do much to help in the long run ("Leave her alone: PM flexes his muscle to save MP", May 24). The Coalition's whole attitude to elected women is what needs to change.

For the past few years now, nearly every other night we have seen this woman sitting behind the PM at the Despatch Box, nodding sagely at his every utterance. Many times have I thought if I was in this woman's electorate I would gladly welcome a change. Encourage more woman to stand but please treat them with more worth when they get there. - Brian Collins, Cronulla

Future planet

I have minimal interest in economics. I understand break-even analysis and opportunity cost but the big picture stuff gives me a headache. I am, however, completely bewildered as to why Santos rejected the $19 billion offer from Harbour Energy ("Reputations on the line as Santos deal falls apart", May 24).

My main interest is global action against climate change and I follow the developments closely. Don't these directors and shareholders know what's coming? Have they no idea that their industries have no future? What planet are they living on? - Jim Lavis, Raglan