I find it interesting that the administrators of rugby league promote it as the game for the working class and for its entertainment value. Who is running rugby league? Is it the National Rugby League or is it Channel Nine? One only has to look at the television coverage to see that it is Channel Nine. For the 2008 season these are the statistics on the number of times each team has or will have appeared in free-to-air television games: Broncos 18, Roosters 15, Eels 13, Wests Tigers 12, Sea Eagles 12, Titans 11, Rabbitohs 10, Dragons 10, Storm 7, Bulldogs 7, Sharks 7, Panthers 6, Cowboys 5, Knights 5, Warriors 2 and Raiders 2. I think the supporters of teams other than the Broncos and the Roosters would be deservedly cheesed off with the free-to-air coverage of rugby league and that chief executive David Gyngell should become more involved in ensuring each team receives an equal share of free-to-air coverage.

Ray Wright, Greenway

Creative accounting

The ACT Government's 2008-09 Budget surplus will be $289million, an increase of almost $100million more than the original estimate of $192million, and due to asset revaluations, therefore not giving the Government extra money (''Hey presto: ACT's coffers contain an extra $97m'', August 15, p3). There's something seriously wrong, and misleading, about an accounting system that produces a ''surplus'' that includes a theoretical book increase in asset values. Most people regard a Budget surplus as the same thing as a company's annual profit, or what's left of revenue received after expenses incurred in earning that revenue has been deducted. Variations in estimates of the book value of assets, or future liabilities such as superannuation, are quite another matter. And what on earth is the point in putting a book value on government assets anyway? It's time the Government had a hard look at its accounting methods and the presentation of the financial results of its activities.

R.S. Gilbert, Braddon

Policies, not people

I have known the Gallagher family since I arrived in Canberra and Katy's mum, Betsy (a remarkable woman in her own right), died a few years ago from a particularly nasty cancer.

Katy and her siblings treated her with the utmost care and without any publicity.

I know Brian Hindley (Letters, August 15, p14) could not have known this but I also know such a letter would have hurt Katy and her family immensely.

Please, can we attack the policies and not the person, if we feel the need, as we do not have all the details.

Name withheld by request