We learnt last July the NCA had been asked by the Territories Minister to investigate the feasibility of residential development west of Tuggeranong. That report has never been released. How, then, is Senator Seselja in a position to assure us development across the Murrumbidgee River is appropriate?

Further, Senator Seselja justifies his crusade on the basis the ACT government should have the ability to make decisions about the future growth of Canberra. Yet the ACT government was not even consulted about the need for the NCA investigation.

If our politicians are really interested in saving jobs and promoting the vitality of our town centres, they would be far better off focusing on the imminent loss of thousands of public service jobs from Belconnen and the atrophying of the Woden Town centre.

The inner south is struggling with a proposed ACT residential development at the Canberra Brickworks that has serious implications for national capital values and local amenity. Our fear is this precedent will be repeated again and again in currently pristine areas of the territory that have been safeguarded by the national planning authorities for more than a century.

We have a beautiful and world-renowned national capital precisely because the Commonwealth has overseen its development from the beginning. The suggestion the short-term political and commercial interests that dominate ACT government planning in Canberra will be let loose across most of the rest of the ACT is truly frightening.

Gary Kent, chairman, Inner South Canberra Community Council

Transport benefits

Paul Pollard's discussion (Letters, April 23) of the discount rate used in Capital Metro's dubious business case lets it off lightly. Transport benefits comprise just 41per cent of total benefits in the business case, suspiciously low compared with three recent transport business cases from Melbourne – Westlink: 89per cent, East-West Link: 83percent, Melbourne Metro: 75-80percent.

Capital Metro claims an "agglomeration benefit" of $165million, yet does not explain the assumptions, which seem to include an unusually high aggregate elasticity factor. No evidence is provided for the dependency of land use and wider economic impacts on light rail, rather than population growth in general.

Travel-time savings at $222 million seem to have been overestimated by at least $30million, according to Australian Transport Council guidelines. Travel- time advantages were inconsistent with ACTION's own timetable. Two different population growth figures (1.6percent on p56, and 1.0percent-1.2percent on page 57) are used to justify savings leading to urban densification benefits ($72million), land value benefits ($168million) and infrastructure efficiency savings ($140million).

Particularly concerning is the double-counting of $168million in land value benefits, because the reason that land in the corridor may be more valuable is due to the perception of travel-time savings by potential buyers. But this benefit (travel-time savings) is already exaggerated as $222million in the business case. To include it twice is an error, as was explained by Dr Leo Dobes in the article "A simple sanity check on ACT's light rail" (Times2, July 17, p5).

Kent Fitch, Nicholls

The case for culling

Julian Robinson (Letters, April 30) still thinks I have some obligation to cite references for the masses of research against kangaroo culling. He seems to have missed the point that it is the government's job, not mine, to prove there is a case for culling. Culling, if not justified, would breach the Nature Conservation Act by authorising the killing of native animals and the Animal Welfare Act by allowing unnecessary pain and distress to be caused to animals. Yet the government has still not compiled any evidence or data to prove its case. Rather, it continues resorting to emotive and clearly erroneous claims that kangaroos grazing is a threat to local threatened species.

I am mystified as to what Mr Robinson thinks evidence against the cull might be if not evidence that it is cruel, based on nothing even resembling science, and a waste of vast amounts of ACT taxpayers' money _ the words I used in the letter to which he refers. Whose logic does that call into question?

Frankie Seymour, Queanbeyan, NSW

Julian Robinson's comments regarding opponents of kangaroo culling are interesting. The approach adopted of raising unsubstantiated claims and/or rejecting scientific evidence is similar to the approach adopted by opponents of culling feral horses in national parks.

Neither group ever seems to address the situation of overpopulation and its effect on the environment.

G. Thompson, Canberra City

An unflappable editor

Those who were fortunate to work with the late Alan Dobbyn will have appreciated Ross Gittins' warm recollection of the long-serving Sydney Morning Herald news editor ("Apathy allows super rip-off", Times 2, April 29, p4). As Ross wrote, Alan was "a true gentleman". He personified the principle of grace under pressure – generous with his time, supportive of his staff, unfailingly courteous, unflappable in the midst of chaos. Vale Alan, remembered with affection.

