These included the very large car park on the lake side of Questacon and the large grass car park on the lake side of the National Library, both of which can hold a couple of thousand cars.

Not wanting to park kilometres away, this then forced hundreds if not thousands of esky, child and picnic paraphernalia-laden Canberrans, keen to see the fireworks, to park in open grassy areas by the lake.

To their credit they didn't just park anywhere but arranged themselves spontaneously in neat rows of cars on the grass. And now for the sneaky bit! Whilst the celebrating Canberrans were all safely away ooing and aahing at the fireworks the NCA shamelessly took advantage of the situation it had created.

In an unbelievably low act it sent out its parking inspectors to slap tickets on hundreds of vehicles!

At $97 a pop I might add, which is a lot of money for some families. So much for the fireworks being a free family event! I will be disputing liability for my parking infringement and strongly encourage others who received similar parking tickets to do so.

Let's make the NCA have to work for its little scam. Hopefully a wise magistrate will see fit to throw out the ticket. Or even better the NCA will issue an apology and withdraw all tickets issued under these deceitful circumstances.

Steven Neighbor, Wanniassa

Your story "NSW students sent to ACT's poorest schools" (March 16, p1) has unfairly stigmatised and shamed portions of the Canberra community.

It is one thing to draw conclusions about the quality of programs at any Canberra school based on the narrow lens of point-in-time literacy and numeracy results.

The Canberra Times has acknowledged the folly of this by adopting in recent years a more nuanced and sensible approach to reporting NAPLAN results.

Last week's story can be seen as a regression in this context.

However, even more significant offence is caused by the article's characterisation of schools' desirability or, more pertinently, undesirability, based on the socio-economic status of the families whose children attend those schools named in the newspaper.

It is unacceptable to promote the judging of a school by such a measure, as it can only contribute to a school system even further divided along socio-economic lines, which is in nobody's interest. The story is an affront to the principles of social inclusion and egalitarianism.

We are disappointed The Canberra Times failed to consider the flow-on impact of this type of characterisation.

Kirsty McGovern-Hooley, president, ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations; Glenn Fowler, secretary, Australian Education Union ACT Branch; Liz Bobos and Michael Battenally, co-presidents, ACT Principals Association;

Susan Helyar, director, ACT Council of Social Service

The failure of the bikie charges ("Ex-bikie boss in the clear over raid", March 17, p12) is yet another example of what is wrong with the legal system — and not just the Magistrates Court.

I am referring here to the apparent inefficiency of the process and not the guilt or otherwise of the individual concerned.

Apparently, after hundreds of years of experience, there is no clear understanding about whether the functionality of weapon, a "bullet-proof vest" or whatever, has to be established before it is useful as evidence.

Examining evidence, in court time, where there is no real likelihood of things being other than as they appear, is just dumb. Why cannot the system that is in place sort this earlier, or perhaps failing that, final judgment be held over till a check is made outside court time – with a cost to the defence if it chooses to fly claims with little merit inside court time.

Every time I get near a court or tribunal the feeling is always that far more is done to prepare than was necessary – and that costs everyone time and money. In one simple matter coming up soon there will probably be over 100 pages of specially written material, costing thousands of dollars to prepare, and much of it likely to be irrelevant.

Of course it's too much to expect the hide-bound legal system to respond in less than "100 years", because everyone is a pawn inside an organically evolved monster, but perhaps if it could, the government could save money or invest in more legal aid.

Trevor McPherson, Aranda

We should not forget the nightmare of death and dispossession caused by the so-called "veterans" in Mugabe's Zimbabwe that wrecked the lives and farms of many white Zimbabweans and their black workers.

South Africa appears to be heading in the same direction, and it is surely racist to call for the barring of white farmers and their families – who would add value to Australia – simply because of the colour of their skin.

Minister Dutton should stand strong and extend humanitarian visas to these people – after all, we've let in so many others from Africa, haven't we ?

Christina Faulk, Swinger Hill

It seems to me that understanding the question of the ever-rising number of shootings in the US lies not in controlling the (huge) number of guns in private hands (even though this may work to a degree) but in the widely held view among Americans that a gun is a viable, first response solution to conflict resolution/protection.

Combine this with the other widely held views among Americans that they are constantly and imminently in danger and need to defend themselves and that it is their "duty" to defend themselves and that of the police (who, after all "are only contacted because they too have guns" — ie cut out the middle man), and we have a recipe for shootings spiralling ever upwards.

My sense is that most Australians and, say, Canadians (who also own lots of guns), do not regard a gun as a valid first response to conflict and contact the police because they bring proper process, structure and skill to dealing with conflict resolution and social breakdown.

David Yarra, Captains Flat, NSW

We don't hear a lot about soil conservation and the climate challenges facing Australian farmers here in the ACT – even though we are a part of the Murray-Darling basin. Let's hope that changes after several tonnes of country dust dropped on the city on Sunday. It reminded me of the big dust storms that hit Melbourne and Sydney in the early 1980s.

Will we never learn?

M. Moore, Bonython

I am a Vietnam veteran. I have marched on Anzac Day every year I have been resident in Canberra since coming to this lovely city in 1983.

This year I will not be marching in Canberra, instead I will cross the border to march in Queanbeyan.

Not being a member of the RSL because of an unpleasant experience with a Sydney Branch official on my return from Vietnam, I was totally shocked and angered to learn of the ACT branch's decision to ban bands from the Canberra march.

Bands have been part of military parades for centuries. No audio system can remotely make up for the atmosphere they create, for the marchers as well as the onlookers.

The reason for this decision, that we can't keep time, is utterly idiotic.

The banning of young people from the march will have a huge impact in the Scouts who give freely of their time.

