We could improve the way we select our Governor General. Currently the Prime Minister selects him without consulting anyone.  Ditto for State Governors.

No one in Australia would dispute that this is the worst way to select our Head of State. Any other system would be more democratic.

Parliament could decide the method. It would be an improvement if we don’t become a republic and one less detail to work out when we do.

Currently foreign ambassadors credentials are addressed to the Queen of Australia. Ambassadors to Canada address theirs to the Canadian Governor General. Why don’t we follow suit.

It gives the Governor-General a key characteristic of a Head of State which the ARM argue he already is so there should be bi-partisan support.

With two heads of State Parliament could pass legislation making clear that the working Head of State for Australia is the Governor-General. The Australia Act of 1986 made us fully independent and severed all links with the UK.

These steps would complete our march to a republic leaving only a tidying up of the Constitution for some future tidy-minded government.

David Gross, Woonona

The State Government has two choices left to sort out the chaotic train services that plague the southern suburbs and coast lines.

Either upgrade the tracks between Hurstville and Sutherland from two to four or complete the Maldon-Dombarton rail link. There is absolutely no other solution to this ongoing dilemma.

A feasibility study is nothing more than free parking on a Monopoly board – sit there and wait to see what happens next.

Eventually the old viaduct on the way up to Summit Tank is going to need replacement, as well as the Stanwell Park viaduct which continues to deteriorate beyond the point of absolute reliability. Time is running out.

Dave Cox, Corrimal

Response to the editorial "David Morrison a true blue Australian idol"  (Illawarra Mercury, Wednesday, January 27, 2016), the Australian of the Year should be awarded to someone who selflessly gives of their time and effort to others and who most Aussies can touch base with, rather than some politically correct pigeon who campaigns for social engineers and reflects all the unhealthy preoccupations of the left.

In accepting the award for 2016 Australian of the Year, former chief of Army David Morrison wasted his acceptance speech by pushing the nonsense of gender issues, domestic violence and the republic.

While Australian soldiers were dying in Afghanistan, Morrison was talking about social engineering concerns such as gender equity.

Between July 2011 and July 2014, fourteen soldiers died in Afghanistan when Morrison was chief of army.

But instead of leadership and support for soldiers on the frontline, they got flowery speeches decrying masculinity and patriarchy to mark International Women's Day at the United Nations.

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow

Can anyone explain why the flashing lights were working in School Zones on Wednesday while in the Illawarra Mercury it is stated that they would be starting on Thursday - the first gazetted day of school?

Could you be booked on Wednesday even though the government said the school term started on Thursday?

Keith Norris, Bellambi