Applying the same approach here, let's have referendum to decide whether the science is wrong and we don't have to bother about man-made climate change. Or whether the value of our homes should continue to rise but housing for first-time home buyers should be more affordable. Or ... you get the drift.

Ron Walker, Campbell

The Greeks vote "No", causing the ASX to drop squillions down the gurgler. My, how easily the carnivorous sheep panic.

G.S. McKergow, Forbes Creek, NSW

Beware of Greeks taking gifts.

Phillip Owen, Forde

Paradise lost

John Passant's vision of a workers' paradise built on co-operation and democracy (Letters, July 7) has long since disappeared, I'm afraid, if it ever existed. Given the imperfections of humanity, the issue is likely to be decided by bankers and politicians.

John Robbins, Farrer

Uniforms intimidate

Mark Hartmann (Letters, July 6) reminds me of the occasion when as a migration officer I asked Arthur Calwell, Australia's first Migration Minister, when post-war European migration was well under way, why it was that Australian Immigration officials did not wear a uniform.

His reply was that "these people have suffered under the jackboots of black-uniformed Nazis for years and it is my intention that they will not be subjected to anyone in a uniform in Australia, but by ordinary public servants wearing a suit. You do not welcome anyone to Australia wearing a uniform."

Genuine refugees who have suffered in their country of origin by uniformed thugs forcing them to flee persecution will now be interrogated by an Australian Immigration official in an intimidating black uniform.

When, in my time, we tried to introduce a uniform for officers at the airport, they objected to our choice of "soothing" pastels saying that they looked like a travelling sports team. Today, if given the choice between a black authoritarian uniform and one which is a sports team in appearance, I have no doubt what my former colleagues would select.

Patrick Flynn, Page

Bravo Ross Gittins ("How growth can make us worse off", Business Day, July 6, p10)! He is like the boy who announces that the emperor has no clothes. What he has written, namely that it is GDP per capita that matters, rather than GDP, should be self-evident but seems to have escaped most economists and politicians.

Surely they should appreciate that you need more infrastructure as population grows, and that costs. The cost of that new infrastructure has to be weighed against the income from the extra taxes that a bigger population brings, before determining whether we are better off financially. Ideally, the infrastructure needs to be in place as the extra people arrive, be it from natural increase or from immigration. And yes, it would be nice if our policymakers could factor in the environmental costs of all those extra people.

Jenny Goldie, Michelago, NSW

John Warhurst states in his article "Seeking an elusive balance" (Times2, July 2, p1) that the ABC is "largely a centre-left institution, like most other arts and cultural institutions". By this he must mean that it is generally biased leftwards politically.

I don't know what academic evidence he has for this assertion (I suspect none), but there is clear evidence that it is contrary to what the public thinks. According to Newspoll surveys, about 90 per cent of people think that the ABC does a "good, or very good job", in being fair and balanced. Thus, overwhelmingly they think it is not biased, including most people who vote Liberal. Backing this up, another survey shows it remains one of the most trusted institutions in Australia.

Paul Pollard, O'Connor

Richard Denniss ("Be careful what you wish for", Forum, July 4, p6) suggests adding an arbitrary and possibly unconstitutional threshold to the unnecessarily cumbersome senate electoral rules. It is a move in the wrong direction, when what is needed is a restoration of simplicity to workings of the single transferable vote, whose avoidable problems arose when in 1948 Dr Evatt refused to listen to Opposition arguments and amendments seeking straightforward formality requirements.

His reference to "blocks of votes" being split betrays a guided democracy approach that requires at least 90 per cent of the squares below the line to be marked with no more than three departures from sequential numbering, or trusting endorsement of a group voting ticket whose practical workings often can't be gauged in advance.

Doing away with party boxes completely and allowing electors to issue their own instruction about the order in which candidates may be assisted by what remains unused of their vote would allow electoral officials to focus advertising on how to make the most of that vote, and ensure that all candidates reaching a quota did so on the basis of electors' conscious assessments, rather than through the workings of labyrinthine interlocking numberings submitted by co-operating party operatives.

Tasmania's and the ACT's Hare-Clark experience with Robson Rotation within party or group columns is that parties or independents with limited first-preference support do not remain long in the scrutiny before being excluded. Why look to complicate unsatisfactory matters further when empowering electors will achieve desirable outcomes and lift democratic legitimacy naturally?

