For instance, population movements could be affected with healthy, rich people gravitating to low taxing/low servicing states while old age pensioners, who constantly access state-provided services, would be enticed the opposite way.

Many years ago I was told by a world-weary senior executive who had seen it all that the urge to centralise/decentralise an activity became overwhelming every 20 years. Each time, an analysis inevitably highlighted the root cause of many problems as the centralised (or decentralised) nature of the activity in question.

Each time it was reasoned that if the activity were centralised (or decentralised) those problems would magically disappear.. And once action had been taken they did, but major problems that had been avoided up to that time then emerged causing the cycle to repeat itself once corporate memory had faded. Unfortunately each approach to organising an activity brings its own set of problems as well as its own advantages.

The question of handing taxing powers to the states should not be decided so much on the problems such a move would solve, but on which problems will emerge once the change has been made. In essence the question should be which set of problems would we rather deal with on an on-going basis. It could well be that following such an analysis we decide the PM's proposal is sound, but we should not be so naive as to think it will solve all our woes. I look forward to Peter Martin's future article examining the proposal's downside.

Michael Parsons, Griffith

One of the reasons John Howard used as prime minister to justify breaking his promise to never ever introduce a GST was that a GST would remove the inequity in funding to state health and education caused by differing tax revenues raised in different states.

If the government needs revenue they should stop the tax evasion by the multinationals and large Australian corporations and their owners. What a revolutionary idea and a good place to start.

Instead Turnbull has a brain blurt and goes back in time recycling pre-Howard policies. Maybe he thinks this will prevent the Liberals recycling leaders.

Rory McElligott, Nicholls

Alert-but-not-yet alarmed voters may note that Malcolm Turnbull has form as a failed leader. While hoping to advance his political career as a leader of the Republican movement, he was easily outplayed by our soon-to-be greatest-ever wartime off-spinner, J.W. Howard.

He demonstrated that his intelligence was a biddable commodity when he accepted a ministry and became a compliant and usually mute supporter of Mr Abbott's government while it trashed things like climate science and renewable energy, affordable tertiary education, affordable health care, support for the arts and sought to turn Australian society into an IPA-approved stock market option.

He was part of a government that cheerfully signed off on FTAs and TPPs before there had been appropriate consultation with the Australian people. This same government sent an increasing number of Australian jobs overseas and celebrated the fact. Mr Turnbull's government now talks innovation while arguing that an emasculated CSIRO represents a benefit for the nation.

It's a government that urges long overdue tax reform but which deals with it in the Parliament as if it were a high school debating topic. It's a government that is as aggressively anti-intellectual as its predecessor, even though it acknowledges that intellect may be necessary to secure our future. Mr Turnbull will need much more than a healthy ego, intelligence, a smarm offensive and a limitless supply of turbid waffle to win the day.

His party, at federal and state levels, is stacked with ideologues and devout Conservatives, many of whom long for a return to muscular, wrecking ball politics.

Mr Turnbull urgently needs to clarify what he stands for: to the Australian people, not just the party room. Agile and excited voters may be reluctant to fall for a Cadbury-sweet prime minister a second time.

I. C. Dillon, Garran

With the murder of rural health worker Gayle Woodford in South Australia, the public is being given a wealth of information relating to how government departments send women into workplaces full of the daily likelihood of risk and injury. We can compare the management of these women with indicators of community standards for management of other government workers.

Government seems never to have considered managing or rewarding the risks of rural nurses and women working in remote communities. These nurses and other women do so in an environment of daily dangers driven by alcohol and drug abuse, mental health issues and social problems.

Male-dominated institutions such as the huge state and federal police forces, the Australian Border Force, and the Defence Force, never, however, want for money, kudos, medals, and support.

The lack of consideration and management by government of the risks women face working in these remote communities is deplorable.

Andrea Madon, Dickson

Driving around inner Canberra over Easter, the absence of commuter traffic was evident along with the cautious interstate visitors. However the most striking and distressing sight to me was the number of homeless people, carrying all their worldly goods, who were trudging the streets with nowhere to go.

