Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.
Monday September 1
Gender-affirming surgery
“Considering that people can barely afford to go to the GP anymore because so few bulk bill and it has been years since government funding has matched the costs of the GP, not to mention that Medicare still does not cover dentistry and glasses as if teeth and eyes are completely separate from the body, I really think gender-affirming surgery should be last on the list of medical procedures that are funded by taxpayers.”
Felicity
Turning off AI safety features
“As a driver in rural/remote areas, lane-keeping technology is a nuisance when on unfenced roads where livestock, domestic and feral animals are likely to be encountered and avoided if possible. It is of no use also when on an unsealed road and the smoothest track has to be negotiated. Fine on multi-lane freeways.”
Rory Treweeke, FoTC
Good news?
“I have been reading your daily news feed for a couple of years now, it is my main news source, as I no longer choose to read the Weekend Australian or Courier Mail, or listen to the news on TV (I prefer to watch Antiques Roadshow, which is more joyful, and brings a smile to my face most evenings). Would it be possible to provide some happy, uplifting stories, to balance the gloom and doom at present?Just a thought.”
Lyndal Coutts, Brisbane, QLD, FoTC
Ed: We agree Lyndal, there’s been a lot of heavy news. How about a side of Bluey with your Antiques Roadshow? You could also explore the science of beautiful buildings or do a little armchair travelling to see some extraordinary wildlife.
Tuesday September 2
Gender-affirming surgery
“I was surprised and disappointed to see you publish a reader comment (above) on gender affirming surgery. By suggesting that gender affirming surgery should be "last on the list” for taxpayer funding, the comment positions trans healthcare as somehow less legitimate or less urgent than other forms of medical care. This sets up a false dichotomy: the idea that expanding access for one group necessarily takes resources away from others. This style of argument is not only misleading, it is a well-worn rhetorical tool used in many contexts to justify exclusion – whether against trans people, migrants, refugees, or other marginalised communities.“
Beth Weatherly
"The comment in the newsletter [yesterday] disheartened me. It shows a lack of knowledge about how badly some trans people are affected by gender dysphoria; for one of my best friends, it affects their mental health to such a degree that it’s a matter of life and death. Even aside from that, we shouldn’t have to pick and choose which healthcare people need more or less. If someone needs it, it should be funded.”
Charlotte Somers
Publicly funded “sovereign citizens”
“Sovereign citizens don’t acknowledge our legitimate governments and laws yet are happy to access our health, social security and education systems. How do they imagine these would be funded without public funding?”
Cathy Kubany

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.