As for the disappearing aquatic birds, has Mr Holland considered a "monster" carp or, more realistically, the Australasian grebe, which frequents Canberra's lakes and waterways and is known for its diving for much smaller fish?

John Holland (Letters, July 12), correctly asserts that there are no monsters in our lakes and dams the size of the Loch Ness one. What we do have, however, are very large Murray cod with a disproportionately huge mouth compared to its body size. This could account for the occasional sudden disappearance of aquatic birds swimming on the surface. Mystery solved?

Ian Warden's whimsical account of his first encounter, as a 10-year-old, with an African ("Reflections on a very pale complexion", canberratimes.com.au, July 12) touches lightly on the subject of multi-racialism and the need to embrace diversity. Surely it would help if we distinguished between tribalism and racism, which, in my language, is tribalism with a nasty edge. Comments about human differences of any sort are increasingly called out as "racist", yet most are merely "tribal" and innocent.

Further to recent correspondence, many pain sufferers may not realise that the new restrictions on codeine-containing substances relate only to products on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme,

Codeine-containing products are still available on prescription for any quantity a doctor may care to prescribe, but as a private prescription. This means at a higher price, at least for those who are on pensions or who have a Seniors Health Card.

Codeine and Paracetamol, which are the active ingredients usually contained in these products, are old drugs and therefore cheap, but there is, quite rightly, a dispensing fee. I've been told by the pharmacy I patronise, that the 120 tablets I take per month will cost around $40.

I assume the PBS restrictions are trying to help those who become addicted to codeine, but will cause suffering for the many more who don't but need assistance to manage their chronic pain. There is a theory, if not accepted by all, that addiction seem to affect some people but not others. Probably all of us have known people who can drink alcohol quite heavily and give it up easily when they want to do so, while others are alcoholics who just cannot.

Decisions to list drugs on the PBS are made by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee serviced by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch, not the TGA which evaluates and approves drugs for clinical trial and marketing - at least that was the case when I worked for TGA.

The only notification on my bus last Thursday about the new timetable coming into effect on July 18 was a small notice taped to the driver's plastic shield near the front entrance to the bus. The front entrance isn't used much during the pandemic so as to protect the driver's health (rightly so).

Thanks for the laugh Transport Canberra. Another sign of lack of forethought.

The new timetables still suck for those of us that live in south Gordon and who don't work in a town centre.

The PM's sudden emphasis on reskilling many older workers reminds me of the story about the farmer who trained his pigs to go without food. It was going swimmingly right to when they all died.

Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message field, not as an attachment. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.

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