The probably more important omission in the article was the financing of the ACT Labor party by poker machine revenue through its affiliated clubs group. While changes in the previous legislative assembly mean the flow of this money to ACT elections has been reduced, it is still available for federal elections. Is this the reason pokie reforms discussed by the Gillard government have not been implemented in the ACT?

Caroline Le Couteur, Downer

While I applaud your calls for greater transparency in the financial relationship between property developers and political parties (Editorial, October 26, p20), these do not go far enough. It is not only property developers, but also other players in the property sector. Among the top 10 donors on the Canberra Times list are two consultants who have done planning-related work for the government.

Also, the concern goes beyond direct financial donations and includes the influence and access the property sector obtains through events such as the Property Council's annual gala ball, which are highly effective in facilitating schmoozing between politicians and the industry. All of this puts the community at considerable disadvantage, especially given persistent concerns about the quality of planning decisions.

Karina Morris, Weetangera

It is heartening to see ACT Policing's Sergeant Rod Anderson discuss the dangers of using a mobile phone ("Drivers stung far less for reckless mobile usage", October 25, p3). Not in the way legislation defines it – hand-held devices are illegal – but that dangerous driving is a consequence of the conversation between the driver and the other person who has no idea of the traffic conditions the driver is experiencing.

There is ample evidence of the danger attributed to distraction from talking on a mobile phone while driving. It would be interesting to see some statistics.

Joe Murphy, Bonython

Peter Burrows (Letters, October 26) suggests we become "The Dominion of Australia", seemingly because our brother federation across the Pacific chose to keep "the grand title of The Dominion of Canada".

Canada didn't choose to keep the title "Dominion"; it was a description bestowed upon the new Canadian federation by the United Kingdom. An alternative favoured by the future first Canadian prime minister and others was "The Kingdom of Canada", a term described as "pretentious" by the Colonial Office in London. When we were federated at the beginning of the 20th century, we became "The Commonwealth of Australia".

It is difficult to see why we would want to become "The Dominion of Australia", though some of our monarchists might be keen on "The Kingdom of Australia".

Frank Marris, Forrest

Annabel Crabb ("With Whitlam, no shades of grey", October 26, p2), writes on the theme of what Gough Whitlam gave Australia. As well as Medicare, free tertiary education, and legal aid, she mentions "an exit from Vietnam". The decision to withdraw Australian forces from Vietnam was made by the previous coalition government. When Whitlam came to power, the last troops were on their way home or about to embark. He could not do anything to speed up that decision.

What he did do was end conscription.

Robert Willson, Deakin

The Sunday Canberra Times ("ACT govt says numbers back new nurse-led walk-in centres", October 26, p11) reported there had been more than 9300 presentations at the new Belconnen and Tuggeranong nurse-led walk-in centres since opening in June. Close analysis shows this is nothing to crow about.

The centres are open seven days a week, from 7.30am to 10pm. For the Tuggeranong walk-in centre, 5546 presentations were reported. That's just 3.9 per hour, on average. For Belconnen, 4404 presentations were reported. That's 3.1 per hour, on average.

How many nurses there are is not stated on the website, but you would expect that there would be at least two on duty at one time. That means each treats – on average – fewer than two people an hour.

Hardly numbers to back the ACT chief minister's claim that "Canberrans have embraced the new locations".

Don Sephton, Greenway

I shuddered when I read the article "Snake wrangler bags new wave of students" (October 26, p3). After more than 50 years of catching, handling ("wrangling"), studying and keeping venomous snakes I am still learning about them. Three-day courses and "certificates" on handling do not qualify holders to manipulate deadly snakes.

The ACT Herpetological Association strongly advises people who come across snakes to give them a wide berth (snakes only use precious venom as a deterrent as a last resort and prefer to get out of our way). All species of snakes, including venomous ones, are protected under legislation in the ACT and NSW Wildcare has no jurisdiction within the ACT.

Ric Longmore, herpetologist, Hawker.

Communities@Work chief executive Lynn Harwood says she's started to see a new demographic seeking support – "working poor" ("Highlighting homelessness", October 26, p19). Governments should be shamed into action on learning that 30,000 people in Canberra need emergency food relief and, that, on any given night, 2000 are homeless (with the average annual wage at $86,000!)

Andrew Leigh's writings underline risks involved in social inequality, but, contemporary Zed Seselja would spread responsibility around, refusing to see poverty/inequality remediation as solely a political issue. Treasurer, millionaire, cigar-chomping Hockey, in bringing to an end the "age of entitlement", describing "lifters" and "leaners", firmly indicates resistance to accepting responsibility for rectifying inequality. Abbott's WMD (words of mass distraction) focus on terrorism, "baddies versus baddies", security, "illegals", MH17 and shirt-fronting Putin, temporarily substitute for meaningful policy on social inequality.

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan