City one: residential land is freely available for purchase, and is suitably priced for first home buyers. Example from realestate.com.au: 1,127m2 block for $175,000.

City two: residential land is only available through a ballot and auction system, which is government controlled.

Example from civiumresidential.com.au: 1,251m2 block for $1,000,000+.

Assuming that the development costs are similar for these two cities, there remains only one question to ask: why?

City one is Wagga and city two is Canberra.

Jim Coats, Fadden

It's very generous of the federal government to fund seven black spot projects in the ACT especially as priority seems to have been given to two of them, which are in Manuka and which just happen to be around Manuka Oval.

How many deaths or bad accidents have been recorded in the last few years at the intersections of Furneaux Street and Manuka Circle and Telopea Park and Currie Street? Did the accidents that caused these intersections to be labelled "black spots" occur at times of arrivals and departures of attendees to sporting events at the oval? Am I just lucky when I drive through these intersections regularly that I have never considered either to be dangerous?

Elizabeth Chisholm, Red Hill

Re "Canberra Business Chamber continues push for new convention centre" (May 9, p8). If I remember correctly, this project had a 4:1 ratio, which should mean that for every dollar invested, four would be returned to the ACT government.

As Infrastructure Australia knows, the tram project showed a return of barely 1:1.

So, which is better value for the ACT government and why are we not going ahead with it yesterday?

This ought to be a priority, not the tram. As should a major project for the ACT government to get back into the business of building public housing.

Katy told us the tram would cost roughly the same as the Convention Centre. Let's buildit!

Russ Morison, Theodore

No, C. J. Johnston of Duffy (letters, May 12) critics of the behaviour of Ms Abdel-Magied are not, in the main, displaying racism (at least not in The Canberra Times). No, what they dislike is the seeming self-aggrandisement and foot-in-mouth words and actions of a pretentious young woman who seeks to elevate her media profile.

Yassmin, I fear, suffers from a disease that afflicts many in the public eye.

It's called (being a) media tart.

Christina Faulk, Swinger Hill

The budget broke the federal government's promise for $50 million funding for the Barton Highway upgrade made by the former Eden Monaro member Peter Hendy, now a staff member of the Prime Minister.

He confirmed the government's commitment after the election. The broken promise gives little comfort to the relatives and friends of those who have been injured and killed on this notoriously busy, dangerous road.

Ken Helm, Murrumbateman

What is the ABC coming to? Not content with recently cutting off the end of the PM's Press Club appearance, last Thursday's edition of The Drum went even lower.

Just as journalist Paul Bongiorno was wrapping up a moving personal tribute to one of the ABC's greats, the widely respected Mark Colvin, he was cut off in mid-sentence and the program brought to a rushed conclusion by anchor Julia Baird.

And what came next? An earth-shattering breaking news story?

Of course not. As with the PM's address, what we got were several promos, followed by old repeats. Can someone at the ABC tell me who takes responsibility for such poor program judgment and, importantly, how do they justify it?

Eric Hunter, Cook

The (unlimited, free) water used in the Carmichael mine, if it goes ahead, could contaminate the Great Artesian Basin. It would take decades for the aquifer to clean itself.

As for the "thousands" or "tens of thousands" of jobs that have been touted, Adani's own economic adviser, Dr Jerome Fahrer of ACIL Allen, has calculated that the mine, rail, and port project would create just 1200 new jobs in central Queensland, and related activities would create an additional 264 new jobs Australia-wide.

Richard Keys (Letters, May 11) is right about the mechanisation of mines these days.

Most of the machinery — notably trucks and trains — could, and probably will, be operated by computers (robots).

Supporters of the mine say that it will help provide energy to tens or hundreds of millions of people in India (Adani's and Mr Adani's home base).

Both the Indian energy minister and the Prime Minister have stated that India will cease importing coal by about2020.

Instead of coal, India is investing large sums of money on solar energy farms, already including one of the largest in the world.

Most local banks have indicated that they will financially support the coal mine. New coal mines sure looks like risky investments to me.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

"Australian values" is a bullying weasel expression much like "Islamophobia".

Our former Prime Minister ("Tony Abbott claims 'cultural cowardice' in politics at heart of voter discontent", canberratimes.com.au, May 3) and his conservative cohorts want to hitch ultra-nationalism and Christianity to the shirt tails of much grander enterprises such as democracy, universal human rights, press freedom and judicial independence.

In much the same way, the regressive left wield Islamophobia; attaching criticism of Islam with the pernicious evils of racism and bigotry.

I suspect that most of us in the centre reject both extremes; we're grateful to be historically free of a Christian yoke and don't want to don an Islamic one.

Peter Robinson, Ainslie

The Liberal Government's planned funding cuts to ACT Catholic Schools have brought gloating and points scoring (David Jenkins, Letters, May 11). This echoes anti-Catholic bigotry, which I thought I had faded from Australian life in the 1950s.

This is a very old debate. Catholic schools point out that they enrol the full range of children and direct funding within the Catholic education system to address local needs within for the ACT and Goulburn.

Parents know they get only a fraction of the public funding going to government schools. They also know if all the students in Catholic schools went to public schools, it would cost governments more.

