However, I do object to the flippant introduction to the article: "Everyone has done it; booked a table at a restaurant and decided at the last minute not to show and never told them." No, everyone has not done it, my husband and I have never been so rude. Some of us were taught to consider the effect of our actions on others.

Vee Saunders, Weetangera

Good to see the intersection of Hindmarsh and Melrose drives now has the speed limit painted in large white numerals on the new road surface. I hope this approach is adopted more widely to improve communication with drivers and reduce the number of ineffective roadside signs littering our streetscapes.

Also, the use of the overhead electronic displays on our arterial roads needs a rethink. Flashing slogans are an unnecessary driver distraction. The ACT should restrict the use of this technology to informing drivers of abnormal road or traffic conditions, as is the practice in Britain, the United States and many other countries.

Gordon Calcino, Lyons

It is interesting to note that the Ten athletes reviewed in the CT ("Ten talented athletes", March 5, Relax) have a wide range of Body Weight Indices (BWI), from a low of 16.0 to 33.9. Thus if we use BWI (as GPs tend to do) as a sign of obesity we have one who is underweight, five normal, two overweight and two obese.

An overweight to obese score of 40 per cent of these high-performing athletes seems to call into question GPs' assessment of fitness.

Dr Baden Williams, Lyneham

Your journalist neatly captures the Kafkaesque situation for people living nor far outside Canberra, or further afield, who cannot receive emergency broadcasts via radio or mobile phone ("Residents left in dark with vital bushfire news", March 7, p.6). Every government department shifts responsibility to another, and the buck never stops anywhere. NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says some fine words, but the parsley remains unminced.

He abolished Palerang Council, the only organisation that was actually trying to represent residents' interests on this and many other issues, and was just about to take on the "buck" itself (as it used to do for television in Burra and Captains Flat).

Radio reception slipped through the cracks left by suspending representative local government – that's not an accident, it's negligent loss of continuity. Not one cent of the $15million "amalgamation bribe" is slated tobe spent on this issue.

Because of the passage of time, the changes in ministers and federal MPs, and the abolition of Palerang Council, it looks like we are back where we were five years ago. Is it any wonder so many people won't vote for the major parties?

Peter Marshall, Captains Flat, NSW

Recent ads show the huge number, and starkness, of Mr Fluffy blocks for sale by the ACT government.

There is clearly general disquiet over this issue on many fronts, justifying an immediate moratorium to allow a thorough and independent re-examination of the whole process.

Matters for scrutiny should include: Why the Commonwealth's insistence on a loan to the ACT for the clean-up, rather than a grant? Why the ACT government's insistence on the total clearance of the blocks? Why the compulsory purchase of the blocks by the ACT government? Why the allowance of two or more new dwellings on most of the blocks, contrary to the Territory Plan?

Jack Kershaw, Kambah

The Canberra political trough must now be almost full of snouts with the latest enthusiastic apparatchik.

Michaelia Cash just "forgot" to declare a $1.4million investment property.

Forgot? One of the egotistical capitalist voices who has boisterously been demanding low-paid workers accept a pay cut when she casually forgets a cool $1.4investment property. Any more, Michaelia?

It is claimed federal politicians own more than 1000 negative-geared properties. Little wonder they baulk at the obvious means of balancing the budget by making changes to negative gearing investments. Instead they choose to take it out of the pockets of the working poor.

Wally Reynolds, Perth, Tas

Malcolm Turnbull says Michaelia Cash was "not too long overdue" in taking nearly three months to declare the purchase of her fourth investment property ("Minister's breach on $1.4m house", March 7, pp.4-5).

My tax bill is due later this month, so I presume the Tax Office would be happy if I cited the Prime Minister's serene reassurance as a precedent for not paying my bill until June?

Eric Hunter, Cook

Further to recent letters regarding parking at the Jolimont Centre and in particular M.McConnell's comment (Letters, March 7), there is a solution to the parking issue.

Whenever I drop off or pick up someone, I park my car in the Canberra Centre car park and walk across to the Jolimont Centre. Yes, it costs a couple of dollars to park and it is a few more paces than parking on the road outside, but at least I don't drive around the block several times in the hope of finding parking.

G.Bell, Franklin

I totally agree with Pauline Hanson that more Australians should do their own research into subjects like vaccinations and climate change.

After they have done their basic science degree and their master's, then they can move on to serious research, the need to remember that their first PhD will probably be the hardest and then finding employment to continue their research will also probably be difficult.

Perhaps if she supported employing more Australian scientists and showed more respect for their hard work and dedication, more Australians could do their own research in these and other areas?

Australia needs research scientists, not idiots who think checking Google for a few articles they agree with is actual research.

Doug Steley, Heyfield, Vic

By supporting the slashing of penalty rates you have committed political suicide, Pauline Hanson.

Many of us of the traditional left supported you after Labor travelled to the economic right because we thought you truly represented the battler.

We like your protectionist stance because we are concerned with the near-death of our manufacturing industry and we support cutting immigration because we do not like environmental degradation and we want to see an end to the housing affordability crisis.

But nobody wants to see battlers go backwards, particularly the battlers who work after hours, as they deserve financial compensation for being deprived of the company of their families.

