Tax relief, yes — of up to $530 per annum — but not until July 2019 at the earliest. And that's because the tax relief is being provided as a low and middle income lump sum tax offset, which is not assessed until we put in our 2018-19 tax returns.

All us low and middle income earners have worked out that there will be no money for a burger and a shake each week from July 1 as we were led to believe. That's why there has been no tax-cut-led poll bounce for the PM.

Don Sephton, Greenway

Political commentators like to point out politicians promising tax cuts experience no great boost in the polls as a result ("Fairfax-Ipsos poll: The PM's $144 billion tax cut offer seems to have fallen flat", canberratimes.com.au, June 25). This isn't because the demand for tax cuts isn't there; it is because no one believes them anymore.

The Turnbull government has embraced the so-called "third way" approach to taxation policy. Philosopher Tibor R Machan describes the third way approach as "a system of wealth distribution that is supposed to keep all productive people working hard despite the confiscation of much of their wealth". The Turnbull government's plan to cut income taxes for high-income earners in seven years is a perfect example of third-way politics.

It is truly fascinating that while the Coalition has been deriding the Labor Party as the party of big government, it is the Coalition that is far more deserving of the label.

The odd thing about federal politics is most members of the parliamentary Liberal Party think of themselves as fiscal conservatives and tax cutters.

It is getting more difficult to separate the right-wing sheep from the left-wing goat.

Victor Diskordia, McKellar

It is not really surprising to me that the government's announced cuts to income tax have failed to reward it with a "bounce" in the latest Fairfax Ipsos poll ("Tell him he's dreaming: PM's tax cut falls flat", June 25, p5).

As Peter Hartcher points out, the first stage of the cuts amounts to just $10 a week, a measly amount for most Australian workers when the average house costs $687,000. Ten dollars a week is just a drop in the ocean — enough to buy two large coffees.

The second stage of the government's tax cuts, raising the top of the 32.5 per cent tax bracket a whole $3000 from $87,000 to $90,000, will begin very soon, on July 1. This threshold is due to rise again, to $120,000, in 2022-23.

The third stage, in 2024-25, removes the 37 per cent tax bracket and the ceiling of the 32.5 per cent bracket rises to $200,000, expanding this bracket to between $41,000 and $200,000. This represents a very generous gift to "battlers" with taxable incomes of between $120,000 and $200,000 a year.

However, given that the polls have consistently favoured the Opposition since shortly after Mr Turnbull's government was elected, it is likely that Mr Turnbull will not be able to deliver the second part of stage two, let alone stage three of his tax cuts, even if they were popular with the majority of voters.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

After visiting the ACT government website relating to the proposed new bus routes and timetabling I have decided to write to say that some of the alterations probably will not serve the Canberra community well — this particularly applies to the now route 63, which will become route 77 when the alterations come in next year. It appears from looking at the proposed route map that instead of being able to get directly into Woden, passengers will now have to alight at Erindale to catch a blue rapid service to Woden. The route 63 has been a very convenient service for all who have been using it, particularly for the residents of Goodwin Village Monash, where I live.

To get to Woden under the new timetabling a wait time will be at Erindale, thus adding to the journey time, and then the reverse will have to take place on the return trip. If route 77 comes about this will take commuters through Gowrie, thus adding extra time to arrive at Erindale to make the connection with a blue rapid service.

The current route 63 is a much shorter journey to Erindale and thence on to Woden. It also now appears that the now half-hourly service will become hourly, another retrograde step being considered by Transport Canberra.

The only other alternative is to travel to the Tuggeranong interchange to catch one of the 300 series buses, yet another inconvenience of a two-bus trip to and from Woden.

To some in the community this may not seem to be an inconvenience, but to elderly commuters and of course other users of bus transport a one-trip journey is just so convenient. I hope that Transport Canberra give due consideration to this particular proposed alteration, which, if not broke please just leave well alone.

Neredah Crane, Monash

The ACT government submission to the Senate inquiry ("Bridge build part of $1.3b Woden route", June 21, p1) fails to justify why light rail is superior to a busway between Civic and Woden.