If my children attend the lovely public primary school across the oval, then they would receive higher public funding.

Same community, same levels of social advantage, but better public funding today and for the next 10 years.

If the Libs' plans are enacted, then Catholic schools throughout the region will receive funding cuts for another decade.

Parents of kids at ACT Catholic schools are not asking for a special deal; they are not "bludgers" and "leaners". They want affordable choice for every parent and a fair deal for ACT Catholic schools.

Michael Cuddihy, Campbell

No one would agree to subsidised taxi fares for people who refuse to take public transport.

No one would agree to subsidies for the use of private/personal transport because it is a personal choice and fundamental right.

And, no one should be subsidised with public funding when they choose to send their children to private schools of any description/denomination.

Just as BHP doesn't subsidise its competitors in a free market economy, so the government should rethink the entire funding of private education policy.

Redirect the funds into the public system and the universities.

W. Book, Hackett

To help solve A. V. Peterson's mystery on school funding (Letters, May 12), I will offer some advice.

Every one of these children's parents pay taxes.

I think all private school parents would agree some of those taxes should go towards educating their children, the same as in government schools.

John Hutka, Ngunnawal

Brings back so many old memories to read letters regurgitating all the tired arguments about "state aid" for Catholic schools. If some people would prefer to have Catholic schools close, then say so. Australians must enjoy bringing their bias to the fore. If letter writers want to push a barrow, at least check that the tyre is pumped up.

Ray O'Brien, Wavell Heights, Qld

Can we cease using "efficiency dividend" to mean a cut? A "dividend" is a sum of money paid by a company to its shareholders out ofits profits or reserves or, in an older mathematical sense, a number to be divided by another number.

The cut to university funding in the new budget is just that – a cut. It is vicious weasel-word mongering for government spokespeople to refer to this as a "dividend".

Nor does it have anything to do with "efficiency"; in fact, the opposite. In my 40years working in Australian universities, it has been abundantly clear that the non-stop funding cuts to these institutions, combined with their ballooning administrative burdens, have made them far less efficient. An "inefficiency debit" would be a more accurate descriptor.

Michael Smithson, Charnwood, ACT

While currently appearing to "guarantee" Medicare, the Coalition has muddied the special levy funding stream. Although the Medicare Levy did not actually pay for all ofMedicare, at least it didn't pay for anything else.

How long before it is a Medicare and Sundry Extras Levy? While saying they're putting Medicare on a pedestal, the identified funding stream has been tossed in the miscellaneous odds and sods basket.

How long before the justification for the levy is utterly discredited?

The same applies to superannuation. How long before super ceases to be an objective in itself and becomes nothing more than a convenient accounting sleight of hand by which governments can give tax breaks for any purpose they think expedient at the time?

But, hey, why take my opinion seriously?

Why not ask an accountant; preferably a trust accountant.

S. W. Davey, Torrens

Barrie Smillie's comments on Australia's overseas help ("Prioritise aid", Letters, May 10) can be contrasted with the 900 million people overseas living on $US1.90 each day.

That's less than the price of a coffee in Australia.

Each day, 17,000 children around our world die from preventable causes such as diarrhoea from drinking dirty water, or tetanus. One dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine costs about US20¢.

Australia's aid helps those children to be alive after five.

Poverty does not respect geography and it deserved our attention in the budget.

Peter Graves, Curtin

What largesse! The Turnbull government is trumpeting its one-off payment to age pensioners of $75 and proudly leaked the details before the actual budget was handed down.

What on earth will age pensioners do with all this money?

We may see age pensioners running wild in the streets as they fritter away their $75.

This from a government that is about to give billions in tax cuts to big business.

John Davenport, Farrer

More feel-good funding for the National Disability Industry.

What happened to "Pick up thy bed and walk"?

C. J. Mountifield, Greenway

FAREWELL, MARK COLVIN

Good to hear the plaudits for the late Mark Colvin, especially from the Prime Minister. Turnbull only left out one important detail; that Colvin was a career-long denizen of that rat's nest of leftie, pinko, mind-control, the ABC.

S. W. Davey, Torrens

I greeted the news of the death of ABC PM's Mark Colvin with profound sadness. Colvin set the highest journalistic standards but it was his voice that was such a joy. And I'm still grieving John Clarke. We can't keep losing the good guys like this.

Jenny Goldie, Michelago, NSW

Rest in peace Mark Colvin, a reporter of integrity and a charming man over many decades.

Barrie Smillie, Duffy

IGNORANT VIEWS

What if Yassmin had said, the "Stolen Generation" is a myth? Andrew Bolt maintains that. Imagine if Yassmin said the war in Iraq is won and over? Bolt said that. Imagine if Yassmin said boat people threw their children overboard? Aussie politicians said that. If there was a university degree for gross ignorance, lots of people in this country would get first class honours.

Richard Ryan, Summerland Point, NSW

ROYALTY A TOUGH JOB

Prince Philip is retiring. Another human life has been ground through the royalty machinery and sliced into images which briefly get our flickering attention. Through his gaffes, Philip seemed to put up an ineffectual rebellion.

Foxes are now protected from being tortured to death. Pity the same can't be said about the Windsor-Mountbattens.

Rosemary Walters, Palmerston

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