Hark, an election
THREE months ago the GDE was finished and no expansion planned. Now three months from an election [Chief Minister] Jon Stanhope says he will actually complete the Gungahlin Drive Extension. But I am more impressed that the Liberal Leader Zed Seselja was actually committed to it without electoral imperative from focus groups. It should have been fully built in the first place!
Now, Jon when will you do a back flip with triple somersault and pike with schools, hospitals, other roads, parks, sporting fields, the arboretum, planning, aged care, buses etc?
Perhaps you could add the closed, respected, local recycling operation Revolve. But it is a bit late to apologise for the fire and the kangaroo cull debacle, or undo the placement of the new prison next to the Southcare helicopter base, presumably for a quick getaway for escapees!
M. Gordon, Flynn

Truly independent
I am writing to reject suggestions by a former Liberal (“CityNews”, July 24) that I am not “truly independent” because I have put together and signed up at lest 100 members to form a party.
Due to the recent Electoral Act changes by the ACT Government, I have founded The Pangallo Independents Party to enable me to be competitive with other candidates in the October election.
My party’s constitution ensures that any member elected to the Legislative Assembly will be able to carry out their duties and responsibilities without directions or interference from the party’s executive committee or any members of the party.
Frank Pangallo, independent candidate for Molonglo

Matter of merits
I WOULD like to clarify a matter raised during the interview (“CityNews”, July 24) regarding whom I would prefer to work with if a minority government were elected [at the next ACT election].
When I joined the cross bench in 2002, I worked with all sides of politics equally and well and, in fact, my first vote as an independent went to the Liberals. I always assessed each issue on its merits, as Hansard will show.
I did not decide to stand until very recently. If I am fortunate enough to be elected again, the same rule will apply. The interests of the community always did and always will come first.
Helen Cross, independent candidate for Molonglo

Carbon perspective
TO put today’s 0.038 per cent atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide into perspective, it is important to note that air consists almost entirely of nitrogen (78.08 per cent), oxygen (20.95 per cent) and argon (0.93 per cent).
In 1840, the carbon level was around 0.028 per cent so there has been an overall increase of about 0.01 per cent for the last 169 years.
Every year since 1958 carbon levels have been recorded at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, and in 1959 its concentration was 0.031 per cent.  This is an increase of 0.007 per cent over the past 50 years.
Contrary to all predictions, the reality is that global surface temperatures have cooled since 1998. Yet, over this same 10-year period, carbon levels have increased from 0.037 per cent in 1999 by 0.001 per cent which translates into a 0.0001 per cent yearly average equal to one part per million.
Now our Prime Minister intends to put a tax on everything and everyone because of this global, air-polluting level of carbon dioxide, a decade after it has lost all of its heating power.
S.Philipson, South Croydon