I never worked in the public service, and did not enjoy secure employment over the course of my working life.
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My income was a very basic wage, plus sales commission. It entailed managing a sales territory that took in the Snowy Mountains and the south coast south of Batemans Bay, and overseeing a couple of other representatives.
I enjoyed my job and was successful. Eventually, the firm was taken over and the new management, including some with whom I had crossed swords previously, decided I was redundant. One or two weeks' severance pay! This happened more than once. My three weeks' annual leave had to be taken over the Christmas period.
So when I see Katy Gallagher walk away with $30,600 ("Gallagher's $30,600 resettlement payout first of its kind", March 16, P2) I "saw red".
Politicians do not know just how privileged they are – at our expense.
Philip Robinson, Holt
Who are we helping?
Each year, ACT taxpayers contribute $150million to keeping ACTION on the roads, whether they use the service or not. Most don't. Only about 7per cent of workers travel to work via ACTION and it's a fair bet that fewer than 20per cent of households use the service regularly. Those who do are, of course, getting a bargain.
All public transport systems lose money and provide knock-on benefits, such as lessening congestion and pollution, and in helping those who can't afford any other means of transport.
ACTION's subsidy is growing like topsy, having just about doubled in less than 10 years, while patronage has remained stagnant. We know from work done in support of the light rail proposal that transport systems are most likely to attract discretionary users who live close to a rail or bus stop and who have a relatively short journey to and from work or business etc.
Having frequent services helps. Not having to change mid-journey is a big plus, too. The rub is that that description of the typical discretionary ACTION commuter best fits those living in Canberra's "leafy" inner suburbs, rather than ratepayers who live more than one connection out. If that's the case, then much of that $150million is going to the comparatively well-placed and not to those who must travel by ACTION because they have no other option. An annual sum of $150 million is a huge chunk of the ACT budget and almost half the current ACT budget deficit. We need to be assured the subsidy is justified.
Bob Bennett, Gowrie
A light rail lesson
Australasian Railway Association chief executive Brian Nye ("Conference gives light rail project a boost", March 5, p1) talked of a "broader renaissance of light rail". "Global cargo cult" would be closer to the mark.
Over a century ago, aptly named Sir Thomas Bent, Premier of Victoria, realised it didn't matter if a tram line was viable, so long as you or your supporters owned the adjacent real estate. Trams increased land values. The trick was not to be party to the tram venture. If it failed, that was the taxpayers' problem.
Is Canberra's proposed Gungahlin to Civic tram line viable? Not on patronage grounds. Its business case relies on the argument that light rail corridors, coupled with densification (high-density housing), curb "urban sprawl" and provide "agglomeration benefits". To boost "densification" the ACT government restricts land supply. The result: median house prices are severely unaffordable at 8.3 times average earnings; rent assistance is the highest in the country; and young people are priced out of home ownership.
Worse, this policy exacerbates "urban sprawl", as the boom in new suburbs in Queanbeyan and other cross-border towns demonstrates.
New analysis from the UK concludes that these policies have virtually no impact on major long-term increases in resource and energy consumption. They lower employment levels and intensify congestion, which results in economic losses and more intense air pollution.
There is a better way. Increase land supply, to make housing more affordable, and try bus rapid transit. It's a fifth the capital cost and much cheaper to run.
Brendan Cox, Richardson
Club leases
Are those correspondents who contributed the debate about the future of the Canberra City Bowling Club aware that in early 2013 the ACT government, through the economic development section, encouraged clubs to redevelop by granting a $15,000 incentive to clubs which undertook redevelopment studies of their site?
Were the community councils informed? Were residents and the general public informed?
I suggest that if a club with a concessional lease no longer be viable then that lease should be offered to another group which can operate. If not operational, then the site be sold for open competitive tender.
The government might also reconsider other community uses, particularly where increased housing densities are planned.
Geoff Davidson, Braddon
LDA plans alarming
Tony Powell's expert assessment of the Land Development Agency's revised strategy for the area bordering the ceremonial route to Government House (Letters, March 12) is alarming.
The government has listened to some community concerns, including by reinstating the Mint Interchange to address traffic issues, but the revised proposal remains out of character with the existing suburb.
One long-standing concern is the proposed grid pattern, which does not suit the hilly topography. Buried deep in a consultant's report, it is now clear that instead of fitting the design to the landscape, the LDA plans to level the site.
