What rubbish!

If there is mortgage stress while interest rates hover around four per cent, what will happen when (and I say 'when' not 'if') interest rates return to five, six or seven per cent?

Make no mistake, if inflation starts to rise via wage increases, which are definitely on the cards, and/or fuel price rises over which the government, Reserve Bank or anyone else in Australia has little influence, then interest rates will rise appreciably as they have historically done.

This is not doomsday predictions but the way it has always been - and the way it is.

In addition to the solid advice given by Gerry Mohan (Examiner, Letters, May 9) regarding voting in the coming federal elections, I would like to express my disappointment in a national television breakfast crew.

The presenter used her privileged position on the morning of April 24 to not only inform viewers that she always votes informal, but also struck a large cross through a piece of paper to show viewers how she does this.

She should live in a country where citizens don't have a right to vote.

The vote was won through hard work by freedom-seeking people and a number of Australia's current voters have fled their own countries, republics and/or dictatorships, where they are denied the opportunity to vote.

This would have been a golden opportunity for the team to actually encourage all Australians to get out there and vote and make their vote count, rather than the crew humorously discussing the off-colour drawings and writings that sometimes appear on informal ballot papers.

How surprisingly good to hear Mark Latham say in the NSW Parliament 'this is NOT Australia, where a person can't play football because he expresses Christian beliefs'.

I expect there has been no sanction of other footballers using social media to express different opinions and even promote beliefs of other religions.

I do understand some of the extreme reaction to Israel Folau's words.

For over 2,000 years the undiluted Christian message has caused some listeners to feel uncomfortable because it includes mention of consequences for rejecting it.

Israel Folau used social media (people could choose whether they looked at it or not) and did not say anything that is not contained in Bibles found in courtrooms and houses of parliament (including words from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Revelation 21:8).

In England in the 1700s John Wesley [English cleric, theologian and evangelist] preached to thousands in the fields. He preached "repent" and the crime rate significantly dropped. Widows and orphans were finally really cared for, also.

In the present 'inclusive' society please include Christians and, respectfully, let them too experience freedom of speech.

Letters on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer. Responsibility for election comment in this issue is accepted by The Port Stephens Examiner and its Editor Anna Wolf.

Writers should disclose any alliance with political or community organisations and include their phone number for verification. Election candidates should declare themselves as such when submitting letters.