Globalisation facilitates a new, never-ending cornucopia of bright, shiny consumer merchandise, with anything dated or damaged discarded. Everything bears a use-by date.

This attitude is generalised to humans, who, when antiquated or "damaged", equally are jettisoned, frequently to nursing homes ("Pressure to axe 'discriminatory' elderly mental health care rule", January 15, p12).

Let no one labour under any misapprehension that the nursing home industry is a philanthropic, altruistic, socially responsible collection of businesses.

With $10billion allotted to aged care, it is understandable profit-oriented global players would fight for a share, in the process effecting "economies" to satisfy shareholders (greed).

Mental health is merely one casualty of these "economies". Nursing home admission frequently triggers depression.

Research demonstrates cognitive behaviour therapy is an effective mental health approach, but expensive, relative to psychoactive pharmacology, which may be delivered by overworked 457 Visa holders, between performing domestic tasks.

Cultural awareness is a minor consideration.

Ageism is a "blatantly discriminatory ... disgrace" and Swinburne's survey suggests staff lack basic knowledge ("Anger at lack of mental health support for elderly residents", January 8, p10).

"Expensive" registered nurses, weighing on profits, have virtually disappeared from nursing homes, thanks to lobbying for "flexible" care staffing legislation.

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan

Why all the fuss about pollie perks? Given the number of international horses running in the Melbourne Spring Carnival, Julie Bishop, as Foreign Minister, should be there. The same goes for Steven Ciobo , Trade Minister, attending the ALF grand final at the taxpayers' expense.

How else would he know which players are likely to be in the end-of-season trade? They're only doing their job.

Jeff Bradley, Issacs

My wife's and my partial pensions have been reduced significantly. This will necessitate a major restructuring of our household budget but if this helps to restore our country's budget to surplus, well and good.

Having said that, I am sure our pension reduction together with the reduction or loss of government support for people with greater need than ours, will make little impact on reducing the country's debt.

We are offended that while ordinary Australians have been targeted to "bring the budget back into surplus", little or no effort has been made to secure tax from many overseas companies that operate in Australia either tax-free or paying little tax.

Other high-income earners, including politicians, don't appear to be "pulling their weight" to improve the budget bottom line. The use of "entitlements" or allowances to claim many concessions, the "golden handshakes" and lifelong allowances funded by taxpayers' dollars to maintain their lifestyle is in contrast with the experiences of most Australians.

When it comes to politics, both major parties certainly "look after number one".

I am still hopeful that some constructive, equitable policies might come to the fore, though currently there is no sign of this emerging from the LNP nor Labor.

There is some hot air from the PM about politicians' travel entitlement changes, but perhaps that hot air merely goes with the season.

Colin Brown, Isabella Plains

Sussan Ley has now resigned and the PM has announced a new independent authority to oversee politicians' "work expenses" (traditionally called entitlements).

Ley could have shown some grace and taken responsibility for her extensive rorting; instead, we see sheer hubris and denial. In her press statement, she says she "accepts community annoyance, even anger" over her actions.

Wrong; it is rage. She will be remembered ever thus.

And do not forget the huge payout she will get.

What is more important; integrity or extra wealth?

And do not be too congratulatory on the PM's response: too little and too late. He has shown little leadership on this issue.

Post "Choppergate", the government has sat on a report that recommends important changes to politicians' work expenses.

However, it stopped short of urging a major overhaul of existing, generous entitlements.

Most politicians still do not get it.

The community will not be satisfied until there is major reform.

Geoff Clark, Narrabundah

It is surely time that the ACT government brought ActewAGL into line and stopped them issuing natural gas accounts with "estimated" meter readings when the meters in question are available for them to read. The latest account from ActewAGL is in two parts as a new rate came into force during the current supply period.

The estimated reading for the change-over date was clearly estimated by dividing the number of units used over the entire period by the number of days and using this "per day" figure to come to the estimate used.

This was seriously flawed as the premises were unoccupied for a considerable period during the first part of the supply period.

While the end resulting account in this case was only an overcharge of some $10 or so, these estimated accounts should not be permitted.

They could seriously affect many ActewAGL customers.

Murray Upton, Belconnen

("Andrews' $2000 dip to attend US prayer breakfast", January 15, p10).

Thank God for this revelation!

W.Book, Hackett

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