The reality is that Australia is such a small contributor to the world atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations that all this hype about closing coal mines is useless twaddle.

It is true that both lands and oceans are getting warmer at this time and, although we are a minor contributor to that problem, we can do a great deal more to capture carbon dioxide and perhaps set an example to other countries.

The Turnbull government's "direct action" policy is OK as far as it goes, but it is completely missing the fact that farming practices could completely solve the wrangles over CO2 emissions if the government was prepared to pay farmers to increase the organic carbon content of their soils by as little as 1per cent.

If the government was prepared to pay, say $50 a hectare for every hectare that improved its organic content by this small amount, then Australia's worldwide responsibilities would be more than achieved and farmers would get not only the cash incentive but probably an almost 50per cent increase in grain yields as well.

Carbon farming has been promoted for years and I have personally made representations to government ministers as well – all to no avail.

No amount of tree planting is ever going to solve the problem, although it might look good to have teams of unemployed youths rehabilitating stony outcrops or planting trees around farm boundaries. Neither is going to solve the problem of carbon capture or secondary soil salinisation.

The science is there. Why is it being ignored?

Could it be that the Country Party farmer politicians don' t want to be told that their farming practices are wrong, or could it be that politicians of all persuasions would rather hide behind their ecological ignorance?

Dr Baden Williams, Lyneham

Environment Minister Greg Hunt has declared his climate action a success, despite emissions increasing. Perhaps he should talk to Treasurer Scott Morrison about balancing the budget by increasing spending.

David Clark, Scullin

So, the federal government's new part-time National Wind Farm Commissioner, Andrew Dyer, is to be paid $205,000 a year ("Windfall for wind farm watchdog: PM's part-time commissioner to nab $600,000", canberratimes. com.au, November 29).

Given that Mr Dyer will doubtless spend most of his time parked outside Australia's windiest place – Parliament House in Canberra – that means he will earn $14,000 for the four remaining sitting days in 2015, or 60per cent of an age pensioner's income for a year.

Still, what's a little leaning amongst friends?

John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

Bruce Cameron (Letters, November 27) asks how a nation determines its self-reliance needs. The issue is sustainability. Ernst Willheim (Letters, November 27) observes that readiness is not instantaneous and not guaranteed unless managed.

Both these issues are critical to Defence capability management.

My contribution is to argue that the existence of the diarchy in Defence means neither can be properly addressed.

The chief of the Defence Force is accountable for the "delivery of capability". The secretary is accountable for the "enabling of capability". Consequently, no one person is accountable for capability.

Imagine the consternation that would erupt at the AGM of a company if the chairman of the board announced the division of the company into two parts, with a CEO heading each part. That is what the diarchy means. From it flows much of the organisational confusion in Defence. The result is reduced capability at increased cost.

There is nothing special about Defence that demands such an absurd arrangement. Police forces seem to function well with only one head. Border control has improved since all functions were brought under one head.

Sooner or later, the growing threat from militant Islam will demand that defence, police and border control should be under one head, making the diarchy look anomalous.

Elimination of the diarchy would eventually permit rational decisions about what capability is required to achieve what agreed effects. Currently, Defence is wasting taxpayer resources, while the diarchy is unclear how ready and sustainable its capability really is.

Peter Rusbridge, Kambah

Dr Lesley Russell's excellent article "Too high: specialist fees hit the sickest patients" (Times2, November 25, p5) regarding the high cost of specialist fees and the gap between what is charged and what Medicare rebates spoke of how disadvantaged poor people are by this, but also how hard it is for people with a serious illness and the elderly.

I recently had an experience of high medical costs unrelated, though, to specialist fees. I attended Canberra Imaging for an ultrasound with a referral from my GP. I am in my 70s and had had a fall. When booking the ultrasound, I was quoted a fee of $255.

On the day I attended my appointment, I was told the procedure was not covered by Medicare. I expressed surprise but chose to continue with the ultrasound, as my GP was trying to locate the source of my pain.

I sent an email to Canberra Imaging asking why I had been told that a diagnostic/investigative referral from my GP was not covered by Medicare.

Canberra Imaging did not answer. I decided to submit the account to Medicare and, to my surprise, I received a rebate of $204. Instead of being out of pocket $255, I ended up paying only $51.

It's hard enough already for patients with high hospital and specialist gap fees, as Dr Lesley Russell states in her article, but to be give wrong information by Canberra Imaging only adds to the concern that many people fearing high medical bills will not access medical treatment they need.

