As quoted in Mr O'Mallon's article, Kirk Coningham and Minister Gentleman's spokesmen state there are strong building regulations in place.

How is the community protected if these are not policed adequately?

A Legislative Inquiry is needed. I can offer two examples that highlight inadequacies in the inspection regime that has existed in the ACT over the past 10 years since the explosion of poorly-built apartments in the ACT began.

I recently heard 'Location Coding' can be incorrectly recorded on the Building Fire Services Control Board.

Put simply, an incident in a level 4 apartment could be identified for firefighters as being on level 12.

Such a defect existed for more than five years before it was discovered and rectified by a qualified contractor.

My second example relates to certification without proper inspection of Interlinked Exhaust Systems.

To prevent fire moving from one apartment to other parts of a complex areas need to be blocked from each other.

I am aware of a complex where an "alternate solution" was used to create fire safety separation. It took two years for testing at a CSIRO Laboratory to prove this solution adequate. The system was not certified as appropriate at the time of building occupancy.

In fact, "certification" only occurred six years later.

Regulation may exist, but policing is not adequate.

Gary Petherbridge, president, Owners Corporation Network, Barton, ACT

A factor in the windfall gain provided to some ACT rural leaseholders was the low-growth paradigm that shaped ACT policies in the early 2000s.

The 'most likely' population projection at the time suggested the Territory's population would reach 389,000 by 2031 and then decline.

The low-growth expectation was also a factor in decisions to close schools.

The Canberra population is now 400,000 and could approach 600,000 by 2050, if recent growth rates continue.

The high level of growth is shaping the policy deliberations of the government.

History shows the ACT economy is subject to boom-bust cycles given its susceptibility to changes in federal government activity.

Substantial decentralisation of government agencies or lower levels of net overseas migration could significantly reduce the growth of the Territory.

In this context, the decision of the Barr-Rattenbury government to proceed with light rail to Woden, in the absence of any analysis of its merit, could be seen as poor a policy decision as selling off much of the ACT's urban land bank in the early 2000s.

It is also concerning that the LDA purchases of rural land could pre-determine the decision of where the next major greenfield area should be, without analysis of the merits of alternative settlement locations.

Such a decision should only be made in the context of the ACT planning strategy, a review of which is urgently needed to optimise community outcomes.

Mike Quirk, Wanniassa

May I reply to some of these over-zealous cyclists who responded to my letter of June 17.

Any law that you enact stating that, if a motorists knocks down a cyclist, the motorist is automatically guilty is un-Australian and does not belong in our society.

I don't dispute cyclists pay taxes, etc. I dispute that they don't pay to use our roads.

Those of you who pay rego and government charges to use your vehicles on our roads, you are paying for that vehicle only.

Use the bike paths, don't run down any pedestrians, or take the risk on the roads, but don't keep blaming the motorists.

Custom duties have been on petrol since federation and in 1929 it became excise.

When GST was introduced the government added another 10 per cent.

Today the governments (both State and Federal) collect in taxes, charges and rego fees more than $45 billion.

They take 75 per cent and put (it) in general revenue.

The excise that we collect on petrol is, in effect, a general revenue measure.

Errol Good, Macgregor

For the third time in as many weeks some yob in a massive four-wheel-drive utility has roared past me, facial features contorted, arms waving and yelling obscenities because of some perceived driving offence by me – possibly giving way to a fellow driver or not taking off like Jack Brabham at the traffic lights. I am now an "older driver", but surely I don't deserve to be treated like this.

These types, along with drivers using mobile phones and the all-to-common poorly-trained "P" drivers are making driving in Canberra increasingly unpleasant.

Perhaps a few less police at Parliament House and the airport and a few more on our roads is what is needed.

Timothy Walsh, Garran

James Allan (letters, June 20) claims that motorists do not make full contribution (to the cost of roads) but omits, as is so often the case in the cyclists' financial arguments, most of the taxes, fees and other imposts paid by motorists for the use of their vehicles.

The omissions include excise on fuel, GST on fuel, insurance, repairs, vehicle purchase and tariffs. These include the "Luxury Car Tax" as well as tolls and other arbitrary taxes in the form of petty fines.

These sums go through various forms of federal, state and local government consolidated revenue, but that does not detract from the origins of the money. If a person owns more than one vehicle all have to be registered, taxed and insured.

The claim "cyclists often own a registered car" has no substance in the argument.

Michael Lane, St. Ives, NSW

If there is to be a university-level English requirement for citizenship, could there be a requirement of an IQ of at least 50 to stand for parliament?

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove

The Gonski 2.0 funding obviously needs to be civilly debated.

The elephant in the room is whether more money is the panacea to the need for more males to step up into an education role.

Over the years, I have often gently prodded career men into considering the merits of retraining as both primary and secondary school teachers. Among the sometimes awkward laughter that follows, not once has the issue of remuneration arisen.

The main concerns are not being able to handle unruly children, the fear of personal litigation and the perceived bureaucratic nature of schools.

When comparisons are made with successful school systems in east Asia, for example, we need to remember that in their civil framework, teachers are both respected and honoured as a matter of cultural custom, rather than casually addressed on a first-name basis by some students, or seen as targets of angst by lazy parents who have never enforced the boundaries at home. It is an enduring truth that teachers touch tomorrow, and for the sake of subsequent generations, more men need to be willing to relegate money as a secondary aspiration and take on the high calling of forming and informing young hearts and minds.