The massive proposed "cut and fill" of 215,000 cubic metres would "cut" up to seven metres off the top of ridges from Dunrossil Drive to the Brickworks, and "fill" areas down to Cotter Road and Adelaide Avenue. The forest, including the windbreak established by Weston a century ago to protect the suburb from strong south/westerly winds, will be destroyed.
Surely, it is reasonable to expect better planning in the 21st century?
In 2010, the ACT government proposed to develop land around the historic Canberra Brickworks to fund their conservation and adaptive reuse. While the revised $5million budget for the Brickworks is a welcome improvement over the $1.5million proposed last year, it may not be enough even for necessary stabilisation and repairs.
Marea Fatseas, president, Yarralumla Residents Association
A dose of common sense recommended
The saying "a fool and his money are soon parted" applies beautifully to many in our post-modern world, where their opinion trumps facts. Homeopathic medicines have had their lack of value revealed by yet another study, in this case produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council ("No evidence homeopathy is effective", March 12, p3). A believer takes some sort of natural active ingredient, and dilutes it with water until it contains a few molecules of that ingredient per glass, becoming, in essence, pure water. Another believer drinks this pure water and feels better, to the extent that he or she would feel better if they were taking a placebo. This is, of course, a form of faith healing, and it just might work because mental state causes some health problems. Money changes hands, both partners are satisfied, and, of course, the sale adds to our GDP.
A more dangerous piece of gullibility is that of the fond parents who believe their children are in more danger from vaccinations than from dangerous diseases. All the valid medical evidence shows this is crazy, with real dangers to their children, other children and, indeed, the parents. In this case, the fool is the government, which pays a great deal of money to these "conscientious objectors" not to have their children vaccinated.
Where has common sense gone?
Neville Exon, Chapman
Messing with Hansard
The sacking of Agriculture Department secretary Dr Paul Grimes by his minister, Barnaby Joyce, and Joyce's involvement in alterations to Hansard is a can of worms. That additions to, rather than just amendments of, the record were permitted indicates a glaring procedural flaw.
This does not detract from the fact Joyce is severely compromised.
Gary J. Wilson, MacGregor
Tiny Aboriginal communities unhealthy as well as unviable
The time has come for Professor Patrick Dodson ("Tony Abbott's lifestyle comments highlight the lack of policy in Aboriginal affairs", canberratimes.com.au, March 13) to face the truth that while it may not be a "lifestyle choice" to be born in and live in a remote Aboriginal community, it should not become a life sentence that condemns young Aboriginal people to a life of permanent disadvantage, despair and isolation.
When speaking in State Parliament last November, the Western Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, made it known that of the state's 274 Aboriginal communities, more than 100 had an average of five residents, and another 70 communities had an average of 15 people.
Professor Dodson's only response in finding an inventive solution for the provision of services to these communities was to suggest the use of solar power to deliver energy. His limited response sadly reveals an inadequate understanding and appreciation of the wider problem.
As the "father of reconciliation", Professor Dodson must accept that reconciliation works in both directions.
Without some degree of amalgamation, these communities are not only economically unsustainable in their current form, but they are detrimental to the wellbeing of future generations.
Reverend Dr Vincent Zankin, Rivett
Abbott overexposed
Does anyone else remember the Peter Cook film, The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer? It's about an ambitious spin doctor/pollster who slides up the greasy poll by giving duff advice to both sides of politics. Rimmer's particular technique for destroying a fictional prime minister was to get him to appear on TV at every available opportunity to the point where everyone is heartily sick of the sound and sight of him. Seem at all familiar?
Prime Minister Tony Abbott would be best advised to spend some more time behind his desk doing a bit of solid work and stop dashing about the country making one half-thought-through comment after another. Contrariwise, Treasurer Joe Hockey may be doing his bit for a better budget this time round by spending many of his waking hours in the Federal Court, well away from Canberra and, in particular, the Treasury offices.
Bob Bennett, Gowrie
Not so reassuring
Federal Trade Minister Andrew Robb assures us that Australian interests will be fully protected in the trade agreement he is negotiating with the United States, including in the areas of national sovereignty and pharmaceutical prices.
At the same time, the treasurer of the Liberal Party has written of his intention to raise "several tens of millions of dollars" from US donors. No doubt Mr Robb will not be influenced in his negotiations by the wishes of the US corporate donors who will largely fund his and his party's re-election campaign. However, without details of the negotiations being made public, we are unable to judge for ourselves whether the bland assurances proffered by the minister and his officials are valid.
Helmut Simon, Watson
Enough to make one cry
The image of the Prime Minister eating an unpeeled onion is a shocker. What is he thinking: I'm a real man because I can eat a raw onion. If that is the case, I despair. He is not a natural leader, has little charisma and is struggling to hold power. Often, he does not seem to get it right.
He seems fake, like many of his other actions and policies. He seems under too much influence by his team. He says he has changed post-spill, but I do not believe backing down on some policies is a change in fundamental personality. How many original policies have remained after his so-called redemption post-spill.
He is struggling for a good reason; he is not fit for the role.
Geoff Clark, Narrabundah
Tax concessions unfair
Frank Parsons' pertinent letter (March 11) shines another light on the unfairness of the tax concessions on superannuation and the damage they are doing to our budget bottom line. An excellent research paper by David Ingles published by the Australia Institute P/L in February 2009 titled "The great superannuation tax concession rort" spells out these tax concessions in detail.
Our politicians must know that our budget predicament was mainly caused by Peter Costello and John Howard legislating the tax concessions just before they lost the election (and both retired from Parliament and became beneficiaries of the legislation).
The previous Labor government did nothing to fix the problem, but for the LNP leader and his serfs to dogmatically claim that the ALP is to blame for our budget predicament is obviously a furphy.
Removing the concessions will be hugely unpopular (especially for the greedy) but absolutely necessary and this is where our party system, and its need for re-election, will let us down and Australia will continue its slide downhill.
Max Jensen, Chifley
Make institutions pay
In his article "NAB and its dead-parrots society" (BusinessDay, March 13, p14) Jeff Morris makes good points about one institution where clients have been so mistreated by rogue financial advisers that the institution feels compelled to compensate them. Similar or worse cases have surfaced at other financial institutions. It is right that the victims get compensation and I agree with Morris that the quantum should be set by an independent entity, not the "guilty" institution.
But there is another dimension to these cases. The institutions should be held criminally liable for their failure to exert effective control over their employees or agents and failure to discharge their duty of care towards their clients. They should be heavily fined and the proceeds of criminal activity should be seized.
Then we might see a remarkable culture change.
Ron Walker, Campbell
TO THE POINT
GROWTH GONE MAD
There is really only one thing wrong with the proposed Canberra Brickworks area redevelopment. It is the one in front of the 1800 new dwellings. From this "1" thing flows the other issues relating to poor urban planning that Tony Powell (Letters, March 12) aptly describes as a "monstrosity".
Paul Flanagan, Yarralumla
Tony Powell's warning (Letters, March 12) of the Yarralumla land grab by a cash strapped ACT Government is timely.
Dwelling numbers in the 2015 development strategy have increased to 1885 (and 3100 new residents) from 1100 (and 1870 residents) in 2010 and from 42 to 49 hectares. Future predictions anyone?
Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla
SAY IT IN STRINE
Campaigners appalled at the use of English in the Italian language have begun an online petition against its use in everyday life ("Say it in Italian", March 13, p10).
I'd like to start a similar campaign in Australia against the use of American words in the Australian language? Anyone care to sign on?
Geoff Barker, Flynn
MOVING MADE EASY
It would seem that former ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has been spared any "heavy lifting" as a result of her "lifestyle choices", putting paid to Treasurer Joe Hockey's suggestion that the "age of entitlement is over" – at least for Australia's professional political class, who continue to thrive in their "remote place" ('Katy Gallagher receives $31,000 resettlement payout', canberratimes.com.au, March 16).
John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW
KUDOS TO SOCIAL CLUB
It's great to see the Polish-Australian Club following its charter and rebuilding as a social club instead of more soulless apartments ("White Eagle Rises from the Ashes", March 15, p12).
Bob Gardiner, Kambah
PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES ...
In response to Andrew Nikolic's attempts to silence criticism ("Academic accuses Liberal whip Andrew Nikolic of threatening his career over letter of criticism", canberratimes.com.au, March 16), one might well ask Mr Nikolic how appropriate it is for him to be spending so much of his taxpayer funded time on personal vendettas.
Patricia Saunders, Chapman
AT HOME OPTION FOR PM
Tony Abbott has to go to Tasmania to munch on onions. Why not stay in Canberra and suck eggs?
Linus Cole, Palmerston
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