That clearly includes feedback on the rail service to Melbourne, for which I have taken a proactive interest over many years. I also have travelled on the service periodically to experience it for myself and to talk with other travellers.

While I am always pleased to hear from those with real experiences I draw the line at written lectures from Liberal MPs and particularly letters from the likes of Paul Jenkins ( Jan 30) who, as a Kennett Liberal Government MP oversaw the neglect of our Regional rail network when many lines, including the line to Ararat were closed and the main line between Ballarat and Melbourne was very poorly maintained and poorly serviced.

It took Labor to commit to the major upgrade of Regional rail services with major upgrades to the tracks and the introduction of the modern VLocity carriages, with many more services, and only Labor is committed to further enhancing our public transport networks.

While current experiences with VLine rolling stock are unacceptable and are clearly a source of frustration to travellers affected, I and the Labor government are committed to working to see it addressed. We will take advice from those with expertise and those who are committed to improving the system but the Liberals, with their appalling record, should avoid their hypocritical lectures.

Geoff Howard State MP for Buninyong.

With the price of a barrel of oil at a low of $30 USD why are we still paying high prices for petrol.

We are being ripped of so bad by these greedy oil companies and the ACCC turn a blind eye and do nothing about it.

Why have the ACCC? They are useless and do bugger all to justify these exorbitant prices at the pump. I wonder if any of them drive cars and pay for their own petrol... I doubt it.

We should all be paying well below $1 a litre at today's price of oil.

Graham Pearce, Ballarat

I got the message load and clear from Canadian resident Hedley Thomson that he is very happy with the current component charges when he receives his Central Highlands Water account and I am sure they will be delighted to hear that but I have talked to a lot of people that aren't so lucky as Mr Thomson to pay these high component chargers and these people with families are struggling paying these high charges, These families say they only use for example $30, to $50 worth of water and there bill ends up being $400 or $500 when the charges are added

Although some people might be happy with this system, I know there are a lot people that are dissatisfied when they know most of there water account is made up mostly in chargers and I hope that water board does something about these charges and makes a better fairer system for all customers

Geoff Rundell, Ballarat

Clive Palmer should pay out all 237 workers that were sacked from the failed nickel mine company and use his own money. He seems to have plenty to splash around . the sacked workers have every right to be angry  with the way they have been treated. Clive only cares about one person and that is himself. He should meet up Donald Trump, a candidate for the next president. They have a lot in common, both are rich and full of their own importance . Both would do well to give their money to the workers who deserve it and get out of federal politics.

Peter Coffield, Creswick