The education sectors need to address the question of vocation, and not just monetary value.

Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn, Vic

Turnbull, and his ilk, display a DNA-embedded, vengeful hatred of working Australians, evidenced by their menacing legislative program, matched only by anti-terrorism statutes ("Call for construction safety commissioner", CT, June 21, P9).

Howard's, then Abbott's and now Turnbull's ABCC represents a reprehensible travesty of jurisprudence, reversing, as it does, the onus of proof.

Obviously it is immaterial to them if even more workers fall from heights or are crushed under building slabs.

Turnbull, and his coterie, applauded delightedly when the Fair Work Commission (in this instance inappropriately named), did their dirty work for them, ingratiating itself, as it did, to the big end of town by eliminating penalty rates.

Howard banned compulsory student unionism, introduced individual contracts, legislated crippling fines on phoney grounds, created Australian Workplace Agreements and, at taxpayer expense, facilitated black-legging (scabbing) (Patrick's, Melbourne).

The Coalition are following in these footsteps under Malcolm's leadership.

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan, NSW

To make eight changes and turn a 28-4 loss and a 16-6 deficit at half-time in game two into a win is unheard of.

And if you are a Queenslander you'd have to say the eight new faces were all fantastic, most for the whole game, some for the 12-points-to-nil second half. Napa, Hess, Glasby, Cooper played out of their skins and were mobile and followed instructions to the letter.

Gagai's winning try and his previous try, which was easily the try of the domestic season, gives an understanding of how comprehensive the encyclopaedia of rugby league knowledge is when in the hands of Smith, Cronk and Thurston.

There have been fewer better games than this in Origin, and certainly when considering game to game, I have never seen either state lose by 24 points in one game and win the next by two.

A 26-point turnaround is quite simply out of this world.

Arthur Pagonis, Morley, WA

I have read with interest David Monaghan's plea for Australians to stay away from London. ("Dear Aussies: don't come to London for holidays", canberratimes.com.au, June 21).

I have a journalist daughter working in the Westminster area of London.

This may sound weird but I feel relieved when she leaves London and works on assignments in other countries.

She is in Ghana this week, although I am not so happy when she is in Nigeria.

However, there are many safer areas than London to visit or work at the moment.

I am always relieved when she is working in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, both relatively safe Emirates states.

London has become a crazy, mixed up place to visit or work in. How the times have changed.

Robyn Lewis, Raglan, NSW

SW Davey (letters, June 19) is woefully mistaken when he describes Steve Biddulph ("The role of shame in incidents like the Lindt Cafe siege", canberratimes.com.au, June 14) as brave for excusing Man Haron Monis of the terrorist moniker because of his character flaws.

Toxic ideologies, whether Nazi, Islamist or communist, transform cowardly, bullying and foolish behaviour into "righteous" cream that rises to the top of their unfortunate societies.

The converse of Davey's and Biddulph's ridiculous contention is that murdering civilians is only a political act when the perpetrator is fair-minded and rational.

Peter Robinson, Ainslie

The so-called experts on Islam do not like tasting their own medicine.

After every Muslim "terrorist" attack, they call on Muslims to denounce terrorism, they cite hate preachers and put the blame firmly on the teachings of Islam. Yet whenever a white, non-Muslim "lone wolf" commits terrorism, they don't like being held responsible for inciting anger against Muslims.

They should remember: "Do to others as you would have them do unto you."

Foad Munir, Berwick, Victoria

IGNORANT REMARKS

Senator Hanson's remark that students with disabilities should be removed from mainstream classes shows her inability to understand these are also our children and have a right to be treated equally.

Other students will develop a clear understanding about them and, in future years, if some become our senators, will take the country forward.

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

Does Senator Pauline Hanson know Hitler too wanted the disabled "segregated" from the mainstream? She has time and again shown just how philosophically shallow a worldview she possesses.

It's a national disgrace when a mediocre person like that gets to become a political leader.

Rajend Naidu, Glenfield, NSW

TIME TO SHUNT OFF

I think its time for John L Smith (letters, June 20) and others to stop complaining about the tram.

The people of Canberra have spoken (twice) and our democratic processes now demand that the elected government implement the decision.

Chris Aulich, Giralang

HOLLOW VICTORY

"Turnbull claims victory in schools package" yell the headlines. This victory was gained by utilising the likes of Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts et al who wouldn't know education and or intellect if it hit them on the head.

Truly an achievement to be proud.

E. R. Moffat, Weston

ACTION AT ACTON

Re Kevin Mulcahy's memories of pre-lake Canberra (letters, June 21). You forgot to mention the Acton sports Oval which was always a hive of activity on Saturdays with hockey and so on. Freezing cold, but fun.

Therese van Pelt-Penders, Page

CHARITY FARCE

Because of the company Appco, which raises money for charity and allegedly keeps most of it themselves, how many people will never donate to charity again?

Steven Hurren, Macquarie

MAROONS AGAIN

In 25 words or less, describe the State of Origin: "It's a rugby league contest between NSW's best and their counterparts from Queensland where the Queenslanders nearly always win in the dying minutes."

Steven Marinceski, Queanbeyan, NSW

TRUMPED ON CUBA

It would be safe to assume that President Trump does not have hotels in Cuba.

Perhaps this is long-term intention behind his stupid reversal of relations?

Gary Frances, Bexley, NSW

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