This story received a big publicity. Why? One of the cars had diplomatic plates of the Embassy of the Russian Federation.

While reading the article in The Canberra Times one might get an impression the embassy's vehicle [had] recklessly crashed into another car.

The situation was quite different.

Eduard Shakirov, head of the consular section of the Russian Embassy, was accused of "aggressive approach" and "threatening" behaviour. No evidence was provided.

Ms Bacon was driving a 15-year old car in a bad condition (it was rusty, the paint was peeled away in some places – we have all relevant photos).

She demanded the embassy repair her whole car at its expense.

Mr Shakirov advised the payment issue should be settled by insurance companies.

She will get a compensation for damage after the accident, not as a result of bad maintenance.

A man, not involved in the accident, behaved himself loudly and interfered into discussion.

Mr Shakirov suggested he waited for the police if he wanted to provide evidence, but not exacerbate tensions.

I would be grateful if the author explains to me, what he meant by "aggression" and "threat".

I arrived to Canberra not long ago. Every day on TV I see the news about heavy car accidents. I have never seen any reports about diplomatic cars involved in it.

Grigory Logvinov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation

Diplomats behaving badly

So a Russian diplomat is going to apologise for some outrageous behaviour involving cars.

For a country which wants to be seen as a world power, the despicable way they incur traffic offences but don't pay their fines exemplifies why they are always struggling in this regard.

Why doesn't 'His Excellency', the ambassador do something about it?

The same goes for the Saudi Embassy staff who have accumulated almost $150,000 in traffic fines.

They don't deserve to be our guests, let's have people who operate on normal and decent social norms.

Eric Hodge, Pearce

With reference to the article in The Canberra Times (November 17, p4) entitled "Diplomat to apologise after bingle", it appears that it is not enough to name and shame embassies (particularly those that can well afford it) that choose to disrespect our road rules/laws and not pay the fines which they accumulate.

Perhaps imposing sanctions could be considered – such as disconnecting those offending embassies with some essential services (eg sewerage, water, electricity) until the bill is paid. What a shameful attitude.

C. Craig, Hughes

DAs need shake-up

It is disappointing residents have to be alert to non-compliant DAs, and in cases have had the DA modified either as a result of their objection or modified during the ACAT process.

Often these DAs fail to comply with planning requirements for parking, overshadowing, plot ratio, impact on traffic in the street and the dubious classification of "study" in one bedroom units.

This brings me to the DA for 125 Lowanna Street, Braddon.

Based on the multi-unit application identifying seven one-bed units and two three-bed units, 11 car parks are required plus three for visitors, a total of 14 car parks. However only 11 are planned. Add to that the five one-bedroom units with studies (assessed as able to be used as bedrooms in various Civil and Administrative Tribunal and court cases) which require another two parks now total ing 16 car parks.

I brought this to account on a Braddon multi-unit development over three years ago. Here we go again.

So do we have multi-unit compliant parking or do we accept cars parking on the nature strip and already crowded streets (two-hour limit on work days), and associated danger for cyclists and pedestrians.

I would like to see a copy of the policy and protocols that require planning staff to check Development Applications for compliance with planning requirements.

I am willing to offer my services to review internal processes as an independent community worker independent of authority.

Geoff Davidson, Braddon

Stop using fossil fuels

This week, more than 30 world religious groups presented a demand to the UN for countries to stop investing in fossil fuels and invest in renewables instead.

At the same time the World Resource Institute reports companies worth $4.8trillion have committed to climate action.

The International Energy Agency predicts China's coal use is set to plummet.

On the flip side we have people like Trump and Australia's deplorable Tony Abbott demanding we hasten actions that will imperil our children and grandchildren.

Meanwhile the LNP government digs the nation into an ever-deepening economic hole by neglecting renewables.

Given a choice between ensuring Australia's future and that of coal, these wretched people always prefer to support coal. Why?

It is time for a royal commission into the corrupting influence of coal, oil, gas and other polluting resources on politics in Australia.

Julian Cribb, Franklin

Taken for a ride at huge cost

To win re-election Labor's Andrew Barr hooked Gungahlin area voters with that Civic tram.

He dodged explaining to the rest of ACT's people it's billion-dollar installation cost and $60million annual operating cost.

Now, regardless, he's launching propaganda "events" to mask real-estate buccaneers poised to exploit consequent soaring prices along its corridor.

Who will pay, and who will suffer the most?

Bryan Lobascher, Chifley

While this government is busy reducing the length of stay provisions of the 457 visa (Editorial, November 17) it may like to focus on the 186 and 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Visas which, according to the website, are permanent residence visas for skilled workers outside the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne.

How many more nurses, teachers, carpenters, bricklayers, social workers, actuaries, architects, ships masters, ships engineers, civil engineers, chiropractors (the list is five pages long) are needed in regional areas such as Queanbeyan/Goulburn and presumably, Canberra as well?

What is the default job for these skilled people when, or if, an employer sponsor lets them down or they cannot find a local engineering position?

Is it cleaning, hospitality and retailing jobs at sometimes less than award wages?

Where do school leavers get their start?

Rosemary White, Queanbeyan

The hypocrisy of opposition leader Bill Shorten is mind boggling. Shorten, while employment minister, issued a record number of 457 visas.

