Canberra bashing is often described as a national pastime, but one of its newest recruits wants to cast Canberra in a more flattering light.

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The singer, writer and director Robyn Archer says those who see Canberra as roundabouts, freezing weather, overpaid public servants and "bloody pollies" need to reacquaint themselves with their national capital.

Archer is the creative director for Canberra's centenary celebrations next year. In a spirited address at the National Press Club she has rubbished Canberra bashers.

"Me, checking into any Australian airport, 'morning Ms Archer, where are you off to today? Canberra, oh you poor thing'," she told the club.

"Roundabouts, freezing, nowhere to eat. Bloody pollies, overpaid public servants."

Archer says newspaper subeditors and journalists who interchange the words Government and Canberra are to blame.

She listed a series of headlines from newspapers to prove her point.

"Goons, ferals and meowing senators - just another day in Canberra. Canberra issued backpacker's death warrant. Canberra delays pokies technology. Canberra treating public like mugs. Condescension thy name is Canberra.

"When you mean the Federal Government, say explicitly the Federal Government or the Australian Government. When you mean Canberra, say Canberra. Because they are two different entities."

She says Australians should get to know their national capital.

"A number of journalists and even some much admired elder statesmen also feel they have permission to knock the national capital," she said.

"These are frequently people who for some inexplicable reason need Canberra to be Sydney.

"Many critics sustain infantile prattle on roundabouts. Oh I see - no-one ever in the history of ever visiting Sydney ever wound up mistakenly on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and found themselves lost in the wilds of north shore middle class suburbia."