Some pro-Labor analysts believe Shorten gave away too much information about his policies, so according to them, Bill was the one spreading fear.

And conspiracy theories? I'm not sure I buy the "too much information" line. For example, when asked what his policies to "tackle climate change" would cost, he said it was a "dumb question" because doing nothing would cost more.

That implied he knew both the cost to Australia of doing nothing and the benefit of spending an amount he wouldn't specify when the USA, China, India and, yes, even much of Europe will do nothing regardless of what Australia does.

The reason Labor lost was that Shorten was the first opposition leader in history to promise he would destroy the economy if elected.

The really scary thing was that he didn't lose by much.

Re: "Consultation is aspirational" (June 2, p9).

Thanks Dr Arnold for your comments. Being a founding member of a residents' association and a member of a council, the biggest issue is how to gain the opinions of those time poor Canberrans.

Information stalls, newsletters and websites are all well and good but only if they are made use of.

How many people avoid eye contact?

Some treat regular update emails as spam without bothering to actually read what is on offer.

It is time for Joe Public to take an interest in what is going on.

In 2012 many people warned the end cost of light rail would be nearly $2 billion and that it would come at the expense of our budget bottom line, and to the detriment of health and other community needs.

The government were voted back in. The people had their chance and chose light rail and the expense anyway.

If members of the community want to have their needs met and their views heard they need to communicate with those who try to intervene with the government on their behalf.

I have been reading with interest your reporting on the building quality inquiry. It seems obvious the "education rather than enforcement" principle used by the ACT government, along with self-certification, doesn't work, and that developers of apartments and single dwelling houses continue to take the mickey.

Whilst a stop work order was issued for a 68-home complex that had no approvals in Bruce ("Belconnen building site shut down for illegal works", canberratimes.com.au, May 29) and the ACT Construction Registrar, Ben Green, acknowledged "...it is an offence for a person to undertake building work without a development approval, if that type of building work requires approval and the person knows of that requirement", the article went on to suggest retrospective approval may be granted.

Therein lies the problem. The proposal was considered incompatible with the surrounding area.

Will it be granted retrospective approval or will the ACT Government enforce their decision and issue a fine?

The era of building first and seeking approval later has to end. The ACT Government must also stop accepting proposals that breach the conditions for a site, let alone accepting ongoing submissions for the same site ("Rejected Molonglo Valley projects back on the table", canberratimes.com.au, May 29).

I look forward to the outcome of the inquiry, particularity regarding retrospective approvals.

I note that nearby to us there is an open DA amendment seeking 17 retrospective approvals from a DA approved by the ACT Government in 2016.

I will be interested to learn how this work was certified when unapproved. Maybe this will be issued retrospectively too?

It didn't take long for Mr Albanese to resort to the same sort of divisive strategy that led his predecessor, Bill Shorten, being rejected by the people.

He has announced the appointment of Mark Dreyfus as shadow Attorney-General and Labor's spokesperson for constitutional reform.

Mr Albanese says the latter includes indigenous recognition, the republic, four-year parliamentary terms and inclusion of local government in the constitution.

In 1999 Australia overwhelmingly voted against a republic. It was estimated at the time that one third of Labor voters rejected a republic. An estimated two thirds of Liberal voters did likewise.

It is possible these figures against constitutional change have increased.

Pushing an agenda of massive constitutional reform will only lead to an even greater mistrust of Labor and another defeat at the next election.

Whilst Rudd and Gillard spoke about a republic, they never acted upon it because they knew it was divisive.

A study of indigenous attitudes to money reveals they see individual wealth as having enough to share with their community ("Indigenous voices help us to see our true wealth", canberratimes.com.au, May 30).

In sharp contrast, we seem unable to share even a tiny proportion of our immense national wealth with those community members on the impossibly low Newstart allowance.

I am reading Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman who points out how easy it would be for any modern democracy to choose to share its wealth by legislating a minimum guaranteed income for all.

