More generally Barr's arrogant and often dismissive response to concerns about the direction of urban development in Canberra, when set against the self-serving clique of government ministers' former officials and Labor party functionaries who promote many of the schemes, leads me to one firm conclusion: Labor has been in office for too long.

A healthy democracy requires renewal. It's time for change.

Jeff Hart, Kingston

So Chief Minister Andrew Barr will seek more "representational" consultation on developments ("Barr seeking more 'representational' consultation on developments", August 24, p4). Shamefully his decision has come too late for the residents of Richardson Circuit and adjacent streets in Conder.

Despite our strongest objections, construction of three townhouses on what has been our little park for 20 years has begun. This means our children will no longer have a safe off road place to play or kick a footy.

Shame ACT government.

Sylvia Sala, Conder

I'd like to see more sensible infrastructure and public development of any type in Canberra. It seems to me in the current election that if either of the two parties promised to repudiate repayment of the Commonwealth government's $1billion Mr Fluffy loan – they'd win my vote, that of many other voters and probably the election.

The smoking gun exists in the papers of the old Department of the Interior that the Commonwealth should have prevented the Mr Fluffy debacle and did not act. Let's use the money for something worthwhile.

Sure there'd be some sabre rattling at first, but one thing is clear about the federal Liberal government, they're gutless under fire. No ticker!

Tony Stewart, Hughes

The existing ACT Territory Plan shows that the land proposed for a possible new suburb in Tuggeranong ("Thompson") is zoned as NUZ4 – River Corridor. The NU stands for non-Urban.

One of the main objectives of this zone is to conserve the ecological and cultural values of the river corridor. This river corridor was established to protect the sensitive river habitat of the Murrumbidgee River, a river of national significance. It flows for 1600km from Kosciuszko National Park to its junction with the Murray River near Balranald in NSW. The river and its catchment are a significant part of the Murray-Darling Basin, supplying water for people, agriculture and wildlife along its length. Residential development is prohibited in the river corridor zone in the ACT (for good reason).

So the solution to this, as recommended by the development company hired by the Land Development Agency, is to remove the river corridor. Change the zoning. Simply take it away!

This report, paid for with taxpayers' money, concluded that there were no major obstacles to development in this location.

What a remarkable thing to conclude when you are proposing to build inside the river corridor, one of Canberra's best-loved places for nature-based recreation, ideal for bushwalking, camping and bird watching, as well as water-based activities such as swimming, fishing and canoeing.

The suggestion to remove the river corridor to build a suburb is clearly outside of community expectations and will never have community support.

What's next, urban expansion into Mulligan's Flat?

Matthew Frawley, Save the Murrumbidgee River Corridor, Kambah

So you're yet to get to Music at Midday?

Think brass band meets symphony orchestra. Think warm pride mixed with sheer professionalism.

Wondering about the venue? Follow the line of parked buses that deliver nursing home and seniors village residents to the Canberra Theatre.

Be sure to wear comfortable footwear as you can expect lots of toe-tapping family favourites as well as some interesting works that are not often heard but deserve to be. Feel as if you are part of something special as the Royal Military College Band's conductor invites you to sit back and enjoy the host of musical treats to come.

Believe me, you won't regret parting with that gold coin donation to charity. As your pulse matches the rhythms and the beats, marvel at how you're having such a good time all because the band's clearly having a heck of a good time. Be dazzled by the musical virtuosity across an impressive repertoire.

Note all the wheelchairs, walkers and walking frames left abandoned in front of the stage. They're not needed as the music transports their owners to another place. As the opening notes of You Raise Me Up draw excited murmurs of recognition and as the crystal-clear voice of Corporal Simone Dew soars, inspired by the superb accompaniment, you share their journey. The song promises respite "when I am down, and, oh, my soul, so weary" as "you come, and I am filled with wonder". The RMC Band fulfils that promise beautifully.

On Tuesday, August 16, all of the enraptured audience could have stood on mountains and could have walked on stormy seas.

Most certainly those of us so very fortunate to be present were raised up to more than we could be.

V.R. Condon, Narrabundah

As always, Ross Gittins ("The public debt myth", Comment, August24, p20) is spot on. However, I am sure that Mr Gittins knows, although Scott Morrison doesn't, that our problem is a lack of tax revenue. Firstly, everybody except Scott Morrison knows that tax concessions for superannuation, negative gearing and capital gains favour the well off.

Secondly (and more importantly), there is tax evasion by nearly all companies such as transferring costs to low tax countries, depreciation rorting, call centres in low tax and/or low wage countries, small and medium businesses' cash transaction rorts. Don't expect either the Coalition or ALP to tackle these revenue problems with any enthusiasm.

Question without notice: Do some of the tax avoiders/evaders own our public debt?

We can have world-class infrastructure, health, education, full employment and no budget deficit if everybody pays their fair share of tax.

Max Jensen, Chifley

Peter Moran (Letters, August24) compares Commissioner Andrew Colvin's expression of concern at the level of harassment within the AFP to the antics of David Morrison. The AFP review conducted by Ms Broderick was initiated by the commissioner, and he is clearly determined to act on its findings. Contrary to Mr Moran's implication, the commissioner was not previously blind to the problem. His expression of disappointment at its (now) disclosed extent does not indicate earlier dereliction of responsibility. He may not self-promote like some others, but he is committed.