A busway can improve public transport accessibility and connectivity and support the vision of a compact and competitive city at less than half the cost of light rail and is more flexible. The capacity and environmental advantages light rail potentially offers will be eliminated as battery technology improves, enabling the operation of high-capacity electric buses. A busway can also assist in revitalising centres and reducing car dependency. Its greater economy frees funds for purposes including improving the overall bus network.

The extensive renewal occurring across Canberra suggests accessibility to opportunities and housing affordability are more important than transport technology in increasing the demand for higher density housing. Consequently a busway meets the government's public transport system objectives — convenience, efficiency, affordability, reliability and integration.

The submission also claims, without evidence, that light rail could see the development at Woden of an extra 4070 dwellings, 679,000sq m of retail land and 7500sq m of community land. This claim maybe excessive (is there really a demand for 679,000sq m of retail land?). A busway on the proposed light rail alignment would deliver similar opportunities.

The government has time to reconsider, as the current bus service provides a high-quality service between Civic to Woden. A separate busway serving the parliamentary zone could also be considered.

Mike Quirk, Garran

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy is exterminating feral cats from fenced wildlife sanctuaries across Australia. Its research estimates an overall population for Australia's feral cats (in natural and highly modified environments), fluctuating between 2.1 and 6.3million. It reports that cats kill more than 1 million birds, 1million reptiles and 1 million mammals in Australia every day.

This should be of concern to every Australian.

Locally, in the Canberra suburbs of Forde and Bonner, cat owners are required to restrain cats from wildlife predation. Unrestrained cats in other parts of Canberra are predators of native wildlife, particularly native birds. I live in cat-infested Palmerston and would particularly welcome control of domestic cats in the same manner as in Forde and Bonner.

Tom Collins, Palmerston

Congratulations to The Canberra Times ("Unlocking secrets of a primeval weevil", June 23, p2) for the article on the study of amber by researchers at the CSIRO. It is always heartening to see good science stories in print.

However, I would like to point out that amber is not sap but resin. Many trees produce resin but it usually breaks down and decays. I was also bemused as to why the researchers were studying 100-million-year-old amber from Burma to understand the evolution of Australia's invertebrates. Having been involved with the collection of Cape York amber for many years, it would seem to provide a better source for the research project in question. The Cape York amber pieces are "only" about 10-20 million years old, have superb preservation and contain a vast array of insects including wasps, beetles, ants, spiders, pseudoscorpions as well as feathers and plant material. Such pieces are part of our unique natural heritage and I look forward to the day when all Australians have an opportunity to see these fabulous specimens in some national institution.

Phil Creaser, McKellar

Elizabeth Farrelly puts it so well as she deeply regrets the churches' sale of many of our much-loved country sanctuaries ("Churches seek redemption in real estate", June 21, p11). As she points out, it's as if we haven't suffered enough with their abuse of our children. Now they have the cheek to make us suffer further by selling our beautiful little rural buildings to pay for their damages.

These places were often built with the local materials, resources and voluntary labour of our pioneers. They can still be used by communities for all sorts of creative, sacred or secular activities without the assistance of paid church personnel. These charming sites remain beacons in our landscapes, offering them a rhythm and character, and reminding us that quiet reflection about our lives will always be important.

I propose that, instead of selling them off, the churches fund their damages by reducing their workforce. Perhaps this will mean sackings of priests who were not personally guilty, but, in the corporate world, I notice that officials can sometimes find the grace to resign, even if at the time they were not aware of the crimes committed in the name of their organisation.

If these staff reductions were implemented I would not be worried about any reduced numbers of clerics. I have been present when religiously untrained members of a community have conducted their own religious services very effectively. On many occasions I have heard them use stories from the sacred texts to shine greater light on their daily, national and global dilemmas. Perhaps clerics should have the humility to step aside and to encourage thoughtful community members to discover and use their innate moral compass. I am convinced many would do so with a welcome maturity and independence.