Research suggests people who have been poor can, and usually do, use money wisely in order to take renewed and sensible control of their lives.

Surely it's time for a grand bi-partisan gesture of this sort in Australia.

The Rural Doctor's Association of Australia has good cause to be worried about the non appointment of a Minister for Rural Health.

Where is the National Party which should be supporting the health of its voters in the rural and regional areas?

The Nationals did not lose any seats in the election. They will now be complacent, knowing they do not have to do too much to win the votes of rural Australia.

Morrison and company have no idea about the lack of specialists and GPs in rural and remote areas. Why aren't the rural representatives making a fuss?

It is up to the Nationals to push for strong representation in rural medicine.

I respond to Geoff Barker's letter regarding his trip on light rail (Letters, May 28).

I would like to provide my own point of view as I use it daily.

It has been a game changer for me.

This because some morning and afternoon commutes on the bus blew out to 45 minutes to an hour long.

Also, unlike some bus services that don't turn up, that has never been the case with light rail.

I have certainty the next service will be along shortly.

Light rail has dramatically reduced my car usage, even including trips up to Gungahlin and back.

Regarding the seats, you can fit more people standing than sitting. I do agree the seats are quite hard but the trip isn't that long.

I read the comments from Catherine Le Couteur ("Bus Station confusing", May 31, p.2) about the problems being experienced at the City Bus Interchange.

My daughter's dedicated afternoon school bus service was cancelled with the introduction of the tram resulting in me now collecting her from school.

That means there is another car on the road.

Also, has Ms Le Couteur ventured beyond the inner north, to see the number of people at cold, uncovered, bus stops forced to crowd onto the reduced services everywhere else?

This is a direct result of integrating the tram into the public transport network. It is robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Don Sephton (Letters, June 3) asks how can a person become a Minister before the result in particular seats in the Parliament have been decided by the Australian Electoral Commission.

Easy-peasy, John.

Section 62 of the Constitution provides that a person appointed by the Governor-General, has three months in which to become a member of the Parliament.

Another great attribute to that fine sportsman Roger Federer is that he doesn't grunt.

Hydrogen does not come from the wind (K. Kelly, Letters, June 3). The bulk of the hydrogen produced today comes from fossil energy sources. Producing hydrogen by electrolysis of water costs about twice as much.

In the 45 years since Papua New Guinea's independence Australia has never seen the need for a joint base with PNG in Manus Island. Why now? And why "step up" Australian aid to the Solomon Islands where there is little Chinese presence, because Taiwan is still recognised?

I hope Richard Marles never becomes "Dicko". Too often the nicknames attached to our two current male parliamentary leaders have been used to encourage shallow bonhomie. Many female voters feel they have been force-fed too much banal blokeyness since Morrison became PM.

I read with interest that "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F---" is on Andrew Barr's reading list ("2020 vision", canberratimes.com.au, June 3. This may explain his arrogant dismissal of criticism of any of his policies or so called "reforms".

Could the Labor Party have chosen a more lacklustre leader than Albo. They have also demoted Ed Husic and Andrew Leigh, two of their most talented and tireless MPs. I fear the pain of three more years of non-charismatic leadership and mediocre performance followed by another Liberal triumph.

Will the proposed religious freedom legislation protect employees who express atheist views from dismissal by religious employers such as religious schools .

I am not a member of any political party. I do believe Canberrans are fortunate to have Katy Gallagher back in the Senate. As Chief Minister and as a Senator, Katy demonstrated she is competent, decent and honest and represents all.

The appointment of Katy Gallagher as shadow finance minister is concerning as her lack of acumen was reflected in the approval of the Civic to Gungahlin light rail despite a very weak business case. Projects need to be assessed on merit, not short term political gain.

Nowadays when you write to an organisation your email address is harvested for future use. So, recently Katy of the ALP sent me an invitation to join her party on the basis it is progressive. It doesn't matter how many rainbow roundabouts you have, you're not truly progressive if the paint was paid for by the poor.

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