"Support for the NDIS and Gonski agreements." The NDIS trials have resulted in budget overruns, the elimination of government disabled services and substituting inadequate private services, while Gonski is a cash splash without determining the causes of poor education standards and their rectification.

"Oversighting a busy metropolitan health system." A "women's and children's hospital" with inadequate bed provision, "walk-in centres" that have not reduced emergency unit presentation, "mental health facilities" with insufficient rooms and inadequate staffing and security, "committed staff " with ongoing bullying problems.

"Moved forward on marriage equality" a small step (backwards?) at a high cost to the taxpayers.

"The legacy of asbestos." The current solutions are questionable and the problems will get worse.

The "most significant achievement was bringing Ikea to town". Unfortunately, this probably is the major achievement.

Last, but not least, the "handing over to the very capable Andrew Barr". Pardon?

Ed Dobson, Hughes

The current radial territory-wide light rail plan, of which Gungahlin-Civic is the first stage, is not right for Canberra because, unlike virtually every other city, this place is not single-CBD (central business district)-centric. That's mainly because, being the capital, the landscaped Central National Area must be physically dominant. So, we have a great arrangement of planned multiple town centres, sub-centres, and local centres, with flexible inter- and intra-centre bus services, and a well-planned road system.

That arrangement prevents congestion in Civic (or "City", as it is now sadly called), and the urban sprawl blight experienced by CBD-centric cities. They look to radial light rail as a fix, by encouraging densely developed "urban villages" at the stops. Our current light rail plan will diminish the CNA, upset the territory-wide social, employment, and commercial balance, and create localised congestion, displacement, poor affordability, and overcrowding – and blight, as many suburbs are deprived of handy local services.

Andrew Barr, dump the current tram plan and maybe, with Commonwealth participation, look at a City-CNA light rail loop.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

Surely imprisonment should always be the last resort after due consideration of the options ("Prison rates at highest in decade", December12, p1). Using imprisonment as a deterrent to others is condemned worldwide as a proven and costly misconception, as evidenced by the growing prison population and the very high percentage of repeat offenders; it is not a deterrent – even the death penalty failed on that score.

With the use and value of imprisonment under universal scrutiny, the ACT government must weigh very carefully the balance between $2million committed to the "throughcare program", designed to keep offenders out of jail, and the $54million allocated to build more cells at Alexander Maconochie; the former seen as an investment, and the latter as an expensive failure.

Criminologist David Biles, in the same article of December12, gave a well reasoned opinion on the use of prison sentences, and I am sure most Canberrans would also endorse the sentiment expressed by Dr Biles that, "it was a shame that the territory no longer had Australia's lowest rate of imprisonment".

Margaret Owens, Narrabundah

Oh dear. The pro-culling ACT government will welcome the ANU research on reptiles and native grasslands ("Mobs of ravenous 'roos eat endangered reptiles", December12, p6) because it belatedly supports its kangaroo management policy. But to protect lizards, we apparently need grasslands over 20centimetres tall.

Surely, the fire ecologists will then tell us we have created a fire hazard, dangerously close to housing and other developments. We could potentially find ourselves with no kangaroos, no lizards and no grasslands. But, thankfully, there will always be plenty of human beings to make botched decisions on land management.

Lynda Graf, Garran

The committee looking at naming new Canberra suburbs has the expected responsibility of ensuring the names go beyond mere parochial political wishes but enhance Canberra's place as the national capital, and the evolving history of the nation, its people and their achievements.

Apart from some politically correct namings and some names confected from guilt, largely the list of Canberra suburbs is passable to Canberrans, if puzzling to non-Canberrans (eg, Ngunnawal).

However, there are yet many worthy Australians who, unlike some of the politicians commemorated, have achieved international fame and acclaim without accompanying blemishes. Such a distinguished Australian is Dame Joan Sutherland.

Another Australian who is in danger of being overlooked, is Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson. His poems and stories still evoke affection and are a significant part of the cultural fabric that is distinctly Australian. How can the committee overlook his The Man from Snowy River or Clancy of the Overflow?

That there are Moncrieff, Melba and Lawson drawn from the arts, does not preclude honouring Sutherland and Paterson.

Already we have a plethora of prime ministers' names as suburbs.

