On August 9, 2017, under s.9 (1) of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, the Treasurer issued a directive to the ABS to collect statistical information from the Australian people on whether the law should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry. This direction requires the statistical information to be published at the electoral division, state, territory and national levels by November 15, 2017.

The ABS undertakes statistical collections. Since its establishment over 110 years ago, the role of the ABS has been, and continues to be, to inform important decisions. Quality, timely statistics from the ABS form the bedrock of evidence for governments, parliaments, business and the broader community. ABS uses quality processes, commensurate with those expected of a world class national statistical office.

Finally, the ABS supports and appreciates the important work of journalists by providing access to its extensive, high quality statistics, and checking facts, both of which may be useful to Mr Waterford.

David W. Kalisch, Australian Statistician

Many supporters of same-sex marriage think the debate is about whether or not gay people can get married.

Their reasoning is marriage is currently that any two heterosexual people can enter into an exclusive sexual union for life, homosexual people can do the same thing, so why can't homosexual people get married too?

Their argument assumes that marriage is only an exclusive sexual union for life. But this assumption is in fact what is being debated.

Child production and rearing has always been a core aspect of marriage. It doesn't need to be explicitly stated in law because heterosexual unions naturally produce children.

This is different to homosexual unions where children are a voluntary addition.

The debate being about whether children are a core part of marriage means if same-sex marriage supporters have any interest in changing their 'opponents' view, they need to engage in the actual debate.

The easiest way for same-sex marriage supporters to neuter any opposition would be to agree marriage involves children and include a positive statement as such in the Marriage Act's vows.

There is not space here but counter arguments such as "gay people already have children!" and "but not all heterosexual people want or can have children!" are readily dispensed with.

Christopher Budd, Turner

When the absurd postal vote "plebiscite" was announced, my first reaction was that it should be boycotted.

Parliament was abrogating its responsibility to govern and why should some Australians need specific permission from a paternalistic government to marry while others do not?

Cooperating with this farce meant going along with the cowardly religious extremists and the usual political suspects who hate social change of any kind.

But, I've changed my mind. We can be certain that the "straighteners" and "life deniers", as Manning Clark expressed it, will be out in force to inflict their narrow-minded cruelty on those who believe that marriage is about love and personal commitment.

I urge all who believe in justice and fairness to vote "Yes" and push the troglodytes back into their dark caves.

Steve Ellis, Hackett

Barnaby Joyce's predicament might have done the nation a favour in driving home to politicians of all persuasions the need to promote a referendum to rid ourselves of a provision of the Constitution that fails to reflect the modern reality of multicultural Australia.

Section 44(i) disqualifies for membership of the Parliament anyone who is a subject or a citizen of a foreign power or who is entitled to the rights and privileges of such a citizen.

When, some 36 years ago, the Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs recommended the repeal of section 44(i), the Committee said that it was highly desirable that Australian citizens with unsought dual nationality should be free to participate in the highest levels of political life in the Australian democratic system.

Members said that to deny them this right on the basis of a determination by a foreign system of law would be iniquitous.

In 1988 the Constitutional Commission, whose five distinguished members included both Gough Whitlam and Dick Hamer, likewise recommended that the provision be repealed.

The commission drew attention to the fact that the consequence of the citizenship laws of many countries of the world was that many Australians were unknowingly dual nationals.

Despite the many intervening years, no Commonwealth government has taken up the recommendations for amendment of the section.

Denis O'Brien, Farrer

It has long been clear that Barnaby Joyce was the wild card in the pack but not why. Now we know. He is a Kiwi, a New Zealander.

It says a lot about New Zealand's respect for the Anzac tradition that they can offload Barnaby on Australia. And we thought we were friends.

Warwick Davis, Isaacs

Dubliners are proud to note that as well as bequeathing the world the unfathomable Finnegans Wake, James Joyce has given us the baffling Barnaby.

Blair Noonan, Dublin, Ireland

So ACT stamp duty revenue is up 15 per cent to $316 million ("Barr delivers balanced budget", August 15) when it is supposed to be phased out to compensate for continuing ACT Rates revenue increases.

The ACT government initially claimed its change in policy direction was always going to be revenue neutral (chew on that comment for a while) so it must have just got jolly well lucky.

However, just because it got lucky in no way infers it would financially gouge you with huge rate increases. Just because they enjoy it, because deep down they have feelings for you and do not merely see you as a cash cow waiting to be "spudded".

Just because both rates and stamp duty returns and other charges all go up faster than a speeding bullet it is better understood as revenue neutral in intention mixed with a bit of jolly bad luck for you and better luck for the old government.

To better understand what revenue neutral means and how it relates to ACT government policy direction the following guidelines may be helpful:

■ We know there are known knowns and there are charges we know we know.

■ We also know there are known unknown charges but there are also unknown unknowns the ones we don't know we don't know. So to know the unknowns is to er .... $@#€ yeah well.. you know.

Wayne Grant, Swinger Hill

Amy Corderoy ("Brainwashed by dogma", August 15, p. 16) claims it was "almost impossible" for her to find evidence-based advice on breastfeeding.

A quick search of PubMed database brings up over 47,451 hits dating back to 1912's "Prevention of infant mortality by breastfeeding" in the American Journal of Public Health.

I can only ask, where did Amy look for her evidence?