Labor was also responsible for extending the residency period after termination of employment from 28 to 90 days.

Under the current government the issuing of visas is at a record low .

If Shorten is " fair dinkum " about looking after the employment situation, he would be better off attacking the ridiculous situation which allows international students, after graduation, to permanent residency and full employment rights.

Mario Stivala, Spence

Speed kills literally

A note to the person who drove up Copland Drive in excess of the speed limit at 8.30pm on Monday, November 14.

You bowled over a six-week-old magpie chick. It died a slow, painful death in my front yard. If you had enough sense to travel at the speed limit you would have been able to avoid the chick.

It's about time people started to care more for our wildlife, other people and our environment. Are we going to end up like the soulless, uncaring megalopolis' like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane?

Kerry Mulgrue, Spence

Turning a blind eye

Matt Ford (Letters, November 16) observes it is curious that different members of our species want to both save and destroy it.

I find it equally curious that [while] there is an outpouring of desire to save three cows stranded on a hill in New Zealand or a cow that escaped a live export ship and swam for its life, we do not bat an eyelid that we keep billions of the same types of farm animals in appalling conditions and slaughter them.

Our species is often concerned about the plight of individual members of other species but cares not a whit for the faceless multitudes.

Jan Darby, Isabella Plains

Kindness, not

As I exited the hardware store last Sunday, which I have discovered since was World Kindness Day, the strong winds picked up a piece of my shopping and hurled it down the road like a postage stamp.

At my frantic cry of "Stop!", the lass who was guiding her vehicle to run over my spoils did so, but only just in time.

I am disappointed in myself that I scowled at this young lady as it wasn't until after I had retrieved my undamaged goods from in front of her vehicle and she had driven from view that I realised her kindness.

Thinking quickly to shield my parcel from the wind with her vehicle was an act deserving of appreciation and admiration.

I just hope that she continues to live a life thoughtful of others and wish that I could pass on my gratitude for her selflessness.

Simon Roberts, Amaroo

Numbers don't add up

I am generally delighted when politicians demonstrate an interest in criminological issues, but that is not the case when a politician makes egregious errors, such as Andrew Leigh in his opinion piece "Why is imprisonment rising as crime is falling?" (November 14, p15).

Andrew and I would both agree we have far more people in our prisons than is necessary to protect the safety of the community, but his claims Australia has a higher imprisonment than many nations overseas and a higher rate now than was the case in 1901 are simply not true.

His basic mistake is the current Australian rate of around 207 prisoners per 100,000 adults cannot be readily compared with rates elsewhere (or previously) that were calculated on the basis of prisoners per 100,000 of the general community.

If the denominator is lower the resulting rate will be higher. It is a pity that Andrew's opinion piece, which is otherwise excellent, is marred by a fundamental flaw which could have been easily avoided.

David Biles, Curtin

Couldn't make it up

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is rejoicing over the fact he has found a use for ambassador Joe Hockey who has contacted fellow baby sitters club member and probable fellow wind farm opponent Greg Norman who has passed on the phone number of his once-at-least golf partner, the bigoted, pro-nuclear, climate change denying President-elect of the United States.

Not only has the world entered the post-truth era, it is also beyond satire.

Peter Crossing, Curtin

Dodging a bullet

Seldom has this Old Deplorable felt such a sense of relief as he did on November 9 when Hillary Clinton's glass ceiling turned out to be a windshield.

The world dodged a bullet on that day. If the latest reports are true, Mrs Clinton has serious issues, and should never have been a candidate.

Now we can at least hope the loaded gun that is America will be in the hands of a person who does not actually want to start World War III.

If anyone wants to accuse me of misogyny, my pick would have been Jill Stein.

Bernard Davis, O'Connor

Helmets not tops?

In light of the Voges incident on November 17, I ask: "What is the point of the helmets cricketers wear if they don't actually provide protection against concussion?"

Is it that the helmets are not up to the task for which they are being used?

Don Sephton, Greenway

LEGALISING MARIJUANA

A timely article by Ross Fitzgerald, "US heading the way in the legalisation of marijuana" (November 16). The majority of Australians support legalisation. It is time for politicians to point out how it can improve the quality of life for many people as well as benefits such as consumer protection by thorough testing.

Helen FitzGerald, Surry Hills, NSW

DAMP TROUSERS

America has wet its pants.

Barrie Smillie, Duffy

TRAVEL PASSES

I am serious, M. Hollingsworth (Letters, November 17). Not long ago the government dropped the Gold Pass age, for free bus travel to 70 years irrespective of income or time of travel. Now they propose free travel for all retirees 60 and over.

Leon Arundell, Downer

BETTER SIDE WON

Failure of the Aussie cricket team is caused by the other teams being better than them.

Brian Hale, Wanniassa

ELITISM AT TOP

Andrew P. Street you have forgotten Malcolm bought his daughter a $2 million home. His solution to the first homebuyer problem. Now that is elitism at its best ("Malcolm Turnbull can't pretend to battle the elite: he is the elite", canberratimes.com.au, November 17).

Robyn Lewis, Raglan

TURNBULL'S 'TRUMP' CARD

I refer to Mike Reddy's comment (Letters, November 17) and would like to add that "Abbottism" is Malcolm Turnbull's "Trump" card to survive as prime minister.

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

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