Someone with any kind of experience in the real world might have been a better bet.

As for Mr Coe's faux concern for less well-off Canberrans, it is risible – perhaps even heroic – for him to resort to crocodile tears. Like snake oil, it just doesn't sell well here in the most well-educated electorate.

Paul McElligott, Aranda

The ACT Liberals have begun a review into how they managed to lose the recent election, despite the incumbent Labor government's appalling record of reckless fiscal incompetence, dubious dealings with unions and agencies, and their indulgence in extravagant vanity projects – all of which have resulted in an ever increasing financial burden on ratepayers.

In contemplating this mystery of mysteries, I was reminded of a vox pop carried out by ABC TV before the election where a member of the public was asked why she intended to vote Labor to which she responded, "I always vote Labor. My father voted Labor and his father before him." In light of this response, I suggest the Liberal Party should not get too deep in their review.

Lee Welling, Nicholls

Australian Education Union ACT secretary Glenn Fowler states ("Gonski will still be under threat, but new government will stand up and fight for what is fair and right", October 26, pp20-21) that "a government's primary obligation must be to public education".

I would have thought that a government's obligation is to ensure that all students, whether attending government or non-government schools, be allocated a fair share of government funding.

This is certainly not the case in the ACT, where the proportion of ACT government funding for schools allocated to non-government schools is the lowest of any territory or state in the country, an average of $2000 per annum per student, compared to $12,000 per government school student.

Peter D. Hughes, Curtin

Glenn Fowler's comment piece was well written and informative (as always), and it mentioned the need for more school psychologists as per Tony Shaddock's "Schools for all" report.

However at no stage were pastoral care workers mentioned!

All schools need both: pastoral care workers to work with the majority of students and develop programs as needed, and psychologists to tackle those extremely hard social issues which continue to invade our school curriculums!

Sue Swift, Kambah

Glenn Fowler opens his article with the statement that "the Australian Education Union is not affiliated to any political party". He must think everyone is a dolt. The ACT secretary's national union has gifted the ALP with tens of millions in election funding over the years. I'll wager it expects influence in Parliament in return.

Gerry Murphy, Braddon

Track flaws extend trip Thank you Clive Williams ("Oh, for a better railway", October 25, p12) for raising the issue of the very slow passenger train to Canberra.

On my first train trip to Sydney from Canberra in 1964, the train arrived in Sydney four hours after leaving Canberra. Last week, when I again took the trip, it took 4 hours. The train is capable of doing the trip in under two hours given a good track.

The fault lies with the track, not the rolling stock. There are major sections where the train can only chug along at under 40km/h. These include the sections between Bungendore and Tarago, and between Goulburn and Mittagong.

If the money wasted on high-speed train studies had been channelled into these sections of track a considerable improvement in trip times to Sydney would have already resulted.

The money proposed to be wasted on that project could have rebuilt the whole line to Sydney and allowed the train to run at its design speed of about 200 km/h.

Guy Swifte, Garran

Malcolm Robertson (Letters, October 26) is quite right. As he says, "unsustainable population growth cannot continue, and ... the search for endless economic growth to satisfy the insatiable appetite of business and developers has enormous social and environmental costs".

In the recent ACT election, I waited in vain for candidates to address these issues but it seems business and developers still determine the parameters within which discussion takes place, that is, within classical economic theory.

When will environment get a foot in the door? The world faces a number of existential (that is, threaten our very existence) threats, not least continued population growth, but also energy constraints and climate change. These cannot be ignored. All policy, including local ACT policy, must be determined in light of these broader issues. I fear the new Liberal leadership of Alistair Coe and Nicole Lawder hasn't a clue about the gravity of these very real threats nor the capacity to determine policy in light of them.

Jenny Goldie, Michelago, NSW

Regardless of whether federal Parliament passes changes to the paid parental leave scheme, the proposed January 1 start date demonstrates yet again the Liberals' contempt for women.

Many women have planned their leave and finances based on the current scheme. If the government must take a step backward on this issue, at least allow families to enter the decision to have a child in the full knowledge of what government support will be provided.

Unlike the government, women due within the next nine months can't change their decision now.

D. Scown, Gowrie

I watched Andrew Denton's National Press Club address on ABC Television on Wednesday. It was a powerful and intensely moving reminder of the need for euthanasia legislation in Australia. That theocratic institutions determine when and how people die in opposition to the wishes of most Australians disgusts and infuriates me.

Having worked with people with disabilities for over 30 years and watched my parents die in agony, I will decide the time and place of my passing. No one has the right to deny me that, certainly not an out of touch government, and even less the lunatic Catholic right. The power of corporatised religion (itself the greatest, most evil practical joke ever perpetrated) must be curtailed.

The God myth is a grotesque farce most notable for its capacity to visit wars upon humanity. Let believers believe in their nonsense, but let them no longer be permitted to determine my, or anyone's fate. That is our business.

Rob Westcott, Reid

So, another week of belly-aching about the ABC, and the government still hasn't provided evidence to disprove the message about the forgotten children: that these children are stranded in pitiable conditions, without hope on Nauru. If life on Nauru is so good, what explains the extraordinary level of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide among these young people? If the accusations of abuse and neglect are false, and Australia is providing good, compassionate care in its offshore detention centres, why the need for secrecy?

