However, its establishment does not address the fundamental issue of how the Barr government prioritises competing infrastructure projects. Why are projects with low benefit to cost ratios prioritised over alternatives, including social housing, health and bus-based public transport? Why is the light rail extension identified as a priority when its relative benefits have not been assessed?

In its oversight of the government's 10-year infrastructure program, Major Projects Canberra should be required to provide the justification for the projects, including identifying the social, economic and environmental costs and infrastructure requirements of alternative developments. The current infrastructure plan is simply a list of projects lacking context or justification.

Dr Khalid Ahmed's analysis and that of Pegasus Economics has demonstrated the fragile state of the ACT budget which makes it even more critical for the limited funds available be used to maximise benefits to the community.

Canberra currently is not an exemplar of city development. Its growth and change needs to be better managed to ensure its development is more environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive and financially responsible. Canberra can be a great city, but it requires decisions based on evidence and a government that listens to and responds to community concerns.

Now that the election has passed, let's get back to Transport Canberra. What a stupefying effort from all concerned to make a bus network even worse than it already was. Some things never change though, not once has my bus been on time (departure or arrival) since inception of the new network. This is sadly consistent with the old network. However, there is one positive. My new route takes me on a daily cross country tour of South Canberra so I've got plenty of time to read more books! Although travel was free for the first month, I noticed the immediate decline in numbers after the first week as Canberrans realised that a pile of poo is distasteful whether it's free or not.

I thought the French knew how to display their miffedness to social or political injustices, but the Hongkongers are pretty good as well. Of course that sort of collective display of public displeasure could never happen in Australia. We can accept the burying of the recommendations from the Royal Commissions into the banking and aged care industries, dismantling of the Medevac legislation for refugees, support for a coal mine that won't realise any overall additional jobs, climate change inaction, a stagnant economy, and a clueless government with a "mandate" to do whatever it wants. No, we wouldn't hit the barricades for any these injustices as in France or Hong Kong. We are way too civilised for that sort of behaviour. But I wonder what it would take?

Re: "Tree should be removed to make way for Manuka hotel, say businesses" (canberratimes.com.au, June 14). The article is accompanied by jaw dropping photos online illustrating the true extent of the inappropriateness of the subject tree to be on the tree register. It is ironic how photos such as these do not appear on the tree register.

The Conservator of Flora and Fauna, Ian Walker, has been on site and witnessed the havoc the tree is causing and will continue to cause.

He, as his predecessors have done, dismisses the volumes of documented evidence presented by engineers, arborists, landscape architects and town planners. His decision not to remove the tree from the register is shameful. In not removing the tree from the register, he brings disrepute to the tree register, makes a mockery of the tree register and diminishes the integrity of all registered trees. He should tender his resignation.

Trees matter, people matter too! The tree register is not there to be used to destroy people's lives. The people of Canberra have lost confidence in the office of the conservator.

The Legislative Assembly of the ACT has declared that we are in a climate emergency, which means every action should be reviewed related to its impact on global warming.

Although The Canberra Times is not a government agency, as a responsible member of our community, the CT has a responsibility to review its actions related to the current planetary climate emergency. Therefore, letters to the editor that deny the science of global warming and the impact of burning of coal on climate should not be published. Everyone has a responsibility to take action to mitigate the climate emergency.

Several recent letters have proposed that by burning high-grade Adani coal (instead of lower grade stuff) a reduction in emissions will be achieved. This is largely a technological furphy.

Coal is composed of a combustible part (largely carbon) and an incombustible part (rock, water and other rubbish). The difference between high-grade and low-grade coal is that high-grade coal contains a bigger proportion of carbon and a lower proportion of rubbish. To obtain a given amount of heat you have to burn a set quantity of carbon. If the carbon comes from high grade coal you need fewer tonnes of coal. But the amount of carbon burned, and hence the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere remains substantially the same.

There will be a small loss with low grade coal because of the heat absorbed by the rubbish. This effect may make the claim that high grade coal produces less pollution than low grade coal technically correct as long as you don't say anything about the size of the effect. But it is misleading to suggest that it is significant.

