"Unbelievably inept" is how I would describe this government's response to a range of issues: Indigenous policy, domestic violence, housing affordability, and climate change, to name but a few.

With refugee policy, though, the scales clearly tilt to cruelty: cruelty for the sake of cruelty; cruelty as a means of cheap political point scoring. I fear for the kind of society we are becoming that we so easily fall for the baseless political spin and fear-mongering, and year after year allow an offshore detention system that drives innocent men, women and children to suicide.

Successive Australian governments defend this cruel treatment of people seeking asylum, boasting of their strong border protection policies.

There is nothing strong about a rich democracy refusing to protect people escaping persecution. There is nothing strong about imprisoning vulnerable human beings, including children, indefinitely in brutal conditions.

What I find most appalling is the cowardice of our elected representatives in their failure to stand up and demand more humane refugee policy.

With a few admirable exceptions, Labor and Coalition MPs alike remain silent, tacitly supporting the continuation of these heinous practices. Disappointingly, all of the ACT's federal parliamentarians are among those silent.

Eileen O'Brien, Kambah

I refer to the letter from Anne Prendergast ("Where the guilt lies", Letters, February 22), which prompted me to re-read Thea Fisher's earlier letter ("Blood on our hands", Letters, February 21) and to read the article she referenced and which I had missed ("On Manus, a small fish flounders", Forum, February 18, p.4).

Did Anne Prendergast read this article? If she did, she should be deeply ashamed of her own letter, and of her seeming lack of compassion.

From the comfort and security of one of Canberra's better suburbs, she exhibits a frightful lack of insight and empathy.

Peter Dark, Queanbeyan

Netanyahu could be seen as a pioneer of "Alt-Darwinism" and its interpretation of "natural selection", in that he is "naturally selective" over what constitutes an outrageous crime against humanity depending on who is at the receiving end of it.

When he wonders what kind of state we advocate for Palestine, may I suggest one that is not being obliterated by Israel with a conscious and deliberate use of disproportionate force targeting all civilian infrastructure with the only purpose of favouring unilateral expansion and annexation?

If Israel was subjected to the same measures it enforces on Palestine, we would likely witness this new take on "natural selection" on a truly global scale.

Luca Biason, Latham

Almost all of the countries in our region are among the 137 nations that recognise Palestine.

Neither the United States nor the United Kingdom are on the list. Whilst we choose to slavishly follow the USA on Middle Eastern and other issues ("Malcolm Turnbull affirms Israel support", canberratimes.com.au, February 22) rather than take notice of the opinions of our near neighbours we will continue to be regarded as a colonial outpost rather than a part of Asia.

Mike Reddy, Curtin

When are the Israeli-influenced politicians, the likes of our Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister Bishop, a confirmed "Friend of Israel", going to reflect the thinking of by far the greatest majority of Australians and promote both the Two State Solution for Palestine and support the United Nations resolutions?

Rex Williams, Ainslie

"The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding." This statement was made by Louis Brandeis, a Justice of the US Supreme Court (1916-1939), who was known in his major judicial opinions for mistrusting the unlimited exercise of governmental power in the name of the people.

Many generations later, in the context of President Trump's attempts to govern through the use of untrammelled executive orders, his strident criticism of American judges and his even more aggressive criticism of the US media, Louis Brandeis' statement has as much applicability now as then.

Don Sephton, Greenway

Not only has Sweden not suffered any terrorist attacks since taking in lots of Muslim refugees, what terrorist-related crime wave was Trump referring to?

There are some reports that car burnings and white collar crime is up in Sweden. Typical terrorist activities, those.

The great leader can never be wrong. Sweden's reported lack of immigrant and refugee related crimes must be "fake-non-news". It's obviously a global conspiracy: The World against Donald Trump.

R. Neville, Fraser

Paul McGeough's latest, as usual, penetrating analysis of Trumpery ("US allies wary of Trump double speak", February 22, p. 12) quotes the President's UN ambassador, Nikki Haley as saying "(Trump) had been merely) thinking out of the box (and) we absolutely support a two-state solution".

What contortions of diplomacy will finally convince his apologists to cram (and lock) this ignorant "Jack-out-of-the-box" back into whatever milieu, from which he ought never to have been allowed to emerge? I wonder.

Hugh Gibbon, Pearce

Mr Sidorko should be applauded and encouraged in whatever effectual attempts he and his staff apply to 'phoenix' Marist College Canberra's reputation from the 'ashes' that are the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

It is the most notorious Catholic school in Australia for child sexual abuse claims. However, your Assembly Reporter, Katie Burgess, quotes from the principal's response letter to parents ("City college worst for abuse claims", February 22, p.6), 'I do not understand how a school with Marist's values and ethos could not protect the victims'.

This statement is either grossly disingenuous, or an indication of intellectual vacuity.

Reports must be familiar to everyone with a passing interest in the atrocities, detailing the propensities of the institutions to move heaven & earth (and indeed the perpetrators, to far-off, alternative posts) to suppress exposure of this criminal activity.

(This was) occasionally with the connivance of authorities such as the police and even, unbelievably, the victims' parents.

Potential and actual offenders must surely have been tempted by such reassuring examples of the chances of impunity, to risk satisfying their rebarbative appetites and were hardly likely to have top-of-mind any pious platitudes advanced as Marist's values.

(How) could Mr Sidorko possibly not understand the school's failure to protect its victims?

