Unlike private enterprise, federal and territory jobs are advertised without mentioning the fact it is a mere formality to move a contractor to a permanent position or to what is known as a "non-ongoing" role, contravening all merit-based rules and regulations but protected by the fact it is almost impossible to demonstrate.

Often the charade includes addressing interminable questions and even attending panel interviews.

Imagine the waste of time and productivity, not to mention the damage to self-esteem and mental wellbeing. The only tool available is to ask early on the key questions "is there anyone acting in the role? Is the person acting likely to apply?"

When the answer is yes, politely say goodbye and don't bother even if the role fits perfectly. Don't be tempted to think you could replace the incumbent.

It would be better for government to add a line to the advertisement "there is currently someone undertaking the role effectively" to stop applicants from wasting their time.

Arturo Irazabal, Turner

Melbourne's Southbank is getting a $35 million green-lung makeover by the City of Melbourne. This is to redress the concrete jungle of apartments and businesses created there in the 1990s with little greenery.

But in the ACT, regressive planning and aggressive development is the modus operandi of the Labor/Green government.

It will spend $37 million to fill in two hectares of the Burley Griffin lakebed as the forerunner to mixed-use development over a considerable portion of Civic's only green foreshore, the people's Acton Park at West Basin.

The new City Renewal Authority could spend that $37 million to renew the urban emptiness of Civic. A campaign of pathetic rhetoric of "city making and vibrancy" has been run by the ACT government and the NCA to justify taking lakebed and Acton Park.

"Vibrancy" may be an admirable, if yet unrealised, goal for Civic. But for the Lake and West Basin parkland it is just a bogus claim to bolster the government's purse by selling off public open space – owned by the people – to developers to build yet more concrete banks of apartments.

All Australians will be the losers in the West Basin development debacle. Barr's blight will deface our nation's lake, lakeshore and central lake vista heritage.

How about learning from Melbourne – the world's most liveable city – and developing this area into a vibrant world-class urban park?

Trevor Lipscomb, Campbell

I have just received my rates invoice. I was happy to pay it as the services my family receives in municipal services are good value.

I was also pleased that I can get a discount of 1 per cent if I pay within a month.

I would be even happier if the ACT government allowed me to pay my rates years in advance and gave me an accumulating inflation-adjusted 6per cent per year rates discount. The government could use my prepayments to repay part of their existing loans, which appear to average 5 per cent compound per year.

If the government allowed rate payers the option of prepaying their rates, it is the equivalent to the rate payer of a 6 per cent inflation-adjusted annuity.

The best the money market can offer me is about 2 per cent fixed-term inflation-adjusted annuity with high entry and exit fees.

Prepayment of rates would improve the government bottom line as, over the long term, a five-term compound interest rate costs much more than a 6per cent non-compounding discount. It would improve the ACT credit rating as the government would have no debts except to rate payers.

The ACT budget would be in balance with the removal of capital repayments and interest charges.

Kevin Cox, Ngunnawal

I empathise with Stephen Larkham's disappointment at the crowd attending the Brumbies finals game on Saturday night.

As one of those 9771 fans, I can suggest to him, the Brumbies and the ARU that crowds would increase with some simple positive actions.

First, the Brumbies cease their consistent and over-use of "box" kicks that largely achieve nothing more than giving the opposition the ball to again attack the Brumbies line.

Second, the mid-season international break needs to be scrapped as it detracts from the Super Rugby season.

Third, play the Brumbies games earlier in the day so the fans don't have to freeze, particularly at the later stages of the season.

Fourth, the Super Rugby reintroduce a home and away draw. This current piecemeal draw is not working.

Finally, the ARU give the Brumbies the respect that they are due as Australia's highest performing Super Rugby team, since its inception.

J. Grant, Gowrie

Two things spring to mind in the aftermath of the Raiders game on Saturday.

First, in the spirit of true sportsmanship I hope the Raiders management immediately substituted Sia Soliola and left him on the bench for the rest of the match to show the public and the game generally that it did not condone such conduct.

Second, following on from the various post-game comments about the referees' performance has the code considered having a couple of spare referees on the bench and if it is apparent that a referee is not performing up to standard they are, like the players, benched by the referee's co-ordinator and another referee sent on to the field.

Malcolm Paterson, Greenleigh, NSW

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart had a lot to say about some of the decisions handed out to the Raiders. He mentioned the referees, the bunker and the linesman. He made no mention of Cameron Smith, surely the most influential person on the field. Any Melbourne game, both central referees seem to take advice from Cameron.

Rod Frazer, Garran

I refer to Dr Bruce Middleton's letter (July 25) about the latest proposal to establish an Australian space agency.

The Australian Space Office, which he headed between 1987 and 1993, was not the only player in the strong moves at that time to get a national commitment to space activities.

Also heavily involved was the CSIRO Office of Space Science and Applications (COSSA), headed initially by Dr Ken McCracken, and the Institution of Engineers Australia (now simply Engineers Australia).

The latter was the key player in a move to establish a satellite-launching spaceport on the Cape York Peninsula: with real government support it could likely have happened.

There was enormous interest in commercial space-related activities at the time, particularly in satellite remote-sensing of Earth resources, a field in many aspects of which Australian groups were at the forefront.

I recall that participants were standing in the aisles at "Getting Into the Space Business", a COSSA-organised conference held in the late 1990s.

