Telstra has announced that 15 engineers and 270 field and support staff will be retrenched by February after consolidation of work sites from 26 to 12 nationally, supposedly because of efficiencies in servicing the network.

Tell that to people who have been told by Telstra they will never get broadband through their phone line because it is too expensive to upgrade their lines.

We live in Kempsey, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, on an estate with 55 homes. All homes on the estate have been told just that. Kempsey State Emergency Service has just moved into new premises and has been told it cannot be connected to broadband through its phone line until 2012.

As Kempsey is an area that can be affected by serious flooding, this is just not good enough. If this is the case in Kempsey, I despair for people west of the Great Dividing Range.

Telstra says the Next G network can be used not only for mobile phones, but also for wireless broadband. Regardless of what Telstra says, we have been told by people who already have Next G phones that they are not reliable in Kempsey.

Couple that with the fact that once CDMA is cut off and Next G becomes the main mobile phone network, there will be little room left for broadband through that network - and it is also very expensive.

To reduce work sites from 26 to 12 nationally in a country as vast as Australia is ludicrous. This will result in greater costs to the public for servicing of faults and equipment, and longer waiting times for those services, especially where Telstra has to fly contractors into an area.

Rural communities come second to the cities in so many services throughout Australia.

It is time service providers realise there is more to this country than urban areas and that rural communities deserve the same consideration as our city cousins and the same access to reliable services.

Thelma Williams Yarravel via Kempsey

A reassuring word on organ donations

I was delighted to hear that something is being done to promote organ donor awareness ("At least some good news after Abbott's bad hair day", November 9).

Countless negative people I've spoken to have been concerned as to how the deceased's body will look after organs have been removed. I would like to explain that each organ is removed by the surgeon who is going to do the transplant; if the eyes are removed, they are replaced with a prosthesis.

The deceased's family decides which body parts can be donated,and as this procedure is done by Australia's top surgeons, the body is left in top condition.

I've had 18 incredibly happy years with my family - since having my heart transplant.

Yvonne Jones Pennant Hills

Is our Health Minister showing support for Malcolm Turnbull's recent announcement to amend remaining pieces of legislation that discriminate against same-sex couples?

Donning headwear in the gay pride colours certainly makes a bold statement. What next? On a float at next year's Mardi Gras?

Derek Harvey Clayfield, Qld

Split in film ranks

I read with interest "Broadcaster to boycott AFIs over awards snub" (November 9). It was not just the Australian Screen Editors Guild that protested against the splitting of the awards over two nights but most of the industry guilds, to my knowledge.

Certainly the Australian Cinematographers Society protested strongly. It believes the decision was made in the interests of commercial television programming requirements and "on screen" personalities, and not in the interests of the film and television industry professionals.

If it weren't for the wonderful and talented people behind the scenes of the film and television industry, there would be no "on screen" personalities to recognise.

Ted Rayment Australian Cinematographers Society, Mount Ku-ring-gai

Keep cabbies guessing

How inspiring that Bernard Vance (Letters, November 8) has taken up Miranda Devine's challenge to open the debate on the cab industry.

Revealing destination details to taxi drivers means cabs are nowhere to be seen when a passenger books to travel a short distance. The elderly and sick are left stranded waiting in their homes or on footpaths when trying to reach their local medical or shopping centres.

At least cab companies should be obliged to ring passengers when drivers refuse to take the job or are late. Destination details should not be disclosed to drivers as they only pick the best (longest) jobs.

Yes, it's time government allowed market forces to operate.

Lindy Morrison Clovelly

Not feeling secure

Where did we get the term "homeland security" from (Letters, November 9)? The Hitler era, Saddam, Bush or who? Anyway, not a good feel.

Ross Manwaring Balmain

Different lives

Eve Curie, who has died at 102, was from a family of high achievers. Although the only one in the family not to receive a Nobel Prize, she was accomplished in a number of fields (Timelines, November 9).

Pekka-Eric Auvinen was a dysfunctional 18-year-old who pumped bullets into eight people before killing himself.

Auvinen was plastered across the front page, Curie was up the back. Who do you think will be remembered? Auvinen's short life accomplished nothing and he should be remembered for nothing.

