The ACT government ignored the business case for rapid transit to Gungahlin and chose the doubly expensive, less frequent, less seats, less stops and much slower option of light rail.

Perth could afford an underground bus station after rejecting three light rail routes as too expensive.

Pity Canberra didn't stick to its buses, which can now be made 100 per cent electric and thus meet the Greens' main argument for light rail.

Chris Emery, Reid

The current debate about drones soon to be flying over Gungahlin raises many issues: Firstly those aggrieved by the drones flying through their air space could launch a consumer boycott of any businesses utilising the drone delivery service; secondly the company would presumably be covered by the Commonwealth Privacy Act and CCTV footage its drones captured would be covered by the privacy principles therefore, at the very least, those whose backyards are flown over could request access to the footage.

It would be interesting to see if the company had a privacy policy in accordance with the act also; finally what are the insurance arrangements for potential accidents arising for a low-flying aircraft (remotely controlled drones) overflying people's backyards. Rather than blindly misusing the term "disruptive" to describe any activity of the new economy the CAA should ensure that the concerns are understood and addressed when low-flying aircraft are below 1000 feet. Hardly the equivalent of a lawn mower as some have said.

Rohan Goyne, Evatt

The chief planner is allowing the removal of a Manuka plane tree, even though community sentiment plainly favours its retention.

Ben Ponton, chief planner, is allowing the plane tree's departure as it could compromise broader strategic objectives of the Territory Plan. It's no wonder Western civilisation is overseeing the most significant environmental destruction in human history, with these sorts of strategies.

Matt Ford, Crookwell, NSW

The article about European wasps ("Keep your eyes peeled for wasps to help take sting out of summer", November 20, p8) referred to this invasive species of wasp being brought to Australia by settlers. This is not correct. The very first European wasp nests in Australia were discovered in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1959, probably as a result of hibernating queens being delivered in cargo from New Zealand where the wasp was widespread since its accidental introduction from Europe in 1945.

The European wasp was subsequently found nesting in Sydney and Melbourne in 1977-78 and the first nests were reported in West Australia, South Australia and Canberra in 1983-84. Thanks to an intensive program of "search and destroy", the authorities in Perth have managed to contain the outbreak and the wasp is not officially established in this part of Australia. Since 1984, the European wasp in Canberra has spread to all suburbs and adjacent national parks as well as the alpine regions of the Snowy Mountains. It is here to stay!

Dr Philip Spradbery, Yarralumla

Bob Bennett (Letters, November 20) observes the reluctance of Canberrans to reduce their reliance on cars.

Such a reduction is essential to reduce greenhouse emissions. A range of land-use/transport strategies need to be investigated including a) abandoning light rail stage two to fund an increased frequency and coverage of the bus network; b) the feasibility of the potentially more cost-effective high-capacity electric buses on the high-volume inter-town bus routes; c) increasing long-stay parking charges and reducing long-stay parking supply at major employment centres; d) directing employment to town centres and locations well-served by public transport and discouraging employment at locations difficult to serve by public transport and e) providing additional housing near employment.

The government is not seriously pursing an integrated land-use/transport strategy with the current review "analysis light" and not comprehensively addressing key challenges including determining and delivering an optimum distribution of population and employment to reduce overall travel and greenhouse emissions, improve housing affordability and best use limited funds.

This failure, in part, is a consequence of the government's irresponsible, ego-driven focus on the superficially attractive, horrendously costly and soon to be outdated light rail.

Mr Barr a "Big ACT" requires the effective management of population growth based on an evidenced-based strategy accompanied by an infrastructure plan indicating where and when development (including housing, schools, shops, roads, public transport) is to occur and its cost.

Mike Quirk, Garran

The PM's thought bubble about moving Australia's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem was politically ridiculous, as the move would be against the wishes of most countries, especially Indonesia.

More importantly, it was extremely unethical as the proposed action would accede to the wishes of Israel, against the wishes of the victim state, Palestine, which Israel currently occupies.

My recommendation is that the PM instead close the embassy in Israel, and Israel's embassy in Australia, until Palestine has been granted full membership of the UN and Israel has withdrawn all its citizens from Palestine with borders defined as in the UN decision of 1947.

Such a demand on Israel would be a clearly ethical one which almost all countries in the world would support.

Some countries might even follow suit; if they did, sanctions against Israel might begin, and these could lead to a just peace in the area.

The US would probably not support Australia's action, but it is time for Australia to assert its independence on a major issue of conscience. Also, the time for Australia to show some leadership is well overdue.

Domestically, such a decision by the PM would probably enhance his reputation. Overseas, some countries might even regard him as a statesman. Bill Shorten could attain similar credit by supporting the decision. R. Salmond, Melba

It is a strong and honest man who can admit to a mistake and who will be seen to be so. Prime Minister Morrison's thoughts on moving Australia's embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv was just a ploy to help the Wentworth election and is seen so by all thinking Australians. So, "Scomo", pull back from that notion because religion being what it is could easily involve us in another war. You will be better thought of by all Aussies for having the common sense in doing so.

Don Davey, Launceston, Tas

I imagine many will be relieved by the finding that David Eastman did not commit the murder of Colin Winchester.

Anecdotally most Canberrans believed the crime was ordered by the Mafia. The first trial of David was a farce.

We had a defendant who had been seeing a psychiatrist for many years. He was stressed and behaved at times in a way that did not help his case.

