BusPlus, developed by Canberra researcher Phil Kilby, has been waiting for government action since before it was first described by The Canberra Times more than a year ago ("Taxi-bus collaboration could solve transport woes", July 8, 2014, p3).

Kilby said at the time: "The typical scenario would be that I use a web page or phone app or call centre up to 10 minutes before I want to leave and say 'I want to go from this bus stop to that bus stop'. The operator or web page will tell you a 10-minute window to be at your bus stop and you'll be picked up by a taxi. You're taken to your local hub where, if you need to catch a bus, the operator will tell you which bus to take."

Why has the government invited Uber into Canberra to the detriment of the taxi industry, while it operates Action Buses at a loss of $100million a year and while the potential for a more efficient Action and a prospering taxi industry that delivers affordable services by BusPlus is ignored?

Answer: the Transport Workers Union calls the tune at Action and the prospect of losing all those penalty rates that don't result in any service delivery is unacceptable.

Moreover, the government doesn't want any successful alternatives to distract from those fascinating images of light rail.

A. Smith, Farrer

Given the overwhelming challenges facing humankind in the modern era, I am torn between commenting on the curmudgeons at the RUC North Bowling Club at Turner fretting over whether some fresh-faced uni students have misappropriated, along with the bowlers themselves, the image of what humans have decided to call the powerful owl ("Powerful owl's tug-of-love", October 8, Gang-gang, p8), or whether to comment on the idiocy of those, thanks to Bob Hawke, who rule over us in Lilliput.

Rulers, for instance, who haven't the basic wit to wonder, without prompting, whether closing 250 parking spaces in London Circuit for four years to build the thoroughly ill-advised light rail might, just might, have an adverse effect on nearby businesses ("Rethink on Civic car park closure plans", October 8, p1).

After some internal conflict, I have settled on the latter.

A. Whiddett, Yarralumla

Stan Marks (Letters, October 6) says that although he has been a Labor voter for 20 years he will vote for the Liberals in protest against the manner in which the ACT government has pushed ahead with light rail. Marks is not alone as an established Labor voter disillusioned about how the government has pursued this project. There has been a great deal of assertion and comment about it, for and against. In my view, it is for the proponents to present a clear and convincing case.

Against that background, it is clear a substantial percentage of ACT voters are far from convinced that the project is the best option either for infrastructure development in the ACT or for improving public transport. The government should address this fact and ensure the proposed project is independently and comprehensively evaluated in terms of options for infrastructural development and public transport.

At this stage, the ACT community may well feel entitled to conclude that the government's support for the project reflects Labor's vulnerable position in the Assembly rather than the various benefits the proponents of the project assert. Andrew Barr, who is gaining impressive reviews as the invisible man, may well give thought as to whether Shane Rattenbury is leading Labor to electoral disaster in 2016 – not a major problem for Rattenbury's Greens.

Ken Brazel, Weston

To paraphrase Ted Striker in Flying High, surely H. Ronald can't be serious (Letters, October 8). Tony Abbott et al complaining publicly about his loss of the leadership can only damage the government and aid the opposition.

It is therefore immature, selfish and self-indulgent. If he wants to "blow off a bit of steam", he can do that behind closed doors.

A more dignified response to what happened would have helped to restore Abbott's reputation (damaged by his own performance as prime minister), and would not have damaged the very government that he is supposed to support.

We all have setbacks in life – some are fair; some are not. I think a person's reaction to things that don't go their way speaks volumes about their character.

In positions of power, Abbott came across as a bully. Now he no longer has that power, he comes across as petulant.

Gordon Fyfe, Kambah

H. Ronald, give it a rest, will you, about Tony Abbott.

Your bromance surely is over now he's no longer prime minister. He is as useless as tits on a bull, now, and when he was prime minister.

Jan Gulliver, Lyneham

Gai Brodtman MP wrote that "auditors can improve transparency and accountability [by] getting the metrics, the key performance indicators right" ("What's measured is what matters: the metrics of government performance", The Public Sector Informant, October 2015, p14).

Auditors primarily check compliance with financial propriety.

Brodtman's advice – "Don't be a risk-averse auditor who feels it necessary to list every minor offence" – must surely be incitation to commit criminal nonfeasance.

Procedural auditors check catchment of data for the determination of compliance with propriety, with the law. KPIs are a management tool, not an audit tool. They are like a survey; a spot-check.

