The ACT has grown to 430,000 plus and has two senators. Tasmania has a population of 540,000 and has 12 senators.

In spite of Zed Sesleja's assertions about how he's fighting for the ACT, we ended up with a paltry $59 million allocated in the budget for infrastructure compared to Tasmania's $600 million. If we had an appropriate increase in senators the composition of the Senate would be very different and the views of one senator couldn't be forced on the people of the ACT.

If we keep growing it's grossly unfair for the people of the ACT to be so underrepresented. The current situation is that the ACT Legislative Assembly can be overridden.

Senate reform is necessary and common sense, otherwise the people of the ACT don't have the same opportunities as other jurisdictions.

Jack Waterford ("Election now about character for leaders", March 26, page 28) is right.

With an election approaching, there are very many policy issues to consider, prime among them governance (integrity in public life and policy formulation), climate change (emissions reduction and the environment), housing and inequality in wealth and income. The list is very long.

It's a federal election. Issues affecting the whole nation (indeed, the world) are those that matter. In this context, local (ACT only) issues are unimportant, even irrelevant, and usually a matter for the territory government.

When candidates and parties make promises, remember John Howard's barefaced distinction between "core promise" and "non-core promises". Further, in the life of any government, issues will arise which did not exist at election time. It's unwise, then, to vote based only on promises.

Character is the prime predictor of future behaviour. Character of politicians and parties is indicated by their recent behaviour and how they display (or not) such things as honesty, integrity, accountability, moral compass, regard for the national interest (above others), regard for equity, fairness and administrative competence. Look at the character of the parties, not just the local candidates.

Andrew Leigh has advised publicly on Twitter that the ACT Magistrates' Court has granted him a personal protection order.

As Andrew says: "people should be aware of the way the environment is changing for MPs. Never imagined this when I got into politics in 2010".

We also have to remember the anti-vaxxers and other fringe elements threatening politicians in various parts of Australia and the attack on Old Parliament House.

As Andrew points in his latest book What's the worst that can happen, populism (and its crony, totalitarianism) not only exacerbates the existential risks that face us - such as climate change - but is also a risk factor in itself. It undermines the institution of democracy.

Meanwhile Morrison excuses this danger with the line everyone has a right to protest.

The federal government recently rejected a call from the ACT government to be tougher on these anti-democratic forces.

There is no doubt we all have a fight on our hand to protect our precious Australian democracy.

Mark Kenny's words "an absence we can all feel" helped me to realise what it is about the Morrison government that is so depressing ("Will a handout turn jaded voters?", canberratimes.com.au, March 27).

At a time in history when more than ever we need inspired and informed leadership we have the ineffective, self-obsessed Morrison-Joyce combo who talk mostly of coal and gas and the money they supposedly bring.

There's an absence of vision and courage.

I feel for young Australians who will be most affected by climate change and the resulting loss of biodiversity.

This is why at the coming election I believe it's time to toss out the Coalition and elect candidates who do accept a duty of care for life on earth and have the intelligence and commitment to act.

Your correspondent Jill Woodger, "Bring back the broadcasts" (Letters, March 27) is absolutely correct in highlighting Australia's abrogation of responsibility in abandoning national short wave broadcasts to the Pacific and south east Asia.

It was a conceit to believe these were no longer needed in the age of the Internet.

In thousands of small villages and communities around the region, Radio Australia was a widely appreciated information, education and entertainment service that truly helped people feel part of our family.

Most importantly, it could be accessed with an inexpensive shortwave radio affordable even in the poorest communities.

With cessation of these services, for many of these people Australia as good as vanished, to be replaced by China as it took up the vacated short wave channels.

It is little wonder Australia's interests in the region are slipping in a way no number of nuclear submarines will replace.

Why are we not sending home the Russian ambassador and all his staff?

They represent Putin and we here in Australia are repulsed by Putin's brutal and inhumane shelling of civilians in their homes, in their own country, and the kidnapping of civilian refugees from Ukraine to be sent to Russia, to locations unknown.

We have seen all that before in World War II. We do not need to keep the Russian staff here, they are irrelevant and unable to influence Putin's actions.

I feel sure they will feel safer and much happier back in Russia.

In response to Anne Prendergast (Letters, March 30).

Thank you for your resounding support of Zed.

However, I'm sure he will not be the only man or woman who is standing for election who has a happy marriage and a wonderful family.

I will personally not be voting for him in the next federal election for the simple reason of his stand against voluntary assisted dying.

I saw my father, aged 60, die a horrible, lingering and painful death with bone cancer. No dignity in his suffering.

At the time of his death he was simply skin and bones. The choice was not available to him then.

As a person who has faced several life threatening conditions I wish to be able to opt out when my conditions worsen to the point of no quality of life. The option of VAD should be available to all of us whether or not we choose to end our personal suffering. Lets all have some compassion.

Anne Prendergast (Letters, March 30) maintains that Zed Seselja is "our only good candidate for the Senate" as he has good family values, is happily married and is opposed to hard drugs.

She cites several other policies.

She is incorrect. There are several other good candidates for the Senate.

Kim Rubenstein (Kim for Canberra) for example is happily married, has a supportive family, is opposed to the abuse of hard drugs and many of the values espoused by Anne Prendergast.

She also supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart, is working towards equality for women in society, promotion of renewable energy and lots more sensible policies (look at her website).

A number of other candidates could also be described as "good".

Anne, you are out of step with reality claiming that Zed is the only good candidate.

The Canberra voters will decide and vote for or against Zed on his record.

As all country people know, the Liberal and National Party government has just reduced its excise on petrol by 22 cents per litre.

This is to help country people in particular to cope with rises in the cost of living.

But the reduction will last for only six months.

In September of this year the Liberal and National Party government will put the price of petrol straight back up again by 22 cents per litre in one go. The Nationals are just as pleased about it as the Liberals are. How good is that, yeah, eh?

We need to know because by September the cost of living will have risen far beyond what it is now. Especially for country people of course.

So, accountant Barnaby, please explain. Six months from now how will a 22 cent per litre jump in the price of petrol help country people cope with whatever the cost of living is then?