I would suggest that "merit" is a minor consideration in most cases. A career in politics depends much more on  the political influence to which the candidate has access, the influential friends that can be called upon for support, the funds available to mount a campaign, the factional support that can be mustered and even the school that was attended.

These are the sort of factors that count. Merit has very little to do with it. If it had been, the female MP's on the Government benches would be outshining those in Opposition. I certainly haven't noticed that.

John Martin, Woonona

For decades now many Australians have been decrying the neo-liberal privatisation of government services and assets. Government delivered and regulated services have been gifted or sold to both for profit and not for profit operators. Decades of underfunding, cost cutting, under-resourcing and rent seeking has since occurred with consequential failures in governance, systems and most importantly care.

At the same time the cost of these services have increased exponentially. The banking Royal Commission, and now ScoMo’s attempts to institute commissions into electricity and aged care are clear indications that this ideology has failed. Enquiries are also required into the other failures such as the Jobs Network, early childhood care, airports, toll roads and the looming disaster that is the NDIS.

The justification espoused to support this agenda (reduced cost to government and improved services) can now clearly been seen to have been lies and half truths sold as science. Government control and regulation is urgently needed to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

Tony Heathwood, Kiama Downs

In reply to the letter by Barry Swan  "A New Generation Offer Hope For Future’ (Illawarra Mercury, Tuesday September 11, 2018) a few points for Mr Swan to consider. So what if 2GB's Alan Jones is a millionaire?   Philip Adams is a millionaire, but being an atheist, hardline left-winger and ABC supporter he can do no wrong, naturally?

Future Generational change, Mr Swan? God's plan of marriage is one man and one woman. Homosexual unions are unnatural and 100 percent sterile while depriving children of their biological mother and father.

Morality is the keystone of the family and society. If morality is undermined and devalued then how will the next generations learn what is good "personally" and beneficial to "society?" And worldwide studies have shown that children exposed to gender programs and drag queen story hour causes them long term psychological and emotional harm, and further this shows you have no concern for the welfare of children.

Mr Swan and the ABC would be happy with Australia run by gender whispering, coal-phobic, irreligious and pro same-sex marriage activists who are intolerant to anyone who opposes and exposes their culture of death agenda.

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow