His failure leaves a vacuum of moral leadership which calls upon ordinary "Australians" to stand firm to combat those who seek to alienate and vilify people from particular ethnic groupings.

Mr Dutton's example of 22 people of Muslim Lebanese background out of approximately 30 people who have been charged with terrorism offences demonstrates how statistics can be used to demonise small cohorts.

These figures could also be reframed to "only 22 from the several hundred thousand people of Lebanese background" have been charged with terrorism offences.

It is no wonder there appears to be such an apparently strong commitment from this government to seek amendments to Section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Annette Gilmour, Melba

After reading Denis Waters' letter ("Back where I came from", November 23), I whimsically wondered if I also should keep a lookout for a letter from the Minister for Immigration informing me that I, too, have to go back to where I came from.

After all, I arrived in "Australia" by boat from "Tasmania" in August 1976.

Oops, then I remembered, Tasmania is part of Australia isn't it?

I guess that means I'm safe then!

Don Sephton, Greenway

A wave of overseas migration to Australia occurred in the late 18th century when British convicts could no longer be sent to America after the War of Independence. Terrorism against Australia's original inhabitants continued for over 200 years. This migration plan was a huge mistake. What can Peter Dutton learn from this?

Kerry Foster, Allambie Heights

Minister Peter Dutton has criticised former prime minister the late Malcolm Fraser for allowing Lebanese people to come and settle in Australia. Is he prepared to criticise John Howard who wasted more than a couple of billion dollars to go to Iraq to find WMD?

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

What next? Imagine Peter Dutton blaming England for sending their rejects over here on convict ships, as the Aborigines proclaim, "Stop The Boats".

Richard Ryan, Summerland Point

I write in defence of the sexiness of Tuggeranong's suburbs following the uninformed comments of someone who doesn't even live here in Tuesday's Canberra Times (The key to buying a home in Canberra, P4).

Having resided in 10 different suburbs around Canberra since arriving in 1971, I think I know residential sexiness when I see it.

After 21 years in Kambah I am just as enamoured of it today as I was when I first moved in.

The electoral gods may have banned Kambah from representation in the Assembly and real estate moguls may mistake their brick and mortar hovels for Kambah's heart and soul community, but accusing our suburb of not being a "sexy area of town that everyone wants to live in" is to suggest we don't choose to live here.

Well I, for one, do and just like anyone from a sexy area of town I could say a lot more but it would be R-rated so I won't.

Frank Cassidy, Kambah

In a recent discussion on the ABC parliamentary hearings into banks, Katy Gallagher, former ACT chief minister and now shadow minister for financial services, put forward her response for a royal commission.

Gallagher pointed out (P. Sena's letter, November 2) this would "allow a platform for victims to come forward, be able to have the ability to cross-examine some of the organisations that ruined their lives and have a platform to seek some access to justice".

I commend Gallagher for supporting these people during their darkest moments. Many experiencing financial ruin, some unable to provide basics such as: education, a roof over the family's head and many relying on charity, have resulted in elevated stress levels.

Why doesn't Gallagher support a royal commission into the Mr Fluffy debacle in the same manner?

Those who invested in the banking industry did so freely knowing there are always risks. Unlike the banking issue, the Mr Fluffy debacle resulted from the "then" federal government approving importation of a class-1 carcinogen that was pumped into roof spaces of homes.

This was a government-made disaster.

In addition to suffering financial ruin, "Fluffy" victims have lost their connection to community and may not know the health implications of their exposure for many years.

If Gallagher/Barr have nothing to hide bring on a transparent royal commission into the Mr Fluffy program.

L. Carvalho, Lyons

Adrian Gibbs (Where is the power? Letters, November 21) asks about the federal and NSW governments' knowledge of the doctrine of the separation of powers.

In the case of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, former Queensland premier this question was answered by a suggested epitaph submitted by a correspondent to The Australian:

Here lies Joh

beneath these flowers

he understands now

the separation of powers.

Peter Baskett, Murrumbateman

Julian Cribb (November 21, P14, "Trumpet call on climate") got it wrong on low-cost renewables.

They are heavily subsidised.

They also have priority on the grid ensured by the RET.

His other renewables suggestions are just as fanciful. Fossil fuelled generation is the only way to go.

Wind generation is hugely expensive and highly unreliable other than in the minds of the converted.

John McKerral, Batemans Bay

The opportunity to comment on the works approval application for the proposed demolition and redevelopment of Bruce Hall at the ANU is open on the NCA website.

The application makes several incorrect claims about the Commonwealth Heritage legislation (the EPBC Act) that applies to heritage values identified at Bruce Hall and the ANU Acton campus generally.

[The claim] demolition is allowable because Bruce Hall is not included in the Commonwealth Heritage List is flawed.

The ANU has obligations to manage and protect heritage values regardless of their listing status.

Bruce Hall is within a significant landscape (on University Avenue, with Black Mountain as its backdrop) and the important contribution Bruce Hall makes to the landscape setting of the campus and its history is not mentioned in the application.

The documentation does not provide confidence that due process has being followed at the ANU.

R. Nelson, Canberra

Daniel Burdon's headline "Kingston high-density anxiety" (CT, November 22) is so apt.

