When the former failed and disgraced transport minister Carl Scully blames the unions ("The big sell-off", November 2) for the problems facing the public transport system it is clear he is still in denial over the real obstacles to delivering world-class services to the people of Sydney.

It has been too easy for former ministers and transport administrators to hide their incompetence and try to shift the blame on to unions or the "union culture", whatever that is.

While this is a convenient distraction from the under-investment in infrastructure, poor management, failed government economic experiments and tragic rail accidents, former ministers such as Mr Scully should hang their heads in shame for their failure to deliver outcomes.

It wasn't union culture that caused the tragic Glenbrook accident. The McInerney inquiry found that the Government's break-up of the rail system in the mid-1990s had contributed. It wasn't union culture that caused the Waterfall accident - it was the failure of management and Government to fix a braking problem on the Tangara trains that they had known about for a number of years. It was not union culture that cut weekend rail services by 30 per cent on the pretext of driver shortages; or that delivered slower trains, overcrowding, dirty stations and carriages, staff shortages, reduced customer service and a $140 million underspend on upgrading the rail network. Justice McInerney said in his report that despite poor rail management culture, every day rail workers moved 1 million passengers safely.

Remember, it was the unionised rail workforce that delivered the successful Olympic transport program and still ensures a safe and efficient rail service for every major event in Sydney.

Mr Scully should not try to rewrite history, but he may be still of some benefit if he provides an honest assessment on what needs to be done for the Iemma Government to fix public transport.

Nick Lewocki NSW secretary, Rail, Tram and Bus Union, Sydney

Disastrous if one silly remark determines the outcome

Labor candidates, particularly shadow ministers, must realise that during the election period they are skating on thin ice, with their opponents ready to pounce on the slightest slip ("Joke or not, Garrett rocks Rudd's campaign," November 3-4).

As a Labor Party member I hope that from now on they will carefully apply whatever intelligence they may possess to evaluate what they are about to say before they say it. It would be a disaster if some stupid remarks, jocose or otherwise, result in the return of the Howard Government. That would make me sick.

Brendan Kavanagh Condell Park

Get rid of him, Mr Rudd. When Labor's party machine took on Peter Garrett it failed to realise, because of unbelievable naivety, that any man prepared to compromise his principles is a man that cannot be trusted.

Garrett has surely highlighted the Labor Party's insincerity.

Tony Royce Newnham (Tas)

There must be an element of truth in Peter Garrett's statement on reversing me too-ism.

Peter, our economy is no joke and is not deserving of a jocular answer.

Leo Vilensky Castle Cove

The puerile Howard/Costello reaction to Peter Garrett's one-liner is laughable. Despite the television host Richard Wilkins confirming it was a joke, they put on those silly serious faces and huff and puff about conspiracy theories.

Such outrage from the duo that gave us the non-core promise, the two-night promise, the never-ever GST, truth overboard, the "what bribes" routine, the vanishing WMDs and finally the "surprise - it's Work Choices" caper.

At least Garrett was joking.

David Whitcombe Maroubra

Peter Garrett is a joke, not a comedian.

Jon Stuart-Masters Batemans Bay

Peter Garrett should do well to remember the proverb "many a true word is spoken in jest".

Garth Strong Narrandera

I am glad that Peter Garrett said that once they get in "we'll just change it all". I can now vote for Labor.

Darshak Mehta Mosman

That's what happens when you elect a headbanger to your shadow cabinet.

Garth Clarke North Sydney

Peter Garrett's joking comment that Labor would change all its election policies if it is elected is just another example of me too-ism.

Chris Lockley Bellingen

A politics lesson for Peter Garrett: shock jocks don't have a sense of humour, especially when their ratings are a problem.

Mira Toglin Penrith South

In the words of a former prime minister, "well, the cat's out of the bag, and what a smelly cat it is".

Thanks, Pete, for your honesty and candour. It has certainly sealed my vote and it could rank in Australian folklore alongside Mark Latham's handshake of last election.

Peter Sussman Sylvania Heights

Independent in more than name

The death of Peter Andren is a sad event, not only for those of us who live and work in the NSW Central West, but for all Australians. As the major parties become more and more alike with their "me too" approach to policy, we need parliamentarians who are prepared to offer a true alternative, who will state a principle beyond achieving a win at the next election and stand up for it.

Mr Andren found that principle has very few friends in politics. Let's hope that this won't deter others from following his example and standing as independents in the future. Though often dismissed as having little influence, Mr Andren showed that independent voices can make an important contribution to the quality of the leadership our parliamentary representatives provide.

Philip Cooney Wentworth Falls

Spending others' money

So the Visy-Amcor cartel ripped off the Australian consumer to the tune of $300 million to $700 million ("Visy's record fine for scam worthy of jail", November 3-4). With a fine totalling less than $40 million, it's little wonder the Richard Pratts of this world have plenty of funds with which to be philanthropic. It's just a shame that they're not their own. One cannot but wonder just how many other Australian philanthropists have earned their social recognition and awards through similar business arrangements.

Perce Butterworth Annandale

BAS attraction

The lament of Dariusz Janiak (Letters, November 3-4) about increased paperwork following the introduction of the GST sounds like the tens of thousands of small business people who previously had no real idea of how they were going until year-end, when they dumped a shoe box full of receipts and cheque stubs on their long-suffering accountant, expecting him to sort out their mess and make sure they didn't pay too much tax.

The one huge benefit to come out of BAS compliance is that these small businesses, for the first time ever, now know on a regular basis exactly how they are performing. Being compelled to keep the books up to date is a small price to pay and also a good discipline for small businesses, many of whom rely on their bank balance as their only barometer of how they are doing.

