The aircraft was a bomber in World War II and served as a useful transport in the post-war years.

It is difficult to establish why it has been selected for display in the airport of our national capital. I would have expected an aircraft which has played a significant role in both wartime and peacetime Australian aviation history and one which has been associated closely with Canberra Airport.

This does not seem to be the case.

The most significant association of a Lockheed Hudson with Canberra was when one crashed east of the airport on approach.

That crash caused a political crisis for the then Menzies UAP government.

Fortunately, in the interpretation information displayed with the aircraft in the check-in hall, there is no mention of this as it could sober up pretty quickly those viewing the aircraft who have just checked into a flight about to depart Canberra.

There must surely be better ways than this to celebrate Australian and Canberra aviation.

John Gray, Mawson

H. Zandbergen (Letters, December 14) chooses to consider cycling solely through a registration/licensing envelope.

I, like many cyclists, own a motor vehicle as well as a bicycle but since 1969 (when I got my driver's licence) have only used it when it is impracticable to cycle or take public transport.

My car is not contributing to the traffic jam Mr Zandbergen is probably frequently stuck in.

He should thank me and other cyclists for giving him a less cluttered road. The benefits do not end there. Because we cyclists generally are a bit fitter than those with their buttocks welded to their car seats, we are less likely to be taking up space in public hospitals recovering from heart attacks and other complaints exacerbated by inactivity.

More beds for motorists!

Cycling is a pollution-free activity so we are helping keep the air cleaner for Mr Zandbergen to breathe.

As we leave a small carbon footprint, cyclists are helping Australia reach its climate change targets.

I'd think asking for a few dollars to maintain the cycle paths we use is a small price to pay for the benefits that accrue from those that choose to sometimes leave their cars at home.

I hope to see H. Z. on a bike soon.

Mike Reddy, Curtin

George Kozakos correctly identifies the "startled rabbit" reaction of pedestrians when bicyclists ring their bells (Letters, December 17).

Fortunately, the solution to problems resulting from said reaction is to ring the bell a little earlier – early enough to allow time for the pedestrian to jump to the wrong side of the path, turn around to look at the cyclist, and then return to the correct side of the path.

The more appropriate timing of the bell-ringing always worked for me, over a very long period of time – despite the very great frequency of the "startled rabbit" reaction, there was never any suggestion of a collision.

Gordon Fyfe, Kambah

Scott Thompson (CT letters, December 17) is remiss in not including the needs of cyclists: the need to slow down, and the need to ring a bell to warn pedestrians of the approaching danger.

I can reassure Mr Thompson cyclists do such an excellent and thorough job of engendering animosity that he need not be concerned by other feeble attempts.

Bruce A. Peterson, Kambah

Scott Thompson, you left out one additional requirement in your statement. As well as pedestrians keeping left and walking dogs on left, cyclists should slow down so they can take action in the event us less worthy should fail in our efforts to keep cyclists safe. The number of times I've had a cyclist fly past at a great rate of knots is ridiculous. If you want to travel that fast then learn to fly a jet.

Alexandra Hughes, Canberra

On Friday morning I attended the coronial findings in relation to the death of Paul Fennessy, a vulnerable, 21-year-old who died after overdosing on prescribed medications.

Coroner Hunter announced "the system failed him" and Paul "fell through the cracks". Yet, she made no adverse findings. No adverse findings against the Canberra Hospital, which discharged him from care just a few hours after he had been revived and said he "didn't care if he died".

No adverse findings against the pharmacy which issued him with a double dose of methadone by mistake on the day he died.

No adverse findings against local doctors who continued to write prescriptions for Paul over a long period of time without ever checking what else was being prescribed by others and despite repeated warnings from Paul's mother that he was "doctor shopping".

This system hasn't just got cracks in it, Coroner Hunter, it's a sinking ship. One would hope that through coronial inquiries these holes could be identified and plugged.

Unfortunately the system seems focused solely on blame shifting.

Rosslyn Williams, Holder

My new grandson has just received an organic teddy bear proudly labelled "vegan". Should one feed vegan teddy bears honey? Honey is a standard teddy food (Milne 1926, Burn and Fortnum) but an obviously animal product.

As an omnivore I have never been faced with this problem before. Could an expert in the field help, please?

Dr John Rogers, Cook

I congratulate organiser, Lester Yao and the 600 or so fun lovers who attended the last Parliament House hill-roll.

Noteworthy by their absence and avoiding a fantastic photo opportunity were our local federal members.

I have no doubt they are still "duck and covering" from rampant terrorists poised to assault the grassy slopes of Parliament.

Those slopes actually lead nowhere except to another fence at the top.

It does not take the genius of Dr Andrew Leigh to see that the fence will now be a rallying point for protests by "the deplorables".

They will chain themselves to it, adorn it with protest banners and maybe padlocks not unlike the Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris.

While understanding conservative insecurities that propel them to generate massive amounts of money, privilege and power, one can only scratch one's head to figure out why Labor has backed such a move?

I suggest a compromise; that gates be installed in the fence to allow children to play and adults to exercise when Parliament is not sitting — or is that too sensible?

That fence will be an enduring symbol of the barrier that now exists between the wishes of the people and the will of their elected representatives.

Bruce Clarke, Pearce

If a fresh assessment of the risks and threats to security at Parliament House concluded that the answer was an encircling 2.6 metre high fence, sacrificing architectural aesthetics, then it is apparent the threats are attributed to sources more nuisance than nuanced.

