Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.
Monday October 6
Flotilla stopped short
“The ships from Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey peeled off long before the Israeli armed forces appeared on the scene. They were all aware of the fact that the IDF would take notice and were not prepared to risk violent confrontation. So why did they supposedly guard the flotilla at all? To demonstrate the world’s opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza in a toothless fashion which only emphasises the world’s lack of purpose when it comes to any confrontation.”
Victoria Moore
Optus in the hot seat
“As one of the many ‘vulnerable people’ who has been the victim of the ‘unconscionable conduct’ by Optus I’m interested to know if they’ll be held accountable financially for this inexcusable conduct? Will the people who have been scammed by Optus receive any financial compensation?”
Anne Corkill
Protecting non-smokers
“In Japan it’s illegal to smoke in some streets in metropolitan areas. Could Australia implement something like this? Even a curfew from 7am to 7pm would make a huge difference. You protect non-smokers (especially children) from second hand smoke. Walking around a major city it seems you’re constantly breathing in cigarette and vape smoke wherever you go.”
Liliana Bray 
Tuesday October 7
Home buyers tip
“If you are contemplating buying a strata titled property, I recommend you get your solicitor to do more than just apply for the certificate from the Owners Corporation that details the current state of the levies on the property. All kinds of issues, from troublesome occupiers to maintenance issues to be addressed, can be revealed in the minutes of the meetings of the Owners Corporation.”
Elaine Langshaw
Autism podcast
“It’s very refreshing to hear the latest research and diagnosis used for people with autism in your podcast, The Conversation Weekly. I started work as an early childhood teacher and trained in Special Education in the early 1980s. It doesn’t seem all that long ago! I’m so grateful there are passionate people researching and working in these areas.”
Diane Gaylard
Not a rebel
“Michelle Grattan writes that ‘Liberal rebel Andrew Hastie has quit the shadow cabinet’. Mr Hastie is not a ‘rebel’, do not romanticise a power grab. Leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie has quit the shadow cabinet.”
Andrew Oldman
Wednesday October 7
Words matter
“What’s happening in Gaza is not a ‘war’. The killing of 66,000 mostly innocent people is a slaughter and genocide. Respectfully, I can’t accept that language.”
Dénes Ujvari
Big job
“Sussan Ley is an interim leader at best for the Opposition. However Ley’s situation is much more difficult than simply the potential challengers (whether it be Angus Taylor or Andrew Hastie). The Liberal Party in the Federal Parliament has lost so many seats that its membership is predominantly right wing and its policies (for example, climate change and energy) are simply not supported by the wider community. Ms Leys’ task is herculean.”
Charles Latimer
Seeing double
“I found the article on facial recognition confirmed my reservations. Many years ago on a project in Indonesia I encountered my double, an Italian. I am Anglo-Celtic, any Italian genes probably came from Julius Caesar’s invasion of Britain. I agree the odds are astronomical for a physical encounter but such instances can occur, the odds will probably drop significantly if one’s face is compared against an international database.”
Alan Walker
Thursday October 9
What about the mortgage?
“As a single renter over 60, I have realised the opportunity for home ownership no longer exists. Even if I could afford payments, there are just not enough years left in my working life to be able to pay off a mortgage. For people like me, where do 5% deposit schemes leave us? Precisely nowhere.”
M
What’s in our water
“I find it hard to understand why some state governments don’t take over the distribution of drinking water from councils. Water supplies to South Australians have been delivered by the state government for 160 years. This may be due to being ‘the driest state on the world’s driest continent’. As a consequence though it means that the fluoridation of water in South Australia is purely a health consideration. It isn’t controlled by councils where supply is driven by the finances or ideology of the council.”
Trevor Greenfield, Felixstow SA
Context on Gaza
“Rothwell addresses international law violations around the flotilla, yet omits the gravest violation of all. Grattan examines ‘damage to Australian society’ from this 'distant war’, yet neglects to inform readers that several expert bodies have concluded it is genocide – while our government still refuses to even acknowledge it. That context becomes pivotal when seeking to understand why the Global Sumud Flotilla and others like it exist, why people have been protesting our government’s complicity every weekend for the past two years, and other social responses Grattan describes.”
Stefano Perfili, Melbourne VIC
Friday October 10
This way to the exit
“Anyone who reads your article on the National Anti-Corruption Commission and a range of similar articles in the mainstream press over the last two or three years would know that the only course for Commissioner Paul Brereton right now is the one towards the door marked EXIT. And that door must not dispense golden handshakes on the way out.”
Maggie Woodhead, Ballajura, WA
Drinking harms
“The impact alcohol use has on families, especially women and children is significant. The article used the term ‘drinking heavily’ but drinking a small amount of alcohol can change a person’s mood. I’ve seen some people turn nasty after one or two drinks. This may be the small end of distress that gets overlooked. Governments make huge amounts of money from legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. Time for more government-funded proactive education.”
Amanda Olle
Childcare swaps
“Showing my age, but back in our day, we organised childcare swaps. Two or three mothers working part-time on different days, and caring for each other’s children on our days at home. It was often easier to ‘referee’ a couple of kids than to entertain one, and it’s great for the children’s socialisation.”
Beth Rees