You have learnt nothing from history, Pauline, and are betraying those you have purported to represent. You will go the same way Howard went after he introduced his horrific WorkChoices legislation.

Rod Campbell, Ainslie

Thank you to Penelope Upward (Comment, March 7, p.14) for her balanced examination of various phobias.

Her reason and clear argument can be juxtaposed against the nonsensical ranting of Jenna Price ("How Hanson rose again", Comment, March 7, p.16) about all things Hanson, Liberal, National, and just about anything else that does not conform to her view of the world.

Ms Price appears to be ill with a severe case of Conservativephobia (sorry, Penelope). It may be argued that this illness could seriously affect her ability to teach her journalism students to write cogent, balanced pieces.

It has certainly affected her ability to do the same.

T.J.Farquahar, Ainslie

I refer to the article by Jenna Price and beg to differ with her that we the voters were responsible for the rise and rise of Pauline Hanson or One Nation.

I blame only Malcolm Turnbull for his ill-considered DD election, which gave One Nation four Senate seats.

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

Cartoonist David Pope and columnist Jenna Price appear to have a hearing problem (Canberra Times, March 7), as well as a reluctance to think logically and do the most basic research.

What Pauline Hanson said in her interview with Barrie Cassidy was: "Parents are saying that vaccinations have an effect on some children" and that children should be tested to ensure the vaccine is safe for them. She did not speak against vaccination.

Jenna Price accuses any parent whose child cannot be safely vaccinated of being responsible for sickening and killing children around them. Don't vaccines work? Is that what she is saying? If they work, why would the parents of any vaccinated child have concerns if some children are not vaccinated?

Vaccines are not 100 per cent safe, so it is absolutely reasonable for Pauline Hanson to suggest testing to find out who is going to react.

As for Pope's cartoon, did he listen to what Pauline Hanson said either? She did not advocate stopping vaccination. She didn't advocate reducing the number of shots. Or deferring them. There is only one connection with what she said and that is the "vaccination dictatorship". That is when people have no choice but to do what the government tells them. For some parents that is exactly what the No Jab, No Pay law has done.

Pope's referral to infantile paralysis shows his reluctance to do the most basic research, and his reference to going back to iron lungs is passé. Australian children are still suffering paralysis – at least 50 a year – and indications are that's the tip of the iceberg. It's now got different names — transverse myelitis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome are the most common.

It's time to replace inaccurate, misleading dogma with some real epidemiology and microbiology.

Jenny Heywood, Spence

Tom Switzer of the ABC's Radio National penned the comment "Abbott MkII looms" (March 6, p.12). It has been a few years coming. Early in his leadership Tony Abbott was castigated by the media for exactly the same characteristics discerned in Kevin Rudd, primarily his lack of consultation.

It seemed obvious at the time that the media would go for a repeat. It would be a media coup if the prime minister could be hounded from office in his first term and then placed back in office, supplanting the successor in his or her first elected term.

There is a difference this time. Kevin Rudd was brought back as leader only to minimise the loss of seats by Labor. Switzer is actually touting Abbott as having a faint "chance of winning the next election".

Gary J.Wilson, Macgregor

TO THE POINT

RIGHT TO LAUGH

I suppose a newspaper like The Canberra Times does need some right-wing balance, but I use that term advisedly. Most right-wing commentators double as comedy writers. Tom Switzer is no exception ("Abbott MkII looms", March 6, p.12).

Chris Carder, Spence

TRAGEDY TOO FAR

I refer to your heading ("Raiders and Brumbies suffer heartbreaking late defeats", March 5, p.68). I would consider losing a family member, a friend or even a pet "heartbreaking" but not losing a footy game.

Ed Harris, Bonython

FIRST RESORT

Reading that President Jokowi wants to develop "10 new Balis" across the archipelago reminds me of the time, about three decades ago, when I told friends I would be leaving on aposting to Indonesia and asked them if they had ever been there. More often than not, the response was, "No, I have only been to Bali."

John Milne, Chapman

AFTER THE FACT

ACT government Alternative Facts:

1. Increase in carbon emissions due to light rail construction is zero because we have a solar farm or two to offset any and all carbon.

2. Removal of trees did not release carbon into the atmosphere.

3. Increase in carbon emissions due to traffic congestion: what traffic congestion?

Adrian Smith, Yarralumla

TERMS UNSOUND

Further to P.Upward's comments on "trendy terms" (March 7, p.14), I find the term "Islamophobia" useful for describing the phenomenon of people who have strong negative opinions about Muslims, despite not knowing any.

Michael Plummer, Watson

TO THE POINT

One vacciNation?

Luca Biason, Latham

WARMING UP

Tom Switzer's fanboy hagiography shows that his bromance with Tony Abbott appears to have moved to the next level. Can blind adoration be far off? Please get a room, Tom.

Steve Ellis, Hackett

AH, MEMORIES

Michaelia Cash seems to have developed Arfur-itis.

Peter Moran, Watson

TWEET DREAMS

Does H.Ronald really want America to be ruled by early morning tweets before Trump's brain is engaged? No wonder the Democrats look sour. I'm suremany Republicans do too.

K.L.Calvert, Downer

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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