Audits check the entire process and the entire flow.

Brodtman apparently has a problem with such full accountability.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

If Australia is to become a republic when the Queen dies, as seems to be the current general mood of the community, shouldn't we be preparing for that inevitable day now?

The Australian constitution, selection method and "duty statement" for our own head of state, role name (need it be "president" like everybody else? Why not a name with more Australian connotations?), flag, coins and bank notes, together with a myriad of other matters, should be given considered attention now and not left to an undignified and hasty scramble later on.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has an obligation to show mature leadership on this issue and, without delay, appoint a minister for the republic to co-ordinate community discussion on the inevitable transition processes.

After all, well-run businesses have transition strategies in place for when the chief executive moves on – why not government?

Without suitable readiness, how long a reign of King Charles III would Australians be prepared to take?

Penleigh Boyd, Reid

I nearly choked on my breakfast cereal when I read H. Ronald's words "I hope Abbott stays in public life, as we need characters and people of principle to keep the bastards honest" (Letters, October 8). Abbott a person of principle? Hardly. This is the man who, a few years ago, tried to "buy" Tony Windsor's vote in the Senate in order to form a government.

This is the man who, earlier this year, reportedly offered Malcolm Turnbull the US ambassadorship, no doubt in an attempt to remove his "thorn in the flesh".

This is the man who – according to Scott Morrison – offered to dump Joe Hockey and give him (Morrison) the office of treasurer in order to secure his support in the party room before the recent leadership spill.

If these are the sort of principles that Ronald espouses as required for keeping the bastards honest, I'm afraid he has lost the plot.

Don Sephton, Greenway

Don't you get enough letters from locals that you need to descend to trawling them from Surrey Hills in Victoria?

I'd rather put up with another convoluted essay on Walter Gropius from Jack Kershaw or even a 100th-of-the-week peon of praise for Tony Abbott from H. Ronald than put up with yet another dimwit, this time apparently with a PhD, praising Churchill.

For Chrissakes, how long must we put up with silly people who clearly never got past their primary school history propaganda praising this disgusting, fat, drunkard, war-mongering pig?

Chris Williams, Griffith

Thank you to all the people who served me coffee, sold me things, and who provided food for me while I enjoyed the two past long weekends that Canberra has shared.

Most of those I noticed working were high school and university students, mums re-entering the workforce or mums and dads running second or third jobs to pay the mortgage and cope with the rising costs of living we are all experiencing.

I wonder if they realise that our new, charming, hipster Prime Minister and his grim Treasurer are planning to take away those lovely penalty rates that made their working Monday so financially attractive?

Michael Lee, Amaroo

The stoning to death of a young woman accused of adultery, shown briefly in this week's Four Corners program, was profoundly disturbing and not an isolated incident.

It seems ironic and contradictory that the least powerful members of the Muslim community, namely women and girls, are also those who are required to carry the heaviest burden – namely, protecting the family's honour.

What is the basis of this requirement?

Patricia Saunders, Chapman

COMPLICITY IN GUN DEATHS

A gun-related death takes place every 15minutes in the US on average. Voters seem unwilling or unable to support candidates with the courage to address this issue. This makes them complicit in these unnecessary deaths. America: wake up.

Charles Smith, Nicholls

LINE UP FOR THE MONEY

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's $10billion financing facility for new public works is Keynesian economics at its most visible. I am sure there will be many takers for this money. I am sure many boondoggles will be built, though not always on time, and always above budget.

Victor Diskordia, McKellar

A SUITABLE WELCOME

Gang-gang invites us to reflect on our first impressions of airports. It wasn't a delighted "gosh!" moment, but being confronted by a line of beggars at the then Bombay airport in the 1990s seared an impression on me. Might a line of tax collectors or pan-handling treasurers suit for Canberra Airport?

Graeme Dunstan, Kambah

LOYALTY REWARDED?

I recently received a letter from Telstra, my land-line phone provider of about 45 years, informing me that my monthly mobile phone charges would rise by 50per cent, from $20 to $30. No explanation offered. Well done, Telstra: another demonstration of your total disregard of customer loyalty and customer "service".

Brian Breach, Greenway

THE PATTERN CONTINUES

Four people were arrested recently in police "terrorism" raids with 200 heavily armed cops and massive media coverage. Three were released without charge. The other has not been charged but is still being held. The pattern of demonisation and fear-mongering continues.

John Passant, Kambah

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