It appears to delight in its own callousness. It makes decisions that advantage foreign interests to the detriment of Australian interests. Its agenda is indistinguishable from the now infamous Institute of Public Affairs hit list, and its ministers appear to be hell-bent on achieving their reforms, despite the fact that they have not convinced the electors that these are needed or justified. Its anti-intellectualism and disdain for science and the arts appear to be worn as badges of pride.

The electors accepted at face value the earnest assurances about "no cuts" and "no surprises" at the last election, only to find that a hidden, largely sectional and faith-based ideological agenda was waiting to be slipped into place. The government has claimed a number of wins, but how would one know when so much of the government's activity lacks transparency? Why would anyone trust this government? Lies, deceit, half-truths and sophistry now define Abbott's government.

What can ordinary Australians do about this and who will stand up for them? Labor is preoccupied with remaining a small target, and chooses not to outline alternative policies. It still seems not to understand why so many of its traditional voters rejected it in despair at the last election.

The last instance of highly effective personal protest by ordinary citizens that I can recall was when many indigenous Australians turned their backs on John Howard at the Sydney Opera House during the Reconciliation 2000 ceremony. He was clearly discomforted by it. Something needs to be done to discomfort the Abbott government so that it realises that it is not governing inclusively and a very significant number of Australians reject its decisions and intentions.

I.C. Dillon, Garran

Tony Abbott (with, presumably, the help of Peta Credlin) was the architect of the mantra the Coalition embraced soon after coming into office of acting "purposefully, steadfastly, methodically". Now we have "listening, learning, improving".

Isn't this what everyone should do? Credlin's credentials are purely ones of political staffer and public relations. Her real-world experience is zilch, and it shows.

Abbott is grappling with the same problem that Kevin Rudd encountered, and we know what happened to him.

Unless Abbott is prepared to revamp his team and bring in some people with brains and purpose, and who are not consumed by political machinations, then he should go, and soon. Julie lies in waiting!

Eric Hodge, Pearce

It would be nice to congratulate the federal government on something and the contribution of $200 million to the Green Climate Fund should have been the perfect opportunity.

Any warmth I might have felt towards the Coalition, however, is tempered by the fact the money is coming out of the overseas aid budget (already cut by $7 billion); that it's over four years; that $350 billion would have been closer to our fair share; and that Environment Minister Greg Hunt dares to suggest that they were going to do it anyway, when we all know Prime Minister Tony Abbott had been scathing about the Green Climate Fund.

Why is Hunt not in Lima, by the way? Climate change is the environmental issue of our day, surely.

Jenny Goldie, Michelago, NSW

The unpleasant Abbott government has no shame. From Abbott describing climate change as "complete crap", we now have the government led by the overrated Julie Bishop, and climate sceptic Andrew Robb lecturing other countries on what they should be doing on climate change ("Australia sounds climate warning", December 11, p1).

The Abbott government has no credentials internationally on climate change, and China, the European Union, Pacific countries and the United States will see through the hypocrisy. The penny has dropped on the Abbott government as it realises that majority public opinion in Australia supports effective climate-change action. But instead of taking real action, the Abbott government is trying to fool Australians and the rest of the world with its lies and "tough talk" at the Lima climate talks.

Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor

I am not convinced that all is doom and gloom in Canberra as predicted by Deloittes ("Five years' economic gloom, say experts", December 10, p1). I can see significant benefits from our "reluctance to spend", "slowing population growth" and being "weak" in "business investment and construction work".

It is time economic forecasters looked at the bigger picture and worked with governments and businesses to wean them off this unsustainable notion that economic growth based on population growth and rampant consumerism is the only way forward. As a small, autonomous jurisdiction, the ACT is ideally placed to implement innovative ideas to create a better future.

Malcolm Robertson, Chapman

Some of the people who bought asbestos-contaminated houses, relying on the ACT government's Certificate of Completion of Asbestos Removal Work, want to retain ownership and rebuild on their present block, to stay close to other members of their family, for example.

Andrew Barr's government, despite its talk of "flexibility", is determined not to allow this to happen, because it wants to be able to sell all the blocks. The head of the Asbestos Task Force, Andrew Kefford, says the government's plan cannot now be changed "partly because we've already agreed to buy 16 houses" ("Buyback begins: 16 accept offers", December 12, p1).

This is false. The 16 transactions are reversible. The properties can be offered back to owners who might not have sold if they'd had the choice.