Christopher Woodley Vaucluse

Tobacco road

Surely I'm not the only one who cannot fathom why banning smoking in cars is only being considered, when it should certainly be prohibited ("NSW may ban smoking in cars", November 9).

What use do cigarettes serve a community other than to collect taxes, which don't even cover the later associated medical costs?

Lannen Stapleton Newtown

If the Iemma Government is really sincere in its anti-smoking sentiment, it should immediately cease to soil its hands by accepting taxation revenue from all tobacco products.

Victor Ivanoff Gladesville

Gay scepticism

David Marr, as always, writes a crisp, rational and relevant argument against the idea that the leopard John Howard has changed his spots on discrimination against gays and lesbians ("One law changes, 57 stay? No thanks", November 9).

His condemnation of churches could have been more nuanced to recognise those Christians that work within the church to change entrenched prejudice dressed up as theology, but generally it was pretty accurate.

Les MacDonald Balmain

I know we haven't seen much of Kevin Andrews in this election campaign, but I am beginning to worry that the Coalition has locked him away.

Not a murmur from him or Tony Abbott after Malcolm Turnbull announced a review of benefits for gay couples if the Government is re-elected. And how many other parliamentary members and hopefuls from the Liberal Party were consulted?

Perhaps they will do and say anything to get Malcolm re-elected, yet treat it as non-core, and the religious right will overturn the promise if returned to government.

Andrew Cameron Newstead (Tas)

No wonder we're cynical

The question ever in my mind, Peter Hartcher ("Dear leaders held in high regard", November 9), is why do people really go into politics.

We would hope their first thought was to do something worthwhile for their countrymen/women but if so, it's not long, unfortunately, before this becomes secondary and a determination to stay in Canberra (or Sydney or …) with an eye on the size of their eventual superannuation - as well as ego, of course - takes over.

The trouble is it may well be those backbenchers for whom the last part means less who are the real heroes, while the glory boys (frontbenchers) are the ones all are judged by. No wonder we're cynical.

John Moir Mollymook

The past week clearly shows just how hypocritical the major political parties really are.

When Peter Andren, the independent member for Calare, was in Parliament both parties considered him a problem and a troublemaker. The Speaker never allowed him to ask questions in question time and his private bills didn't see the light of day.

Now that he is dead, both sides applaud his free spirit and the clear thinking he brought to the House of Representatives.

Keith Hardie Caringbah

Keating legacy

Mr Keating (Letters, November 9) it was also the Hawke-Keating government that broke the backs (and hearts) of its supporters by betraying them to the big end of town, with the subsequent exporting of our jobs overseas.

I, for one, will never forgive Labor for that betrayal.

Frank McQuade Kogarah

Sol of fortune

Would any of the writers complaining about Sol Trujillo refuse $20 million a year (Letters, November 9)?

You can't blame him, just blame the local hayseeds who decided to pay such a stupid salary to a guy with a carpetbag.

Give Telstra a call and complain - if you have all day to spare listening to music and "your call is important to us".

Michael Stanbridge Bonnet Bay

Accountability gone mad damns both children and DOCS officers

Brian McGee believes that DOCS officers should spend more time in the field (Letters, November 8).

Well, Brian, the situation is the outcome of public accountability gone mad, or what is more commonly known as "covering one's backside". As you rightly said, once these dedicated workers were called "child welfare officers", but after numerous departmental deckchair shuffling exercises they became known as "child protection district officers".

Now they go by the mantle of "case workers". As case workers, 90 per cent of their work is spent in front of computer screens justifying every little decision they make while desperately trying to ensure that they, or more specifically the department, are not charged with the sort of malpractice many in society now accuse them of.

Bob Harris former DOCS district officer, Sawtell

In its advertisements for case workers, DOCS invites Aboriginal applicants without tertiary qualifications to apply. It sensibly recognises experience working with Aboriginal communities as valid qualification for the position of case worker. Why doesn't it introduce the same flexibility in its recruitment of non-Aboriginal case workers? There are many in our community who have demonstrated the required qualities of a case worker through their employment or even through volunteer work without having a tertiary degree to flash about. Life experience would be a great asset in such a demanding job.