How can the minister and LDA approve habitation on this block when it is contaminated with asbestos?

It is not good enough for the LDA-commissioned environment audit to say (after remediation) "the contamination should only pose a "low risk". Does this sound reassuring? Certainly not if you happen to be [in] the "low risk".

I note that hotels and even childcare facilities could be built on this block.

Our government needs to assure close-by anxious residents, tourists and potential residents that there is "no risk" from contamination whatsoever, before the block is developed.

Is the (independent?) environmental audit in the public domain?

Is it going to be repeated after decontamination together with the EPA audit and remediation report — and all made public?

"Mr Fluffy" seems to be a distant memory!

P. R. Temple, Macquarie

In the decades between 1960 and 1980 housing affordability was available to all.

Since 1990 housing affordability has been steadily deteriorating.

The median price of housing has doubled. The fault lies mainly with the Labor government but in part with the Liberals.

In the good times one could buy land over the counter; not in one-off sales interposed by land auctions but as a matter of course.

Now we have developers who compete and pay huge prices for blocks. There is no concern as to how much they pay as they pass the cost onwards to the unfortunate buyer.

The present government should be called Andrew Barr Real Estate. It has sold off around 3000 public housing units and only replaced a comparative few.

The ones they have sold off to developers and well-off people negative gearing have ensured that rents also have doubled since the '90s.

Andrew Barr has promised to spend $500 million on housing over the next four years.

Young people wanting to buy into the market should watch to see whether he actually carries out his commitment and how much of the new housing is truly affordable.

Howard Carew, Isaacs

It appears the LDA has come up with another way to help the construction industry to avoid public scrutiny.

Just make a "technical amendment" to the land use provisions and we're done! ... it's that easy.

Were the three "licence tenures" offered to those already connected to the LDA whose dealings are being investigated by the Auditor-General?

I wonder whether we suffering ACT taxpayers can come up with a "technical amendment" to the election results, realise the error of our ways and turf the buggers out along with the LDA.

Peter Toscan, Amaroo

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull thinks Donald Trump's proposal to reduce corporate taxation levels to 15 per cent is a vindication of his government's commitment to "trickle-down economics" ("Now that we know where wage stagnation can lead", Canberra Times, November 20th).

My understanding is Donald's proposal was conditional on the adoption of less than attractive add-ons such as the abolition of all business tax deductions.

Prime Minister, what will be your government's response to the wholesale incorporation of the country's entire workforce, once employees realise they can also enjoy a top tax rate less than half what they are currently stuck with?

Donald Trump has demonstrated what a shallow racket the world's politicians are running and how little idea "leaders" like Turnbull have about addressing the real challenges.

John Richardson, Wallagoot

Trump's first one hundred days will presumably be busy announcing congressional hearings into the conspiracy theories which constitute the post truth for many of his supporters.

NASA needs to explain why it faked the moon landings and Donald can also hold a press conference with the remains of the aliens from Roswell.

There must be thousand of miles of files in the US archives that need to be released to the public.

The really frightening thing for the world is that this post truth is now the norm so nations like ourselves should walk a more clever independent path.

Rohan Goyne, Evatt

VIEW LIMITED

Re: Andrew Street. Whilst I enjoy visiting the chattering classes in their ivory towers that line his side of the street, in the interest of balance, could we have the view from those slumming it on the other side?

Lee Welling, Nicholls

MALCOLM IN A MUDDLE

We need Clive Palmer back. He was our version of Trump. Trump seems like a doer. Not like our Malcolm who needs 10 years of consultations to make a tiny irrelevant decision.

Mokhles Sidden, Strathfield

GOING INCOGNITO

The problem of diplomats flaunting the law is easily fixed. Remove diplomatic (blue and black) plates. Nothing stands out more than a vehicle without number plates.

Barry Maher, Richardson

BUILDING THE MALL

"The Mall"!! "The Mall"!! The motto was: "Build the Mall"!!

Luca Biason, Latham

CHINA LOOKING GOOD

Trump says he will withdraw the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership. He seems more interested in Russia. Why don't the other 11 nations inviteChina to replace the US in the TPP?

Adrian Jackson, Middle Park, Vic

OFF THE MARK

David Bastin's reference to Menzies' alleged "desire for appeasement with Hitler after the invasion of Poland" would come as a surprise to anyone who listened to the recording of his broadcast of September 1939, announcing war between Australia and Germany.

Dr William Maley, Reid

PASSANT NO FOOL

Ric Hingee (Letters, November 23) "fears" the possible advent of a "Senator John Passant". While John may be an avowed old-fashioned socialist, he would bring infinitely more sense and sensibility than most of the current crossbench put together.

Eric Hunter, Cook

WEDGE POLITICS

Just be grateful Peter Crossing ("Couldn't make it up", Letters, November 18) the opposition didn't play wedge politics with the golf diplomacy of the Turnbull-Norman-Trump nexus. The media would've turned it into a case of wedgie-diplomacy (assisted by Abbott, no doubt).

Michael Crowe, Hawker

DIVERSITY KEY

Bill Shorten says we are a nation made great by migration, while Malcolm Turnbull says we are stronger because of our diversity.

Rod Matthews, Melbourne

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