Name and address withheld

I would like to inform Tina Faulk (Letters, December 10) that I, too, was born on a "beautiful island", Fiji, but its politics in recent times have been anything but beautiful. They have, in fact, been very ugly. It has had four coups in four decades since independence in 1970. The country and its people have suffered as a result of repressive rule.

It is well established that Sri Lanka has had a more brutal and repressive rule. No amount of whitewashing by Faulk can alter that fact.

As an Australian journalist, is she aware of the fact that journalists in Sri Lanka have also been victims of state persecution?

Faulk's letter betrays her own bias by glossing over the atrocities committed by the Rajapaksa regime.

She has done what no good journalist should do – suspend her objectivity and balance and attempt to hide the truth.

Rajend Naidu, Glenfield, NSW

Ian Jannaway (Letters December 5) repeats what I was taught as a lawyer: we are equal before the law, so should be treated equally, no favours. Indeed, that is an important value, but Charles Dickens also taught us that the law can be an ass and the perpetrator of great injustices. Inadequate laws are changed all the time.

It troubles me that our indigenous fellow citizens are imprisoned so much more than non-indigenous citizens (only 0.9 per cent of the ACT population but 14 per cent of our prisoners). They are thus submitted to a process that, surveys tell us, satisfies neither the victim nor the offender. If circle sentencing and restorative justice do a better job, then let's have more of those processes.

As a community, we must be very clear about the society we want and the most cost-effective way of achieving it. It does not make sense that we pay almost $500 a day to imprison someone who we know, when released, will be more likely to offend than when they were first imprisoned.

In the past 20 years, state spending on Corrections has grown at a rate faster than nearly any other state budget item. Despite increasing Corrections expenditures, recidivism rates remain high, with half of all those released from prison returning within three years. This truth has registered in even hard-line American states such as Texas, which have embarked on justice reinvestment.

Bill Bush, Turner

John Warhurst ("Hard road ahead for centrist", Times2, December 11, p4) writes an interesting account of how once rusted-on political party supporters are seeking alternatives to mainstream parties. Curiously, high-profile individuals who insert their names into a political party usually prosper for only a short period.

People may like the brand name of a successful individual, but often prefer to vote for a party name that encapsulates their own political philosophy. Don Chipp and that other eccentric millionaire, Gordon Barton, were wise to use the name Democrats and Australia Party.

The recent electoral success of the Greens is obvious when one considers that their brand name reflects in part their strong environmental beliefs. Warhurst, though, is incorrect when he says the Greens have only ever won one seat in the federal Parliament. Michael Organ also won the seat of Cunningham in a NSW by-election in 2002, but lost it at the general election of 2004.

The NXT (Nick Xenophon Team) should hold a party-room meeting and change its name before it becomes history.

Julian Fitzgerald, Farrer

Is there a better indication of an entrenched sense of entitlement than well-heeled Canberrans whining about a miserable $5 Medicare co-payment? Pathetic.

H. Ronald, Jerrabomberra, NSW

HANDY TIPS FROM ABBOTT

When is Tony Abbott going to publish his Little Book of Excuses for Everything so that we can all benefit in some way from his leadership?

Cheryl Christophers, Higgins

MEDAL-WORTHY BACKFLIPS

If backflips and broken political promises were an Olympic event, Tony Abbott would win a record amount of gold medals in this alien sport.

Richard Ryan, Summerland Point, NSW

CHRISTMAS RESOLUTION

My wish for Christmas is that members of the Abbott government decide, on balance, that honesty is the best policy.

And, in the spirit of the season, I wish H.Ronald a happy and safe Christmas.

Gordon Fyfe, Kambah

CASE TO DITCH LIGHT RAIL

Well done, Graham Downie ("Where is the proof light rail will be better?", Times2, December 10, p5). You have made a clear case for ditching light rail and fixing ACTION. At a fraction of the cost!

Eric Traise, president, Tuggeranong Community Council

WHEN IS MOWER COMING?

Memo to TAMS. When are you – or your contractors – going to mow the grass on the shoulders of Tharwa Drive south of Lanyon Homestead through to the Tharwa Bridge? For much of the length of this section of road the grass is thick, over a metre high and browned off. If that is not a fire hazard I don't know what is.

Don Sephton, Greenway

SHOW LEADERSHIP, BARR

As the new Chief Minister, Andrew Barr should – as a show of leadership – stand up to Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury and scrap the light rail project that we can't afford and that few want. It might win him some votes in the next election too!

Roger Phillips, Deakin

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