The brand new, fully landscaped but empty Coombs Shopping Centre has a "Private Keep Out" sign that is a constant reminder of the failure of one developer to deliver an essential community facility.

At the core of this issue is that sites such as this are sold via auction to the highest bidder with no assessment of the capacity of the purchaser to deliver a quality outcome in a reasonable timeframe, nor any accountability if a quality outcome is not delivered.

The government is about to repeat the mistake. On Wednesday (September 26), one of the few remaining mixed-use sites in Coombs (Block 1 Section 11 Harold White Avenue) is to be sold by auction.

This site is zoned CZ5, which means that a mixture of high density residential and commercial use is allowed. But it is entirely up to the developer whether any retail, commercial or community elements are actually included. The last time a mixed-use (CZ5) site was sold in Coombs, the developer chose to build only residential townhouses. The community has no come-back in this situation.

As a process, the current auction system is a blunt instrument that places total planning emphasis upon the commercial interests of the developer and gives no planning consideration to the amenity, retail or community needs of the area.

We have written to the relevant minister asking that this auction be cancelled to allow the government time to develop a better method of selling such sites to ensure an outcome that meets the community's need for local amenities. We have had no response.

John and Alison Hutchison, Coombs

According to the report "Abbott vote released to head off party fight" (September 18, p5), Tony Abbott received 68votes, "anyone else" received 30, and there were two informal votes. These figures add up, perhaps a little too conveniently, to 100.

In the report "Losing the faithful" (September 16, p6), it was stated that three "sources" told Fairfax Media that 46 people voted for Mr Abbott and 38 against, with nine informal votes.

If true, this makes the total attendance at the preselection meeting 93. It also indicates that Mr Abbott fell just short of the 50 per cent plus one required by party rules to win the nomination.

However, one source said that there were only two informal votes, perhaps confirming at least that part of the September 18 report.

Whatever the truth, the vote shows that Mr Abbott was not enthusiastically endorsed by the Liberals' Warringah branch.

As one attendee commented, "Everybody with any degree of commitment to the party ... wants to see this guy go; he's just useless."

Tony Abbott should step aside and spare the Liberal Party his continued wrecking, undermining and sniping that he had pledged not to do when he deposed Malcolm Turnbull.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

The beauty, innocence and charm of a sculpture of a mother kangaroo and her joey (Letters, September 19) should certainly delight and move us all.

However, Canberrans should be aware that, as the NSW government's policy of open slather against kangaroos continues, kangaroo populations, already reduced to about 10per cent of their numbers at the time of European settlement, will rapidly plunge towards extinction.

Kangaroo refugees will pour into Canberra's border reserves (like Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo) to escape the unremitting slaughter.

They will be safe there only until the annual ACT government slaughter wipes them out next year, a slaughter that is all about development and nothing to do with conservation.

Meanwhile, the usual pro-slaughter voices will tell the public, look how many there are, look there are millions of them. And, unbelievably, some members of the public will actually believe them.

Anyone who wants to avert the extinction of our precious and unique kangaroos has only one choice left: to use their votes in all Australian parliaments to punish every political party and candidate who supports killing kangaroos.

Frankie Seymour, Queanbeyan, NSW

If only some of our tennis players, and other sportspeople for that matter, could demonstrate the same grace and class in victory as well as in defeat as Ash Barty. How refreshing that would be. She is a credit to herself and her family in the manner in which she goes about it. Her success over the past couple of years is well deserved – long may it continue.

Ted Grant, Canberra

Seemingly on a daily basis, there's another country dealing with a child sexual abuse scandal perpetrated, and previously protected by, Catholic Church priests and bishops.

Given the outcome of the Australian royal commission together with the abhorrent position of the church to hide crimes revealed in confession, my question is why do we allow Catholic Schools to continue to operate?

Worse still why are they showered in government funding?

Is this some kind of sick joke?

Warwick Bradly, Weston

I expect any Australian prime minister to have a reasonable grasp of the English language.

