If Minister Simon Corbell is confident, as he says, that a majority of Canberrans want light rail, then a wait of some six months should not be difficult. The present bus service handles its passengers very efficiently.

While the present ACT government is marking time, they could also get an audit on the cost benefit, particularly as they have come out with two different cost benefits themselves. I would also suggest a comparison on how much each system will cost per kilometre to transport commuters.

As we ratepayers will be footing the bill, we should be entitled to know the projected total cost to us over the contract.

Howard Carew, Isaacs

According to the the article "Stoush over light rail contract reignited by Victorian exit deal" (April 16, p1) "Minister Simon Corbell dismissed the Liberal claims and said a future Liberal government would instead face bills of 'hundreds of millions' to exit signed contracts".

I know of no light rail project of a similar one to ours in the world that has occurred in recent years that cost less than $1billion to build. So, let's turn this into a referendum now, because we taxpayers will pay one way or other and risk loss of investment in better community infrastructure.

Russ Morison, Theodore

I would like to put our experiences into the debate about whether cats should be confined or allowed to roam.

In 1964, a cat wandered into the yard of the house we were living in. Our son was 21 months old, a very healthy little boy. Unfortunately, he played with it for a short time. I noticed it was sneezing and coughing. I rang the RSPCA, an inspector came and said it was a very sick animal and took it away.

Two days later, our son was in hospital with influenzal meningitis. He is now severely handicapped, mentally and physically, and needs 24-hour care.

I am most definitely against cats roaming free.

Edith Jensen, Chifley

As Lesley Russell ("Mental health: a crisis-driven system in crisis", Times2, April 17, p5) has rightly pointed out, the recent "secret" government report on mental health services shows there is a poor return in terms of outcomes from the $14billion spent annually by all Australian governments. There is too much spending on acute care and later intervention, indicating a crisis in the system, rather than prevention and community support. But there is another longer-term crisis. Since the early 20th century, mortality in Australia amongst the mentally ill from all causes has steadily and markedly increased, despite a much greater armoury of available treatments and more spending per head. During the same period, life expectancy for the general population has increased. Clearly, something is seriously wrong with the current system, when we spend more and get less.

David Roth, Kambah

In recent decades, there seems to have been an increasing number of ACT government and government utility actions that end up being controversial. Examples are changes to concessional land lease purposes to save sporting clubs' finances, attempts at densification in older suburbs, shopping centre redevelopments and water pricing. The common thread among them has been that the government has been going to benefit from additional revenue.

As with the ACT government's excellent policy of winding down its stamp duty charges and replacing them with general rates increases, if the government were to replace all land "sales" with significantly higher general rates on land released at cost; require the holders of concessional leases to return them to the government if they no longer wish to use them for their original purpose; cease creaming dividends from government utilities and require them to operate on a non-profit basis (with public service salaries for staff), the opportunity for governments to solve short-term budgetary problems with quick grabs for cash would be removed. Of course, some ratepayers would object to the consequent rise in their rates, but the long-term benefits for the planning of our city would be worth it.

Chris Ansted, Garran

With less than three months to go for Mr Fluffy homeowners to opt into the ACT government's buyback scheme, it is a perfect time to look at the involuntary nature of the so-called voluntary scheme. I say involuntary nature of the scheme, because voluntary implies that an individual is able to act of one's own free will and not prompted by promise, enticement or threat.

Mr Fluffy home owners are selling their homes to the ACT government under the threat that unless they opt into the buyback scheme, signing over their homes for the average of two valuations by June 30, 2015, there may be a compulsory acquisition resulting in the homeowner being worse off; that is, your property will be revalued as having asbestos, further lowering the value of your property.

The ACT government's buyback scheme denies Mr Fluffy homeowners the opportunity for natural justice and procedural fairness, as through no fault of their own, they are unable to sell their homes for the real market value at auction or by negotiation, as is the case of non-Mr Fluffy homeowners.

In some cases, there can be a loss of a few thousand or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Commonwealth and ACT governments are equally responsible for the Mr Fluffy fiasco; the Commonwealth at the time allowed the importation and installation into ACT homes of the Mr Fluffy product and, currently, the ACT government for the buyback debacle.

