Unbelievable. Everyone is talking about the land grab, I grew up 5 minutes up the road from Wentworth Park. Touch it Baird and you’re gone. It’s as simple as that mate.

Matty Ryan, Fairy Meadow

Consider the invectives used by Barry Swan in opposing a proposed plebiscite (Illawarra Mercury October 1, 2016): "gutless Tony Abbott", "Turnbull … ventriloquist's dummy", "peddle falsehoods" and public service "mandarins".

Mr Swan's frequency in writing letters to the Mercury indicate that he is indeed committed to expressing his knowledge and understanding of issues.

However the use of invectives demeans his objectivity. Also, use of such words have the apparent aim of intimidating those who may have a different viewpoint.

Surely in the “democracy” that Mr Swan espouses there is room for an expression of many informed opinions without a threat of being abused or intimidated.  

The vitriol that appears to be emanating from those opposing the proposed plebiscite raises the question of why?

One theory suggests that a democratic plebiscite challenges the validity of the "pollster lobby" that make claims from a small sample to the population.

Sample polling remains an art form and is normally based on uninformed opinion and is undemocratic when used to justify public policy.

I have suggested elsewhere that “political party policies” do not adequately or accurately reflect population preferences on all issues. 

What is interesting is that the 'pro plebiscite' group do not appear to have made a case in the public arena. May we all be generous and come together with an informed and respectful discussion.

Ray Robinson, Corrimal

ANZ closed the doors of their  Warrawong  Branch for the last time  on October 4, leaving many of their loyal customers, some  of whom have been banking with ANZ, previously ES&A Bank, for over 60 years, stranded.

Although ANZ claims to look after their customers, the evidence is quite to the contrary.

At the time when they were actually doing this, there were branches at Port Kembla, Warilla and Cringila.

The customers from those branches migrated to Warrawong and now they have been informed in a letter that their accounts will now be domiciled at Shellharbour Branch.

The reason for the closure is supposedly due to the increased use of internet-based banking, thus the decrease in customers actually coming into the branch.

The majority of customers at ANZ Warrawong are elderly and not fluent in English not to mention totally computer illiterate.

Anne Mathers, Kanahooka

Mike Baird's $77 billion state budget is more than double what his predecessors had to spend just 15 years ago.

Last year NSW transport and communication received 62 per cent of general government capital expenditure this financial year the commitment is down slightly to 59 per cent.

By contrast over the past 15 years NSW government expenditure on health has shrunk from 16.7 per cent to 11.7 per cent while education’s share has fallen from 13.9 per cent to 5.2 per cent.

With the latest advertised cuts in areas of health and education one wonders whether we are seeing the last remnants of government funding for hospitals and schools.

John Macleod,  Berry