I was further saddened to learn that France’s response to this tragedy was to escalate their bombing in Syria, which will no doubt lead to more innocent people being mowed down by even more sophisticated vehicles of death and destruction.

The convoluted alliances and the claims of mutual provocation to justify aggression, in a region of endemic corrupt governance, make me continue to wonder why we are there at all.

Our involvement at America’s behest is not helping to dampen the violence over there nor helping to reduce the potential for violence brewing over here.

I despair.

John Martin, Woonona

After recent criticism of the Dragons crowds it seems someone decided to double the actual attendance on the weekend to save face.

There was definitely no more than 8000 in attendance yet 18 per cent of ANZ’s capacity was posted.

It appears that the NRL is using their tried and trusted method of counting the arms and legs plus an overhead flock of seagulls and late entries to the local supermarket.

Dream on NRL it was more like family and friends at the local barbecue.

Max Perram, Wollongong

I would like to thank the many people that voted Labor in the recent federal election in Gilmore.

While Labor did not quite win Gilmore, we went close, with a five per cent swing to Labor in the primary vote.

Gilmore now has a razor-thin margin of 0.8 per cent, is the most marginal electorate in NSW and seventh most marginal in Australia.

Irrespective of political party, that new slim margin can only be good news for people in the Gilmore electorate as we move forward.

Thank you to our many volunteers and supporters that have every day stood up for Medicare, for our hospitals, for the full Gonski needs based funding for our local schools, for significantly more fibre-to-the-premises NBN in Gilmore, jobs, and much more. It is because of your support that we are in a solid position moving forward and for our next important task of holding the Member for Gilmore and her Liberal government to account.

Just like our electorate of Gilmore was named after the great progressive Dame Mary Gilmore, I have no doubt that with your help, in the not so distant future that Gilmore will be progressive again too.

Fiona Phillips, Callala Beach

The state government’s WestConnex extension via a tunnel under Victoria Road at Rozelle, will be built by Sydney Motorway Corporation Pty Ltd.

Sydney Motorway Corporation is also the WCX licenced toll road operator until 2060.

According to Roads and Maritime Services, Sydney Motorway Corporation Pty Ltd has the right to levy and retain tolls on the motorway.

However, RMS is entitled to a share of tolling revenue above the base revenue threshold.

On the financial side, there only needs roughly 250,000 motorists paying on average $22 each day to return a gross income of over $2 billion each year.

John Macleod, Berry