Like Peter Hood (The Border Mail, October 17), I too was ashamed and angered by the cruelty being perpetrated  on the traumatised refugee children “in our name”.

The defence given by Malcolm Turnbull was disingenuous at best. By invoking the drowning at sea argument he was saying in effect the dead must determine the lives of the living. 

This dubious reasoning in no way validates the treatment of people in such an appalling and callous manner. 

His argument that it was now Nauru’s responsibility to look after the refugees was unbelievable.

Australia put them there, Australia built the centre, and Australian officials still exercise strict control over all arrangements on Nauru.

As a Christian, I have no wriggle room on this issue.

The Hebrew scriptures are full of injunctions to care for the foreigner in our midst. Jesus’ parents sought asylum in Egypt, he himself was a refugee and his teachings are full of directives to have compassion on the outcast and the needy. 

Thank goodness many churches and Christian organisations are proactive on this issue. But there is need for Christians everywhere to speak up and let our leaders know ‘enough is enough’.

So what else can be done? Close all off shore detention centres immediately. Send the residents to Australia, or if that is too generous, take up New Zealand’s offer to take them. Continue for the meantime with the towing back the boats policy but divert some of the $10 billion a year in costs for offshore detention to help Indonesia and Malaysia in the regional processing of refugees.

Unless we the people speak up our leaders will continue with such disastrous policies. Such policies that are demonstrating to the world that Australia  really has lost its moral compass.

Given that the Victorian Coalition returned Albury line trains when in government between 2010 and 2014 after Labor cancelled V/Line trains north of Seymour for two and a half years, I share member for Benambra Bill Tilley’s view that it is good to finally see some progress on providing more reliable trains.

However Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and a V/Line spokeswoman’s claims that Albury line trains ‘on average carry 130 passengers’ are meaningless.

Of the three daily trains in each direction, typically the morning train to Southern Cross, the evening trip back to Albury and the lunchtime trains in each direction are well patronised. The morning train to Albury and the late afternoon one back to Southern Cross are poorly patronised, so these lower the claimed average number of travellers.

There are many occasions when passenger numbers on the more popular trains are way beyond 130.

The Victorian Coalition’s November 2014 election policy included the provision of a complete additional train and an extra locomotive for the Albury line. At no stage did the Coalition suggest reducing the number of passenger cars on each train as Jacinta Allan is determined to do.

With the busy Christmas school holidays approaching and ongoing use by cyclists enjoying North East Victoria’s rail trails, Ms Allan needs to explain why the passenger capacity on Albury line trains will be reduced.

V/Line needs to be able to fit groups on its trains. The North East’s small businesses such as motels and retailers benefit from group visits.

How often will excess passengers have to endure a bus?