During the time Julia Gillard was prime minister and Labor in office some 1300 people drowned at sea with most being women and children, but no Human Rights Commission inquiry.

Why not?

The Gillard-Green Labor government had almost 2000 children in detention behind razor wire and where was the Human Right Commissioner with her inquiry back then?

In addition, Gillian Triggs was all for open borders and allowing asylum seekers to have unchecked freedom within Australia, and full access to our welfare system.

Since the election of the Abbott government there has been a 90 per cent reduction with children in detention. Officially, the current data shows 190 children, and yet it is at this point the Human Rights Commission release the findings of their report and blame the present government. What a joke?

Well done to Prime Minister Abbott, for rejecting a political farce, and the nonsense of Gillian Triggs.

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow

I was appalled to read that Sandra Pires has made a documentary extolling the virtues of Australian wharfies prior to WWII. I hope Ms Pires intends to follow this up with their actions and deeds when we were at war. I would suggest she read the book by Hal Colebach, Australia's Secret War which tells of the bastardry and treachery of our noble unions who sabotaged, stole and refused to load supplies for our troops. My father died in Sandakan and I remember my mother talking about the wharfies and their traitorous behaviour. I bet that she doesn't!

Ann Fowler, Oak Flats

The federal government should tax the exorbitant interest that greedy credit card providers charge their card holders.

A tax of 3 per cent would soon bring down the Labor Government deficit and bring a budget surplus within three years. There is absolutely nothing but greed that sees anything up to 23 per cent charged on these instruments of financial death. Taxing greed is what Joe Hockey should turn his hands to instead of forever picking on the little people of Struggle Street all the time.

Dave Cox, Corrimal

It is nearly 15 years since John Howard's "never ever" GST was imposed upon Australians. Now how many times do you see items advertised at a reasonable price? Reasonable that is until you read "plus GST". This makes the said item a little bit less reasonable. It is legally wrong to advertise the cost of an item unless the GST is included. Sellers have had ample time to adjust to the new rules and should ensure the correct prices are advertised, including GST.

David Taylor, Horsley

Interesting letter from Andrew Humphreys (Mercury 13/2/15) in which he tries, with allegations of incompetence and dishonesty, to blame the ALP for problems with Collins submarines.

I am not the only one who finds it sad when people denigrate Australian workmanship to score political points.

Bob Fulton, Darkes Forest