Sue Braid (Letters, June 20) claims wind turbines reduce farm values by as much as 30 per cent, but provided no proof. I would imagine that the value of a farming property would be affected by its productivity, by droughts, the Australian dollar, what product the market wants to buy, but not by wind turbines.

Basically, it boils down to this: opponents of wind turbines don't like the look of them, but that alone makes a weak argument, so they think up all sorts of things to argue against them.

Julie Macklin, Narrabundah

With reference to the article ''Huff and puff as Alan Jones leads wind farm protest'' (canberratimes.com.au, June 18), and Peter Campbell's comment (Letters, June 20), one more injustice has been delivered to the hundreds of Australians living and suffering around wind farms.

Of the 200 or so people who attended the ''Wind Fraud'' rally, most were from farming families who have been impacted by wind developments or are threatened by inappropriate wind developments. They already have enough stress and financial burdens to carry.

The ''Wind Fraud'' rally was about poor planning, and the social and economic harm that goes with it. The pro-renewable rally was about city dwellers who have deaf ears, and resort to conspiracy theories that the unknown is out to get their renewables. It is, unfortunately, farming families who are bearing the sleep-destroying brunt of reality, and not the unthinking city dreamers.

George Papadopoulos, Yass, NSW

In the article about Alan Jones' latest rally Senator Ron Boswell is quoted as saying that, ''wind farms only work 30 per cent of the time, but when you really need the power, in the peak periods, it's only about 8 per cent of the time''. That is not correct.

Wind farms in Australia operate at capacity factors around 30 per cent. This does not mean that they work only 30 per cent of the time. It means that they produce 30 per cent of the annual energy that they would if they were placed in a perfect site that allowed the turbines to operate at their rated capacity all year. Wind turbines are producing varying amounts of power most of the time. Some manufacturers are producing machines that operate better in low winds, lifting their capacity factor.

Similarly, Senator Boswell is incorrect to say that wind farms are only available in peak periods ''about 8 per cent of the time''. The present fleet of wind farms, in their current locations, have been assessed to deliver a ''firm'' 8 per cent of rated capacity during peak periods, based on an analysis by the Australian Energy Market Operator. To date, wind farm site selection has been more concerned with capacity factor and total revenue than coincidence with the narrow times of peak demand.

Senator Boswell concludes, ''it doesn't work … it is just a fraud''. In 2011-12, South Australia produced 26 per cent of its annual electrical energy from wind power.

Ben Elliston, Hawker

Looking at the development of northern Australia plan announced by Tony Abbott, I am wondering if this is a cover for an expansion of the coal seam gas in Queensland and uranium mining in WA and Queensland.

The Liberal National Party website talks of ''building an energy export industry worth $150 billion to the economy'', ''streamlined land access legislation'', ''systematically address the multitude of Labor government policies that constrain the regions' growth''. Western Australia Liberals have overturned the ban on uranium mining.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman is re-commencing uranium mining. Abbott plans to abolish the Mineral Resource Rent Tax but keep the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax plank which is now extended to onshore gas and oil projects. Campbell Newman vehemently opposed the legislation fought for by Tony Windsor of federal approval for ''projects that potentially affect groundwater such as the Great Artesian Basin or the Condamine Alluvium near Dalby''. Newman's election policy was to ''axe the Wild River Conservation policy'' of 2005. Abbott talks of environmental issues being left to the states.

Also in the mix will be the marine park zones. The Coalition opposed the legislated management plan and talks of scrapping the plan and setting up further consultation and scientific research to allow activity in.

With these facts in mind, just what is the development of northern Australia really about?

Sylvia Miners, Isabella Plains

Bryan Furnass (Letters, June 21) has once again entertained us with his list of doom and gloom about the climate, warning us of climate Armageddon if we don't correct our dirty, carbon-emitting ways.

We are about to see the global temperature rise by 6 degrees if we don't. Of course this applies to 2100 and he and other doomsayers won't be here to take the flak when this doesn't occur.

The root of this ridiculous claim is of course the climate models. If they were so reliable, why are there such divergent predictions?

But they are to a large extent based on assumptions. Even the UN IPCC admitted that they have no skill at predicting future climate (IPCC TAR P774).

