Now, 27 years after the murder for which he was convicted, are we honestly supposed to believe that evidence at his trial 21 years ago, already discredited, will have somehow improved over the years and become worthy of hearing again?

Surely common sense and decency can resolve this matter. Eastman should not be retried.

Wendy Gesini , Forrest

The AFP has long referred to David Eastman being one of the most intelligent people on Earth.

Before and during the original trial, police were telling everyone they could persuade to listen that he was a master criminal who by his erratic conduct was trying to lay grounds for an appeal.

They also made much of the fact that he could not remember what he was doing on the night of the murder. How many of us can remember what we were doing on a particular night almost a year ago.

If David Eastman was the type of person who would kill an assistant commissioner because he refused to intervene in a very minor cross-claim of assault one can only wonder why the streets of Canberra were not littered with the bodies of people who he had more-serious disagreements with.

Eastman as far as I know has never had a conviction prior to the present for any kind of criminal conduct. There have been numerous allegations of threatening phone calls and spiteful physical acts but if you take into account that he has been voluntarily going to a psychiatrist for many years, they are not surprising in a man who admits to schizophrenia.

The idea floated past and present by the police that he is a criminal genius ignores the fact that he failed to provide an alibi, he failed to examine witnesses and evidence he should have, and he introduced a character witness on his behalf that gave the prosecution the opportunity to introduce a horde of witnesses that testified to his irascible nature.

The judge's decision to order a new trial of a person who has already served 19 years for murder makes no sense unless it is taken into account that if that is not done the ACT government will be up for huge damages.

Howard Carew, Isaacs

The ACT Remuneration Tribunal is trying to bring ACT politicians' pay rates up to the country's average by increasing their pay by 6, 3 and 4 per cent over three consecutive years respectively ("Top public servants paid more than Barr", April 16, p1).

All pay increases up the country's average. Seems like another pay increase is coming up to catch the country's average again. With 25 politicians coming up the tram project just may have to be scrapped to pay the wage bill.

John Simsons, Holt

Although only the ACT government would know exactly how much it costs to cut down a perfectly healthy pine tree in Canberra, I would hazard a guess that it must cost more than $10,000 a tree.

From what I observed of works to remove about 16 pine trees from the Aranda Bushland over the weekend of April 16-17, it took at least eight contractors.

Although there seemed to be at least two contractors for every tree, they certainly weren't lacking in equipment.

In addition to an array of chainsaws, they also had an elevated work platform, two trucks and a four-wheel-drive at their disposal. I would imagine that such gold-plated over-servicing is another dubious "benefit" of the ACT government's Memorandum of Understanding with Unions ACT.

I can't bear to imagine how much it will cost to remove the gum trees in Northbourne Avenue for the light rail corridor.

Bruce Taggart, Aranda

Every morning I walk around the leafy suburbs of Redhill and Griffith. Over a year ago the decaying and disgusting public-funded flats and units next to the Redhill shops were earmarked for demolition and redevelopment. It is now 2016 and there is still no sign of a backhoe or wrecking ball at that location.

Despite the promise of ridding the otherwise lovely suburb of this collective eyesore, I was horrified to see five new garage doors – at taxpayers' expense of course – recently installed to cover the fetid garage spaces, which no doubt hide burnt-out car wrecks and other detritus that occupants are too lazy to clean up.

So before greedy developers get their grubby little hands on trying to ruin Manuka's unique charm by building a "super stadium" plus yet more high-rise dwellings, I suggest they get together with the ACT government and draw up a plan to beautify the Red Hill Shops area.

As I have previously suggested, it is about time the relevant authorities forced recipients of public housing to clean up their donated dwellings with a three- strikes-then-you-are-out policy if they don't.

Judy Diamond, Narrabundah

Finally, after a two-year "war of words", those unsightly, inadequate recycling bins might be removed from Kambah Village shops.

Perhaps now Territory and Municipal Services might consider establishing recycling areas throughout the ACT.

This ensures the public take their unwanted items to an area that can cater for their goods and be disposed of appropriately. Perhaps the manufacturers of these bins can take up the idea of our prime minister and become innovative on their construction in order to prevent recyclable items being dumped into landfill.

Please put the responsibility back on the public and the businesses who want these bins, instead of creating tips in community shopping areas.

