His apologies are nothing but empty words. How much compensation has been paid to those whose lives have been and are still being shattered by his bank's rotten-to-the-core behaviour?

He must be pleased to be able to put all that nasty and embarrassing stuff behind him, forget about it all for another year, go home to his nice secure luxurious pad and put his feet up for another year. Bring on the royal commission, I say.

James Gralton, Garran

Malcolm Turnbull's stance in blaming the South Australian blackouts on renewable energy is not political opportunism.

It is an epiphany. After all those years of sitting in a joint party room with the Nationals and his right wing Liberal colleagues he has finally got it.

The problem with renewable energy is the same as the problem with vegetarianism. Instead of robust transmission towers fed by sturdy coal power and standing as solid as a country butcher, South Australia now has structures as emaciated as those vegetarian hippies that have to chain themselves to trees to remain upright.

Of course, the first strong breeze was going to lead to blackouts. Post epiphany, we can look forward to more commonsense prime ministerial announcements like "of course the Great Barrier Reef is turning white – everything fades in the Queensland sun" and "those cracks were caused by tree roots, not fracking – trees are the real problem." I can't wait.

Tony Judge, Woolgoolga

The ABC's Four Corners showed quite clearly the blackmail that the US is applying to Australia to discard out long term and highly successful commercial relationship with China as our number one trading partner. After 70 years of carrying America's bags in wars, dalliances and gross misbehaviours we are now losing even more of our miniscule independence as a country.

A foreign minister like Julie Bishop, an extreme US afficionado, is incapable of making a rational judgement for the best interests of Australia. Independence for decision making is now a thing of the past.

The US Darwin base shows that clearly, now to be seriously expanded. Leaving such matters in the hands of our insecure government is as dangerous an environment as we have ever seen.

Rhys Stanley, via Hall, NSW

Jessica Irvine ("This is what would happen if Australia halted immigration", canberratimes.com.au, October 2) insists on a population-driven, growth-based economy that defies all the basic rules of sustainability. For the record, the continent we've got is the driest, has the worst soils, is past its carrying capacity, has an appalling extinction record, and has iconic species on the managed extinction track right now.

Most Australians do not oppose immigration per se, but immigration at current break-neck levels. What's wrong with the levels pre-2005, which were less than half the current rate?

We have options about our future population. Ms Irvine treats us as if we have none, confronting us with a false choice between mass immigration or economic calamity.

The truth is that we can care for an ageing population, enjoy economic prosperity and work towards ecological sustainability without rapid population growth.

Susan Bowes, Gordons Hill, Tas

Jenna Price ("'Ignorant Australians are threat to my society", Comment, October 4, p17) has written a lengthy piece, taken a swipe at certain Australians who do not meet her standards, and criticised Christians as well, because mostly they didn't stand up to a maniac back in the bad old days.

I can easily make out where Jenna doesn't stand, but not as easily see where she does stand, when she writes of divided loyalties. Should one be loyal to Australia, even where a divided loyalty involves Israel? To avoid the suggestion of selectively supporting an "ism" such as Zionism, it would not have hurt to make this matter more clear.

Elsewhere, the Times of the very same date of the Good Food Guide (p4) gives good if unintentional food for thought: "A person should not believe in an 'ism'; he should believe in himself". Not John Donne, but John Lennon.

Roy Darling, Florey

Jenna Price is correct to a degree. Her culturally left reflex ignores salient points though.

That she is Jewish is irrelevant. Is Jenna aware that almost all those of European descent have Jewish ancestry, Askenazi for Germanic peoples and Sepphardi for Spanish Latinos?

My own children are descended from a rabbi who lived in Queensland in the 19th century. I chuckle when I try to picture a Zero Mostel type character running around Queensland carrying a Torah in 1860.

Jenna's comparison between Judaism and Islam is one analogy too far. Even orthodox Jews are respectful and tolerant of their host society's cultural norms. Extreme Islam is not. Evidence exists both historically and today that many Muslims are good citizens; however, a minority can be vociferous in their intolerance of liberal, democratic views.

Gerry Murphy, Braddon

Robert James (Letters, October 1) seems to be a great fan of queues as a solution to refugees' problems, but no one with any knowledge of refugees' historical experiences would share his enthusiasm.

The danger of this mentality was critically exposed in June 1939 when the MS St Louis, a vessel carrying Jewish refugees from Nazism, was turned away from Miami by US officials, with a State Department spokesman stating that the "German refugees ... must await their turn ... before they may be admissible to the United States". Returned to Europe, over a quarter of those on board were subsequently murdered in the Holocaust.

(Dr) William Maley, Reid

The policy discussion on rates in the ACT election has been abysmal. The ALP has refused to get out and defend the increase in rates and the reduction of other taxes as a substantial reform. Sadly the Canberra Liberals have not discussed the basic principles of the policy and have embarked on a policy of populist opposition.

The shift to land value taxes is more equitable than current dependence upon stamp duties. It lifts the burden off those buying and selling homes and spreads it across the community. Such taxes cannot be dodged. It proves housing affordability for the young and makes it easier for older Canberrans to move it more appropriate housing as they get older.

Doug Hynd, Stirling

Michael and Christine O'Loughlin (Letters, October 4) claim that their rates have risen by 105 per cent, and so are more than two-thirds of the way to the Liberals' forecast tripling. I think the O'Loughlins need a lesson in arithmetic.

When something triples, the increase is 200 per cent. For example, if you triple 5, you get 15, an increase of 10. 10 is 200 per cent of the original value 5.

