Fair's fair J.C.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The "students whinge" does not "annoy" me, T.J.Farqahar! (Letters, April 5.) University of Canberra student officer Nawaf Ibrahim's statement seemed neither a whinge nor annoyance, rather an observation put respectfully.
I live near the ANU; I rent to ANU students; I hear that lack of affordable housing and jobs causes extreme stress for all students.
Many ANU students note that UniLodge on-campus housing is overpriced and not value-for-money. Jobs, especially for international students, are difficult to land – even for those fluent in English.
Nobody quoted in the article demanded the "Australian taxpayer to foot any ... living expenses". Mr Ibrahim reported, "employers abuse the [students'] desperation by not making contracts, not providing work insurance, paying below the minimum wage and paying cash" – issues our government should address for international students as they do for citizens.
If we advertise for international students, we must provide them reasonable support. Even if the educational contract is merely a "business contract", we owe a duty of care to those consuming our education products and services.
Nobody promises international (or domestic) students a rose garden. Mr Ibrahim's statements and the predicament of university students deserve better than the mean-spirited sarcasm of T.J.Farqahar's letter.
Judy Bamberger, O'Connor
Apples and oranges
Jackie French (Relax, April 5) is not comparing apples with apples when she says that feijoas are never as sweet or delicious as late season apples. The apple trees in her garden are doubtless named varieties, selected and propagated by skilled gardeners. Yet, for some reason Australian nurseries (unlike New Zealand ones) think it is enough to supply feijoas that are not grafted but simply grown from seed, and to label them as fruit trees.
Of course trees grown from seed are likely to give smaller and less tasty fruit. Anyone who wants to know how good feijoas can be should seek out named varieties from those very few Australian nurseries (sadly there are none at present in Canberra) that sell grafted feijoas.
Mark O'Connor, Lyneham
Sad for everyone
Chief Minister Andrew Barr seems to have no understanding of the importance of having the Manuka Occasional Care Centre remain on its present site, not only because it ideally meets the requirements of parents and young children, but also because it reinforces patronage of Manuka's retail and personal service businesses in a convenient and symbiotic relationship ("Govt instructed principal on land swap", April 4, p2).
The centre's possible removal should be a matter that Manuka traders ought to get upset about, in addition to the local community who need another beer outlet like a hole in the head, especially in view of the ill-behaviour, litter, noise and "smelliness" that such places invariably and increasingly give rise to. The "Diggers" might find there will a lot of odium attached to such a move on their part that pays no regard to the sensitivities and needs of shoppers and residents.
Why can't the government simply move the RSL club across the road to the Montgomery playing fields where it could have outdoor garden and relaxation spaces and with adequate parking that might better meet the needs of its members and guests?
There seems to be a significant commercial component in the proposed new club building which, in the manner of such arrangements regularly favoured by the government in which it sells the site, the developer funds the construction, the RSL gets the ground floor pub, the RSL eventually experiences financial difficulties and the building ends up in the hands of investors.
The secrecy attached to this project is tending to give Andrew Barr a reputation for duplicity, for example, in relation to the $27 million deal he entered into with the AFL in relation to the SW Sydney football club situated 300 kilometres away from Canberra, also the estimated $50 million or so granted to the Brumbies since 2008, as well the undermining of the statutory planning system by Simon Corbell's exercise of ministerial call-in powers in relation to the rezoning and development of the Brumbies Manuka HQ site.
It is certainly not a good look for a chief minister to promise public consultation and not deliver and, even worse, to try and muzzle the local school headmaster.
Tony Powell, Griffith
Bouquet for No.7
ACTION bus services receive much criticism from the travelling public, but I would like to redress the balance by relating the following incident: I left my handbag on a No.7 bus the other day, while changing buses. It contained money, credit cards and other valuables. The driver of the new bus promptly notified the depot and within three hours the intact handbag was returned to my front door.
Now that's service! Thank you, ACTION.
Jilpia Jones, O'Connor
Polly pay rise unfair
So the ACT Remuneration Tribunal has backed off its planned 6 per cent rise for our pollies and all the other hangers on, and has instead plumped for a 3 per cent rise. Considering that "ordinary people" are getting 1.5 per cent after suffering large staff reductions, our pollies are given twice that while benefiting from a 47 per cent increase in numbers. I consider that the highly unrepresentative, undemocratic and unrealistic set of ex-CEOs and senior bureaucrats who make up the Remuneration Tribunal should be disbanded and their salaries donated to charity where it can do some good.
Ric Hingee, Duffy
Roading emergency
I was shocked to witness ambulances and emergency vehicles stuck at Abena Avenue, Crace, last week unable to get out as there is only one lane.
I only wonder what would the result be if it was a cardiac arrest or some life threatening condition that required immediate attention. People's lives are at risk but inefficient and lazy TAMS is not bothered and will soon face legal action for negligence and compromising Crace residents' safety.
Crace is the fastest-growing suburb in Canberra and the ACT Government will soon lose power if it does not act. I request you escalate the matter so more exits out of Crace, better roads and direct connection from inner Crace to the Barton Highway are built to reduce risk.
Rob Smith, Gungahlin
Joe's opportunity
Apparently big international companies operating in Australia bill their Australian clients out of Singapore and pay taxes in Singapore because the tax rate is lower in Singapore than in Australia.
Is it not obvious that if Australia had the lower tax rates, then these companies would pay their taxes in Australia? Joe, what are you waiting for? Lower the tax rate and collect more tax.
Bruce Peterson, Kambah
Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message field, not as an attached file. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.
Keep your letter to 250 words or less. References to Canberra Times reports should include date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published).