The latest decree that relatives of deceased veterans or those no longer able to march due to age or infirmity, can now no longer march, is a gross insult to the veterans themselves, to their families, who in many cases may still be grieving at their loss years after the event.

I march to remember a mate killed in action, others of my unit who have committed suicide and still others who have died well before their use-by date, due to wartime-related health issues.

The RSL (ACT Branch) does not represent all the veteran community in Canberra and surrounding regions.

To my knowledge, none of the Vietnam veterans organisations have been consulted about these changes.

If these changes are allowed to continue, ageing veterans will stop marching and numbers attending will fall away.

Gavin A. O'Brien, Gilmore

Bill Gemmell (Letters, March 15) is right.

The ACT road safety strategy has failed. National and State strategies have also failed – dismally.

These strategies are simply expressions of prejudices by people of little real-world experience who do not understand causes.

Although engineering research is good, giving us airbags, crumple zones, brakes and steering that work etc (anyone with experience of the cars of the 1960s will remember just how nasty and dangerous they were) research into crash causation is abysmal.

Years of experience in assessing research projects tells me what is wrong with road safety research.

A couple of million kilometres here and in Europe shows me what works and what fails.

The aircraft industry has demonstrated what is needed with a two-stage evaluation of crashes and near misses; first is a reconstruction of the event followed by the most important part, which is an examination of each potential contributory cause and its relative importance.

Blaming "pilot error" is meaningless. Finding out why the error occurred is essential to prevent recurrence.

On the road a crash may have occurred over the speed limit but was that physically significant and why was the driver at that speed?

If it was a drunk evading capture it is not a speed-caused crash.

It takes good research to develop effective strategies.

Michael Lane, St Ives, NSW

How satisfied should we be with the lowest policing per capita, the best response times but the slowest finalisation of investigations in Australia? The article "Why we feel safe despite police ratios" (canberratimes.com.au, February 19) made us no wiser.

The downward trend in ACT operational police numbers may explain the poor showing with the finalisation of investigations.

How sustainable is it to have the limited police resources focusing on initial response, where perceptions of community safety are most acute?

The article "Police hit over mental health" (March 11, p8) highlighted wellbeing concerns.

With our low crime rates, why does ACT Policing have the highest demand for psychological services? Are lower Policing numbers and exposure to "potential high risk" risking the wellbeing of members?

Job flexibility and transfers normally provide a destressing option in similar professions but there appears to be growing frustration with ACT Policing restricting transfers so operational numbers are maintained.

AFP values of fairness and trust must be somewhat strained. Many in ACT Policing will appreciate a speedy "reform and transform journey" by Commissioner Colvin seeking to address "sustainable, whole-of-AFP, capability-based operating model" covering "AFP workforce, resourcing". Policing numbers matter to the wellbeing of ACT Police and the community they serve.

Quite rightly, an AFP spokeswoman recently stated "The health and wellbeing of our people is our highest priority".

Hopefully, the ACT government and ACT Policing have similar views. More recruits can provide the policing numbers.

R. Gooding, Chapman

I was one of the people woken up (about 4am) by the Warehouse Rave Party held in Fyshwick on Saturday night.

An ABC report I read suggested that the sound intensity should have been only 50 dB (the sound of a washing machine) at the boundary of the property.

It was clearly much more than that; the very heavy and mostly quick-repetition bass beat was bouncing off buildings and echoing all the way through Fyshwick and beyond.

A fair rule of thumb is that if it annoys or wakes people up, it's too loud. The ACT authorities should work backwards from that and figure out what the correct threshold should be and measure and police it properly should these raves happen again.

How about providing hand-held decibel meters for the police?

Robert Parums, Symonston

Ed Dobson asks (Letters, March 17) what gender-neutral salutation can be used that satisfies the politically correct elite. Perhaps "Comrade" will suffice?

J. Grant, Gowrie

Has there been a 'knee-jerk reaction' by the British Government? Is it not possible that someone in the Russian Government, without President Putin's knowledge, orchestrated the horrendous crime in the UK; in which case, at first, should not Prime Minister May and President Putin have cooperated in attempting to locate the perpetrator?

Is it too late now to do this?

Geoff Wood, Waramanga

Seems the RSL needs to lob a grenade now and again for old times' sake.

Bob Gardiner, Isabella Plains

I notice that the Canberra Airport refuses the democratic rights of unions advertising, while allowing advertising for war profiteers. Remember unions represent workers' rights, but the armaments industry is about killing people.

Lets have peace in this world, not war.

Darryl McAndrew, Canberra.

How odd, and troubling, it is that the Canberra airport authorities think that ACTU advertising is political while that for defence manufacturers is not. What do they think weapons of war are used for?

Joan Beaumont, Watson

One of the most pleasant ways to spend a dawn or sunset is to walk the the Pinnacle Nature Reserve.

Not so long ago you would be greeted by the kangaroos.

Now, hardly ever; the population must have dwindled enormously.

Will that stop another cull?

I think not. But I hope I am wrong.

Howard Hanley, Hawker

Congratulations to the RSL. At long last the Anzac march is to revert to its roots, that is for veterans only.

About time. Now perhaps I can see fit to match.

D. Fielding, Squadron Leader RAAF (Rtd), Ex Vietnam and Middle East, Brisbane

May I please use your paper to thank the lovely woman who retrieved the $80 which I had foolishly failed to pick up from the ATM in Coolamon Court, and handed it into Woolworths from where I collected it an hour later.

I hope she reads The Canberra Times. She restored my faith in people.

Maureen Bettle, Duffy

Well done Mr Barr. Provide a great Skyfire 2018. Don't have enough parking though.

Send your revenue police to book as many cars as possible as quickly as possible.

Pay for Skyfire 2018 with parking tickets. How creative.

Peter Pharaoh, Yarralumla

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