On Easter Monday I read that negative gearing has the effect of subsidising investors to leave properties standing empty ("Solve empty home rort first", Times2, March 28, p4). The writers, Professor Bill Randolph and Dr Laurence Troy, estimate that almost 470,000 dwellings in desirable locations in Sydney and Melbourne are standing empty because their sole purpose is to minimise tax and maximise capital gain. I'm sure this is also in evidence in Canberra.

To me it seems a national disgrace that we have allowed such a situation to develop. Those who wish to invest in property should rent it out or lose it. That would go a long way to resolving our chronic housing shortage and make rentals more affordable through competition.

K. L. Calvert, Downer

Splendid picture of an excellent unit for a city transport system for Canberra ("Libs reveal bus route to poll", March 31, p1). With its multipurpose function, wheelchair access, bicycle accommodation, and innovatively, information and entertainment systems, it defines a multipliable component of an economical total transport system that can supplant many of the functions of the individual motor car.

The multi-axle chassis being capable of attachment to other units, it will be an ingenious utilisation of the light rails to modernise our city highways. The map of the widespread network is ambitious, but this railcar system will be an excellent trial of the City-Gungahlin route.

As an innovative transport component, it will demonstrate Canberra as a forward-thinking modern city.

Jack Palmer, Watson

When will we see some proper commentary about the light rail that discusses the real purpose of the project, namely the redevelopment of the Northbourne and Constitution avenue precincts.

Will this work proceed if we have a rapid bus solution? Is light rail driving the redevelopment or is it a by-product of the redevelopment? Can the topic be discussed intelligently without three-word slogans? Can the benefits for all Canberrans be explained?

Peter Foley, Flynn

Tania Bradley's plea (Letters, March 31) for more consideration for smokers trying to quit is genuine and heartfelt. One readily accessible option is for smokers to visit one of the 52 ACT community pharmacies taking part in the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Smoking Cessation Counselling Service project, supported by the ACT government under the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program.

Smokers do need help and understanding when it comes to trying to quit and community pharmacies stand ready to assist.

Margaret Beerworth, ACT branch director, Pharmacy Guild of Australia

J. P. H. Trinder (Letters, March 18) stated "I do not recall Allied submarines sinking many German or Japanese subs in World War II". Another correspondent about two years ago claimed that no submarine was ever sunk by another submarine.

In Silent Victory, a history of US submarines in World War II, Clay Blair says that about 22 Japanese submarines were sunk in the period 1942-1945. J.C. Taylor in German Warships of WWII lists about 13 German submarines sunk by Allied submarines. There may be some overlap as forces under US control sank two U-boats in the Pacific theatre.

Given that, in the Battle of the Atlantic, British submarines would have been strenuously avoiding the main areas of U-boat operations (Atlantic convoy routes, Western Approaches etc) for fear of being sunk by their own anti-submarine operations, I would think that is not a bad effort.

In World War I, British submarines sank 11 U-boats in the period covered by Volume Five of Naval Operations (the history of the Royal Navy in WWI) that is February to November 1918. The British regarded the submarine as a very effective anti-U-boat weapon in that conflict.

N. Neal, Pearce

There has been many years of media coverage regarding European wasps (Vespula germanica). Last year, wasp expert Dr Philip Spradberry stated in a Canberra Times article that "the number of European wasp nests across Canberra has more than doubled compared to the same time last year, the highest in wasp activity in more than 30 years." It has also been claimed that the wasps are in plague proportions and multiplying.

More recently there was the article "Call to use app to help eradicate European wasp nests" (March 10, p2) wherein Core Enviro Solutions invasive species officer Jenni Connolly claimed that European wasp nests can release several thousand queens at the end of autumn and each queen can set up her own nest next season.

Last year I also had dramas with these wasps in Lyons and yet couldn't locate their nests. I noticed that they enjoy roast chicken and lamb chops. I then found some old tomato insect killer in the shed ( Lindane and Carbryl ) and applied it to the bait. I used chicken wire to ensure only these wasps had access to it. To date I have not seen one European wasp in my yard this summer.

Maybe our authorities can set up these bait stations around Canberra and beyond to eliminate this pest. I believe that this "waspplication"' is environmentally friendly as it only targets the nests.