Hugh Gibbon, Pearce

The decision to write a local 'safe schools' program is deplorable ("Localised 'Safe Schools' program", February 20, p.8).

The Federal Government did not think the program was age-appropriate for primary schools, and thought the controversial nature of the program warranted parental agreement. The ACT Government thinks it knows better.

But it cannot also claim to respect parents as the prime educators, nor to uphold a school's duty of care for all students. Outsourcing development of material to Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT guarantees an extreme sexuality and gender mindset will be pushed on our children.

Arthur Connor, Weston

With regards to the CT Letters to the Editor ("Shout", February 23), The Sleep Apnoea Association Inc is one of many affiliate members of SHOUT (Self Help Organisations United Together).

We depend upon SHOUT to be our public first point of phone contact for general enquiries. SHOUT then passes client information on to us for possible support and assistance to persons seeking information and advice about Obstructive Sleep Apnoea(OSA), its causes and treatment.

SHOUT provided us and many organisations with a valuable shared administrative service that is almost impossible to manage individually.

If SHOUT loses its future ACT Government funding and is forced to close down then many directly supported and affiliated organisations will have a bleak future also.

The short-sightedness of not continuing government funding to SHOUT will make us all the poorer and again place our local politicians in that unenviable space that is uncaring and out of touch with the community.

Angelo Barich, Sleep Apnoea Association Inc, Kambah

Re "Open space stems crash risk", February 22, p.5). You quoted the Canberra Aero Club Director suggesting Canberra airport is pretty safe in terms of build-up around the airport saying "there is heaps of space to put down in a fairly organised fashion".

I am no aviation expert but in the case of Essendon and many other crashes near airports, it is my understanding that pilots tragically have no chance "to put down in a fairly organised fashion".

The graphic showed the flight path of the plane at Essendon veering to the left before crashing.

Having buildings at the side of strips such as Ikea and Costco is no guarantee of harm.

The ABC interviewed the chair of the Australian Pilots' Association who cited Canberra as an airport that was once greenfield but now allowing significant development around the strips.

Surely in the interests of public safety there should be no further development around Canberra airport.

Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor

Whilst I agree with your report ("Open space stems crash risk", February 22, p.5) that Canberra airport is not Essendon, it is incontrovertible that it is not as safe now as it was before the building developments.

Any light twin taking off on the short runway towards Duntroon that has problems with the right-hand engine after refusal speed is highly likely to visit Costco or Ikea with dire consequences.

The southern threshold of the main runway is subject to turbulence whenever a strong and gusty westerly wind blows due to the proximity of large buildings.

Whilst competent pilots should be able to cope with both situations they will also require luck, and luck should never be part of the planned safety equation.

John Trinder, Karabar, NSW

It was a sad day for us when our politicians and developers sacrificed all sense of beauty for profits and dollars.

What is more beautiful: a median strip of magnificent eucalypts in a mass of cream blossom when they flower or 12 lanes of traffic leading in and out of Canberra with nine storey concrete buildings either side?

Or driving along King Edward Terrace beside the National Library under a canopy of magnificent trees providing cool and shade while Northbourne Avenue becomes hot and the ugliest entry into any major city in Australia?

Or what would the public prefer?

Sitting by the Kingston Foreshore enjoying dinner by the water and staring into ugly blocks of units?

Or sitting by the water and looking across the lake to trees and hills in the distance?

All hope of the latter is gone.

Penelope Upward, O'Connor

WRONG MESSAGE

A spokesman for ACT police referred to the ACT's Vision Zero safety philosophy, which aims to achieve zero deaths on ACT roads ("Drivers still too close, say cyclists", February 21, p.2).

Is it necessary then to have the sign on Yamba Drive that states, "People die on ACT roads", seemingly implying that there is something wrong if they don't?

John Milne, Chapman

A SAD SIGN

In another era it would have been earth-shaking to even consider bank staff being other than "ethical" ("Bank staff urged to be 'ethical"', February 21, p.30).

The present epoch of fake news, alternative facts and Trump's election, rationalises banks wallowing in oceans of tainted proceeds from unethical behaviour.

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan, NSW

HAM-FISTED

While watching the report on the changes to the NSW year 12 curriculum I was amazed to see the number of students who have obviously not been taught to hold a pen or pencil correctly.

It must be very hard to write when the implement appears to be clutched in one's fist rather than using the thumb and index finger.

Maggie Watts, Calwell

NO NEWS?

Giving Bec Cody and Sherrill Nixon the print space that you did, makes me think you all need to have a nice cup of tea, a Bex, and good lie down.

Alex Wallensky, Broulee, NSW

MISSING LINK

When you published my letter responding to Don Sephton (Letters, February 23) you printed "In 2006 the federal government issued $6000 (for NSW students studying in the ACT). You neglected to print "per child".

V. Harris, Yass

PALESTINIAN QUESTION

If Bill Shorten misses the opportunity to fall in step with previous Labor leaders who have spoken up for the Palestinians then I am afraid the man lacks the moral courage to lead this country.

D. J. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld

SILENT MAJORITY

Marist College principal Richard Sidorko wrote, "While 20 per cent of Marist Brothers in Australia are known to have been abusers, we must also remember ... four out of five did not". ("City college worst for claims", February 22, p.6) No, we mustn't. We must remember the 80 per cent who were complicit by their silence.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

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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