And of course Bryan ignored China whose CO2 emissions are increasing annually by more than Australia emits each year and India on a similar course, both attempting to take their populations out of poverty. Australia's ceasing all CO2 emissions would have no noticeable effect at all under such circumstances even if atmospheric CO2 were important as claimed.

J. McKerral, Batemans Bay, NSW

Three years ago, Julia Gillard ousted Kevin Rudd as leader. In her first speech as Prime Minister she solemnly pledged that the ''budget will be back in surplus in 2013''; she would ''establish a community consensus'' for action on climate change before in the future putting a price on carbon; she would seek consensus on the proposed Resources Super Profits Tax; and she would provide ''strong management of our borders''. Finally she said, ''I also believe that it's important if you lead a team to rely on the collective efforts of the team …

''So it is my intention … to lead a government that draws on the best efforts of my cabinet and ministerial colleagues, on the best efforts of each member of our parliamentary executive and the best efforts of each member of our caucus to ensure that our government is on track.''

Three years down the track we can see that not one of these solemn pledges to the Australian people has been kept. Labor is a broken wreck of a once fine political party. Whether Rudd topples Gillard this week is now irrelevant. The Labor government has betrayed the Australian public and deserves to be flung out of office, with the hope it might examine its failures and take steps to rebuild.

R. K. Flynn, Queanbeyan, NSW

In your editorial ''Labor's hiding to nothing'' (Times2, June 24, p2) you state that Prime Minister Gillard is a failure. What rubbish! In a hung parliament facing a relentlessly negative bullying opposition, bereft of ideas, Gillard and her first-class ministry has brought in more significant reforming legislation than most other Australian governments.

Australia has the best-performing economy of the OECD. But we never hear this from The Canberra Times which, because it does not fairly report on both sides of politics, is a failure. You consistently overlook the pathetic nature of a policy-free opposition (although it does have the occasional stupid policy such as abandoning carbon trading and ''turn back the boats'') and ignore the almost complete lack of talent in the Coalition. Let's get more balance in Canberra's only newspaper.

Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor

We're seeing an odd collection of new buildings in the Sydney Avenue precinct, Barton. There's a large grey hotel/apartment complex and an array of free-standing, armoire-like office buildings each with roughly the same footprint, height and bulk, but with cosmetically different facades. They're more than a bit stodgy, amorphous and unexciting.

No doubt, in setting the planning and design controls for these buildings, the National Capital Authority was keen to emulate but not compete with Parliament House, famous for its ''sublime orthodoxy'', ''timelessness'' and ''landscape solution''. The ''national significance'' of the precinct may have also confused the drafters of the controls.

The result is that they seem to have confused and overly constrained the Sydney Avenue architects. The NCA board continues to have two vacancies, a sad economy measure no doubt. Despite political and administrative nervousness with the idea, one of those vacancies clearly needs to be filled by an experienced, highly talented, vocal and internationally renowned design architect. And, as recommended in the authority's own charter, design competition should be encouraged for key buildings in and near the parliamentary triangle.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

In ''If we build it, they will come, and take the profit'' (Forum, June 22, p9) Richard Denniss offers a lucid and plausible argument for thinking that ''public-private partnerships'' are just another way of putting the private sector maw onto the public teat. Is there anyone in the ACT government who can mount a contrary argument in similarly lucid and plausible terms? If not, is there anyone who can explain why none of what Denniss says applies to the mooted ''light rail'' link between the city and the north?

Seeing that we have a local government that hasn't been overwrought about giving Mark Sullivan $800,000 a year or spending $300,000 on a few flights of a balloon (or $300,000 for an ACTEW staff dinner) then we probably should be worried about the likelihood of a billion or more being blown on another white elephant.

Bronis Dudek, Calwell

Having recently retired from the project management business, it was a welcome relief to read Richard Denniss reminding us of the need for a fourth ''P'' in this mess - Panadol.

Michael Doyle, Fraser

Beer with the blokes beats birds! That is the message loud and clear from the Carlton Mid beer advertisement shown during both AFL and NRL on Saturday.

This was on free-to-air TV, during children watching times. Four men dump (one physically) their women partners to go elsewhere to drink beer. Alcohol consumption with other boys is encouraged ahead of respectful relationships between men and women. When their sponsors and employers promote (through advertisements) such sexism and rude behaviour what chance is there to change men's culture?