Susan Swift, Kambah

Jon Stanhope (Letters, April 16) is again to be commended for his sense of decency and fairness, this time pointing out the downsides of the ACT prison visitors cuts. It's a great pity Stanhope has left politics, but even if he wanted to make a comeback, he couldn't even win preselection for the Assembly, simply because of the ALP's myopic factional power structure.

While the factions are directly responsible for the quality of our current Labor MLAs I, like Stanhope, am left wondering what is the Greens' excuse for the dissembling Shane Rattenbury?

Eric Hunter, Cook

Only a few kilometres down Murrumbidgee River from the proposed suburb of Thompson ("Watching robins' hood ... capital's delicate balancing act", April 15, p1) is Kambah Pool, a popular picnic and swimming spot at which the Directorate of the Territory and Municipal Services has erected a sign headed "Help care for the Corridor".

Detail on the sign includes the following: "The Murrumbidgee River is part of the Murray Darling Basin, the largest drainage basin in Australia.

"Rubbish that is either deliberately dumped, washed or blown into the river from the surrounding land can create potential hazards in and around the river for people and wildlife. Pollution can deplete fish stocks, cause algal scum and increase bacteria which may affect public health."

The ACT government already struggles to keep our lakes free of pollution from nearby suburbs, and if its own sign is to be believed, will be responsible for causing environmental and public health disasters if it allows this suburb to be built.

Diana Schneider, Kambah

The development of Tuggeranong's "next-generation" suburb beside the narrow Murrumbidgee River corridor will see degradation of land, vegetation, soil, water quality, including erosion of river bank, with it disappearance of native birds, mammals and reptiles. Another ugly, crowded suburb, offensive to the eye and heart.

What is happening to our "bush" capital? Once this area is gone, it is gone forever. How can the government say that "the development will protect the area's high environmental and heritage values"? By its very nature, a development of this size will make that statement impossible to deliver.

There must be other areas in Tuggeranong that could be utilised.

Rob and Sylvia Miners, Isabella Plains

The treatment of the young African refugee raped on Nauru while she was having an epileptic fit ("Young African refugee battles for abortion following rape on Nauru", April 15, p4) is pitiless.

Whatever Border Force officials and the Federal Court say, S99 (as she is called) is morally the Australian government's responsibility.

She has asked for a timely abortion that is impossible to get on Nauru and difficult to arrange in PNG, where the government has now sent her. She is in need of sympathetic specialist help that is best given in Australia.

What is the government frightened of? Is it that the Australian people might want her to stay, if she comes here for treatment?

Is it that the public might again show the federal government up for the callous institution it really is?

Dr Anne Cawsey, Hackett

At present, much is being made about the number of Aboriginals being incarcerated for criminal offences. Might I suggest this is because the crimes committed by the Indigenous population are easily solved – unlike the crimes of whistleblowers who highlight offences being committed in internment camps on Manus Island or Nauru.

These crimes can result in imprisonment for up to two years. Yet, despite the offenders naming themselves, it seems the crimes are unsolvable.

Perhaps this may change, however, should the whistleblower be revealed as an Indigenous person?

C. J. Johnston, Duffy

There is one simple way for the number of Aboriginals in prison to decrease, and it is very simple: do not break the law. There are rules in our society that are made to protect all people in the society. If you break these laws, you are saying that you don't want to be part of that society and refuse to abide by the rules. This applies to blacks, whites and all other colours.

The law does not discriminate on colour. If you break those laws, then expect to be punished, no matter what colour your skin.

The white population has been blamed for decades for the dire straits in which the blacks find themselves. It is time they accepted that they are the problem and it is up to them to sort themselves out. There are many good Aboriginals amongst the 3per cent of our population. There are also many others who simply flout the law and then expect special consideration because of their colour.

I am sick and tired our hearing from the do-gooders how it is my fault, because I am white, that there are deaths of blacks in prison.

It is about time these people recognised they are the solution to their problems and started doing something positive about it, instead of wanting to be treated as special and separate cases.

Trevor Willis, Hughes

Judith Ireland's article "Innovation unlikely when leaders cling to status quo" (Forum, April 16, p2) points the way in which our politicians can lead our innovative society.