There is also the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) which has been supporting mothers for many years. A common problem is anxiety about not having enough milk, and ABA practical advice on this has worked over and over.

I'm not saying everyone can breastfeed, in fact, I emphasise that some mothers cannot, for one reason or another.

On the other hand, I know how much I, for one, had to learn with my first child, and there is certainly more to it than research or a few minutes of guidance from a nurse.

Jennifer Hobson, Spence

Thank God for the Royal Commission into child abuse in religious (and state) institutions in Australia.

While Australia, Ireland, the US and the UK have now substantially cleaned up their act in this regard, I can't help pondering what's still going on in much of Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.

The power and unaccountability enjoyed by the Catholic Church in many of the countries concerned suggest that at least seven per cent (as identified in Australia) of their priests and brothers continue to engage in pederasty with immunity.

One can only wonder at how thinking Catholics in Australia can continue to submit to the authority of the Church of Rome while such a cancer persists unchecked within its fold.

D. N. Callaghan, Kingston

The charity Rare Cancers Australia is calling for $100 million for research. The research would aim to establish evidence as to which rare cancers could be treated with the same drugs as are currently used for common cancers and are on the PBS. For example, an existing PBS subsidised drug used for breast cancer treatment could probably be used to treat pancreatic cancer, a rare cancer. However, the treatment is not available on the PBS to sufferers of pancreatic cancer.

Half of all cancer deaths are due to rare cancers. Hence, funding for research could have significant benefits. A vote in Parliament instead of a survey on same sex marriage would save $122 million.

Researchers on rare cancers could make very good use of those funds.

Digby Habel, Cook

On a cold Canberra afternoon the last thing you want is for the bus to leave early.

ACTION apologised and said it appeared the bus left six minutes early. How early do you need to get to the bus stop? Ten minutes just to be sure?

This has happened several times in the past, it's not just a one-off occurrence. This is just another reason why people can't depend upon ACTION buses. I understand when buses are running late, as it could be due to any number of traffic/customer related reason but I don't consider there is any reason for a bus to leave the stop earlier than scheduled, especially when it was a bus "timing stop" where the time is supposed to be "guaranteed".

Maureen O'Connor, Macgregor

It was very interesting to hear that the ACT government has balanced its budget on the very same day that I received my first water bill since they abolished the pensioner rebate.

Last August I used 10KL water, and my bill was $76. I wasted an extra KL this quarter, and my bill is $113.43 higher.

They kindly included a booklet outlining ways to manage my use, to save, and — importantly — "to pay your bill". I've done the maths, and if I only shower every 2 days, and keep them short, I may be able to cut my usage by 60-70 per cent, and cut my bill by nearly $20 — down to $170! Only $100 more than last year. Multiply that by all the pensioners in the ACT and surplus is just around the corner.

Margaret Lee, Hawker

Trevor Lipscomb and Michael Headbury (Letters, August 12) reiterate their adulation of John Monash, whom they claim has been "forgotten", even as the AWM commissions a statue of him and he remains better known than any other Great War Australian soldier.

Lipscomb invokes Monash's (unknown) attitude towards commemoration, but as his own headstone read simply "John Monash", we might infer that their sycophancy outrages his modesty.

Monash is well remembered, and for good reason, but enough with the exaggerated claims.

Prof. Peter Stanley, UNSW Canberra

NOT ABOVE THE LAW

The proposal to criminalise priests who fail to report child sexual abuse, while welcome, doesn't go nearly far enough – it should extend to all criminal activity. Archbishop Denis Hart's statement that confession "is an absolute sacrosanct communication of a higher order" puts religious beliefs above the law, something that no Australian should ever countenance.

Fred Pilcher, Kaleen

DEPORT BARNABY

So now we know it is feasible to deport Barnaby to New Zealand. Wonderful.

Don Burns, Mawson

DOESN'T HOLD WATER

Re: "Water hit for Households", August12, pg1. So those who use the least water, including most (or all) single-person households with the least capacity to absorb extra costs will pay more for their water – and everyone else gets a deduction? Did I miss something? Please explain.

E.Nelson, Wright

REASONS TO VOTE YES

Three reasons to vote yes for marriage equality: Tony Abbott, Peter Dutton and Eric Abetz.

Bruce Taggart, Aranda

DUTY OF CARE

Australia has a duty of care for the poor sods on Manus Island. They were arrested at sea by our navy and have been incarcerated for four years now, as long as our POWs in WWII. Your reports of their being attacked by locals at Lorengau are disturbing.

Gerry Jacobson, Yarralumla

PARLIAMENT PRISON

The new security fence at Parliament House looks a lot like prison bars. Is it to keep the bastards in or to keep the bastards out?

Jack Wiles, Gilmore

TIME TO DUMP TRUMP

Given Mr Trump's performance, it's time for America to dump Trump. It would be a very, very, very great day for America. Very great.

Mike Quirk, Wanniassa

LOAD OF NONSENSE

Congratulations, Julie Bishop, for conclusively demonstrating there is no such thing as unutterable nonsense.

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld

FLIGHT OF FANCY

So the Singapore Airlines Canberra/NZ flight arrangement is all a ruse. Simply a way of getting Barnaby home for the weekend without arousing suspicion.

Linus Cole, Palmerston

MIXED MORALS

So the Donald thinks people who protest against Nazis are just as bad as the Nazis. Tell that to the World War II generation, mate.

M.Moore, Bonython

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