I cannot begin to think of the useful endeavours that may have been achieved with that amount of money.

The most amusing aspect is that 10 kangaroos were given a placebo in place of the real contraception.

Why? What possible empirical scientific conclusions could be drawn from wasting $4137 on this?

Kangaroos who are not given a real contraceptive can breed? Astounding! Perhaps Shane Rattenbury could employ Professor Steve Garlick to talk to the kangaroos who were given the placebo and gauge their interest in sex versus the kangaroos given the contraceptive.

T. J. Farquahar Ainslie

There has been a lot of condemnation – and rightly so – against the actions of the driver responsible for the carnage in Melbourne this week. Cries to "kill him" and "lock him up for life" have been common.

The really sad thing is that a short time ago he presented to authorities and was diagnosed with a mental illness.

I am sure that if he had been diagnosed with a broken leg or a heart problem he would have been referred for treatment and no doubt the treatment would have been very good.

But from my reading his mental illness was not referred on to anyone and he was given bail without a treatment order. A mental illness is just that – an illness. And if it is left untreated, like any other untreated illness, the results are often predictable.

So while it is probably impossible to understand the grief many families in Melbourne are suffering, the authorities in Melbourne should take a serious and long hard look at their procedures to ensure that all sick people get the help and treatment they should be entitled to.

Revenge is not justice.

Geoff Barker, Flynn

In reference to the Victorian Premier's announcement on bail conditions, why is it our political leaders across all levels of government only seem to act and make what appear to be common-sense changes to laws and processes after tragedy has struck?

Why will they not listen to the public, or their bureaucrats whose job it is to support government with advice, not hinder it by providing a risk assessment of the likelihood of occurrence?

I am sure someone somewhere at least once before has suggested a night court (or similar) so that monsters such as the Melbourne alleged are taken off the streets before they commit something "inconceivable".

Is it opportunistic and a chance to boost one's popularity in response to others' misery? Is it the rabid right's excuse to grandstand and further divide society, taking them away from constructive comment?

Yes, I suggest so.

And they all wonder why the public holds them in such contempt.

Ben Roberts, Hawker

Margot Sirr (letters, January 24) decries the planting of the dreaded eucalypt in Australia.

In a far off time (well, early 20th century) there was a view that the native animal life of this continent – inferior, primitive marsupials – would ultimately be overcome (replaced?) by the superior, stronger, life forms of the northern hemisphere.

That has not (yet) been achieved, although the cat-lovers have striven heroically to make a contribution to that objective.

Now it's gum trees v. the deciduous kind (presumably, and preferably, the kinds from Up Over). An expression, perhaps, of (arbori)cultural cringe?

G. S. McKergow, Forbes Creek, NSW

Does our ACT government listen to the public voice about planning matters? Anyone with an interest in environmental matters understands that growth and development have reached a critical point in Canberra, yet we continue to import the ugliness of other large cities with increasing disregard for conservation of the natural beauty we have inherited.

The proposal to build six-storey private residential buildings in the northeast area of West Basin is wrong in principle and will only replace the unfortunate Westside Village with even more obtrusive development, destroying one of the finest sunset views of the Brindabellas that Canberra has to offer our visitors.

Canberra is different from other Australian cities and we love its natural beauty. Previous planners have done a marvellous job in preserving and reinforcing the natural and historic attributes given to us by the Griffins.

Greed, insensitivity, inequity, and lack of vision are slowly destroying its unique character. An opportunity is being lost to continue Commonwealth Park to the National Museum to retain and reinforce its natural landscape close to the centre of the city for all to enjoy. West Basin is not an empty space awaiting development.

Our current politicians must learn when enough is enough and be held accountable for this particular rape of Canberra's natural beauty.

Derek F. Wrigley, Mawson

Australia Post has advised for years "never enclose cash in a mailed envelope. Security cannot be guaranteed".

Now even cheques appear no longer safe (letters, January 17).

I, too, posted an envelope late November containing a card and three small crossed cheques as a Christmas gift for each of my grandchildren.

Seven weeks later its arrival is still awaited. All other cards posted at the same time (without cheques) safely reached their destinations.

This has possible portents ofcriminal behaviour in the Scanning Section of Canberra's Sorting Centre in Fyshwick.

Is there security in this centre to prevent a scanned envelope of interest to someone from being removed, or opened and then destroyed?

Perhaps the situation should be investigated?

Margaret Rowe, Hackett

Hitler promised to make Germany great again, so beware of megalomania.

Cynthia Moloney, Yarralumla

The Australian public should be questioning the criteria used in awarding Australia Day Honours, judging by the material presented in the list published in the Canberra Times on January 26.

Aside from the amazing reference to someone receiving an AM in the General Division for his promotion of the Australian flag, so many of the recipients, particularly politicians, senior public servants and academics, appear to be rewarded simply by their employment over the years, rather than extra unpaid and extensive involvement in the community.

On their own, criteria such as service to the community through public administration or services to science and other academic disciplines, are not sufficient.

The focus should be on those providing exemplary unpaid community service beyond their employment, especially given the egalitarianism we proclaim as Australians.