I believe they should be able to communicate with the Australian public in an intelligent, clear and rational manner at all times.

The person who is currently tampering with our strawberries I am sure can be described in many ways. Scott Morrison chooses the word, 'grub'.

I have no idea what this really means in this current context. It does however have the potential to encourage the perpetrator to continue their criminal ways or to even increase them.

How about some real policies and good governance Mr Morrison?

Patrick O'Hara, Isaacs

The new social model for the 21st century is hailed as "a guaranteed wage for every citizen" ("Handouts not answer to robot risk", September 17, p41).

It would be a ridiculous, unsupportable idea if it did not already exist. The guaranteed wage is called the dole and the establishment is called the welfare state. Meanwhile the laissez-faire recidivists chip away at access to such welfare and ensure basic wages are not worth working for.

The traditional solution to such impasses is to reduce the number of slices which need to be cut from the economic cake.

G. Wilson, Macgregor

Visiting from Sydney and as a regular driver on the European mainland I have a different opinion of Canberra drivers from Mark and Lee-Anne Prevost (Letters, September 19).

The locals come across as slow ditherers unable to grasp the concept of keeping left unless overtaking, totally lacking in spatial awareness in a mobile situation.

Entering a roundabout the procedure is to give way and take an opportunity; not stop and peer myopically at your surroundings and then wait for a written invitation to proceed.

Crossing the road needs to be done purposefully; meandering across in a dream world is not smart.

Where there is not a controlled crossing it is a good idea to look and see if there is any traffic coming.

It minimises the chance of being hit. If there are traffic lights observe the pedestrian phase; if at a marked crossing it is smart to adopt the French practice of catching an oncoming driver's eye before dashing out – far less risky and the action is mutually pleasant rather than rudely enforcing a "right".

Riding a motor scooter in Canberra should be easy but would require reasonable skills to avoid the "Dopey Doras" — perhaps not quite as developed as the moto riders in Barcelona who resemble a swarm of angry wasps making the Romans look like Canberrans.

We do have a general driving problem in Australia – too many rules and too little sense together with the First World's lowest standard of tuition and testing.

Michael Lane, St Ives, NSW

Mark my words, it won't be long before this new, well-meaning but ill-conceived traffic rule causes a serious traffic accident.

The rule requires motorists to slow to 40 km/h when approaching and passing a stationary emergency vehicle that has its lights flashing, regardless of the stated speed limit for that stretch of road.

Twice now, since its introduction I have been in fast-flowing traffic, only to find the cars in front of me inexplicitly slow to 40km/h.

Only after a short period of mayhem did the reason for the sudden change in speed come into view for me and the following traffic.

When managed traffic control companies place temporary 40km/h signs, they do so in a sensible and planned manner. That is, they place them where a long straight line of sight gives motorists sufficient time to adjust to the temporary speed restriction.

If a reasonable line of sight is not available, a graduated signage arrangement is adopted.

Police and other emergency vehicles stop where necessary and usually in an unplanned manner. This effectively places a restricted speed sign in a most inappropriate position.

To expect traffic to slow from 80 or 100km/h to 40km/h without warning is asking for trouble.

Bryan Cossart, Stirling

I agree wholeheartedly with the views of Timothy Walsh and Patricia Watson (Letters, September 17) regarding the litter problem in the ACT.

Having recently completed a long-distance walk in Scotland followed by a driving holiday in France I have been appalled and distressed at the dreadful state of the ACT roads, parks and tracks.

I can only imagine what visitors think of the major roads strewn with every form of rubbish you can imagine together with the remains of our much loved native animals.

What has happened to the road cleaning vehicles we used to see on a regular basis but more importantly what has happened to civic pride?

What is our government doing about the problem?

Spring is coming so the new growth may partially obscure the mess but it will still be there.

The problem is a major blight on our beautiful city.

