At a time when so many important priorities are fighting for scarce government dollars – for example, our cash-starved national cultural institutions – the birthday cards are a stark demonstration of the advantages enjoyed by political parties at election time.

Only they have access to the electoral roll for political purposes and the funds to promote themselves at our expense. What the article did not mention is that the age of the lucky voter who receives a Zed card is stated on the envelope for all the world to see.

A distressed voter showed me the envelope addressed to her with the words: "A Special 50th Birthday Message" emblazoned on the front. This is a brazen invasion of privacy.

But of course political parties are exempt from the privacy laws. Lucky that!

Gary Kent, Griffith

I too received a birthday card from Senator Zed Seselja for a recently celebrated "milestone" birthday. Very nice! But did he have to print my age on the envelope? Not sure I want the postman to know how old I am.

Janet Cossart, Stirling

Sir Jochen Zeil's letter (CT, May 29) makes the point that the nature reserves in Canberra Nature Park are islands surrounded by suburbs and roads that limit the ability of kangaroos to move.

That is true of some of them but the Mulligan's Flat (the outer reserve that is most of it, not the smaller area inside predator-proof fence) and Goorooyaroo Reserves, which border NSW, and some others are not.

Kangaroos can and do jump the fences separating these reserves from NSW so the reserves will just restock after the shoot. It seems they do because they will take as many animals this year as they did last.

As for the level of feed, it isn't good at present but we are in for a wet winter and the animals are currently in good nick and the species is well known for its ability to sit out droughts.

In any case, they would probably rather be hungry than dead. The claim that the various grass species are endangered is dubious as we have had serious droughts in recent years and the species survived those and the kangaroos.

NSW doesn't see the need to cull so the scientific evidence for culling can't be that strong.

Stan Marks, Hawker

I refer to your article in last week's Sunday Canberra Times on the Giralang shops ("Shops stoush continues", p1).

The motive behind Supabarn's continued legal action against Woolies at Giralang now that they have sold their Kaleen store, is now clear. A reduced-size supermarket will see Woolworths pull out of the Giralang deal. But Woolies still would like to expand in the local area, and Supabarn can then make a deal to sell their Crace store that the ACCC wouldn't allow them to sell to Coles.

Supabarn fans note: It's Woolies at Giralang or Woolies at Crace. The ACT government is conspiring with Supabarn to stop our Woolies when they know the likely outcome. Tell them what you think.

Sarah Hulbert, Giralang

Andrew Robb, a suggestion on how to deal with generous donations to personal funds from Chinese enterprises while you are negotiating a free trade agreement with that country ("Shadowy groups raised $1m for top Lib minister", May 29, p5).

Write "thank you for your generosity but neither you nor I would want any perception of influence construed from its acceptance, so I am returning it herewith". This would earn a tick for politicians in general and Mr Robb in particular, instead of two rather large question marks.

A.D. Lawton, Garran

Howard Carew highlighted in his letter ("Trams don't add up", May 29) the insufficient tram capacity by 2021.

Additional trams are the obvious solution. However, additional trams will add to the tram queues waiting to access tram stops and to cross intersections as happens in Melbourne.

Delays are unavoidable as trams are confined to the rails. Travel time will inevitably increase.

John Simsons, Holt

The debate about the fairness of tax concessions for borrowing to invest in property should take into account that borrowing to invest in existing homes provides gain for the investor at the expense of the taxation system, but creates no more housing, nor "jobs or growth" (to borrow the Coalition's current three-word slogan).

Conversely, borrowing to invest in new homes creates jobs, increases the available pool of housing, and helps keep a lid on escalating prices, to the benefit of young home seekers, and certainly merits the incentive of tax concessions.

One could argue similarly regarding the tax concessions for negative gearing to purchase existing shares. Where is the benefit to society, as only investment in new enterprises increases the opportunity of growth, and should be rewarded.

Michael Adler, Gungahlin

If you try to park around Deakin (I haven't and will try not to do so in future), you'll have to key in your car's registration number before you're awarded a parking voucher.

This means – apart from the waiting time while fingers fumble over the keys and you try to remember your own rego – that the small, kind-hearted Canberra tradition of gifting someone else the unused time on your parking voucher is over.

A government that won't listen and doesn't act for its community isn't a real government for the people.

Christina Faulk, Swinger Hill

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