Greg O'Regan, Farrer

Some years ago, the ACT government closed a number of schools. The buildings were then handed over for use by community groups. The rent has become astronomical, and community groups are either disbanding, moving elsewhere or closing down altogether since the number of members are declining and are unable to afford the rents.

Now, a large number of rooms in these buildings are empty, for example, the Grant Cameron Centre in the former Holder High School. Would Minister Corbell consider his actions helpful for the community, and intelligent use of taxpayers' money?

Bobby Pinkerton, Farrer

In just about all the commentary on the current malaise affecting (infecting?) the government, two names in particular consistently get a mention – Tony Abbott and Peta Credlin. Only one of them has been elected to office and holds the top job in the land, and yet the other – appointed to the job – seems to have enormous control over the Government's agenda, including over the actions of ministers.

Perhaps it is time for one – or both – to go.

Don Sephton, Greenway

We are told that if we don't give due recognition to history, we are condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Tony Abbott's interests would perhaps be better served, therefore, if instead of dismissing on gender-bias grounds the reported disaffection by some of his Cabinet colleagues with Ms Peta Credlin's methods, he were to absorb the lessons gained from other politically disastrous appointments of the recent past.

D.N. Callaghan, Kingston

As chief of staff to the then Deputy Prime Minister and principal private secretary to the then Prime Minister, I had the good fortune to work with Peta Credlin during the Howard government and the campaigns that followed.

To suggest as Eric Hodge (Letters, December 13) has that Credlin has zilch real world experience ignores her time in the private sector outside Canberra, and fails to recognise the importance of experience across a range of portfolios and ministers, and in Opposition, in equipping a person to be the Prime Minister's chief of staff.

My experience with Credlin is that she is a hard worker who expects the same of others. There is no argument that she is tough, likes to keep her hand on the pulse, and as some have already said, is a straight talker who will stand her ground when needed and not be backward in expressing a view. She is fiercely loyal to those she works for. Rather than a point of criticism, I would think these are the very characteristics one would look for in a principal adviser to the Prime Minister. Credlin is probably better qualified for the job than many who went before her on either the Labor or Liberal side.

If control is an issue, I would simply say that any minister or for that matter member or senator, who tolerates being "controlled" by the PMO, rather than their party leader, is not worth their salt and should find another occupation outside politics.

The criticism that Credlin has overdone her public profile is unfair, as like all women in influential positions the media are more likely to focus attention on her rather than the other way round. Leaving the media hype aside, I am sure a check on the profile of many former male chiefs of staff will show that they had an equally high public profile.

Many people worked hard and long to get the Liberal-National Coalition back on the government benches, and I for one do not want to see internal bickering distracting from the major job at hand, which is to fix the mess Labor left behind and to get the economy back on track.

While I am no longer privy to the internal affairs of the government, I would suggest that if there is an issue with the Prime Minister's Office, then those involved should follow the proper course of action and take their concerns to the person in charge, namely the Prime Minister, rather than taking the easy way out by briefing the media and others.

Peter Langhorne, Narrabundah

I am puzzled by the recent spate of letters in these pages regarding the intentions and ability of our present day politicians.

Do we not realise the age of the statesman is long gone? Our politicians are no longer interested in the betterment of the nation or the welfare of its people. Rather, today's political priority is simply the fight to gain power and then hold it. If they could, politicians would deny most of us the right to vote, only permitting the party faithful to cast a ballot. So why the surprise?

C. J. Johnston, Duffy

Professor Kim Rubenstein's article "Injustice of new High Court Justice pondered" (Times2, December 12, p5) disappointed for the poor quality of its argument, which seemed to be that the suitability of candidates for the High Court should depend not (or not only) on their legal ability but on their sex. Therefore, we should have a selection process that decides whether an appointee should be a man or a woman before considering anything else.

If you want to put a case like that, you should at least provide a basis for concluding that Australia might be better off with a judge of inferior legal ability but of the right sex than the opposite.

If you don't, your case no more merits support than that of someone who argues that a male would always be a more meritorious judicial appointment. Both are inadequate, but equally so.

