If Mercury readers ignore the silly attempts at character assassination by the author of ‘Is he turning green? “what remains of the contribution is proof positive, envy rather than altruism was its motivation.

Perhaps the author was blissfully unaware of the existence within NSW, of other publicly funded “free” bus services?

Those “free” bus services exist in Sydney CBD (currently, on hold due to the light rail emplacement), in Parramatta, Newcastle, Manly and Willoughby.

From my personal knowledge, none of those “free” bus services were as a consequence of Utopian events.

They were in fact the product of common sense and forward thinking traffic management. It is quite possible however, that the introduction of those “free” bus services did attract opposition from vested interest groups and envious citizens.

But despite opposition to them the record shows their introduction was correct. As was the decision to provide Wollongong with the “free” Gong Shuttle service!

Barry Swan, Balgownie

I read your featured article with disgust!

How dare the NWSNMA consider their role in Aged Care is required at all!

I'm an an Aged Care Worker and we are currently fighting for recognition for a pay rise crediting our role in the care of our older people, rather than earning more money in a supermarket.

By all means give us more Nurses, as long as they get out of their ivory tower (as they profess) get on the floor & get their hands dirty!

Adrian Bloor, Berkeley

Reply to the letter by Matty Ryan, "MEDICARE CONCERNS" Mercury, Monday April 30, 2018. Clearly, this issue has not been carefully considered by Mr Ryan. The 2016-17 Federal Budget allocated $75.4 billion for Medicare which makes it neither cheap or low cost.

Medicare for every Australian is one of those grand Utopian ideas born of socialism where a person regardless of position, income and wealth are all equal under the same medical system.

Well, this feels good and sounds good but make no sense and helps no one.

I have little time for Treasurer Scott Morrison, however on this issue he is correct.

Those with large incomes can afford to live well and therefore should be able to pay for private health insurance, which can only help alleviate the pressure and waiting times on the public health system.

Most people are aware that medical treatment is costly, this is not meant as a criticism but a statement of fact.

It is therefore obvious that those people on low incomes (unemployed people and those on various pensions) need a public health system like Medicare.

Indeed, there is serious moral obligation on behalf of government to provide basic health and medical services for those who can least afford them.

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow

This weekend's Sydney Morning Herald (April 28) announced that the government has controversially agreed to fund the moving of the Powerhouse Museum to Paramatta at a cost of $645 million dollars.

Do you realise that this is enough money to fund the Gong Shuttle for two hundred years?

And the government intends to spend huge sums on sports stadiums in Sydney So is the Berejiklian government simply treating Wollongong with contempt, or is the Department of Transport incompetent in negotiating funding?

Joan Zealy, Balgownie