But the dream of pulling it all together in a national enterprise and agency eventually faded. So far at least, Australian governments seem unable to come to grips with rocket science.

Ed Highley, Kambah

Thanks to Helen Evans for outlining the important place vaccinating children has in Australia's overseas aid program. ("Australia is not immune: short memories are no excuse for not vaccinating young children", CT, July 24, p14). Unvaccinated, 1.5 million children die worldwide from diseases that are preventable by immunisation. Australia did endorse the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015.

Goal 3 – ensuring healthy lives – includes the target of ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age by 2030.

All countries aim to reduce neonatal mortality to under 12 per 1000 live births and under-five mortality to fewer than 25 per 1000 live births. Increasing immunisation is important towards achieving these laudable results, because there is good news.

Since 1988, the global incidence of polio has been reduced by more than 99 per cent, and the number of countries with endemic polio from 125 to three. This has been due to vaccines, and more investment is needed to complete eradication. Meaning more children alive at five.

Peter Graves, Curtin

Anyone would think reading "Productive talks but Ashes still in balance" (canberratimes.com.au, July 24) that Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association jointly own the game of cricket.

They do not. The game is owned by millions of fans, juniors, club players and followers alive and dead who have made the game the institution that it has become. We all should have votes. If we did, we would want swift removal of nongs on both sides who are responsible for the current mess.

It's possible that some of them relish the current sorry state of things. If so, they should turn to politics instead.

The ghosts of great players, including the ghost of Richie Benaud, would likewise be appalled.

The game and support for it can only go backwards until some heads are banged together. And the owners of those heads should be given "out".

Roy Darling, Florey

Now, here's a problem to confound the wise:

The UN claim our security tsar

Agreed to something that will cause surprise,

Namely that some in those camps afar,

If ill, or having here family ties,

Might come to Australia – the door's ajar!

This raises the problem mentioned just then:

Now, should we believe Dutton, or the UN?

We all know this government loves the real,

And will rarely tell us some silly tale

That for example the refugees will

Abuse a young boy visiting their jail;

That was Dutton blaming victims still

For being shot up, hiding our wilful fail

To protect those in our care, as we must.

Dutton or the UN? Who should we trust?

John Elliott Monfries Pearce

Rodney Croome, a same-sex marriage advocate, opposes a voluntary postal vote on the issue.

Why?: "Younger voters, who are more likely to support marriage equality, are less likely to return their voluntary postal ballots."

Apparently same-sex marriage is not "the greatest moral issue of our time" among the young.

Or is it just another move to block any suggestion for resolution of the issue which would allow all Australians to express their view?

Kath Woolf, Bruce

I'm pleased to see that John Davenport is against the torture of cattle (Letters, July 22). It sounds like he would not kill an animal unless it absolutely necessary – certainly not for pleasure.

These days, given the range of healthy meat-free foods available, the fact eating meat is completely unnecessary to maintain optimal health, the only reason to continue to consume it is for the pleasure of the taste.

John may well have the right to eat what he wants ,but I dispute he has any right to kill sentient cattle (or other animals) just for the pleasure of the taste of meat.

Mike O'Shaughnessy, Spence

REGULATIONS RULE

John Doherty and Pam Cohen (Letters, July 23) say you can be an Irish or British citizen without being born in those countries. I was born in Germany but can't be a German citizen. It is unfair to expect everyone to be aufait with all the different regulations.

Felicity Chivas, Scullin

A SUIT SUITS

Mary Robbie ("Not much seems to have changed for women", Letters, July 24) and her female co-workers should sue for return of stolen wages.

Matt Ford, Crookwell, NSW

FEEL THE FEAR

I am much more terrified by the prospect of a super surveillance department headed by Peter Dutton than I am of the threat of terrorism.

Patricia Saunders, Chapman

PRICE OF PONG

Rates up 10.5 per cent, electricity and gas up 17-19 per cent, water and sewerage up. Sunday penalty rates going, income down, billions for a tram. This burgher is feeling set upon. I keep waiting for the trickle-down effect, but the only thing trickling my way smells of urine.

Dick Parker, Page

LIMIT ON MPS

Not four-year terms, but four terms period. Let's get rid this "politician for life" attitude and limit politicians to four terms in elected office.

Bruce A. Peterson, Kambah

JOY UNBARRED

Joy! Headline on Monday morning: "Boulevard of broken dreams: light rail axed". Then the let-down; I was reading about the NSW government cancelling a Sydney CBD to Burwood project in The Sydney Morning Herald. Take heart, Andrew. If NSW can do it, it's not too late to redeem yourself.

Keith Croker, Kambah

A PARADOX

Julie Tongs ("Aboriginal group blasts government contracts", July 25, p2) suffers from a nasty case of paradoxical sour grapes if she believes racism denied her contracts that should have been awarded on a racial basis.

Peter Robinson, Ainslie

ALMOST THE BEST

No doubt about it, we do live in the best country in the world. At least according to our Prime Minister. Pity that our politicians cannot guarantee water supply to our farmers or stop institutionalised corruption.

John Rodriguez, Florey

NOT HIM SURELY

Peter Dutton telling porkies? Well, I never. A nice man like that would never do such a thing. ("UN agency says Dutton reneged on refugee deal", July 25, p3).

M. Moore, Bonython

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