L. Carvalho , Lyons

After reading "ACT prisoners spend just five hours a week in rehabilitation, says auditor" ("Prisoner support not living up to original promise: Cooper", April 18, p8), one has to ask, is the current government capable of organising or running anything successfully. They constantly come out with new daft/draft plans and aspirational goals, only to end up with a never-ending list of epic failures.

I shudder to think what sort of incredible stuff-up the billion-dollar-plus tram will turn out to be.

David Fuller, Duffy

Those with "keyless" cars who might be concerned that a power amplifier can activate their key at a distance can relax. There is no need to put your key in the freezer as suggested by security experts ("Thieves use high-tech tool to break into cars", April 18, p9). Wrap the key in aluminium foil and put it in your purse or pocket. Even you won't be able to open the door until you unwrap it.

Tony Eggleton, Belconnen

Fleur Flannery (Letters, April 16) expressed concern about the amount of rubbish around the city. She highlighted that there is a team of 20 ACT public servants cleaning around Gungahlin town centre each day.

I believe that there is also rubbish around other town centres, where similar time and money is spent cleaning. If these employees were not required to clean up after others, there would be more time for them attend to other more appropriate tasks, for example removing weeds, small trees growing in drains, and grass clippings clogging road guttering (see Dale Fletcher's letter of April 16).

She suggests, and I would reach the same conclusion, that the community has a responsibility to cease littering.

If we buy takeaway food or smoke, we have a responsibility to put the resulting litter in a rubbish bin or, if there is not a suitable bin to hand, to carry the rubbish away.

Would it assist in keeping our town centres clean of litter if fines were more readily imposed, and/or persons responsible for littering were required to spend an hour cleaning? Possibly we could look at how Singapore deals with littering.

Longer term, there needs to be a cultural change so persons in the community regard littering as unacceptable.

Elizabeth Hannan, Belconnen

What a difference a few months makes. Last week, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, ("Abbott calms down states but GST fire still smouldering", April 18, p4) appears to have played a reconciling and constructive role in what could have been an explosive meeting with state government leaders in Canberra. Only a few months ago, his leadership was written off and he was described as a political dead man walking. For the moment, his critics have fallen strangely silent.

Of course, there is always room for a looming political disaster on the part of any national leader. The coming budget is sure to rouse ire in many quarters, no matter what it contains. But, for the moment, Tony Abbott is proving himself a competent national leader in a difficult economic era. People should ask how Bill Shorten would handle the issues confronting Australia.

Robert Willson, Deakin

Tony Abbott's self-satirisation continues apace with his risible admonition of the local Liberals that "contracts should be honoured" in regards to the mooted future cancellation of light rail contracts. What about his contract with the Australian people in the last election campaign promising, inter alia, no surprises, grown-up government, no cuts to health, education, the ABC and others too numerous to list here? Either he has no shame or no self-awareness, and I'm not sure which is worse.

David Jenkins, Casey

Tony Abbott's hypocrisy is on show, in full view. He stated to the ACT Liberals, following their realistic decision and forewarning that they will cancel the contract for the Canberra light rail, that "contracts should be honoured", despite the project being an unaffordable blunder from day one.

The PM has torn up promises, made ridiculous decisions, backflipped so many times he has become something of a running joke. History will remember your dishonoured contracts, Prime Minister. Respectfully, mind your own business.

Rhys Stanley, via Hall, NSW

According to your editor-at-large, Jack Waterford, "Ireland has made an art form of being the tax haven of choice for this rort and effective fraud upon the citizens of the world" ("Catching fat cats a taxing affair for politicians", Forum, April 1, p1). This is a serious allegation, which Mr Waterford fails to back up with facts. This is because the facts do not support him. Ireland is not a "tax haven". Ireland has a competitive corporate tax rate, which is statute-based and applied transparently to a broad base. It is not the lowest corporate tax rate even within the European Union. Ireland's tax system is in full compliance with all applicable international standards and frameworks. The OECD has acknowledged as much on several occasions.

Nor does Ireland seek to attract brass-plate ("shell company") investment to Ireland, as is suggested in the article.

Consistent government policy has been to attract substantive operations of global companies seeking to service the EU market of more than 500million people, as well as international markets beyond Europe. Global companies currently provide employment to over 170,000 people in Ireland.