Peter Fuller, Chifley

Limited appeal

Mick Gentleman, Minister for Roads and Parking, warrants congratulations for his introduction of additional 40km/h speed limit areas in suburban shopping centres ("New speed limits to slow drivers", May 1, p8). However, there is still a gaping hole in the speed limit in probably the most frightening area in Canberra, the streets of Fyshwick. The streets of this suburb are packed with rushing tradies or shoppers wandering along looking for an address or a parking spot.

While some may say 40km/h speed limits will cause a loss

of time, the small area of Fyshwick would statistically disprove that.

Paul O'Connor, Hawker

It is truly wonderful that so many people ride bikes in this town. I'm the last motorist who'd want to discourage them. But in the space of about 30 minutes one night last week, I nearly knocked down not just one but two cyclists.

Both were wearing dark clothing. Neither had sufficient lighting and nothing that allowed them to be seen from the side. One jumped the lights from my left hand-side as I was about to turn right. The other had one small headlight and was invisible from side on and behind.

What can be done to save these foolish people and everyone else from the trauma and costs of the accidents they are provoking?

Helen Moore, Bruce

Underground mutton

John Sutton's letter regarding rabbits and experts (Letters, April 29) gives me thought for food.

Might there be a way that we can harness the underground mutton (sans myxomatosis) for tucker? Rabbits are great, especially when baked with olives or prunes.

I understand Mr Sutton's frustration with restrictions imposed upon the demolition process.

As a young fella, I would set traps before dark at our soldiers settler's block and do the rounds early morning to hopefully beat the foxes. I could skin and gut a bunny in under a minute with a sharp knife.

Dogs were fed and I might get a dollar a skin. I realise now of course how cruel this was in leaving a bunny injured and trapped overnight.

As my Dad told me: 'For every rabbit you see, there are another six underground'.

Might you, John, and Dr Brian Cooke care to discuss this further and form a more humane attack? I hope to catch them both around the traps.

Phil O'Mara, former rabbiter, Macgregor

Normally I fully appreciate Pope's editorial cartoons with their fine combination of wit, insight and a dash of cynicism. However Thursday's effort (Times2, p1) displayed none of those characteristics.

In an era when respect for the police force is rapidly diminishing, and society hell-bent on condoning any number of illegal or antisocial activities, it is appalling that a recognised cartoonist should demean himself to such a level as to render his integrity and standing as nought. It is also disgraceful that he implies the AFP have blood on their hands when performing the duties they are commissioned to undertake.

To imply the two convinced drug runners simply made a bad choice is completely erroneous. They would have been clearly aware of the consequences of their activities if caught. Illegal drug use is endemic in Australia, and all police forces are doing their utmost to eradicate this heinous crime. They are not assisted in this endeavour by weak governments and other "social do-gooders" who refer to drug taking as a recreational activity, and who seem to condone illegal activities.

Whilst it is an anathema to our social values to have our citizens executed, it is very hypocritical of us to condemn another country for attempting to eradicate a social evil when our own efforts are obviously failing.

Jim Coats, Fadden

Took the risk and lost

At last, a published voice that reminds us of the reason why Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were convicted in the first place, a comment from a parent whose son had died of drug addiction (Chris Davey, Letters, April 30). How must parents like this feel at the national outpouring of grief for and idolisation of men who plied the trade that killed their sons or daughters? The justification of the death penalty in this case is a moot point.

But let us not forget these two must have been well aware that Indonesia applies the death penalty for drug smuggling; Indonesia's stand was never a secret. These two took the risk and lost. What's more, they also enticed seven others to risk their lives in this way. The fact these seven ultimately did not receive the death penalty shows Indonesia is perhaps not as barbaric and bloody-minded as it is made out to be by the Australian media and public opinion.

And why did these men take the risk of a major drug smuggling operation? Greed springs to mind; the same motivation that also blinds drug smugglers and dealers to the fate of those who perish from the use of their merchandise.

Elisabeth Patz, Campbell

No second chances

Never mind the quality – feel the width. That's the logic of Tim Lindsey ("7 reasons why killings wrong", Times2, April 30, p1). Firstly, the use of "killings" and "shot dead" instead of "executions" is just a sly appeal to emotions; it has nothing to do with "reasons".

Then he asserts: "There is no evidence anywhere that executions act as an effective deterrent." Not so. It can be shown with a high degree of confidence that executions markedly reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

Bronis Dudek, Calwell

Wavering principles

What a sober and logical commentary by Jack Waterford ("Outcry reserved for when Australians are involved" April 4, p1), in which he argues that our government's rhetoric, regarding the recent executions in Indonesia, should have been inclusive of all death penalties, and not just those which involved Australian citizens.

