The issue deserves careful consideration. Dogs exist for us, because we want them. Yet many of them are clearly treated terribly — some left outside in barren environments sometimes chained for most of the time; those used as guard dogs are often treated this way.

But even those dogs we call pets and claim to love and care for lead problematic lives.

They are dependent on us for everything from food, water, exercise and where and when they can "go to the toilet". Many are left at home alone for most of the day — no wonder they are pleased to see us when we get home – they have been bored out of their minds.

Even barking along with the dog three doors down all day hasn't really helped.

For some, a change in the family circumstances can result in them becoming unwanted. Many are handed in to the RSPCA or other shelters where they can languish until space restrictions mean they are killed to make way for the next refugees or because they are deemed to have "behaviour problems".

Pounds and shelters are overflowing yet we still purchase "designer dogs" from breeders — many of those animals with severe congenital problems from decades of selective breeding for appearance and personality.

It's time we stopped breeding more animals to become the property of humans.

Mike O'Shaughnessy, Spence

There has been an abnormal number of letters in very recent times on dog attacks.

I do not believe the dog "problem" is suddenly happening; it has been an ongoing issue for years, but the press is now onto it.

While I am very sympathetic to dog attack victims, I must say that the term "dangerous dogs" is misleading. The term should be "powerful dogs".

In my view and indeed the view of our RSPCA CEO, and very many dog lovers, the problem is clearly the owners/trainers, not the dogs.

We have had three German shepherds over the years. They are the most reliable, gentle, and smart and obedient dogs you could imagine, while trained to be so.

Getting my Molly off our bed in the morning involves simply a request to do so. She understands English. Loves kids, adults and other dogs, because she has been meticulously trained to do so.

Trained and socialised dogs are beautiful. The same could be said for Rottweilers and the like. Just wonderful dogs.

The ACT needs to address the owner problem, not the dog breed issue.

I understand this is a very difficult problem, and I do not see a simple solution.

Greg Jackson, Kambah

It seems our incompetent ACT government can't even get the colours of its "rainbow" roundabout correct. According to Jill Hogan's report ("All the colours of the ... roundabout", November 23, p.2/3) rings of red, orange, yellow, green and purple were added to a Braddon roundabout.

The accompanying picture suggests the colours — moving out from the centre — are orange, salmon, yellow, green and purple.

The colours of a primary rainbow are seven (not five) and are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV) in that order.

Don Sephton, Greenway

The incidence of wage theft and worker exploitation continues to grow.

This should surprise no one. It is the natural result of decades of ideological vilification of unions and unionists by conservative governments.

An indirect result of union bashing is rapidly disappearing job security and employment that includes decent wages and conditions. Yes, there were a very small number of rogue unions that engaged in disgraceful conduct, nearly as disgraceful as the rogue employers whose ranks are swelling because conservative politicians are reluctant to bite the hand that feeds them.

The vast majority of unionists have always been hard-working, law-abiding, respectable citizens who never deserved to be defamed.

The wonder is that ordinary wage earners, duped by the powerful and wealthy, continue to vote against their own, and society's, best interests.

Steve Ellis, Hackett

While some might argue that the unseemly initial enthusiasm shown by the former deputy prime minister in accepting Gina Rinehart's crude largesse was proof only that his hat was on way too tight, others will see it as clear evidence that members of the current government believe that they are under no obligation whatsoever to respect standards of behaviour normally expected of public officials in this country, let alone those who supposedly aspire to senior positions of leadership.

A champion disgrace.

John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

Twenty-five years ago, when chairing an interview panel in Canberra for a medium-level public service position, I was given a bottle of decent red wine by a job applicant at the conclusion of her interview.

She commented that if employed she, like good wine, would improve in quality with time.

It immediately struck me and the rest of the panel that this was inappropriate and potentially compromising, regardless of her final interview outcome.

I graciously declined the gift.

Why is it that Barnaby Joyce did not have the sense to graciously decline Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart's $40,000 gift on stage, while in full glare of the media and public, rather than later after being criticised by the National Farmers Federation?

Ross Pulbrook, Wyong, NSW

It never ceases to amaze me that the media still uses the term "political donations" when major companies give, often hundred of thousands of dollars, to both political major parties.

There are so many worthwhile charities, to whom donations that are tax deductible, crying out for money.

These payments are no more than bribes, given in the hope that their largesse will result in favourable treatment.

I have coined a new word to categorise our society. We have evolved from what used to be "Democracy" to "Bribeocracy".

Michael Adler, Gungahlin

ACT residents wherever they live should question the suitability of the site of the old Shell depot at Fyshwick for a new Materials Recovery Centre and Incinerator.

Mass burning of rubbish and remnant contamination associated with petrol must be examined closely for compatibility.

This explains why the Territory Plan IZ2-legislation prohibits incinerators from mixed-use industrial zones. We must put our faith in the Minister for Planning to reject that Prohibited Development on this site.

C. Russell, Gunghalin

Sue Wareham (Letters, November 23) questions Jim Molan's suitability for a Senate seat on the grounds of his military record.

Generals do not send us to war – that decision is taken by the elected politicians.

The generals (and the rest of the military) then conduct the operations at the behest of our leaders, as efficiently as they can and with full regard to the various conventions and laws of conflict.

There is absolutely no evidence that Jim Molan did anything other than precisely that, and having senators who have experienced war firsthand will likely provide balance in any future such debates.

Military officers typically have an ability to assess complex problems, weigh courses of action, make decisions, and then clearly communicate those decisions.

Jim Molan has demonstrated all those skills over a very long career.

The sooner Jim Molan takes a seat in the Senate, the better. The fact that he received the fourth-highest personal vote in NSW in the last Senate election suggests that others share my view.

