A Henry, (CT Letters, November 8) asks in relation to light rail, "Who has the courage to make the really big decisions on behalf of us poor rate payers?" and pleads "call it off sooner than later".
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I suggest that A Henry not look to ACT Liberal Party leader Jeremy Hanson to lead the charge. The light rail is to Mr Hanson what ex-prime minister Abbott was to Mr Shorten.
Additionally, the Hare-Clark system undermines the likelihood of the Liberals achieving a clear majority through which it may begin an expensive rollback.
Greens leader Shane Rattenbury is philosophically committed to light rail no matter the cost or other arguments against the project, many as they are. And Mahatma Gandhi is unavailable to lead a campaign of civil disobedience.
The only real hope ACT Labor Party leader Andrew Barr, pressured as he is by the unions, and by Mr Rattenbury, whose vote is critical to Labor continuing in government.
However there is hope. Mr Barr has not been out there championing light rail, his predecessor Katy Gallagher has given him an "out" on the basis of escalating costs and The Canberra Times survey suggests that some 47 per cent of the electorate may oppose the project.
There is a credible option for Mr Barr. Many critics of the project have concentrated on the apparent lack of due diligence in the development of the project.
By putting the project on a back burner pending a thorough cost benefit appraisal of the project and alternative public transport options, Mr Barr would incur the wrath of the unions and Mr Rattenbury, but his stocks among voters would soar.
Supporters of light rail arguing against due diligence being applied to the project would invite derision. Mr Barr, you are Chief Minister, the ball, or rather the light rail, is in your court.
Ken Brazel, Weston
Broken housing model
Buying fixed-priced blocks of residential land "over the counter" might be beneficial for housing affordability (CT Editorial, November 8), but more needs to be done. Orchestrated land scarcity, high prices (including excessive subdivision infrastructure), auctions, speculative land buying and building, and absentee investment, all kill affordability.
In well-planned places like Canberra, good new land can continue to be sustainably provided. Uber- or Airbnb-like, the current housing "industry" needs to be reformed. It's mostly a speculative, push-marketed, closed-shop, retail delivery "system", with many hangers-on, producing widespread inefficient, amateurish dwellings.
In government subdivisions, all new blocks (decently sized for family living) need to be made available only to owner-occupiers who undertake to live in situ for a specified substantial period (reasonable conditions applying). Bodies Corporate for moderately sized multiple dwelling projects can be formed before the event, via professional facilitators.
Owners could then source design and construction in a variety of better ways. The blocks should be available only at liquidated and ascertainable cost, plus a modest fixed margin percentage. Supply needs to be kept up (by legislation) to control and temper the currently inflated market, so freeing up investment funds for much-needed more productive industries for the ACT.
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
Fromelles not forgotten
Robyn Lewis (CT Letters, November 8) claims that Fromelles remains a "forgotten battle" and that those killed there have "not been recognised by any government". In fact, the battle was documented in detail in the official history published in 1929. The Australian dead have been individually commemorated at the War Memorial's Roll of Honour for over 50 years.
The dead of Fromelles were in 2010 accorded a new cemetery at Fromelles, funded by the British and Australian governments. The names of the missing are recorded on the Australian national memorial at Villers-Bretonneux which, I believe, commemorates the battle as Fleurbaix, the name used at the time.
Ms Lewis should read more than Peter FitzSimons's new book. At least five books on the battle exist already: I wonder what his will add besides unjustified outrage?
Peter Stanley, Honest History president, Dickson
Crabb's dirty dishes
In response to Annabel Crabb's reply ("When policy combat is off the menu", Sunday Focus, November 8, p20) to Ben Pobjie's review of Kitchen Cabinet I firstly must say that I seldom watch this program. It is sickly sweet and cutesy-pie, more suited to a commercial broadcaster than the ABC.
Her argument that it humanises the politicians is weak. We regularly see them at work and are capable of judging their humanity, or lack of it.
In the case of Scott Morrison, his inhumane treatment of refugees has caused many Australians to feel ashamed and in despair. The program actually seeks to white-wash his conduct by showing what a nice bloke he is. And what about the people who have been directly affected by his policies?
Perhaps Annabel could feature a refugee and bring along a wicker-basket full of meringues. Surely it is time to humanise these poor souls in detention camps, many who have numbers, not names.
What a waste of a talented journalist, whose political analysis was once worth reading.
Lucille Rogers, Kingston
Coincidentally, shortly after reading "When policy combat is off the menu" (Sunday Focus, November 8, p20), I was browsing the internet when I came across a translated article by columnist Annaliese Krebbs from a 1943 copy of the no-longer published German newspaper Die Sturmer. The columnist apparently had issues with an earlier columnist, Benjamin Pascal from another paper, the Karlsruhre Judisches Wochenblatte, that ceased publication in 1933. Pascal had claimed that what a government minister is like at home or in the kitchen is irrelevant to his duties. Krebbs argued that you can't "separate what people are like from what they do" and cited a recent interview, viz.
"Accompanied by several handsome SS men, the leader led me personally into the kitchen when I arrived at Berchtesgaden's simple domesticity, apologising for the plain fare he had prepared – bockwurst and potato salad – and explained, with a twinkle in his eye, that bratwurst, being fried, gave him gas problems.
"The Information Minister's six adorable children and their gorgeous mother were in attendance, and Magda told me how much the kids adored "Uncle Adolf" and "Aunty Eva" and the jolly times they all had together playing with Blondi on the terrace, who was devoted to her master.
"I supplied the dessert as usual, an apple pie, and after a taste the leader announced to all that it was even better than the legendary apfelstrudel his mum used to make! All of this happiness between kids, pets and politicians was the complete antithesis of what the horrid Benjamin Pascal, who is no longer with us, has claimed."
Bill Deane, Chapman
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