The presiding judge was supplied with an opinion that he was not fit to conduct his own defence but either did not realise it was there or ignored it.

To add to his woes he foolishly called a character witness. That opened the door for the prosecution to call scores of witnesses who attested to the fact that he could behave very badly when he thought he was wronged.

The fact that he had not left a trail of bodies of people he disliked behind him was ignored. In fact he had not had a criminal conviction recorded against him.

The judge allowed the prosecution to have the last say before his summing up. That provision was strictly for cases where there were multiple defendants. In any case it had been inherited from England where it removed on the grounds that it was unfair to the defendant(s).

The forensic evidence, particularly regarding gunpowder residue was hopelessly flawed.

I could go on but to put it bluntly that trial was blatantly unfair.

Which brings up another fact. Not only was it unfair to David. It was also unfair to Colin Winchester.

He was a very respected person and to have his killers escape was a scathing indictment of the investigating police.

The DPP's office cannot escape blame. Every attempt that David made to clear his name was fought tooth and nail by them.

This present trial was mounted on the premise that the DPP had new and compelling evidence of David's guilt.

If that was the case it was certainly not evident to the jury and the trial judge in his summing up.

Our community has a right to expect that we get a more efficient police force and prosecution resources out of this very expensive, very prejudiced episode.

Howard Carew, Isaacs

David Eastman not guilty. It has taken more than 30 years (19 of which were spent in prison) for this man to receive a fair trial. How cruel and unfair this experience has been.

I hope the ACT government accepts this decision willingly and negotiates with Mr Eastman a fair and just compensation and not put him through a judicial process arguing the case.

He deserves all our empathy and support for what we as a community have allowed him to be put through.

Where does this now leave the AFP? It, too, must accept this unanimous verdict and immediately reconstitute an investigation into the murder of the most senior police officer to be killed in Australia.

Those responsible are still out there. They must also, with fresh eyes, conduct an inquiry into their own practices to determine how and why such a flawed case (as also determined by the Martin Inquiry) was progressed with such vigour against Mr Eastman. I feel though only a royal commission, with all its powers, will satisfy this goal.

Chris Harris, Kambah

The acquittal of David Eastman reflects very poorly on the ACT justice system that has squandered millions of taxpayer dollars in its nearly 30 years' pursuit of an innocent man.

Chris Smith, Kingston

In a recent speech, the Reserve Bank's governor, Philip Lowe, criticised the banks for chasing short-term profits rather than improving customer service, thus eroding trust in our financial institutions.

I understand his carefully chosen words given his role, but I do not have the same constraint. In my view, he should have taken a more robust approach given the enormity of what the public has heard in the commission.

The governor's use of "short-term profits" seems inapt.

As a general comment, the banks and other financial institutions have been ripping off Australian consumers for years.

Staggeringly, the financial industry does not seem to recognise that urgent, fundamental changes in culture, policies and practices are required to win back customer trust. "Clever" face-saving and smug appearances of CEOs and others at the hearings will not cut it. Cutting bonuses and sacking a few will not cut it. What seems lacking is a genuine mea culpa in the industry.

A more significant clean-out of boards, management and staff should take place along with greater financial penalties and criminal penalties where appropriate. And then there is the question of the regulators; do they deserve any penalty?

We are talking about the Reserve Bank, the Australian Prudential and Regulatory Authority , the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Treasury.

Where were they? Vigilant or duped confreres.

Geoff Clark, Narrabundah

In an article ("There's just not a lot of competition", November 22, p3) Shane Oliver is reported to have said petrol prices in Canberra do not reduce to the extent of reductions in other capital cities because the market is just too small and so there is not much competition.

Well, how come that I regularly can get petrol in towns on the south coast and some other country towns at prices lower than in Canberra?

Nick Stuparich, Bruce

Passing through a small East Gippsland town in Victoria last week, I was struck by the large mounds of firewood that had been assembled at its timber mill. Given the quantity, it seems likely that the wood may be trucked to other areas for commercial sale, rather than all used locally.

The beautiful old-growth forests of East Gippsland, which sadly are still being logged, are just under four hours away from Canberra, so I was wondering if some of that wood, might be finding its way here.

Dedicated activists and communities are working incredibly hard to save those forests. Trees in forests in Victoria and NSW are also still falling, reducing threatened species habitat, and that wood may also be in danger of ending up as firewood to be burnt here. The ACT government is rightly proud of the ACT's efforts to avert climate change.

Logging is certainly adding to that problem, and though this logging is out of sight from Canberrans and across our borders, perhaps the ACT government could at least legislate for suppliers to say where their wood was sourced from.

Some consumers may not mind and choose wood on price alone, but others may well choose to source firewood from sources that don't have the same environmental impact as taking wood from native forests.

If no wood from threatened old-growth forests is in fact coming to Canberra, that would be excellent, but at the moment as far as I can see, the consumer has no way of knowing the history of the wood they are purchasing. Winter is coming (after our long hot summer) so now would be the time to investigate this.

Judith Deland-Morton, Spence

Forget the eastern betong, the golden sun moth and the grassland earless dragon as critically endangered species in the ACT.

Most at risk soon will be the Publico Servanti and the Studento Anu Internationale as they blithely jaywalk across Northbourne Avenue, staring at their iPhones and seeking to avoid delay at the stopping places of a new pest, Tramus Interuptibus.

Not even road traffic reduced to 30km/h is likely to save them.

John Mungoven, Stirling

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