Frankly, I do not see any Australian government ever daring to point the finger at the US regarding such matter. The response would be: henceforth, if you are ever threatened by one of your neighbours, don't expect us to come to your rescue. In other words, when one's interest is paramount, the question of principle is hardly something that troubles a politician's mind.

Sam Nona, Burradoo, NSW

Carry on, Jack

Jack Waterford and Jim Gralton (Letters, April 29) reflect my views so precisely on the arrogance and hypocrisy of Australia's media and politicians' performance on the Indonesian executions, that I have discarded my draft missive. Instead, I plead that you not let Jack fade into obscurity. Where else can we enjoy the exercise of checking the perfection of grammar in his sometimes convoluted sentences, and waiting to see whether his constant rubbishing of efforts to improve the lot of Aborigines is eventually tempered by a positive suggestion. Keep him as a National Treasure.

Michael Duffy, Curtin

Screening myths

Kym MacMillan 's letter to the editor (April 30) reflects a rather subjective, or convenient, view of migrant screening. There was certainly screening in the past, but it waxed and waned according to the government of the day's whims. Initially after the war it was mostly an attempt to filter out Nazis – a move rapidly diluted and finally ignored as a matter of expediency when Australia realised the US and Britain were snapping up the best science talent from erstwhile Nazi scientists. That label, of course, may not have been a true reflection of the individual but it was nonetheless a screening policy and it was cynically side-stepped by changing the filter from "Nazi" to "active Nazi".

It wasn't long before blood-type tattoos beneath some Snowy Scheme workers' left armpits were observed, talked about, and eventually ignored as passe. Immediately after the war this tattoo was taken to be prima facie evidence of having been in the Waffen-SS. But political exigencies change.

With the shift to a conservative government under Robert Menzies, communism became the bogey man and the immigration screening went to extremes to block even people defined merely as having been in a position to have been subjected to "Communist indoctrination". Delve into the national archives on this subject and you will find this included children who didn't even know what it meant.

If the Treaty of Yalta put your family on the communist side of southern Europe, this is how you were defined. So I would suggest screening was, and remains, a political tool; hardly an honest measure with which to define the success of immigration and refugee policies and practises.

Brad Collis, Melbourne, Vic

PEACETIME PRIORITIES

I'd much rather give $100million to Nepal than spend even $5million on a war museum.

Richard Horobin, Curtin

SOVEREIGN STATE

Like most, I don't agree with capital punishment, and thankfully it has been abolished in Australia. Nevertheless, we should recognise it is the law in some countries and we do not have the right to interfere with a law which is accepted by the majority of people in those countries.

Jane Reynolds, Watson

NOT BEYOND THE PALE

Before the media gets too cocksure of itself as Australia's moral barometer regarding the death penalty, let's run a referendum on the matter at the next federal election.

In particularly gruesome cases I'd personally be more than happy to pull the trigger that reunites a criminal with his maker and then divert the money we saved to useful purposes like medical research. And I don't think I'm alone.

Bob Thompson, Belconnen

BIGOTRY LAID BARE

Nothing scares me more in this world than the views of someone like Patrick Stewart-Moore (Letters, May 1). How fitting it should be published on May Day to warn us that people like him still exist. I am sure the good people of Wanniassa would not like to be tarred with his brush the way he assumes all Indonesians are alike. Although his views shock me, perhaps we should only feel pity for him.

J. Ryder, Aranda

ALY DROWNS SELF OUT

The words "their own catastrophic decision to traffic heroin aside", in Waleed Aly's oped "Pawns in a political game" (Times2, May 1, p4), relegated every other word in his piece to little more than background noise.

H. Ronald, Jerrabomberra, NSW

SERVES NOT SERVICES

If the government is seriously considering allowing a boutique hotel to be built on the site of the Services Club in Manuka that burned down a few years ago and relocating the Services Club to a new site, then please choose a genuinely unused site and not the tennis courts at Telopea Park High School.

Bea Duncan, Barton

CAN NBN COMPETE?

My gas, electricity and water/sewerage together ($1300) are less than my basic home telephone, internet and mobile (over $2000). Great if I could do that with telecommunications, with all its convoluted pricing! Will the NBN pricing be regulated like electricity?

Stewart Homan, Greenway

Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message field, not as an attached file. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.

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