Rosemarie Millar, Isabella Plains

We've just had a Rates Assessment Notice saying: "Please pay now" for a cost of [a sum over $2000] by October 15.

Is this misleading?

At first sight, this is somewhat alarming for people on relatively low incomes. On second reading it means pay by October 15.

You have to turn the notice over to find that you can pay the amount over four instalments.

Susan MacDougall, Scullin

Having previously voted for grey suits in past elections, I now understand they were in Parliament based on merit.

Our country and Parliament is going to the dogs, with backflips on every decision, changing prime ministers and now not even knowing why that came about.

I believe that the suits have reached their level of incompetence by the time they reach the door of Parliament. May I suggest that a bipartisan approach be taken by all women at the upcoming Wentworth byelection and federal election and wear red on polling day in support of all those women who are a candidate for all parties.

Merit is obviously not working.

The Coalition is going to lose the next election so do not waste your vote on suits with no merit.

Lyne Dobson, Waterview Heights, NSW

F. Breglec (Letters, September 18) tells us to go and visit an old people's home to make a difference, mocking people (who are often older and have problems walking) who worry only about "shattering" bus timetable changes.

It's time to ask the important true questions about nursing homes: Why do we send our "loved ones", as one says, to a nursing home instead of nursing them at home?

Will the visits to the nursing home continue after the loved one has gone?

Anyway, visiting is not enough, volunteering to help the staff is more useful.

A nursing home is not a zoo, or should not be.

Noëlle Roux, Chifley

One sure way of getting rid of a pesky problem like Peter Dutton seems to have been to announce a royal commission into aged care.

Which makes you wonder what they will come up with next to silence some other problem that is stealing oxygen from the government.

D. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld

ROGUES GALLERY

Since taxpayers are now going to be paying for a substantial second rebuild of a 10-year-old and already expensively patched up National Portrait Gallery – bearing in mind that any rectification is well known to add up to some hundredfold the cost of doing it properly in the first place – can we please have published the names of the builders, project managers, inspectors and certifiers on that construction?

Alex Mattea, Kingston

NELSON'S MOVING SPEECH

One of the most moving speeches I've heard: Dr Brendan Nelson's National Press Club Address, "We're all Australians now: 1918 and the war that changed us."

J. Wallace, Reid

COALITION'S BULLIES

Despite attempts to tar Labor with the same misogynist brush as the Coalition, it would seem that these days Labor bullies end up out of the party, whereas in the Coalition it's the victims who leave.

S. Davey, Torrens

CLEAN UP OUR CITY

Well written Patricia Watson (Letters, September 19). What you said needs to be stated again and again to our government. The rubbish and graffiti around our city is appalling. We need action to clean up our city and to keep it clean.

Penny Lilley, Aranda

GUTLESS SUPERMARKETS

I've been to the supermarket (one of the big two) to purchase some strawberries only to find that they are not currently being stocked. The company is gutless for not supporting Aussie farmers. I hope this needling pricks the management's consciences.

Jeff Bradley, Isaacs

IDIOCY NO SURPRISE

Given psychopaths have been using the now ubiquitous motor vehicle to kill and maim their fellow human beings for whatever warped reasons it should come as no surprise that one or more idiots are now sliding needles into fruit being sold in our shops.

A. Whiddett, Forrest

TAXI MONOPOLY

So Canberra taxi plate owners are finding the 21st century tough. Remember when they had a monopoly. Remember the sheer arrogance. Remember waiting for a cab that was only a few minutes away but late enough for flights to be missed. They mightn't, but we do.

C. Stephens, Barton

BLOW TO INDUSTRY

News of the ACT government's plans to increase taxi plates to 500 is troubling. The industry is already struggling with Uber, business during school holidays is non-existent, and now the increase of licence plates by 40 per cent will only do harm to the livelihoods of members of the taxi industry.

A. Chan, Lyneham

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.

Keep your letter to 250 words or less. References to Canberra Times reports should include the date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published).