I do not wish to inspire any would-be activist, or indeed terrorist, by offering suggestions, but a fence will not deter determined, trained, disciplined and imaginative individual(s) bent on wreaking real havoc.

As to the recent batch of activists who had sufficient time to abseil, hoist signs and pour dye, one trusts that the post-event security review scrutinised the adequacy and timeliness of response.

No fence will compensate for lax vigilance and inadequate protective security measures.

A Whiddett, Yarralumla

There is no comic blundering in Donald Trump's foreign policy statements or boasts about making America "great again". Trump leads a sinister group of reactionaries whose vision of making America great again is based on a massive armaments boost to the military, all designed for a confrontation with China.

Powerful forces predisposed to fascism are willing to go to any lengths to stop China overtaking America as the dominant world power with the most powerful economy on the globe.

Trump's warmth towards an expansionist Russia should be seen in the same light; allow Russian aggression in Eastern Europe in return for Russia tacitly agreeing not to come to China's aid in a coming war.

The Baltic States are lined up as a sacrificial offering to Putin and possibly Ukraine as well. The world is heading for a new epoch of global war and mass slaughter which is likely to involve nuclear weapons.

The Australian American Alliance guarantees the Pacific war will reach our shores. Will Australia line up with the American military establishment for Armageddon?

Peter O'Dea, Oaks Estate

Peter Brent ("Malcolm, you need to spend more time with your family", December 16, p20), there's another option Malcolm might consider. He could show some leadership and pursue at least some of the moderate values he appeared to espouse when in the wilderness.

No doubt it would bring on the bloodbath and right-wing coup you predict. Malcolm would go down screaming but at least showing that he cares about something more than the fun of being Prime Minister.

The longer term outcome would be the same as you've wished for – a push towards the "sensible centre", Labor in government, with the bonus for Malcolm of regaining his lost honour and credibility.

Somewhere in the middle of all this we might even get a little bit of good policy put in place.

Helen Moore, Cook

There is much reporting in the media at the moment about our Prime Minister losing Liberal voters because he has renewed his commitment to Australia having one of our own as head of state.

I can't help but think that his brave stance, despite the views of the far right of his own party, may well earn him votes from Labor supporters who have waited in vain for their own party to talk of plebiscites and referendums to achieve this.

Carolyn Doyle, Banks

After four years Turnbull is blaming Labor for the end of Christianity, motherhood and the world as we know (it). When will he start to govern? He is the Prime Minister. His party's in power.

Graeme Rankin, Holder

No doubt Malcolm Turnbull will handle becoming a Republic in the same manner as same-sex marriage if he lasts that long. He would have us believe both issues are high on his agenda and yet would allow the loony right to torpedo them.

D. J. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld

The political history of Malcolm Turnbull is the history of political failure.

John Passant, Kambah

In the article "laughable committee finds no problem with housing affordability" (Saturday December 17, page 9) the chairman, Mr Coleman, said "We are not recommending the tax increases that Labor and the Greens are proposing".

What a droll statement.

I pay tax. Because of negative gearing I am forced to pay more tax to compensate the losses of rental house owners who are either incompetent investors or blatantly minimising tax. The tax increases exist now. Learn some arithmetic Mr Coleman.

John Simsons, Holt

It is the height of arrogance for a person on annual, taxpayer paid, $200,000 plus unlimited perks to blithely claim to have found "no structural problem with housing affordability". Is gravity real?

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan

LEGAL NOVICES

So the Police Minister and the Attorney General have declined to comment on bungled surveillance warrants ("Police surveillance warrants bungled", Canberra Times, December 16, p1). Don't hold your breath for an informed legal comment: one is a former security guard; the other a former clergyman.

J. Sever, Higgins

SWEET NONSENSE

Fundraising chocolates have been banned from ACT government offices ("ACT government phases out fundraising chocolates among workforce", December 12, p5). Fruit platters will certainly keep well for a month on the tea-room table. More Barr-humbug.

J. Coleman, Chisholm

CUT TO THE CHASE

Thank you to the three machine mowing team from the ACT government who have made the southern road entry to Canberra look appealing. How pleasing it is currently to see mown verges that look neat, giving drivers a view of wildlife likely to access the highway.

H. Alexander, Royalla

SLIDING DOORS

The respective deliberate and accidental killing of two of the Lindt Cafe hostages was a terrible tragedy. The irony isone of the victims was a barrister, who presumably would normally have been prepared to defend the likes of Man Monas.

D. N. Callaghan, Kingston

COAL STILL CULPRIT

No matter how much money the ACT invests in renewable energy, it will not have zero carbon emissions as long as it uses coal-generated electricity to meet peak loads. All else is false accounting.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

BYE BYE BUNNINGS

I won't be shopping at Bunnings any more ("Bunnings manager allegedly bullied after refusing to terminate team members", canberratimes.com.au, December 18).

Michael McCarthy, Deakin

FACEBOOK FARCE

Facebook is now going to judge what is fake news, hardly the original ideal of a democratic internet.

Rod Matthews, Fairfield, Vic

CARTOON NOT FUNNY

I consider "A Christmas Carol" by Wilcox (Letters, December 18) in very poor taste.

Anne Prendergast, Reid

STUFF TO CHEW ON

Could the recent mass roll down the slopes above Parliament House be likened to a "roll in the hay"?

C. J. Johnston, Duffy

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