Peter Noone St Leonards

Cage still cruel

A recent announcement by the NSW Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, about the size of battery hen cages has not smoothed the ruffled feathers of the animal protection movement. The planned increase in space for a battery hen, from 450 square centimetres to 550 square centimetres, is equivalent to the size of the average beer coaster. A hen will still be prevented from stretching her wings, perching, dust bathing or nesting.

Since January 2003 no new battery cages have been allowed in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Greece. From 2012 none of these countries will have laying hens in battery cages. If we were to ban battery cages in Australia would the sky fall in? A quick study of international experience would indicate a resounding no.

Brian Sherman, director, Voiceless (the fund for animals) Paddington

Winning strategy

Michael Duffy ("Just perfect when it's neat and tidy, and that's the problem", November 3-4) is developing into quite the satirist with his observation that "even the US Marines have become sceptical about planning, and do as little of it as possible before going into combat these days". That approach has certainly paid dividends in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Glenn Newton Broulee

Good medicine

I hear the makers of Havidol ("Art of irony sometimes a bitter pill to swallow", November 3-4) are planning a new product rather like Viagra. The favoured name is Havidoff.

Bob Liddelow Avalon

Judging by the Havidol leg-pull laughter is still the best medicine.

Eddie Raggett Mosman

Bureaucracy gone mad

Adele Horin ("Red-tape tangle not fair on citizens confused by rules", November 3-4) is spot on. As the parent and "nominated person" representing my 22-year-old intellectually disabled son in dealings with Centrelink, I feel woefully inadequate. As I returned recently for the third time in my attempts to have a form completed, I wondered how having a university degree in science had equipped me so poorly for this role. As I stood at the front desk waiting, I read the poster saying how they are making services easier for us to access. I fear for those poor souls who don't have the help they need.

Rosemary King Haberfield

In 2004 I received a letter from Centrelink informing me my family benefit had been terminated because I did not live at that address any longer.

When I rang to inquire, I was told someone from Centrelink had called our cancelled phone number for a review, and upon being hearing a recorded Telstra message that the number was no longer connected, terminated the family payment and then informed us of the event at our apparently abandoned address.

When I pointed out the lack of logic in this and asked for the payment to be reinstated, the woman told me she couldn't take our new phone number over the phone and I had to go into my Centrelink office to reapply. I have been free of Centrelink for 3½ half years, and be damned to the family payment. No amount on Earth can convince me to deal with Centrelink again, not even the approaching prospect of age pension entitlement.

Zehra George Kirrawee

If Adele Horin thinks dealings with passport applications and Centrelink payments are a bureaucratic nightmare, she should try dealing with the Department of Immigration.

Stephen P. Weir Bogangar

Prosperity dilemma

Steve Burrell ("How to cook an economy", November 3-4) considers the tricky challenge the next government faces is how to manage prosperity. The next government will be facing house prices that are unreachable, oil and energy prices that are soaring, huge and rapidly mounting pressure to deal with climate change, and economic chaos from the fallout of the poorly managed US economy as well as fallout from our own poorly managed economy, albeit for different reasons.

Rodney Degens Bonville

If the country is so prosperous, why do the workers have to lose their pay and conditions?

Desmond McMeekin Toronto

Roundabout voting

Mark Davis ("Poll position goes against Turnbull in race for power," November 3-4) reports that the order in which the names appear on ballot papers can influence the result because of the donkey vote, where voters number the boxes in order from top to bottom. The same article cites academic research as showing that top spot can boost the lucky candidate's vote by about one percentage point. Wouldn't we eliminate the donkey vote by making the ballot papers round, with the candidates names fanning out from the centre, like spokes on a wheel?

Richard Cheney Penshurst

Officialdom gone mad

After dropping my daughter near the Epping Club at 7.15 one morning, I received an infringement for parking in a rarely used taxi zone. The duration of the offence was about 30 seconds and the fine was $132, half a day's work. Frustration is the cause of the dissent expressed against parking rangers ("More cars and less parking: rangers feel the brunt," November 4-5) as they are enforcing unjust restrictions. I can take another day off and go to court or vent my anger by writing a letter to the Herald.

Karen Childs Carlingford

Star Expresso

Every day a bloke visits Star City casino and drinks 18 free cups of coffee ("Hop on the Star Express and hope your luck holds," November 3- 4). The casino needs a responsible service of caffeine policy.

Col Shephard Yamba

Language difficulties

I was helping a friend seek a better job at the weekend. He is one of those troublesome Sudanese refugees, father of four and carer of another three children. He works midnight to dawn for $15 an hour as a security guard. After seeing one job ad, he asked me what it meant. The ad demanded that "applicants must speak flunt English". He was not sure if he qualified.

Mary Drum Erskineville

Striking a blow for viewers

Here in the US, I see writers for TV shows and films are going on strike. With the barrage of mindless TV shows and graphically violent movies this season, I thought they already were. This could be the best thing that's happened to the entertainment industry in years.

Herb Stark Massapequa (US)

About time!

Hooray! The Hornsby water clock is working again, to the delight of its sculptor, Victor Cusack, as well as everybody else who has seen it.

For my money this wonderful example of man's ingenuity is as worthy of inclusion in calendars of Sydney scenes as are the repetitious pictures of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

Bob Macoun Lindfield

Age a state of mind

In recognition of age bracket creep (Letters, November 3-4), folk turning 66 should not be branded elderly but instead be seen as moving from middle-age to muddle-age.

Jim Dewar North Gosford

Actually, I'm almost getting used to being an old fart.

Les Tomlinson Berowra Heights.

A student outside my University of Sydney office on Friday referred to a tutor as "35" and "really old".

Fiona Hibberd Gladesville