I have greater concerns. I wonder how travel to a colleague’s wedding or a helicopter flight to a party fundraiser can be work related and “within the rules”.

The Australian Federal Police have referred the investigation back to the Department of Finance. This is inconsistent, they did not do this with Peter Slipper. Police are supposed to enforce the rules not pick and choose who they apply to. 

It now feels like we are living in a police state and they will do whatever is needed to keep the Liberals in power.

Tony Abbott is also displaying double standards. He stated that the Speaker position needs to be beyond reproach, yet he is prepared to support Bronwyn Bishop despite these allegations.

Referral of the investigation back to the director of the Department of Finance raises a conflict of interest issue.

Department directors are under contract to the government and are unlikely to go against their employers wishes. Worse still, the director now assessing the case is reported as saying; if Bronwyn was a man, she wouldn’t be getting so much bad press. Does she not think the matter is serious? How can she say that given what happened to Peter Slipper and Craig Thompson?

I don’t expect Tony to sack Bronwyn and remove her pension– after all, he too has repaid thousands of dollars inappropriately claimed expenses (book launch and wedding attendance).

CATHY McGowan needs to focus on the issues that matter, not complain about not being invited to events with government ministers.  

I worked for Sophie Mirabella for 12 years, including six years of a Labor Government. 

There were many times when Sophie wasn't invited to ministerial visits to Indi by Labor ministers. She just got on with the job of working hard for her constituents. 

Cathy McGowan is not a member of the Coalition Government, has opposed significant Coalition policies and in no way whatsoever has been part of forming Coalition policy.

I WOULD like to respond to a letter posted recently (Waste not, want not, The Border Mail, July 28).

I would be interested to know what sort of response he receives from “the ombudsman” or “Fair Trading” with regard to his rates. Is he aware his rates also go towards the maintenance of pathways, roads, gardens and other facilities he doesn’t use? 

The Halve Waste initiative is fantastic.I urge anyone who has any questions regarding this system to go to the Halve Waste website and peruse the well designed and overall very informative webpage. 

For a mere additional $85.50 per year ($1.65 per week or as so many like to refer to it, “less than the price of a cup of coffee”) we are helping reduce waste, reduce landfill and better our habits so that future generations have room to grow. 

I for one am more than willing to play my part in mitigating that future. After six weeks our red bin is only just now full. 

Thanks to the new system we are reducing our hard rubbish drastically because we follow the system.  

The effort is worth the reward. Ask your kids. Ask your grandkids. It concerns me how anyone could find zero use for the green bin. 

I urge Mr De Walle, and the many others I have read who bemoan this system, to become informed and get on board. Otherwise they will continue to be part of the problem.