Their mismanagement of former ADF members' health requirements has become legend, with inexplicable delays in the handling of cases and what I believe to be a policy of rejecting claims wherever possible. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs Darren Chester appears to be asleep at the wheel but does appear to be available for any photo opportunity.

In my case, it took the department nine, yes nine, years to recognise that I suffered from bruxism, a dental issue of grinding one's teeth caused by taking large quantities of antidepressants and cardiac-related medications. In the intervening nine years I had to have several teeth removed at my own expense as they were worn down to gum level.

The department has now paid some of my old dental accounts for the removal of teeth, but now states that they will not pay for implants to replace the lost teeth because their policy is that the treatment for bruxism is to have a type of teeth protector put over your teeth to stop them wearing down by grinding. Now think about it. They have paid for me to have my teeth removed, but are stating that my treatment must be to have this guard over my teeth. What teeth? There are no teeth left to protect, and you paid to have them removed.

My case is but one of many that I am aware of where the bureaucracy is letting down ADF members. Should anyone wish to add to these tales of woe please contact me.

I HAVE recently moved to a new address in Thornton and have been sent an invoice for water and sewage totalling $424.28. This bill invoices me from March 1 to June 30.

The base water service charge is $425.07 sewer service charges for the period, total sewerage service charges were $212.53 plus environmental improvement charges. Water usage charges are $173.16.

It's not bad when I moved into the house on May 31 the bill was issued June 11. Not good for 11 days of service.

I was already paying the environmental levy on my Port Stephens Council rates while not connected to the Hunter Water supply.

I rang Hunter Water and was informed to pay the bill as it is my responsibility, although the majority of the services on this invoice were incurred by a previous owner of the home.

My call was handled by someone in Sydney at Sydney Water. This took at least 45 minutes the first time. I hung up after 35 minutes of voice recording and the 2nd time at least 25 minutes with no resolution.

THE latest scientific paper published in the journal of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, using over 15,000 input factors, found that all changes in global temperatures recorded in the past 100 years have been within normal variations and they predict a cooling of the globe of up to 2 Celsius degrees.

Couple this with NASA's Langley Research Center, and a panel of experts from NOAA and NASA stating a solar minimum is occurring which has resulted in an obvious cooling trend in the atmosphere. The last time this occurred was in 1645 and was known as the Maunder Minimum and lasted for 70 years. The river Thames froze solid and a mini ice age occurred.

Might it be time to start pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to keep us warm?

I AM getting tired of being told what I believe to be only half the truth regarding coal fired power station pollution. It seems to be the half that suits the renewable money machine.

I understand the majority of greenhouse gas doesn't come from power station smoke stacks, but water vapour or steam from the cooling towers. This contributes far more to global greenhouse gas than the coal-fired carbon from the smokestacks.

Considering the same principle applies when the sun draws moisture from our oceans to form rain clouds, it must make the sun the major contributor to global greenhouse gas.

So what's it going to be? Blame the sun, or show a bit of common sense and tell the whole story, not just parts to suit the purpose. There's nothing wrong with renewable products, just don't use power stations as the cause of the need to sell renewable solutions. Try attacking road and air transport, and then we will see how genuine the green movement is.

I can't see them going back to wearing sandals and riding bicycles.

THE documentary was already running when I turned on the telly and I missed the start, but what a mighty film!

I'm embarrassed that I had no prior knowledge of it: OCCUPATION: NATIVE, made it appears no later than 2014, but now I'm hoping you will publish this letter so that many more people will know that it is to be televised (again) on Sunday on NITV.

I believe this film should be shown in all Australian schools and institutions of tertiary education, so that children and adults of all backgrounds can become familiar with our nation's history, or what should be our nations' history, so that they/we all may get a clearer idea of why the original inhabitants (long before it became known as Australia, or even Terra Australis) of this continent, are still holding out for: a treaty.

Of course, the answer lies in the fact that the powers-that-be are still holding out against a treaty. Treaty now, treaty now, treaty now, it's only fair.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Ian King (Letters, 21/6) about people from all political parties respecting the position of Prime Minister. But Mr King must have a very short memory, as the treatment of Julia Gillard by the opposition Liberals was nothing short of a disgrace.

THE pen goes to John Morris, of Speers Point, for his letter about the quality of aged care for his late father. The pen is in the mail.