A need to concentrate

Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding

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Whilst mothers may quietly breastfeed (Letters, 18/3), babies may not. Whether breast or bottle-fed, babies snuffle, fret, become detached, look around and have to be reattached, and wave their hands around. They need to be sat up or held against the shoulder to be burped. Sometimes they vomit when burped. Usually none of this is problematic, and can be endearing, but it can certainly be a distraction when others need to fully concentrate on important matters.
Louise Kloot, Doncaster

A very private matter

When I was a judge sitting in the Federal Circuit Court at Melbourne, a mother saw the need to breastfeed her child during a court hearing. I said to Counsel words to the effect that this may be a first for a federal court in Australia and to move on with the proceedings. It was not our concern, only a matter for the mother and child.
Ron Curtain, Brighton East

Gold for the opposition

Dan Andrews’ claim that he has not read the letter from retired IBAC chief Robert Redlich (The Age, 18/3) defies belief. Recent history shows clearly that voters have a keen interest in integrity in government and Andrews’ attempt to bat away the serious allegations do neither him or his government any favours. This issue will not go away and will prove to be gold for a struggling opposition.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South

Joys of the air fryer

Dani Valent may not have had enough time to fully explore her air fryer (Good Food, 16/3). Yes, you can’t cook a lot of food all at once, but reheating is a different story. I cook vegetables, then the meat, and return all the vegetables to the pan to reheat and crisp up. Since the machine is already hot, this takes about five minutes, plenty of time if meat is resting.
Eileen Ray, Ascot Vale

Let’s shun bottled water

A United Nations report has found Australia had the world’s second highest consumption rate of bottled water in 2021. It is a thirst for laziness. What a sad country we are. Melbourne has some of the world’s best tap water. Why do we sell bottled water? Instead, buy a long-term water bottle and refill it from the tap. This would also reduce our use of plastic.
Colin Hood, Carlton North

Bravo new generations

At the pub and the footy on Friday night, this septuagenarian copped the full force of the Millennials/Gen Ys at play. Like Kate Halfpenny – “Australia’s 5.4 million Millennials. I see you, I feel you, I heart you” (Comment, 18/3) – I was deeply impressed by their manner, their non-judgmental nature and a certain joie de vivre I never expected. We will be in good hands come generational change.
Moray Byrne, Edithvale

Minimal cutbacks only

There is a lot of hoo-hah going on about how we will pay for the submarines. A significant proportion of the cost will come from our foreign currency reserves, in particular our US and UK reserves.

Foreign currency reserves accumulate from our export earnings, therefore we will need to export more goods to the US and UK and ensure our export contracts with other nations are written in US dollars or pounds sterling. If we do that successfully, only minimal cutbacks in other areas, if any, will be necessary over the life of the submarine program.
John Kelly, Croydon North

China cowers in fear

It is comforting to know China’s “deputy ambassador” to Australia (Paul Keating) received briefings on China relations and the AUKUS deal (Comment, 18/3). That should ensure China will be too intimidated to threaten us.
David Kerr, Geelong

Plutonium pollution

How can we be so stupid as to make ourselves a target by buying an expensive, outdated weapons system? These submarines will inevitably end up by polluting our land or the bottom of the Pacific Ocean with weapons-grade plutonium.

The strategy for their use is unclear. How can a few submarines with dozens of conventional weapons make any difference other than making Australia a target? If the subs were nuclear-armed, that would be MAD (mutually assured destruction).
Garth Nicholson, Albert Park

Our world of nastiness

Just like Alice in Wonderland, I woke up some time last week and realised I was somewhere else. Bipartisan support for buying nasty things which do nasty things to others or somehow stop them being done to us. And to top it off, the treasurer telling us our problem is that we are not productive enough (The Age, 17/3). Even when we have overwhelming evidence that it is nasty and greedy profit-taking that has got us into this mess.
Rhonda Pryor, Ascot Vale

Fare-free trips for all

It is nice to see the trams and the city streets filled with people again. And why not? So many can choose to travel on trams without swiping their myki card. No one seems to checks them.
David Pitts, Armadale

When no side really wins

Gil McLachlan, before you retire as chief executive of the AFL, how about authorising an “extra time/golden point” rule to settle the travesty of drawn games, please.
John Kruger, St Albans

Saints’ day will come

Glenda Johnston talks about “smirks from Cats supporters and determined glares from Pies barrackers in the supermarket” (Letters, 16/3). The only looks we St Kilda supporters get are ones of sympathy and sadness.
David Francis, Ocean Grove

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A need to concentrate