We are an innovative nation in sports, research, mining, agriculture (thanks to CSIRO) and many more fields, but apparently not in our politics, which is why so many commissioned and innovative reports, such as Gonski and Henry, are never implemented.

Our problem has always been our politicians, especially since the dominance of our two major parties, the ALP and LNP. Ms Ireland quotes Bob Hawke explaining our problem: "Their [the politicians'] first concern is saving their seat; they don't want to do anything that is going to lose them votes ... It's not very brave."

Our fearful politicians are holding Australia back. How do we take away that fear?

Might I suggest "one-term representation", then they wouldn't have to worry about being re-elected. And to make a political job worthwhile, make the term the same as Senate: six years, with half retiring every three years. No more re-election fear, no more pork barrelling.

And what is most important: no more professional politicians. Be innovative and brave, Malcolm. Do what is necessary for Australia.

Max Jensen, Chifley

Exactly what is Robert Willson implying with his not particularly veiled criticism of "our modern secular society" (Letters, April 16). That we'd be better off under the rule of law of the Church (one of them anyway)? Interesting proposition.

I'll readily admit democracy has its flaws, but I'll take it over a benevolent, ecclesiastical dictatorship any day, thanks.

And, by the way, some "pro-lifers' have also shown themselves quite capable of a bit of "moral indignation", as you put it. I refer you to Wikipedia for a distressingly long list of documented violence by anti-abortionists, including murder, assault, kidnapping and bombings. I very much doubt a bit of hate mail is beyond them, too.

With respect to the nature of those who support your views and those who don't, Robert, I think your glasses may need some cleaning; they appear to be gathering a distinctly rosy taint.

Matthew 7:5 "first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's".

David Barratt, Yarralumla

I believe the Governor-General should disallow the pending double dissolution. The ABCC bill and the Registered Organisations bill are not crucial for the running of this nation. In 1975, when the Senate wouldn't pass the supply bill, there was no money to run the nation, so an election was necessary.

However, the present situation is different. The Senate is doing its constitutionally required job of vetting which bills go through.

The Turnbull government shouldn't put the nation through the expense of a double dissolution because it feels miffed that it can't persuade the Senate of the value of these bills, or because it wants to have a double dissolution to consolidate its power.

If it can do this, then every government that feels frustrated by the Senate will find a way to play the same expensive trick.

Rosemary Walters, Palmerston

IT'S THE SAME CREW

Is anyone really surprised by the fall in popularity of the Turnbull government? It's not the salesman that matters; it's the policies. What have we been offered since the leadership change? Same pig, different lipstick.

Brad Sherman Duffy

STATE OF ORIGIN

Ian Jannaway (Letters, April 15) states that the big mistake at Federation was not abolishing the states. Ian does not understand that his retrospective musing would kill the joy of millions. Under his proposal, there could be no State of Origin.

Peter Baskett, Murrumbateman, NSW

TACKLING TAX AVOIDERS

I have been thinking about if and how we could criminalise tax avoidance. As to enforcement, taking a cue from the ABCC bill, we could deny the right to silence and the right to a lawyer when interviewing any suspected tax avoiders.

John Passant, Kambah

EASY AS ABC

While the government is hurriedly trying to reintroduce the ABCC, would it be too much to ask for them to add a minor typographical error to the bill to abolish the ABC, effectively doubling the benefit of the legislation?

Samuel Gordon-Stewart, Reid

APPIN MASSACRE

With the 200th anniversary of the Appin massacre, I understand that the relevant British Army Regiment which undertook the action lists the action as a battle honour on its regimental flag. The British Crown should apologise, and the battle flag should also be revised.

Rohan Goyne, Evatt

STOP THE BURNING

Please, please stop the burning. I can't take the unrelenting asthma and hay fever any more.

Meredith Hodge, Richardson

BYE BYE BRONNY

Goodbye Bronny. You will always be remembered for your trademark hairdo, your disgraceful bias as Speaker and now your parliamentary pension for life of about $200,000, not forgetting your gold travel card. There goes the budget!

Mario Stivala, Spence

COUNT THE COMMUTERS

Prompted by Jenny Stewart's article ("No transports of delight", Forum, April 16, p5), I have a question: has there been a survey of the residents along the proposed light rail route to establish what percentage of the population works in Civic, or within 10 minutes walk time of the CBD, and what was the result?

Ken McPhan, Spence

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