Michael Calkovics, Lyons

Liz Farrelly ("Defiant grassroots rebellion", Times2, March 31, p4) is a regular Rodney Dangerfield, a stand-up comedy routine played out in your paper. She may well have been exhorted to eat "close to the ground". I prefer to dine at the dinner table. Perhaps we can tie a leash to her and hunt for truffles? Further to her poetic notions, the only green shoots Liz will find visible in urban Sydney are called weeds. By the way, what is "macho mining"? Is that a reference to the industry that provides most components for her bicycle, car, mobile phone and home like steel, copper and rare earth metals? Would Liz settle for "feminine mining"?

Gerry Murphy, Braddon

Women hit hardest by HELP changes

Advocates for lowering the repayment threshold for HELP have acknowledged the likely impact on women, particularly those working in the lower paid professions. Some say that this is inconsequential, since most will be partnered and be in households with incomes above $80,000 per annum.

An ANU research paper demonstrated that women are the least likely to fully repay HELP debts. This, one concludes, is linked to child-rearing and associated propensity to work part-time after the youngest child starts school.

Changes to HELP have the potential to significantly affect girls' participation in post-school education and the professional workforce. Prior to the Whitlam government introducing free university education, workforce participation of married women lagged. The woman of my generation entered university either on a scholarship or cadetship, if the parents weren't sufficiently wealthy to pay the fees. Most left the workforce permanently on marriage. A significant number used the Whitlam reform to return to refresh skills and enter the workforce.

These women would not have done so if increased financial burdens for the family budget had been necessary.

The introduction of HECS compensated for the return of fees and the improvement in girls' participation in post-school education continued, as did female workforce participation. It is clear that female workforce participation, considered essential to enhanced productivity, will continue to be closely linked to net dollar gain to household budgets once childcare costs and loss of welfare benefits, as well as tax and HELP fees are all calculated.

At some point, the government must decide whether an educated workforce is a public good which will be supported by public investment, or a private good, financed privately. As it was in the '50s.

Marie Coleman, Watson

TO THE POINT

The Canberra Times wants to hear from you in short bursts. Email views in 50 words or fewer to

letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au

FREE-RANGE FOR PEOPLE

I wonder if others find it ironic that ACT Consumer Affairs Minister Shane Rattenbury is urging less crowded "free-range" conditions for chickens while supporting densely crowded human residential development along the proposed tram corridor ("Push for rethink of 'free-range' standards", March 31, p2).

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

MISSED MESSAGE

I watched the Treasurer, Scott Morrison, when he was speaking to Leigh Sales on our ABC late last week. I'm afraid he sounded like every teacher, preacher and salesman that has ever turned me completely away from the message they were trying to sell. I doubt that I am the only person he affects in this way.

K. L. Calvert, Downer

A SPOT OF EXERCISE

John Rogers (Letters, March 31) should check out the No. 40 bus (940on weekends) for his trips to the Nishi Building (Letters, March 31). A five minute walk at the Cook end and a 10-minute stroll at the Civic end will add a fitness element to his cinema outings – much less stressful than searching for a park.

Anne Bowen, Macquarie

WAGES FACTS

It might be private enterprise, Jack Pennington (Letters, March 31), but in 1959 the average wage was £16, or about $32. That's a week, Jack! Do the sums.

Lud Kerec, Forde

TWO RONNIES TOO FEW

Well, there'll be laughter in heaven, or wherever Ronnie Corbett has gone to join Ronnie Barker. Comedy will never be the same again without those two lads.

B. Smillie, Duffy, ACT

SHORT-CHANGED

While acknowledging what a wonderful performer Ronnie Corbett was, it is absurd to call him "half of the Two Ronnies". He was more like 40per cent of the partnership, would be my guess.

John Walker, Queanbeyan, NSW

PRICES, PLEASE

Sheer gall! The Barr government has accused the Liberals of not having costings for its plan for the ACTION bus network (media reports) for public release when it flatly refuses to let taxpayers know the real cost of light rail!

M. Silex, Erindale

UP TO THE WIRE

Malcolm is muddling on, from fibre to the node to taxing to the node.

Chris Klootwijk, Macarthur

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