Canberra Times letters to the editor: Water cost should be about delivery

Obviously the more water a customer uses the greater the use the customer is making of the delivery system. This can be applied as a per kilolitre charge. The more water you use, the more you pay.

Those customers that have invested in their own tanks or use little water should not be slugged a fixed and exorbitant annual supply charge.

Brian Brocklebank, Bruce

Why is it we hear so much about community service obligations just before a government wants to flog off a piece of the 'family silverware'; yet there's only thick silence once the asset sale is a done deal?

The proposed restructuring of Icon Water's tariffs – if you'll forgive the golfing pun – illustrates that to a tee. We see again that privatising or corporatising a natural monopoly won't necessarily boost efficiency or automatically lead on to socially desirable results. Australia would be a better and more cohesive society if every citizen was guaranteed adequate access to basic services – enough to allow us all to live in frugal comfort. And no basic service is more basic than the provision of potable water.

Icon water should adopt a three (and not its proposed two) tier pricing structure. Tier one would be a free supply – enough to satisfy the basic needs of every household. Tier two would be a low-user sliding scale charge and tier three would be designed to further discourage heavy and wasteful use. Industry should pay its own way – unless that industry can make out a special case. A water subsidy is, prima facie, no different to any other form of industry hand-out. And there should no fixed charge as such charges are both regressive and act as a disincentive for users to economise on consumption.

Bob Bennett, Wanniassa

Access to water is a basic human right. South Africa recognises this by making the first six cubic metres of water per month free with progressively rising tariffs for larger users. The ACT water proposal turns this idea on its head – small users will subsidise large users. The pricing proposal does nothing to promote water conservation. It's a bad idea.

James Lindsay, Narrabundah

Canberran's could face a huge $500 a year increase in their annual water supply bill. We were misled about the cost of the dam built to provide the water just as we are being misled about the financials of the proposed light rail. Property rates are rising as fast as government deficits and everyone is maxed out on credit cards: welcome to the new economic order.

Drinking recycled urine won't kill you and sadly it may become a necessity for some. I am practicing now because I know what's coming.

Wayne Grant, Swinger Hill

Paul E. Bowler (Letters, August 15) perpetuates the mistake he criticises. Light rail is not defined by the weight of the tracks, and any attempt to define the difference between light rail, street car and tram is almost pointless.

Most light rail systems have exclusive right of way, most of the time. Most trams and street cars operate in traffic, most of the time.

Light rail tends to have a greater distance between stops than trams and streetcars do. It is disappointing that the CanTheTram faction are still peddling mistruths and muddying the water.

Logan McLennan, OConnor

John Popplewell (Letters, August 15) castigates James Allen for his supposed "hatred for religion" and "his complete ignorance of the purpose of prayer".

He goes on to state that the vigil outside the abortion clinic in Civic was not a "political protest that could be shifted elsewhere" because it was important to be near the "scene of the atrocities being committed".

What complete and utter rubbish!

The sole reason for the vigils being held outside the clinic was to intimidate and shame the women seeking help at the clinic. He and his supporters have no right to do that!

G. Bell, Franklin

Rather than just throwing more money at the AFP's "bikie taskforce" (Taskforce Nemesis) to purportedly reduce crime rates the ACT government would be better off spending the money on teaching the AFP and the Director of Public Prosecutions to pick their targets more appropriately. As an example, I have been involved in two Nemesis prosecutions in the past 12 months that were, in all the circumstances, a ridiculous waste of money and resources. One for the heinous offence of failing to enrol to vote (which attracts a fine of less than $100) and the other for a charge of driving whilst license suspended. Both hearings took numerous AFP officers off the street and into Court to give evidence.

In both matters my clients, who are apparently members of motorcycle gangs, were found not guilty and the AFP was ordered to pay each of our clients' legal costs. Perhaps the government needs to spend our money more wisely and investigate what Nemesis actually does with taxpayer dollars rather than throwing more good money after bad.

Peter Woodhouse, partner, Ben Aulich and Associate, Canberra City

Someone eventually has to pay the price for our cheap milk.

Congratulations to the ABC and its latest Four Corners program for exposing how a major Australian "co-operative" is now squeezing money back from dairy farmers, in a an attempt to retreat from optimistic but unrealistic milk prices.

But shouldn't Australian supermarket chains also take responsibility, with their successful "down, down" price pitch to consumers? And did anybody bother to check for independent advice from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, or has this agency also been undermined by efficiency dividends and governments' voracious appetite for spin?

It's to be hoped consumers will send a practical message of support to struggling dairy farmers by buying from ethical suppliers, and by cutting the cut-price brands.

C.C. Kenna, Murrumbateman, NSW

I would like it known that I am prepared to pay more for my milk forever to give our Australian farmers an opportunity to remain in business. I would insist on that money being paid directly to a farmer group, not a co-operative and certainly not one of the scheming monolithic retailers. I am confident that I would be joined by million of others. Killing valuable milk-producing cows for meat is a public disgrace. We should be absolutely ashamed.

Anyone that feels the same as I do should write to The Canberra Times and tell them. Let us make this happen.

Rex Williams, Ainslie

How much of the GST collected in WA does WA get? No one knows. GST revenue is not worked out according to the state or territory where it is collected. The "30 per cent" nonsense currently parroted for WA election campaigning comes from a comparison of the GST allocated to WA, compared with a pure allocation per person across Australia per capita.