Elizabeth Chisholm, Red Hill

Chief Minister Andrew Barr claims ("Housing program a failure: Stanhope", November 28, p1) the government's biggest reform to improve housing affordability is a $5900 reduction in stamp duty on a $500,000 home. This is a sad reflection of his government's lack of understanding of a fair and equitable land-release policy.

A decrease in stamp duty of around 1 per cent of the contract price simply diverts the revenue to the vendor, as the bidder is encouraged (because of the reduction) to go that bit further and therefore has a negative or, at best, no impact on affordability, but, of course, has a massive effect on ratepayers, who are subsidising the reduction.

Housing affordability will never be influenced by lowering stamp duty. The way forward is to increase supply of serviced land over demand.

The government has the monopoly and control of the land supply and the current failure to meet demand appears deliberate, with a heavy bias towards apartments. The government also needs to urgently develop a land bank to ensure regular supply and allow buyers who cannot compete at auction an opportunity to direct, with certainty, their savings and plans into the future.

The development of a land bank out of a 60-year land supply is not a big ask and is an asset well worth the investment. It may even encourage people to stay in Canberra.

John Malouf, Hawker

Philip Benwell (Letters, November 27) seems to see Australia through a 1950s prism as an Anglo-Saxon hegemony, beset by "ethnic minorities". He wants shallow divisive and aggressive royalist and sectional symbols derived from a relatively recent, narrow, segment of Australia's otherwise vast, ancient and diverse cultural heritage to continue in use willy-nilly.

He misrepresents the 1999 referendum as an "overwhelming" vote to retain the monarch, when it was more a marginal rejection – almost a generation ago — of an unpopular model for her replacement.

He portrays the democratic replacement of the hereditary, and constitutionally powerful, monarch as head of state as somehow subordinating the rights of citizens, rather than being a clear demonstration of their sovereignty and a clear exercise of those rights.

At least he break ranks with his fellow forelock tuggers in Flint's Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy in acknowledging the Queen as current head of state, whereas they – treasonously and duplicitously – maintain that the Governor-General already holds this position. Let the monarchists divide. Unite in promotion of democracy in a proud evolving, independent, pluralistic, multicultural, contemporary Australia.

Mike Hutchinson, Reid

Philip Benwell (Letters, November 27) objects to efforts to remove the motto "In This Sign Conquer" from the hat badge of Australian Army chaplains. He points out that the Defence Department did not canvass the public's view before removing this ancient motto.

The objection to the motto is that it might be offensive to Muslims.

This claim is quite false, because the history of this motto goes back centuries before the life of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, born about 570 AD.

The motto in Latin reads In hoc signo vinces. It refers to a vision of the cross in the sky seen by the Roman emperor Constantine in AD312 at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.

The emperor supported the Christian Church after that event, and is known as the first Christian emperor of Rome.

Many Christian organisations have used this motto, including chaplains in the Australian Army, and I hope that it continues to be used. Its historical roots pre-date Islam and have nothing whatever to do with Islam.

Robert Willson, Deakin

It is ridiculous of Chris Hume (Letters, November 25) to claim that the Federal Golf Club has not received government support. The ACT government subsidises many sporting groups by not claiming market value for the use of territory land. In the case of the golf club, it currently pays a rent of $13,000 a year, equivalent to the rent on a Garran house block, when it uses an area equivalent to a small suburb.

The course and connecting infrastructure, such as the driveway off the Red Hill summit road, were largely established at government cost. Ground work costs were later recouped as the annual rental of the club spread over 25 years, free of interest.

Recently, the club received $250,000 to assist in construction of a dam and $15,000 to develop a business plan.

Given the long-standing and considerable public support of the Federal Golf Club, it is disappointing this plan ignored community views and wishes. Instead, the club chose to regurgitate inappropriate development plans rejected on many occasions by both the local and wider community and governments of all political shades.

Dr Michael Mulvaney, Curtin

Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury hopes attitudes towards drug driving will change, as they have towards drink driving ("Rise in drugged driving alarming: police", November 28, p7).

The term "zero tolerance" is easy to use, but the change in attitude towards drink driving is based on the science. Experiments are generally accepted to have shown that a driver's blood alcohol level of 0.05 or above is dangerous to the public.

When comparable experiments are done to establish safe and unsafe levels of the relevant illicit drugs, drivers' attitudes will probably undergo a similar change. At the moment, random drug tests can seem like just another extension of the "war on drugs".