Rollo Brett, Farrer

Loved Dr Nikki Williams' rhetorical and superfluous use of ''proactive in'' (Letters, June 24) in the sentence ''the industry has been proactive in developing the technologies to reduce emissions from coal''. I'm pleased and surprised Dr Williams, CEO of the Australian Coal Association, didn't add ''moving forward'' as a final dramatic flourish.

Still, it was an intriguing statement. How about the good doctor produce an article for us sceptics spelling out the facts and data supporting the usefulness and results of all that proactivity. I, and maybe many others, would be delighted if our cynicism were to be honestly and plainly disabused, moving forward of course.

Bill Deane, Chapman

The etymology of the word says it all (''Pension win for obese ex-soldier'', June 21, p1). Obesity, from the Latin obesitas, means ''stout, fat, or plump''. Esus is the past participle of edere (to eat), with ob (over) added to it. Obesity becomes morbid when it increases the risk of many physical and mental conditions. It is caused mainly by excessive food energy intake and can be treated by dieting. How sad that an ex-soldier was led to a ''lifetime of overeating, being served three meals and morning and afternoon tea each day''.

Even sadder that, when he was transferred, he had to supplement his diet with takeaways. And nobody in the army tried to stop him from eating! He did deserve to get a special rate of pension. This can only be a precedent for cruise passengers gaining weight, after indulging on breakfast pastries, vast lunches, tea-time cookies and six-course dinners, who may think that they were not ''given any practical support'' to avoid overeating or plain gluttony.

Noelle Roux, Chifley

I empathise with Paul Betts' chronic pain (''Pension win for obese ex-soldier'', June 21, p1). I know it's debilitating. I've watched my sister managing her chronic pain for decades.

Still, nobody force-fed him three meals a day and morning/afternoon tea when in the army. Nobody required him to drink cordial and soft drinks. Nobody mandated he eat even more junk food to satisfy his growing hunger. Especially after leaving the service.

It was Mr Betts' assertion that his diet changed his eating habits, leading to over-eating and morbid obesity.

I've not read anywhere that while in the military his brain was disabled, so that he saw no connection between increased consumption plus reduced exercise - and increased weight.

Unless we are inmates at Guantanamo Bay being force-fed, we are the masters of what we put into our body.

I'm stunned at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal's decision. It's yet another example of removing responsibility from the individual.

Judy Bamberger, O'Connor

BOOZE NEEDS PRICE LIFT

Your article headlined ''How long can we tolerate alcohol's toxic link to sport?'' (Times2, June 20, p5) is very good. How long will our sporting heroes fall victim to a boozy culture that often ends in disaster? How long will young women and men be maimed in drunken brawls? How long will wine be cheaper than bottled water? One answer is to price alcoholic drinks on their alcohol content as in Britain.

Howard Bradbury, Campbell

PAROLE SYSTEM FLAWED

Australia's parole system is under question again (''Family of victim held fears killer would walk'', June 21, p5) after the Jill Meagher murder, with no way of avoiding these tragedies while decision makers are driven by rehabilitation.

The community were never asked by referendum if the death penalty should be abolished but we didn't expect this arbitrary decision to allow killers and rapists back into society either.

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

POPULATION BOOM

Now that ACT has a population of 379,000 (''ACT near top in population growth rate'', June 21, p5) I wonder when are we going to get a just representation in Parliament? We are hugely unrepresented when compared with Tasmania and Northern Territory.

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

BOOST FOR FRACKING

The fracking industry's PR campaign has received a free boost. There is but one response to be expected to the Climate Commission's latest conclusions as reported in ''Coal must stay in the ground, experts say'' (June 17, p2). Such an intemperate announcement only fuels total opposition to any limitation or regulation of the mining industry, particularly all fossil fuel operations.

Gary J. Wilson, MacGregor

ERUDDITE LEADER

I don't know why it took me so long to see this; it seems now so obvious: Kevin Rudd is so popular because, if for no other reason, he's so eruddite. (Sorry!)

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

BLINDLY FOLLOWING

The ALP should be renamed the Australian Lemming Party as they blindly follow their leader over the cliff.

Brian Middleton, Fisher

WIND FARM OBJECTION

Sue Braid (Letters, June 20) maintains land adjacent to a wind farm loses 30 per cent of its value. Can she also advise the effect on land values of an open-cut mine or nuclear power station as a neighbour?

Glenn Wood, Bardon, Qld