But no one knows how much per capita consumption is in WA compared to other parts of Australia. No one knows how much of the value added was added in WA compared to other parts of Australia, either. No one allocates import value as between jurisdictions.

Now federal ministers are saying that a "floor" wouldn't reduce any other state or territory's "ceiling" share of GST.

Tell that to the NT, where paying for services requires so much heavy lifting that they get 5 times a per person allocation. Or tell Tasmania, where they get more than twice a per person allocation, because raising revenue is so much harder there.

For 70 years, WA pocketed big benefits from the rest of Australia: only when the flow is to others does WA call it unfair.

Christopher Hood, Queanbeyan, NSW

Latika Bourke's article "David Leyonhjelm will expose 'left-wing racist, bigot, hypocrite, social warriors': Cory Bernardi" (canberratimes.

com.au, August 16) revealed the fact that there is a fine balance needed with any proposed amendment to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

The underlying truth in all deliberations, is that words do matter. On the one hand, the history of war, slavery, and public order demonstrates to us that at certain times, it is apt and germane to make a pointed, but necessary statement about either the attitude or behaviour of a particular group of people, where race is the unifying factor.

On the other hand, free speech has logical boundaries and should not equate any comment, anytime, such as making my strong opinions known at a funeral whilst a eulogy is being given, or interrupting a visiting head of state who is addressing Parliament.

A sense of propriety and maturity is always needed when humans use the marvellous gift of speech and so the wisdom of King Solomon is still pertinent: "Reckless words pierce like a sword and one who spares words is knowledgeable".

Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn, Vic

I think I might be in favour of repealing 18C – the section about causing offence to others! Now that we know that the offence is not caused by the person who utters the remark, but by the person who perceives the remark, we have to take it to its logical extent. That would include repealing the antiquated blasphemy laws because the offence is only in the ears of the receiver. The offence of public nudity would also have to go because, obviously, the offence is only in the eyes of the viewer. How would the ultra-conservatives like that?

John May, Lyneham

Amanda Vanstone ("At what cost a medal", Comment, August 15, p18) opines that "those who do strike gold in terms of medals and subsequent sponsorship" should pay "some contribution over and above normal taxation" because the Australian taxpayer has funded their training and travel.

I think the same could be said of a person who has received a very generous salary, additional benefits, free travel and meals and accommodation at the taxpayers' expense.

A "little additional contribution" from all very highly remunerated persons would be a very good idea, so I look forward to hearing Ms Vanstone campaigning for higher taxes for the rich.

Dr Juliet Flesch, Kew Vic

Regarding the lady who recently had an IVF baby, I agree with every word of AMA president Michael Gannon's article "Why I called out a 62-year-old's decision to have a child" (Comment, August 5, p21) until the penultimate paragraph and the statement "Australia leads the world in the safer process of single embryo transfer". International data suggest the rates of single transfer are higher in Scandinavia and probably also in Germany and the Netherlands. What is clear is that, for a good many years now, successful live birth rates in Australia have been considerably lower than in Britain, US and most of Western Europe.

The false excuse will be offered that in Australia we treat only necessary cases and elsewhere they treat anybody. The reality is that, in many countries government policy and/or costs greatly limit access to IVF. We are slipping backwards and we call it leading the world!

Martyn Stafford-Bell, Yarralumla.

GREECE IS THE WORD

Amanda Vanstone ("At what cost a medal", Comment, August 15, p18) makes some very good points in promoting Greece as the permanent home of the Summer Olympics. No offence to Brazil, but the frenzy surrounding Olympic infrastructure could be better organised in one place. Bring it on!

Lorraine Ovington, Fisher

Just imagine if all the money spent supporting and sponsoring Olympic athletes and hopefuls was spent supporting education and intellectual development what a clever country we could be.

Pauline May, Lyneham

Olympic television coverage in standard-definition broadcast? In 2016? Really?

Allan McFarlane, Garran

DATA NOT WISE

Newly elected Senator Malcolm Roberts needs to learn that data does not equate to information. Information does not equate to knowledge, and knowledge does not equate to wisdom. His constant call for data shows that he is a long way from being wise.

Jeff Bradley, Isaacs

HUGE INCREASE

I would like an explanation of the $500 flat rate for supply and sewage extraction ("Price hike proposal", August 15, p1). Is this additional to the $624 I already pay ($156×4). That's a huge increase. And will the revenue be diverted to finance light rail?

M. Davis, Charnwood

CAN'T RESPECT BELIEFS

I'm sorry John Popplewell (Letters, August 15) but I cannot respect you religious beliefs, sincerely held or otherwise. If you wish to understand why, just ask yourself what would be your response if someone was to inform you that they believe fairies are living at the bottom of their garden.

Justin McCarthy, Chapman

CONTAINERS IN DEMAND

I am intrigued at the new feature in many front gardens in Kambah– shipping containers!

Is there a colour code? Is there a size limit? Are they permanent or short term features?

Are they a new form of house extension? Do we need planning permission and where do we get them?

Sue Pittman, Kambah

TESTING TIMES

My thanks to Barrie Smillie (Letters, August 15) for reminding us of the rationalisation we grew up with, namely, "God is just testing us" when he lets us do wrong. It only remains to add, despite all those exams, we still haven't passed many.

Eric Hunter, Cook

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