The fact there's currently no "consistency" in illegal drugs is yet another consequence of that same "war".

Geoff Page, Narrabundah

Would John Popplewell (Letters, November 26) and Dr Alan Cowan (Letters, November 28) prefer women to go back to the illegal abortionists in backyards with dirty utensils?

You don't have to agree with abortion, but you need to respect people and their choices. Having abortion done in clean sterile environments with councillors and support is better than the alternative.

Jenna Price's article ("Push to train doctors on carrying out abortions" Times2, November 24, p5) was spot on: doctors need to learn all aspects of medical procedures.

V. Harris, NSW, Yass

It was a shock to read of the death of 11 trees in Commonwealth Park ("Dead trees leave Floriade on notice", November 27, p15). Also in the article is a quote by Malcolm Snow stating that Commonwealth Park is not a suburban park.

Commonwealth Park was planned as a national horticultural display park and its development as such is limited by several Canberra events. Canberra's city parks – Glebe Park, City Hill and Haig Park are a paltry park resource for this city which is why it is so important to keep West Basin as a peoples' park.

While West Basin is now predominantly used for car parks, its value as city parkland for the future is enormous. It is the one area of public open space that can relieve pressure on Commonwealth Park for events such as food and film festivals, outdoor concerts and markets, as well as retaining its important role for bike and paddle boat hire and free play.

The Land Development Agency has been impacting the lakeshore landscape with the commercial boat industrial complex at Black Mountain Peninsula Park and in its gazettal of four boat shed sites on Grevillea Park. Bit by bit the lakeshore parklands are being diminished. The proposal will be an enormous invasion of public space and a huge eyesore. It should be stopped.

Anne Emerson-Elliott, Theodore

Clearly the NCA have a strong argument about the use of Commonwealth Park for Floriade. Fortunately the ACT government have a very good option on the other side of Commonwealth Avenue. They could extend the R.G.Menzies walk under the bridge and along the shore of West Basin. Floriade could then be developed behind it. The proposed high-rise development would then be a little further from the shoreline, satisfying more people and allowing the government to construct Floriade as it wishes.

Steve Thomas, Yarralumla

TO THE POINT

The Canberra Times wants to hear from you in short bursts. Email views in 50 words or fewer to

letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au

ABBOTT'S TIME TO SHINE

Tony Abbott can now demonstrate that he is a statesman rather than a self-seeking politician. He can support Malcolm Turnbull, avoid a Gillard/Rudd fiasco, and thus enable the Liberal Party to settle down to intelligent government.

Cynthia Moloney, Yarralumla

HAIL FEMALE FIRIES

Over many years I have worked on the fireground with members of the the ACT Fire and Rescue service. All of them (irrespective of their religion, sex, or what ever) have been totally professional and capable. I'd rather trust an F&R "lady" on the fireground, than a wharfie any day, Eddie Boyd (Letters, September 28).

Pat Barling, Holder

SMOKING DISINCENTIVE

Is Ross Kelly (Letters, November 27) serious in his criticism of smoking taxes? The price signal of cigarette taxes is the very point. The health cost to the community of smoking-related illnesses is very much higher than any tax that could possibly be raised. Only a fool would legislate to ban tobacco, but, as with alcohol, reduced availability leads to reduced harm.

Bob Gardiner, Isabella Plains

DAVIS CUP HEADS NORTH

England's 80-year Davis Cup drought continues as Scots win the trophy.

Frank Marris, Forrest

POETIC PROSE

Oh the richness of the English language! It was consoling to read that the abandoned baby left in a New York Catholic Church crib ("Baby left in nativity scene", November 26, p7) was found to be in a stable condition.

J. Kenny, Melba

US HOLIDAY? NO THANKS

The United States ambassador wished us "happy Thanksgiving from America". His staff should remind him that we are not an American state, and that the Pilgrim Fathers have no resonance here. His undoubtedly well-meant wishes are akin to Stephen Brady wishing the French a happy Melbourne Cup Day – they may have heard about it but really couldn't care less.

Peter Burns, Murrumbateman, NSW

WIN FOR WESTON CREEK

Canberra MP Gai Brodtmann is to be commended for launching a petition last year for a petrol station near the Cotter Road and Kirkpatrick Street intersection, so that Weston Creek's 23,000 residents have more than one petrol station.

It is good to see the proposal coming to fruition ("Petrol station nearer as site sells for $5.75m", November 26, p2).

John Milne, Chapman

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