Mr Moran appears to be playing to a gallery. I look forward to his itemised list of his contributions, in a complex workplace environment, to the causes of equal opportunity and protection from bullying, assault, harassment etc.

Chris Whyte, Higgins

Your article "AFP chief concedes diversity limitations" (August24, p10) noted a complaint from an AFP member which stated "If she had known about the shiftwork at ACT Policing she would not have joined because she wanted to start a family". I suggest this be remedied by asking the question of future applicants: "Are you aware that police perform shiftwork?" Those that answer in the negative could then be sent a letter thanking them for their application.

Martin Leonard, Hughes

Probably the federal Coalition and Labor Party both see a part of the truth. It is for this reason that Australian voters swing regularly between them. Ross Fitzgerald ("PM appears rudderless, despite election win", Comment, August24, p21) points out a massive national difficulty – Malcolm Turnbull is incapable of uniting his team behind his leadership so that we get these appalling abandonments of statements of direction.

There is no clear plan announced and pursued for the national future; we adhoc our way from issue to issue. This is not a situation which can long be tolerated.

Noel Beddoe, Kiama, NSW

Alan Shroot (Letters, August24) joins Athol Morris (Letters, October23, 2015) and Colin Rubenstein ("Sanders challenge to Israel relies on misinformation", Times2, April29, p5) in quoting US peace negotiator Martin Indyk's 2013 statement that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was "sweating bullets" to make a peace deal with thePalestinians.

None of them seems to be aware that by April2014 Indyk, a long-time pro-Israeli lobbyist, was incensed by Netanyahu's actions in approving hundreds more West Bank settlements, telling Jewish columnist Narhum Barnea that, contrary to the official diplomatic PR line, Netanyahu was responsible for destroying the peace negotiations.

Can the readers of TheCanberra Times now be informed that Indyk eventually woke up to the fact he was being deceived?

Greg Ellis, Murrumbateman, NSW

Zac Cleaver (Letters, August 20) is wrong to suggest that Australia's Olympic rowers are almost always graduates of elite private schools. He is also wrong to suggest that a lottery-funded model for sport will somehow disadvantage low-income households. While his view may have been correct 50 or 100years ago, today's Olympians come from all sortsof backgrounds and reflect the diversity in the widercommunity.

Notions of the idle rich indulging their interests in a Chariots of Fire-inspired heroism are wide of the mark, and add nothing to the important debate of how we should best fund elite sport. Our elite athletes make massive sacrifices to represent us on the world stage. Their sacrifice is measured not only in terms of income foregone, but in careers, families and relationships put on hold as well as the emotional investment required to maintain focus for so many years.

Remember also that for every athlete that wears the green and gold there are at least another 10 or 20 that paid the same price but never made it to the top. Without them there would be no competitive environment to sharpen those who ultimately represent us.

Notions of old-boy networks are fanciful and should not be seriously considered. Yes, we need a debate on how to fund elite sport. Current arrangements are less than adequate from the athlete's perspective and better outcomes are certainly desirable, but please, it was just a movie with some nice music from long ago.

Philip Winkworth, Campbell

The advocates of gay marriage are probably right when they say that a free vote in Parliament would see gay marriage legalised. They then say that the plebiscite is unnecessary. Their real concern is not that the plebiscite is expensive. It is simply that they are concerned that the population as a whole might not support it. That is exactly why we need it.

This is a question for the population as a whole. If the population votes for it, then it can be implemented and the opponents wouldn't be able to say much. But if the population does not, then supporters of gay marriage will have to grit their teeth and put up with it.

Stan Marks, Hawker

GUN COMPETITORS

I was surprised to discover that the Australian government only sponsors Olympic sports that have a chance of winning a medal. Given that two of our eight gold medals at Rio involved shooting, I wonder whether a quarter of the funding will be given to sports that involve shooting?

Anthony Reid, Murrumbateman, NSW

SISTER ACT

If the Campbell sisters had spent as much time on their swimming training as they have clearly spent on their media presentation training, then just maybe their performance in the pool at the Rio Olympics would have produced better results.

Don Sephton, Greenway

MOMENTOUS MEMORIAL

Bernard Davis (Letters August 24) thinks the Indochinese war memorial in Frejus France is a small, insignificant structure compared to the Anzac Parade memorial. In fact, the structure occupies 23,000 square metres. Some 17,188 French war dead are named on the memorial walls and the remains of 3152 unidentified French troops are interned there. Fairly major in my opinion.

David J. Richards, Moruya, NSW

ACT IN CONCERT

If the Australia Day Live concert has been cancelled due to concerns about storms ("ACT snubbed: feds stop Australia Day concert", August 24, p1), then all concerts and large gatherings should also be banned, including New Year's Eve fireworks on the Lake.

Storm in a tea cup or bureaucracy gone mad again?

Eric Hodge, Pearce

POETIC LICENCE

In the light of their decision to cancel the next Australia Day Concert, let the National Australia Day Council reflect Dorothea MacKellar's words: "I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains." Let's keep this event where it has been held for years, rain, hail, or shine!

Greg Simmons, Lyons

PLEBISCITE REBUFF

John Howard didn't need a plebiscite to change the Marriage Act in 2004 to include the words "man and woman", so why do we need to spend nearly $200million on a plebiscite now when some members say they will ignore the will of the people no matter what the outcome?

Let the Parliament, which is supposed to represent us all, do its job and vote on same-sex marriage, if necessary by combining both houses in one massive conscience vote.

Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads South, NSW

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