Kym MacMillan, O'Malley

Lionel Murphy made a serious mistake when he bought in no-fault legislation in divorce.

As usual with adults, when they bring in new laws that impact on children, the adults only think about themselves and not the effects on children. Of course no-fault made it easier for the lawyers, judges and adults.

The reasons for adults divorcing are serous. There are never "no faults".

The reasons are usually: infidelity, violence, verbal, physical, emotional abuse, serious negligence and irresponsible behaviour. Also drug or alcohol addiction. And anger towards the offending spouse.

The adults manage to escape the situation and regain their freedom, but in what often seems automatic joint custody or access, the vulnerable children are sent back into the situation a parent fled.

Hundreds of children have died, been murdered or injured through negligence due to inadequate family laws which do not protect children's safety.

In some cases, a parent has murdered a child for revenge and hurt the other parent for the rest of their lives.

All the above reasons for divorce should be laid on the table to make sure children are not sent back into potentially dangerous situations.

Megan Mitchell, National Children's Commissioner in Sydney, wants children listened to in family law and what they say made legal.

P.A. Upward, O'Connor

Philip Benwell's letter (Letters, November 24) is riddled with curious propositions.

"Gone is the thinking that because you live in a Liberal electorate you must be a traditional conservative or if you are in a Labor electorate you must be a socialist".

Did anyone ever think like that? Under our current voting system, a Liberal or Labor electorate might contain only just over one-half of electors (two-party-preferred) of that persuasion – and, under the cruder first-past-the-post voting system that preceded it, an even lower number of electors.

"Forty-two out of 67 Labor electorates in 1999 voted against a republic"? Actually, as Benwell well knows, they only voted against a republic of the sort put before them.

The "no" voters would have included an unholy alliance of monarchists like Benwell and republicans who wanted to directly elect our president.

"On the ballot paper for lower house seats it is not the name of the political party but the name of the individual that one votes for." Actually, the ballot paper contains the name of not only the candidate but also his or her political party.

And the "representative government" for which Benwell yearns would presumably require MPs to commission public opinion polls of their electorates to determine how they should vote on each and every issue arising in the chamber.

Frank Marris, Forrest

The news of a military coup would normally be a cause for condemnation and a hope for a return to a normal life although in this case the Zimbabwean coup is met with cheers.

Mugabe is one of the few truly evil people in the world with the ability to act on his impulses.

A decrepit 93-year-old man would hardly seem dangerous for long but the creation of a political and military structure with potential successors, admittedly his younger wife, is what we need to fear.

Successive generations of unsupported leadership seems unlikely but North Korea provides a model.

Although there are many ways leadership can be enacted, it should be with the support of those being led.

A democratically elected leadership as the best way forward.

The world will be a better place without Mugabe in it.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Vic

It's become extremely difficult to find anyone who would freely admit they voted Labor.

Could this be due to the ever increasing rates, stamp duty, electricity, gas, water and numerous other charges and levies imposed on us through this current ACT Labor government?

The general response I get is, "I didn't vote for them".

Makes you wonder how they got in.

Now that I live in Phillip/Woden, I am looking forward to the tram arriving and the financial contribution through higher taxes made by other residents of the ACT who may not get any direct benefits from it.

Not much different to the first stage of the tram I guess.

James Bodsworth, Phillip

On economic grounds alone it would make sense to process the Manus asylum seekers in Australia.

Offshore processing has cost us wasted billions.

The Rudd Manus Island agreement with PNG was for 12 months. They have been there under the Liberals for over four years.

Mr Dutton says he could not contemplate sending asylum seekers to New Zealand because of "pull factors".

Strange considering Mr Howard sent refugees to New Zealand under similar circumstances.

Using Mr Dutton's logic, wouldn't refugees to the US also be a "pull factor"?

Let us be very clear. The boats have stopped because of turnbacks, not offshore processing.

Some 31 boats have been turned back in the past two years with the usual Dutton secrecy and "out of sight out of mind" mentality.

It is time to show some humanity and take up New Zealand's offer.

Ray Armstrong, Tweed Heads South, NSW

The two examples of refusal of service by Anne Prendergast (Letters, November 23) perfectly illustrate that there is no need to enshrine the right of refusal of service into law in order to protect religious freedom.

That right, as she has shown and used herself, already exists.

Peter Snowdon, Aranda

CRIMINAL LEAK

Julie Bishop says that leaking from cabinet is a serious criminal offence. I look forward to the AFP raiding cabinet offices to find this criminal.

John Passant, Kambah

SIR HUMPHREY'S WARNING

Julie Bishop wants to set up a leak inquiry. Is she aware of the advice from the redoubtable Sir Humphrey that the ship of state is the only ship that leaks from the top?

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld

ENLIGHTENED VICTORIA

It was pleasing to see the enlightened Victorian Parliament passing legislation in favour of medically assisted euthanasia. This acknowledges that surveys of Australia's population show an average of 75 per cent are in favour of such legislation.

In view of the rejection by one vote of similar legislation by the NSW Parliament does this mean that more than 50per cent of that Parliament is misrepresenting the people of that state?

Maxwell Lotton, Fisher

FILLING IT IN

Standard military training for other ranks has been described as, "Dig a hole. Fill it in". Town planning in Canberra seems to be following a similar template. It's "Make a lake. Reclaim it."

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

ADANI AD MISLEADING

The full-page advertisement from Adani (Canberra Times, November 24, p21) is misleading. It refers to 10,000 jobs created by the project. The Adani economic consultant in sworn evidence before a Queensland court admitted that the number of permanent permanent jobs created would be around 1300.

Doug Hynd, Stirling

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.

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