I couldn't agree more with B.M. Cooke of Latham (Letters, 18 June). Growing up in Canberra and before self-government, our suburbs were very well maintained. These days the prevalence of weeds and matter along roads and gutters, broken footpaths, grass not mowed adequately, rubbish in public areas and broken drains, make large parts of Canberra look like a neglected tip. We are seeing new suburbs, new development and talk of expensive big projects, but where is the civic pride for Canberra's existing suburbs?

Our visitors over the last few years have said the same thing: "What has happened to Canberra? It used to be such a tidy place." As expensive rate and tax payers, we deserve much better from our government.

I can assure Penleigh Boyd that I am neither inactive nor a mollycoddled sports spectator (Letters, June 17). As a 68-year-old, I regularly walk and ride through his suburb to reach the city as part of my routine to stay fit and healthy.

I took free public transport to GIO stadium last Thursday night to watch a very enjoyable Raiders match, a much better venue for League or Union than Manuka Oval is for the AFL.

I also use the Civic pool, but it has definitely passed its use-by date. But we can have both. The Government could combine with the private sector to build an underground swimming facility (think Cook and Phillip pool in front of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney) and a new stadium on top.

But no car parking, please. Let people travel by public transport to the venue. If there have to be priorities for the ACT government, then hospitals, schools and public housing must come first. The fans will keep coming back to the GIO Stadium for a dose of the viking clap and the green machine!

I agree wholeheartedly with Crispin Hull's analysis of the Government's third phase tax proposal ("Why Senate should block tax package", June 15 p29). Disturbingly, there are reports that Anthony Albanese and the Centre Alliance may cave in to the government's blackmail and agree to the proposal for a 30 cent flat tax rate for all income earners between $41,000 and $200,000.

That would increase inequality in Australia and is going completely in the wrong direction, in terms of Labor values. We will need that tax revenue and more to fund the critical social services that people are entitled to expect in our society. It would lead to more private wealth for high income earners and more public squalor. Labor doesn't need to be defensive now about its policy positions.

There's a long way to go till the next election and if Albanese can't show some backbone now, what hope is there?

Charles Weston's cedars have a century or two life left in them ("Officials pruned life expectancy of trees", June 17, p5). They just need some attention to the stresses of soil compaction. Contrast that with the brittle gums along the light rail. Planted last year, dead this year.

Totally agree with Penleigh Boyd (Letters, June 17) regarding a new football stadium in Canberra catering for inactive and mollycoddled sports spectators. The Government should be encouraging people to use facilities like the Civic Swimming Pool to combat rising obesity levels and unhealthy lifestyles. Why not put a stadium on the Canberra Raiders headquarters in Braddon, that is near lots of restaurants. Leave the pool alone.

The ACT government has cancelled most dedicated school bus services which has generated a budget savings which we now discover has been partly redirected to building a yurt at Mulligans Flat for a visitors centre for people to view possums etc. We see Mr Barr's winners and losers are possums before children. There is something seriously wrong with that.

There were many differing opinions in the lead-up to light rail but not so with comments relating to the new bus timetable. As an Uber driver delivering over 100 people each week to destinations around Canberra, the vitriol, complete frustration and bewilderment of Canberrans is a testament to the total lack of understanding of what is required by the community that our government serves. If we were embarrassed by our public transport system before light rail, well, buckle up viewers, I believe a new era is dawning.

Mike Pompeo seems to be drooling, as he protests way too much over America's restrained, non-bellicose, intentions towards Iran. He must think nobody in the world recognizes the concept of agent provocateur. The Trump administration now has the president, Pompeo and John Bolton engaging in a ham rendition of good cop, bad cop and Minneapolis worst cop.

If wind turbine noise really is causing sleep or health problems ("Turbine noise travels for miles: study", June 18, p8), surely it is possible to locate wind farms more than 3.5 kilometres from the nearest dwelling. Parts of western Victoria and South Australia's Limestone Coast, including offshore, spring to mind.

Ian Warden should be worried that most members of the US Congress haven't read the Mueller Report ("Is there stamina for sustained reading?", June 16, p15). I am often criticised for the length of my posts on Facebook explaining the actions of my council to the community I represent. It seems many of us are indeed happier to look at pictures of puppies, though given that the circus that passes for political debate I understand, even if it is at our peril that we ignore the state of our nation and our community.

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