He should acknowledge that these data are based on graduates who achieved their degrees some 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years ago. It does not follow that students obtaining their degrees today will be similarly blessed.

First, the proportion of university graduates among those seeking their first job is ever increasing. It is not nearly as easy to find employment in their chosen field as it once was.

Secondly, the building and construction industries are going gang busters, which could provide a boost to incomes of tradespeople, who don't necessarily hold university degrees.

Of course, on average, graduates will always do better. But holding a degree might not be the financial bonanza it once was.

Philip Knopke, Kaleen

As a regular Farmer's Market patron, last weekend I again found the Stirling Street entrance at EPIC closed with instructions to access the market via Well Station Road.

This is a real problem for many of the weekly Farmer's Market customers who are pedestrians and cyclists, as there are no footpaths on Well Station Road and the road itself is narrow with rough edges, placing those not in cars at considerable risk.

A market volunteer told me that the Stirling Street entry was closed because of the Canberra Show and given the other event, EPIC management felt there was too great a risk in allowing cyclists and pedestrians to use this entry. So how does this risk compare with trying to access the market from Well Station Road?

It's time that EPIC management recognises that the Farmer's Market is the most frequently held event at EPIC and ensures that whenever the market is operating there is safe and convenient pedestrian and cycle access through the EPIC site.

William (Will) Mollison, Downer

Interesting to read your report "Life in the Lock-Up" (Sunday, February 18) but I wish some of your intrepid reporters could have been sent to explore the other side.

I count myself lucky never to have seen the inside of an Australian lock-up yet my experience of lock-ups in the UK in the '60s, '70s and early '80s, without ever being charged with anything more serious than resisting arrest, has left me unable to entirely trust the police version of events.

Australia has yet to move decisively beyond the era of black deaths in custody. This suggests that there are still officers patrolling our streets who are happy to use a night or two in custody as a punishment they can hand down without recourse to a magistrate and that some of those working inside our lock-ups are only too willing to assist in this onerous task.

Barry Hindess, Belconnen

Ian Warden ("Forlorn on Lyneham's lawn", February 18, p19) decries the "weirdly old-fashioned" grass courts but wants to return to the old-fashioned wooden-framed racquets that frequently warped unless kept in a press.

Ken McPhan, Spence

I think Ronald Biggs would be turning in his grave with jealousy knowing of the sweetheart deal between the ACT government, the Tradies Club and the CFMEU and the $2.6million ACT taxpayer's rip-off. Talk about the three wise monkeys – see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

While arguably associated with being of good mind, speech and action, methinks the approach of the ACT government has been more like turning a blind eye to the backroom deal.

That the CFMEU received a handsome donation of some $3.8million moments after the ACT government paid the Tradies $3.9million in the questionable land swap deal has more stench about it than a rotting carcass in the midday sun.

And no heads will roll. ACT taxpayers it's time to wake up!

Assault on communities

The Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 is an ill-conceived and duplicitous attack on civil liberties. Under the guise of protecting Australians from foreign political interference, it's a back- door attempt to silence hard-working charities and grassroots organisations working in the community interest with needless administration and unworkable restrictions.

Some of the requirements are quite simply ridiculous. That my donation of more than $4.80 a week to a given environmental or social justice organisation would require a formal document signed and witnessed by a Justice of the Peace imposes bureaucratic burden on community organisations .

That there are prison sentences for failure to follow these rules poses extraordinary pressure on organisations who are often working with limited funds and legal advice. Furthermore large corporations are exempt from these requirements while civil organisations are not.

It seems clear that the government wishes to limit the role of civil organisations' right to be active in our community and is using this legislation to bring about destructive change that will render our society more unequal and less democratic.

As Australian citizens we value our right to participate in measures of support for those issues that concern us.

We do not wish to have to align ourselves to a political party in order to have our say on matters of great importance – fair and equal treatment of citizens, valuing our environment, protecting communities against negative pressures from big business.

If Labor, Greens or independents stand for anything they will reject this bill in its entirety.

Joan Cornish, Watson

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