Eileen O'Brien, Kambah

I have never written to a newspaper. But there is something gnawing at my guts.

Our two major parties are not able to agree on much other than the need for concentration camps.

The boast seems to be from both sides: "Well, we have closed down so many of our detention centres."

That in, some way, excuses those that remain. Let's go back 70 years and see how Adolf Hitler might have re-spun his Jewish solution.

After consultation with Goebbels he decides to improve his image by closing down Belsen and Dachau, but still keeps Auschwitz open.

John Galvin, Weston

No, Neil James (Letters, October 27), it is not my alleged "ideology" that disturbs me with respect to defence equipment ads at Canberra airport. What concerns me is the vendor's firm belief, as evidenced by much expenditure on ads, that such displays might significantly influence Defence decision-makers, rather than the appropriate and painstaking processes of defence procurement. If that is "geostrategic reality", heaven help the taxpayer.

David Roth, Kambah

Neil James (Letters, October 27) rightly observes that the weapons ads at Canberra Airport are in the Qantas end, although he does not mention those on the outside of the building as well.

James fails to question why this might be, the obvious reason being the weapons companies want the Qantas-travelling military and Defence Department personnel who make weapons-purchasing decisions to see the ads. If that's the case, it's a disturbing prospect that these mammoth decisions are influenced, even subliminally, by three or four words on an ad and a Boys' Own image of power. The corporate world doesn't generally waste money on ads that don't work.

Dr Sue Wareham, Convenor, No Airport Arms Ads, Cook

After carrying out a thorough and intensive inspection of my marbles, I can report to H. Ronald (Letters, October 27) that my marbles are safe and sound and in good working order. However, what I did find is there are many rotten apples in Malcolm Turnbull's basket deserving of being cast aside – Peter Dutton and George Brandis to name but two.

D.J. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld

Complaints about Australia's broadband network, our rail systems, our human rights record, the demise of our manufacturing industry, our political corruption, our environmental degradation, our response to climate change, our banks, our public health system, our social services, our public schools, our income inequality, the politicisation of our public service and so forth are all based on invalid comparisons with places like Europe, Britain and the US.

You need to compare like with like. We actually shape up reasonably well in comparison to other banana republics.

Fred Pilcher, Kaleen

Here's a way to boost national productivity – cancel the Melbourne Cup. All work stops for two hours nationally and effectively for two days in Victoria – just to celebrate a cruel and violent event.

Archer became famous for winning the first Melbourne Cup while already injured, a race in which two other horses died, and countless other horses have suffered catastrophic injuries on the racetrack after being whipped mercilessly and pushed past their limits. Last year, Red Cadeaux was killed after breaking a leg during the race.

University of Melbourne researchers have discovered that half of the racehorses they studied had blood in the windpipe, and nearly all of them had blood deeper in the lungs (close to 90 per cent).

There's nothing "sporting" about a pastime in which animals routinely suffer and die. It's time for the nation to stop the race that stops the nation.

Des Bellamy, PETA Australia, Byron Bay, NSW

IN OTHER WORDS

Apropos the mess surrounding the Racial Discrimination Act; might I suggest 18C be reworded thus: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

Peter Day, Queanbeyan, NSW

GIVE IT A REST, GREG

Can we please have an end to letters from Greg Cornwell attempting to rationalise his initial post-election comments. They are not getting any more convincing.

H. Simon, Watson

LABOR'S RAIL TEST

When ACT Labor delivers on its 2012 election commitment "to increasing the public transport share of all work trips to 10.5 per cent by 2016 and 16per cent by 2026", I will admit that I was wrong to oppose its 2012 election commitment to light rail.

Leon Arundell, Downer

NO PRINCIPLES LEFT

A choice between Gleeson and Brandis is no contest. Resignation on principle, sadly, has abandoned the field to those with no principles whatsoever.

Michael Barry, Torrens

WALLABY HUNT

Greg Simmons (Letters, October 26) was speculating what the result would be if the Wallabies ever played the Black Ferns.

I think the Wallabies would need to toughen up a lot before taking on the Black Ferns. Have you seen the way those ladies play?

Rod Frazer, Garran

IT'S NOT ALL RIGHT

It seems that we are still preoccupied with Bob Dylan's non-response to the Swedish Academy literature Nobel prize.

Let's hope that the wind starts blowing in the right direction and Mr Dylan gets a whiff of his own pomposity.

John Rodriguez, Florey

WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

I would like Neil James (Letters, October 27) to explain why Qantas patrons need to be exposed to geo-strategic reality through weapons-makers' advertising.

Peter Tait, O'Connor

BOARD MEETING

In answer to Michael Travis (Letters, October 27), the word "corflute" is a trade name for a double-sided corrugated plastic board.

Bert Castellari, Curtin

BET ON BRUMBIES

Now that the final whistle has been blown in the ACT election, rugby union/Brumby supporters need to call on the ACT Legislative Assembly for an RUC, or (Aquis) rugby union casino.

Peter Conway, Braddon

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