Noel Pidgeon West Wyalong

How many more children must die before DOCS gets the support, funding and attention it clearly needs? Why is this Labor Government still in power after so many disasters, stuff-ups and tragedies?

Nobody can understand how it was re-elected. From ferries to children, hospitals to roads, this state is a political disaster zone and a human one as well.

Please, for this federal election, can we stop talking about the economy and start talking about people's lives?

Sophie Hunt Drummoyne

Those poor bastards at DOCS are damned if they do and damned if they don't. If they take children under control they are "stealing a generation"; if they don't, they are "incompetent". It is a wonder anyone can be attracted to work in this critical department.

Rob Aalders Little Hartley

Several weeks ago a letter was published suggesting parents should require a licence before producing children. As crude as some of the comments were, the terrible preventable deaths of children in recent weeks adds some weight to this proposal.

While critics of such an idea will bleat on about a couple's right to unhindered procreation, a child's right to a loving, stable home will continue to take a back seat.

Alex Carter Lyons ( ACT)

History lesson would not have gone astray

Who would have thought a telco called Dodo would score the biggest increase of customer complaints ("Big rise in gripes by internet customers", November 9)? I'm having second thoughts about my super policy with Fly-By-Night Investments and my home building contract with Lame Duck Constructions. Nothing could persuade me to use Loose Cannon Security again.

Robert O'Keefe Stanmore

Deflect it down the line

Why does the ABC think that because I look forward to listening to Richard Fidler each day, I would now rather hear the boring broadcast of cricket? The sooner the ABC has a designated sports station the better.

Zuzu Burford Heathcote

Why does the ABC ostracise listeners every year by broadcasting the cricket on 702? This boring and wimpy game - they run for cover when it starts to rain - should be on Radio National where only a dozen or so listeners will be put out.

Victor Marshall Erskineville

Not within a roar

B. Worrall (Letters, November 9), if you were a lion you would also look listless if you were cooped up in a zoo in Batemans Bay. The plains of Africa it ain't.

Robbie Roach Randwick

A quaint little hole

I hope innovative names will flow for the new bars. Despite John Thorpe's words to the contrary, I look forward to drinking at the "A Chardonnay and a Good Book".

Warwick Orme Annandale

Worth a try, Trioli

Could it be Virginia Trioli is going to coach the Wallabies ("Trioli quits radio for full-time television career", November 9)? Beats the alternative and the Wallabies would love it - they haven't had much fun lately.

Richard Hunter Kings Langley

I am sad to see Virginia leaving ABC radio. However, it may pave the way for the return of the prodigal daughter. Please Aunty, kill the fatted calf and bring back Angela Catterns.

Monique Darcy Davidson

Grimace and bear it

Away from public scrutiny, how is Kevin Rudd's sense of humour holding up as he watches the Iemma Government do its best to help John Howard's re-election prospects?

David Crommelin North Strathfield

POSTSCRIPT

Interest rates up again and readers almost to a man (and woman) were unimpressed. Fraser Tustian wrote: "Peter Costello says an interest rate rise is proof of good economic management? So their 2004 election slogan was actually: 'John Howard: keeping good economic management at record lows.' " Mr Howard compounded the anger when he used the word "sorry", then tried to explain what he meant by it. That provoked a deluge, numbers which were probably not reflected on the page because so many expressed similar sentiments. From Samantha Massey: "Now the Prime Minister is making a distinction between saying sorry and apologising. The apology is the act; the sorry is the sentiment. In denying the act the sentiment seems somewhat insincere and lost. He gives new meaning to the concept of nuanced debate." Brendan Kavanagh: "Could John Howard tell us which of the following synonyms he means when he says sorry: apologetic, regretful, remorseful, repentant, sad, unhappy or wretched? If none, perhaps he should get a new dictionary." Mike Doyle: "John Howard is not sorry for the interest rate rise because he doesn't admit responsibility. He is not sorry for us because that takes empathy. He's sorry for himself because of the lost votes." Roger Clark: "So now we have a non-core sorry?" And the week's tally: anti-Government/pro-ALP: 76 per cent. Pro-Government/anti-ALP: 7 per cent; other/can't tell: 17 per cent.

Jennie Curtin Letters Editor