Warwick Williams, Nicholls

David Jenkins (letters, January 26) is incorrect in asserting that Australia became an independent sovereign nation on January 1, 1901, when the Commonwealth of Australia was established.

The Commonwealth of Australia was simply a new Australia-wide colonial entity sharing power with the various Australian States under the sovereignty of the British Crown.

Australia's passage to independent sovereign nationhood has taken place over many years since then.

Some might say it was finally achieved on March 3, 1986, when the Australia Act came into force.

But perhaps we are not yet there, and won't be until we rid ourselves of British monarchs as our heads of state.

Frank Marris, Forrest

I have always been bemused that on January 26 we celebrate a British event — the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson.

From a national perspective I would have thought that the date when we achieved statehood would be far more important, based on either when The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 became law on July 9, 1900, or when that Act came into effect on January 1, 1901.

As January 1 is already a public holiday (and we never give these away) why not celebrate on July 9? After all, there's not much else to celebrate in July (apart from my birthday).

Roger Dace, Reid

It was very pleasing to see a scientist, Alan Mackay-Sim awarded Australian of the year, particularly given the current Federal Government's attitude to science (remember the CSIRO?) And Sister Anne Gardiner is a noble woman who has given her life to the service of others.

Paul Vasileff is a young entrepreneur proving the rag trade can thrive with design imagination and flair, and Vicki Jellie, what a local hero.

All well deserved and makes us feel proud. But wait, what was the representative of the Commonwealth Bank doing on stage? What did the bank do? As a customer myself it could not be service-related.

Peter Best, Weetangera

While I am unlikely to ever agree with Ian Macfarlane on political issues, I am in total agreement with his view that January 26 is an inappropriate and divisive choice on which to celebrate Australia Day. I believe that a little lateral thinking would suggest the exact date is irrelevant. Logic suggests that to hold it on the first Friday or Monday in March would be popular with all elements of our society and resolve a lot of issues over sick leave and absence from work.

Tony Langer, Chisholm

What makes the ACT Government think that Andrew Kefford (former head of the government's Asbestos Response Taskforce) is worthy of some sort of award? Oh, silly me, I forgot — he's helped them acquire quite a lot of suburban land to be rezoned and developed and in the process forced 1022 Canberra families out of their loved homes. Let's not mention the financial stress, grief and despair he and the government have caused them.

Kathleen Read, Watson

It puzzles me, the things that seem to terrify some people.

The image of a couple of cheerful young Australian women celebrating Australia Day with flags for instance seems to reduce some to hysterically gibbering irrational hatred and threats of extreme violence to anyone who even displays the image.

Surely a psychotic phobia can be the only explanation for such odd behaviour?

Ian Fraser, Duffy

Anyone concerned that their innate sexual preferences and the circumstances of their personal relationships had not yet been categorised into sweeping generalisations and deemed to be more or less worthy than others' can finally breathe a sigh of relief! Frank Mines (letters, January 23) was kind enough to pass judgment on you and remove any uncertainty you may have had regarding the relative worth of your love.

Will Mr Mines next use his astounding broadmindedness and unrivalled empathy to provide married couples with individual rankings? God bless him!

James Allan, Narrabundah

No Gary Wilson, Indonesia is not our nearest neighbour (letters, January 21) .

The Australian islands of the Torres Strait, eg. Thursday Island, Saibai Island and Dauan Island, are closer to Papua New Guinea than Christmas Island is to Indonesia.

With regard to "main-land" Australia, the top of the Cape York Peninsula is closer to Papua New Guinea than the north-western region of Australia's main-land is to either Indonesia or Timor-Leste.

Christopher Jobson, Monash

When Barnaby argues those who want to move the date of Australia Day should "crawl under a rock", he is likely inviting them to join him as he may be feeling lonely.

Luca Biason, Latham

PUBLIC DISSERVICE

Good to see the Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour receive an honour for "distinguished service to business, particularly in the area of postal communications". He certainly would not get anything for service to the public, despite being (one of) the highest paid "public servant(s)".

Allan Mikkelsen, Hawker

BEGGARS BELIEF

What truly beggars belief is that Peter Robinson (letters, January 27) should describe the decision to stand up to a tiny and ugly minority by proudly displaying a sign of genuine and healthy multiculturalism as a choice "to promote Islamic fundamentalism in our city square".

Felix MacNeill, Dickson

THIRD MONDAY OPTION

Why not change Australia Day to the third Monday in January. It will never be the 26th, the whingers will hopefully shut up and it will generate a guaranteed long weekend every year.

Jevon Kinder, Murrumbateman

FEED THEM CRUMBS

Considering "a recent court ruling that [Woolworths] did not act unconscionably in demanding as much as $60 million from suppliers to plug a profit shortfall" ("Woolworths set to break bread with its suppliers", January 23, pp34,35), it appears the company is about to feed its suppliers on crumbs.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

HANDY CINEMA TRICK

I go to the movies every week with senior friends, some of whom have a hearing loss. I bought some ear plugs. Screwed up tissues also suffice, but remember to remove them on departure as it's not a good look!

Susan Liebke, Stirling

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