Bogey Musidlak, convener, Proportional Representation Society of Australia (ACT Branch)

Nick Kyrgios has come in for some pretty harsh criticism over his Wimbledon match with Richard Gasquet. I'm no fan of the cursing and racquet-throwing – it diminishes the game for all — but the biggest criticism is that he tanked it, something seen as very unsportsmanlike and almost "un-Australian".

Nick did not tank it, and that criticism is not justified. He simply revealed what intense competition on a big stage can do to the mind. Sure, there were attempted cheap winners and apparent non-effort on a couple of points, but that was a symptom of the effects of pressure from the other end and what appeared to be his overwhelming frustration and incapacitating mental confusion. At the high end of sport the mind is the most important factor and it takes time to build.

Many great players have been found to be wanting in this way in their early years, but they became stronger with every tough match. Nick faced a well-developed mind across the net at Wimbledon. Overcoming the mind of a tough opponent defines his next developmental challenge, but he sure has the athleticism and skills to be a world-beater.

Terry Werner, Wright

Where have the decent, respectful tennis players gone, like Rosewall, Sedgman and Laver. The media has allowed prima donnas like Kygrios, Tomic and Hewitt with their gesticulating and court tantrums to prosper, spurred on by raucous Australian rabble supporters in their barmy-army style dress and actions to match. It's time to hit these show-offs where it hurts, in their pockets. Media-driven louts.

Rhys Stanley, via Hall, NSW

Dawn Fraser's comments are racist because they centre on the identification of Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic as not being of Anglo-Celtic origin. I have never heard anyone of English or Irish parentage being told in Australia to "go back where your parents came from". And I don't remember Dawn Fraser saying anything about David Warner's behaviour or parentage when he abused Joe Root. Once someone is an Australian citizen, whereby by birth or adoption, they should be regarded as equal to any other Australian citizen and telling someone who doesn't look or sound Anglo-Celtic to "go back where your parents came from" is racist in my book.

Tuck Meng Soo, Ainslie

Annette Shaw (Letters, July 6) hit the nail on the head with her query about whether the ACT Liberals are ready for the next election. Strong leadership, a policy and a plan are most certainly what they need to win the next time.

This is in stark contrast to the last election, when the Liberals mainly focused on a negative campaign of trashing Labor about the rates tripling without stating in turn what they would do.

If you look at your rates over the last 20 years you could predict they would have tripled under the Liberals anyway, just not quite as soon as under Labor, but they kept quiet about that. Indeed, when the local member was confronted about this at a local Gungahlin council meeting, he was non committal, even though he was strongly critical of Labor's policy.

It was at that moment I decided to vote Labor as the lesser of two evils. The Liberals will need vision and commitment before they get my vote back.

Dave Comfort, Nicholls

Our ACT government is acting with stubborness, can't be told and won't listen to reason, all for political gain and at our expense. Yes, it is great to have a vision for the future – I could envisage light rail going through Dickson and Braddon in the future. But I totally support James Graham (Letters, July 6).

A bus system where you don't have to look up timetables is what we all need instead of light rail, coming as regularly as the Melbourne trams, with park and ride services in the suburbs and other support services. The Melbourne trams cover inner city high-density areas only.

The satellite cities in Canberra involve greater distances, which should be more efficiently serviced. The government should not be entangling us with what types of trees to plant down Northbourne Avenue. This is just shifting the focus, another political ploy. Oh, and do you remember that some trees were replaced in Northbourne Avenue just a few years ago? Please spare us the 10-year disaster of the ruination of our entrance to our national bush capital.

J. Hanson, Fisher

I have a piece of advice for Chief Minister Andrew Barr regarding my 88-year-old father and how, after being sent to the Canberra hospital with a bowel obstruction, he had still not been triaged after a wait of more than five hours. My advice, how about you spend the money proposed for the tram line on something useful that will serve more than a handful of the northern population – like maybe public health!

Investing in an on-site GP practice would ensure children with colds, and others who always seem to manage to venture out for a cigarette can be treated, freeing up hospital services for those who require their specialised services.

I am totally appalled at the wait time and that any person let alone an elderly man with significant and life-threatening health condition can be left to wait so long. Mr Barr and the Minister for Health, Simon Corbell, ought to be ashamed.

Fiona Hume, Banks

Allan Spira (Letters, July 6) correctly identifies the angst of the neighbours of the Mr Fluffy blocks. Residential "densification" outcomes in Canberra currently seem to result in high-maintenance, box-like residences that take up most of the block area and have minimal car parking.