Aggressive tax planning in a digital globalised economy is a major concern for Ireland, as it is for Australia. That is why Ireland, alongside Australia, has been at the forefront of the international effort to address this through the OECD project on base erosion and profit shifting.

This is a complex area. It merits careful, responsible and informed commentary. It is important to get the facts right.

Noel White, Ambassador of Ireland

Regarding Peter Walsh's religious views, Christopher Smith (Letters, April 19) does not know what he is talking about. Peter Walsh was born and raised a Protestant and he died a Protestant (I checked with his family, in case he had a deathbed conversion). As for Smith's class warfare argument, there was very little class warfare in the Western Australian wheat belt in those days. Most farmers voted Labor at the state elections and Country Party at the federal elections, because they thought the Liberals were not sufficiently interested in looking after farmers' interests.

Annette Barbetti, Kaleen

Mark Kenny ("Expertise of elders wasted", Times2, April 17, p4) exposes a major productivity issue. While governments champion productivity in other sectors, the loss of the nation's brains trust continues.

It is highly plausible and understandable if those elders and statespeople with considerable expertise preferred to withdraw to a quieter lifestyle. However, at a time where there seems to be a dearth of talent, particularly in the political spectrum, we studiously avoid calling upon the most learned and experienced to provide solutions to current day problems.

While we have many "think-tanks" operating, it would be a blessing to have just one that is unbiased without a barrow to push that really contributes to the best outcome for a future Australia.

Kenny mentioned Peter Costello and his economic observations and advice.

It would be interesting to see who fellow Australians would nominate to occupy a position in such a think-tank.

I will start the ball rolling and nominate Tony Windsor. The former member for New England is highly regarded, and his unbiased attitude, reputation as a considered thinker, and deep concern for Australia's future makes him an ideal candidate.

The challenge is how to harness the talents of the likes of Windsor and Costello in such a way that there input can be respected, appreciated and utilised by the country's parliaments to ensure the best outcome of the nation?

B. Clarke, Bungendore, NSW

RUDD DOUBLE FAULTS

There are many decent Australians who would be appalled if Kevin Rudd became secretary-general of his local tennis club, yet alone the United Nations ("Rudd tiptoes towards the UN", April 17, p1).

Ian Morison, Forrest

CAPITAL IGNORANCE

I was interested in your Kew, Victoria, correspondent's anti-Canberra rant (Letters, April 17) in response to Brian Wenn's letter (April 13). Don't they have restaurants in Melbourne? By the way, I note that a house in struggle street Kew recently sold for $2.4million.

David Markham, Flynn

Victorian James Ogilvie (Letters, April 17) seems to think nobody in Canberra has a young family or is elderly and on a fixed income. Interesting. The ignorance of other Australians about their capital city is still alive and well. And yes, the national capital is indeed the "real" Australia. Whatever that's supposed to mean.

Basia Jones, Woden

BORDERLINE HONOURS

I'm sure Angus Houston has done much fine work, along with the other defence chiefs, but the honour bestowed upon him is for his work as a spotless and impervious wall of silence around Abbott and Morrison's tactics to stop the boats. He'll always be Sir Sovereign Borders to me.

S.Davey, Torrens

THE NAME SAYS IT ALL

The Canberra Times should be more careful about how it describes bodies interested in the light rail debate. The group ACT Light Rail is described as "the region's peak public transport lobby group" ("Capital's Liberals cannot ignore light rail mandate", Times2, April 17, p5) . Its name makes it clear it is a lobby group for the tram and not for public transport.

J.Marr, Hawker

MARYLAND POLITICS

Nick O'Malley ("Battle lines drawn early for 2016 race", April 18, p11) incorrectly identified Elizabeth Warren as the "former Maryland governor". Ms Warren is a senator from Massachusetts. The potential candidate who was the former governor from Maryland is Martin O'Malley, a name that should tug at Nick's familial heart strings.

Katherine Powers, Campbell

DREAMING OF AUGUST

I read "Your Stars" (Panorama, April 18, p31) with great amusement. Poor Aries, with the exciting potential of life never being more evident than now, and dreams being within reach and touching distance, they have to wait until August for it to happen.

Howard O'Shea, Gordon

Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message field, not as an attached file. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.

Keep your letter to 250 words or less. References to Canberra Times reports should include date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published).