Jill Sutton, Watson

In using the pejorative "armchair warriors", Ian Jannaway (Letters, June 25) misses the point. The criticism of a small group of Australian troops is based on their ethical behaviour according to the "rules of war". The recently publicised incidents were considered by the local commander (hardly an "armchair warrior") to be outside the rules and sufficiently serious as to warrant reporting.

Mr Jannaway also worries that our military today operates at a disadvantage because the "enemy" often does not wear a uniform. I trust he doesn't believe we should relax the "rules of war" under which our military has always operated. If he is, we would be abrogating an essential element of our military ethics.

I have enough faith in our military personal to believe they are fully capable of learning from the mistakes of a minority and can continue acting in the way that has made us proud of them.

Eric Hunter, Cook

The article by Simon Cowan ("Ignorance a road block to reform", June 23, Forum, p10) should not pass without comment. According to the article, 62 per cent of respondents to a poll by YouGov considered they were worse off than 40 years ago, but the article tells us that just 32 per cent correctly said that living standards have significantly increased over that time. Such bare statements are misleading and raise the question of how you measure the state of being "better off".

Forty years ago, unemployment was around 3 per cent compared with around 5.5 per cent now. Forty years ago, a family could buy a house (with a 20 per cent deposit) priced around twice their annual income; where could you find such a bargain now? Forty years ago, I could drive from the southern outskirts of Sydney to my office in Chatswood in less than an hour. I doubt I could do that in today's Sydney gridlock.

So, if you live in your own home (with an affordable mortgage), have secure employment with a good salary, and do not have to fight Sydney's traffic, you could well be better off. But if you are among those who have to rent a dwelling (or stay with parents) while saving for that deposit in the hope of someday being able to purchase their own first home, then you are definitely not better off, and living standards for you have not improved.

Alan Parkinson, Weetangera

ZERO TAX A WIN-WIN

If, as the government keeps asserting, lower company taxes are good for the economy, isn't it logical to go all the way and drop them to zero. After all, we already have examples being set by companies applying their best efforts to paying no tax with great results for their bottom lines.

Eric Hunter, Cook

WE CAN DO BETTER HERE

What architectural mediocrity this proposed development appears to be. ("1200 apartments for city centre", June 20, p14). The National Capital Authority and our ACT government architect must demand much better for this critical City Hill location. The authorities could refer to the interesting 2008 architectural massing study for the subject site prepared for the NCA by Fender Katsalidis, architects for most of New Acton.

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

DODGY SOCCER

The World Cup football matches are tremendous theatre aside from the numerous instances of players twisting the rules and seeking unfair advantage by feigning injury, exaggerated responses to tackles, "diving" for free kicks, and harassing and abusing officials.

On reflection, Steve Smith come home. All is forgiven.

John Mungoven, Stirling

TAXING DECISION

When I was young I never aspired to a $190,000 a year job because, let's face it, I would have had to pay too much tax. But with the new tax rates, if I had my time again, well, no holding back!

Peter Edsor, Bungendore

A FINE MESS

Where does the money go from the Commonwealth Bank's $700 million fine? The bottomless consolidated revenue pit or somewhere useful?

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

COSTS RIGOUR NEEDED

Re: "But the Barr government warns that the price could fluctuate..." ("Bridge build part of $1.3b Woden route", June 21, p1) in an article about the second stage of the Barr/Rattenbury light rail frolic. Really? I think that a large number of ACT ratepayers would like to warn the Barr government to apply a lot more rigour and openness to the business case for this second stage than it did for the first.

Peter Moran, Watson

PLAYERS COULD LEAD WAY

I have another suggestion other than stopping ads as suggested in Jenna Price's piece — "Stop ads: one way to fix origin of violence" (June 22, p23). How about the players, after being made aware of these most disturbing statistics, lead with anti-violence messaging by players or organisers before, during or after the game? My suggestion for this messaging would be to hold a minute's silence during the game or just refuse to play at all until these crimes stop.

Margaret Burns, Yarralumla

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