These suit young couples or similar who need somewhere to crash each night and somewhere to party at on the weekends. They keep different hours to the established homes next door. You can spot these developments in the suburbs, as the street is fully parked up with cars. The planners need to ensure that the planning rules provide for more on-site car parking and double-glazing for noise if these developments are aimed at young couples – or change the rules completely if they want to attract retirees. Retirees favour low-maintenance single-storey residences with sloped roofs, disabled access, quiet neighbours, two generous bedrooms, sunny inside and outside sitting areas, a small garden and a generous, wide garage.

John Skurr, Deakin

The photo accompanying the article "Fire sends smoke plume over the city" (July 6, p1) left me aghast and appalled. Here is a mountain of decomposing builders' waste sitting on a clay base right beside the Molonglo River. Potentially contaminated liquid will be leaching through the subsoil straight into the Molonglo and thence into Lake Burley Griffin and beyond. Because the waste is uncompressed and uncovered with suitable material it is also a potential breeding ground for vermin.

The only safe place for this waste is in the Mugga Lane tip. Who allowed this to happen? Where are our waste managers? Where are our health inspectors?

Nearly 40 years ago a small team of people spent a long time planning and searching for a suitable and safe site to dispose of Canberra's waste. I was one of them. We chose the Mugga Lane site. When it was opened we closed and remediated several old and unsafe rubbish tips and introduced recycling. I also spent many long hours stamping out illegal dumping of builders' waste and making Canberra safe. It is extremely disappointing to see such disregard for safe waste disposal.

Bernie O'Donnell, Wanniassa

Paddy Gourley's otherwise excellent article "Death by slogan: the end of 'god' government" (Public Sector Informant, July 7, pp6-7) is marred by one glaring defect. He says: "The last major territorial war fought by regular armies ... ended 15 years ago." Where was Mr Gourley over the past year or so when Russia was forcibly annexing the Crimea at Ukraine's expense? Is it different if the victim is not well placed to fight back? To then refer to Julie Bishop's "misunderstanding of history" makes Mr Gourley look like a bit of a stone-throwing glasshouse dweller.

Paddy Hodgman, Deakin

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

SCARY DIRECTION

Blocking ministers from appearing on Q&A is a lost opportunity to discuss and debate policy. This black-and-white thinking of Tony Abbott, secrecy of policy development, overplaying the fear factor and no respect for parliamentary process are taking us in a scary direction.

Colin Handley, Lyneham

RIGHT-WING BAN

Tony Abbott's ban on frontbenchers appearing on the Q&A program is to be lauded for its consistency with his policy of eschewing the presence of extremists on the public broadcaster, including his right-wing ministerial cronies.

Patrick Robertson, Rivett

Let us all grow up, and please, Tony Abbott, stop trying to make a political point out of a non-event. Australia has a lot more serious problems, such as domestic violence, to deal with. Let's get on with it.

Stan Cronin, Watson

JOYCE'S GEMS CHOICE

I was hoping to see Barnaby Joyce come out with more gems on Q&A on Monday night on why marriage equality was bad, like it would make the curtains fade or the chooks stop laying or maybe the milk turn sour.

Roger Brown, Rivett

COST OF UNIFORMS?

I totally support the views of Mark Hartmann (Letters, July 6). As the Treasurer talks austerity, how much taxpayers' money did the Waffen SS Border Protection Service spend on the new uniforms?

Vic Robertson, Page

KYRGIOS' LOST POINT

Nick Kyrgios will never be a champion while he worries about a lost point instead of the next point.

Phil Read, Safety Beach, NSW

RAIL REFERENDUM

How is it that the Greek government can organise a referendum in a week to give citizens a choice on their fiscal future, but the ACT government can't do the same thing with respect to light rail?

George Beaton, Greenway

SAME-SEX FREE VOTE

Is Tony Abbott "good enough, big enough and brave enough" to allow a free vote of Coalition members on the proposal in Parliament to allow same-sex marriage?

Tim Hardy, Florey

PICTURE DELIGHTFUL

Congratulations to photographer Jeffery Chan for capturing Brandon Gamma's moment of pleasure as he painted his boomerang at the museum ("Restored artworks tell of our reconciliation journey", July 6, p6).

Evelyn Bean, Ainslie

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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