So if the O'Loughlins' rates have increased by 105 per cent, they have (slightly more than) doubled. 105 per cent is about half of 200 per cent, so they are half way to tripling.

John Hutchison, Coombs

I'm delighted that Michael and Christine O'Loughlin took up my suggestion (Letters, October 3) to do their own rates calculations, thereby confirming that despite their surprisingly large increases compared with my own, the Liberal's infamous 2012 "triple your rates" slogan was essentially an outright lie in their case as well.

I hope plenty of others do the same calculations to make an informed voting decision.

Terry George, Kingston

At a well attended 'Meet Kurrajong Candidates' Public Forum on September 27, organised by the Inner South Canberra Community Council, 15 candidates spoke. Most focused on planning, light rail and bus issues. Only one of the 15 had anything substantive to say on education.

In response to a question on education policy– whether candidates favoured needs based funding for schools as recommended by the Gonski report, or favoured a shift of funds to independent schools or to public schools – the Labor candidate was able to commit to the Gonski principles of needs-based funding. The Liberal shadow education minister (whom I know to be a hardworking and conscientious MLA) said little more than this is a matter for his federal colleagues.

Planning, light rail and buses are undoubtedly important issues and controversial. But education and health are the major expenditure items in the ACT budget. It seems there are significant social policy and public policy differences between the major parties on both education and health. Surely it is time public debate, including letter writers, focused on these fundamental policy issues.

Ernst Willheim, Forrest

With the City to the Lake construction starting on October 17, just two days after the ACT election (LDA-notice of car park closure, 14/08/16), the arrogance of the Barr/ Rattenbury government rises to yet greater heights.

And why blame the National Capital Authority for desiring a move for the previously successful Floriade when the government is closing essential tourist parking access. Or is it a joint decision? Whatever, it's just another slap in the face for community at developers' delight.

B. Moore, Kingston

Nicholas Stuart's attempt ("A line going nowhere", October 4, p17) to compare Canberra light rail with the monorail is not particularly useful given that Sydney moved on from the monorail and embraced light rail. Indeed, cities all over Australia and the world are embracing light rail.

While bus networks are important, clearly these cities don't think they're the only solution.

Property prices don't rise when a new bus route passes their house (or monorail), but they do when light rail is rolled out.

Matt Grudnoff, Giralang

Well done Nicholas Stuart! Nailed the festering, powerless, voter' resentment in several well-argued points.

Time for a change, and a chance to redeem Canberra's financial security from a deficit disaster. And I look forward to making all my preferences count.

Gary Atkinson, Kambah

Walking through the Jerrabomberra wetlands on Tuesday morning I encountered two svelte, blonde yuppies walking their dogs, one of which was a big hound. They were on leads but when I politely reminded the young women that this was a sanctuary for birds and dogs were strictly prohibited I was rudely told to "mind my own business".

I appeal to those of you who live and are going to live in this lovely area to protect and preserve this unique place, as habitation rings the area.

June Cullen, Chifley

Christina Faulk (Letters, September 30) assumes that the removal of Liberal-authorised electoral signage from roads in Woden represents vandalism by political opponents, but it may also be that the placement of the signs, eg, within 1.2m of the road, within 20m of a street corner, on a residential nature strip – contravenes the Electoral advertising and the Public Unleased Land (Movable Signs) Code of Practice 2013 and the signs have been removed by city rangers.

Patricia Saunders, Chapman

SUPREME QUESTION

Why would a Supreme Court judge appear to be shielding the Barr government just before an election ("Supreme Secrets", Public Sector Informant, October 4, p2) ?

Murray Upton, Belconnen

SILENCE ON VIOLENCE

Good to hear Warren Mundine speaking to Fran Kelly on ABC RN on Tuesday talking about domestic violence towards indigenous women and the lack of interest in the community. The silence from the (white) feminists, indigenous leaders and politicians and social justice advocates is deafening.

Sheila Duke, Ainslie

PAYING FOR POSTERS

Can one be assured the rate payer is not paying for the vast number of unlimited road side posters?

J. Larkey, Chapman

RELIGIOUS CURE

Thanks to Robert Wilson (Letters, October 4) for quoting, I assume accurately, Edmund Burke's proposition that "religion, and not atheism, is the cure for superstition". Burke may have been a statesman, but not everything he said made sense.

Robert Wilson considers that "a quote should be used honestly, not twisted for polemical purposes".

This would seem to be a recent addition to his moral armoury, for it was certainly absent in his letter of February21 when, relying on some highly selective quotations, he attempted to co-opt Albert Einstein as someone who believed in God.

Justin McCarthy, Chapman

US AND THEM

It's probably indicative of the Liberal Party generally, but I found it jarring that on the ABC's Q&A program, Federal Social Services Minister Christian Porter repeatedly referred to his notional clients by the exclusive "Australians" rather than "us" or "we", as if talking about some group separate from the ruling class. Happy to see you as one of "us", Christian.

K.N. Bell, Kambah

FINALLY A BRIDE

Alan Leitch (Letters, October 4) says "Fairy tales are real" after the Western Bulldogs and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, combined, waited over a century to win AFL and NRL grand finals. I prefer to rationalise that the old saying of "Always a bridesmaid; never a bride" is now no longer true in football, regardless of the code.

Murray Hunter, Titirangi, New Zealand

PORCH LIGHT ON

Malcolm Turnbull has left the porch light on for raw onion man.

John Passant, Kambah

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