Greg Pinder, Charnwood

It was refreshing to read Mikayla Novak's article "Pressing need for serious reforms" ('Forum, December 13, p7). Her call for an end to selective expenditure reductions and encouragement for the government to pursue equi-proportional expenditure cuts across the board adds a sense of perspective to the current "shoot from the hip" approach that follows on from the government's time in opposition.

One incidence of wanton waste, the "fuel tax credit scheme" costs taxpayers megabucks each year and was originally set up to benefit our very efficient farmers. The main beneficiaries today are foreign-owned mining companies that consider paying tax in Australia to be an option rather than an obligation.

The fuel tax credit scheme should be abolished and farmers paid their fuel tax credits by Coles and Woolworths who hijack much produce at the farm gate with the product of farmers' hard labour ending up as dividends to both local and foreign shareholders.

Les Brennan, Sunshine Bay, NSW

Noting international travellers stretching legs at Fairbairn on Friday, I recalled a different United States experience just over 20 years ago when our trans-Atlantic DC10 was diverted from Boston due to bad weather, landing at nearby Pease Air Force Base. Although stuck there for over two hours, passengers had to stay on board – uncomfortable with no aircon nor food and drink, plus staff attention wilting because end of shift was overdue. Luckily upgraded when boarding at Glasgow gave us much valued comfort – and now we could stretch out in our business class seats.

Frank Duggan, Chisholm

Welcome to Canberra International Airport! International? Welcome to an Australian backwater! What a joke – where are the immigration and customs facilities?

A great way to greet international visitors. Will the owners of Canberra Airport now refrain from using the word "international" to describe this Hicktown facility? There are better facilities at Uluru.

M. Clayton, Kaleen

Canberra Airport has received many accolades from architectural sources but what about the passengers? One frequently has to walk across the tarmac to board or disembark, then there is a flight of stairs to climb, followed by a trek to the main concourse. Then, try and find the exit and baggage claim. There is still no clear signage so the best one can do is follow the other passengers. Down an escalator to claim one's bags followed by a long walk to the car park!

Our daughter in America has told us that the episode with United Airline passengers initially having to sit in an aircraft for several hours followed by more hours sitting on the tarmac has been widely reported on in the US. Not a good advertisement !

John White, Deakin

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

On Friday, Tony Abbott pondered how things might be different were his Chief of Staff, Peter, not Peta. Did he mean, like, if Julia were Julian, not Julia?

Annie Lang, Kambah

OPEN SECRETS

So Andrew Barr is "openly gay". Should we also note that our former chief minister, Katy Gallagher, was "openly heterosexual" or is it time we grew up and ignored such labels? PS, I, too, am openly heterosexual.

Bruno Yvanovich, Waramanga

ROOS V REPTILES

John Thistleton's article on the proliferation of kangaroos and the subsequent "mowing" of the longer grasslands at the expense of cover for endangered lizards was very interesting (December 12, p6). My attention was drawn to the heading, "Mobs of 'roos eat endangered reptiles", which surprised me greatly, as I thought kangaroos were vegetarian.

Ian Towill, Fisher

PETROL PLEA

On a weekend trip to Albury, I found unleaded petrol for 128.4 cents a litre. Why are Canberrans paying 20c/L more? Can someone please answer?

Anthony Reid, Murrumbateman, NSW

BIRD BRAINED

Ian Warden is calling for more pictures of Canberra birds doing extremely violent or sexual things to one another ("Pigeon plumages flies in Isaacs", Gang-gang, December 12, p14). As an aviculturist, I see too often the cruelty of birds.

To see this in print is distressing. I call on Warden to spare us this ghoulish fascination he has with pictures of the violence of birds.

Linda Wiese, Monash

A SORRY BUSINESS

I suggest to Richard Ryan (Letters, December 15) that the Government should apologise to David Hicks only if and when he apologises to the Australian people for supporting, and indeed fighting with and for, the enemies of Australia and the whole civilised world. This is something he has consistently refused to do. Indeed, he remains apparently congenitally incapable of any real self-analysis or mature reflection on his own behaviour.

Richard Moss, Chisholm

HOCKEY'S HITCH

For some time now, I've had trouble making sense of many of Joe Hockey's statements. Currently, I'm trying to work out how Santa would actually be helped by people spending up at Christmas ("Hockey's promise premature", December 14, p21).

Gordon Fyfe, Kambah

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