The federal government is asking the Australian public to accept reductions to many health and welfare benefits, to be willing to pay new taxes, and to make medical co-payments in an effort to balance the budget. So, how can it be contemplating the relocation of 4000 Immigration employees, given the tremendous costs associated with such a move?
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John Wilson's article "Immigration move: What are it limits?" (The Public Sector Informant, March 3, p14) aptly highlights some of the major problems associated with moving these employees from their Belconnen offices.
Mr Wilson stated: "The current enterprise agreement requires Immigration to consider and consult on the environmental sustainability of its proposed move." I have lived in the Belconnen area for 34 years and witnessed its tremendous expansion. This has included major additions to the Belconnen Mall, construction of numerous apartments, multiple dwellings and houses and the growth of both small and large businesses. There has also been new suburb developments, including the large suburb of Lawson currently under construction.
Traffic congestion is already a major problem. The proposed move will compound the issue.
It is worth noting about 75per cent of Immigration employees live in the Belconnen region. This will, no doubt, cause significant environmental sustainability and infrastructure problems, leading to increased costs to the federal government, and thus all ACT residents. These costs could include penalties for exiting a lease, fees for a new lease, building fit-out expenses, new signage and the implementation of appropriate parking arrangements.
Keeping 4000 Immigration employees in Belconnen is of paramount importance – this loss would be extremely costly to the Australian taxpayer and negatively impact on businesses and the surrounding community.
Linda Reaby, Belconnen
Book review unjust
Susannah Helman's painstaking trawl through the papers of Sir John Monash ("The meticulous general", Panorama, February 28, p17), appropriately provided, in this 100th anniversary year of the Gallipoli landings, another spellbinding insight into the life of this great, though partly marginalised, Australian.
Her article follows Tim Fischer's well-researched book Maestro Monash.
While no one is above criticism, it is hard to understand why a veteran writing, with sensitivity and passion, about another veteran, should incur the indignation of Jeffrey Grey, in his review of Maestro Monash ("Clap and claptrap justly exposed", Panorama, February 7, p25). He is damning, without even faint praise, by implying that Tim's inquiry was superficial and added nothing new. By so doing, Grey, having admitted an earlier disagreement, leaves an impression that historical authorship resides in the realm of professors. If so, he misses the point that literature is not merely for scholars because, as well as being informative, readable and accurate, books must be enjoyable for everyone.
Peter Michelson Shanghai, China
Focus on body shape
In reply to my letter (February 21), Dr Martin Liedvogel (Letters, March 3) suggests food, physical activity and other non-stigmatising factors are "at the heart of our Connect Up 4 Kids program", but this is just not true. At the heart of this program is childhood obesity – specifically, the body shape and size of three- to seven-year-old children. This is the problem – measurable, visible and stigmatising – which policy and clinical solutions are directed towards and outcomes expected of. A simple question reveals this to be so. Would Connect Up 4 Kids be considered a successful program if childhood obesity rates rose but risk factors for chronic disease fell in this age cohort? No, is the answer.
Yet the research around metabolically healthy obesity (the possibility of being healthy and big) grows by the day and there continues to be a global and legendary failure to effectively decrease population levels of weight in adults or children. The central focus of weight in this program means the vital work of GPs to effect better health by collaborating with families around food, physical activity, sleep etc is again obfuscated by the shaming of the individual's body shape and size.
Whenever I read the phrase "childhood obesity policy", I am put in mind of Michael Leunig's brilliant cartoon "face the future with a child on a stick".
Helen Kinmonth, Cook
Speed limits futile
There can be no doubt that speeding in school zones when children are present is irresponsible and dangerous ("Safety in school zones highlighted as 500 nabbed", March 5, p3). However, I wonder how many of these offences occur during the day, when no children are around. Over the last few months, I have regularly driven past the local primary school during the day without ever seeing a child outside arrival/departure periods. Friends have reported similar experiences.
With schools now surrounded by high fences, the likelihood of children appearing anywhere other than around school entrances is also quite unlikely. Other jurisdictions, such as NSW, Queensland and South Australia, have speed limits in school zones that apply only during morning and afternoon periods when children are entering or leaving school. Unless there is evidence to support the need for day-long speed limits, I think the ACT government should adopt the same approach.
Jim Derrick, Florey
Selected on merit
Stan Marks (Letters, March 5) seeks to imply that the ACT government selected David Flannery to the position of chairman of the Heritage Council because of his views about light rail. This is mischievous and wrong. Mr Flannery was appointed following a professional expression of interest process conducted by the ACT Heritage Unit, Environment and Planning Directorate. Mr Flannery was selected to the position of chairperson on his merit as a candidate and the expertise he can bring to the role.
The recommendations of the selection panel were made to me as Minister for Planning and the appointment was also considered by the relevant Legislative Assembly committee, which comprises opposition as well as government members, prior to being confirmed.
Research on community views on light rail indicates more than half the community support light rail. Therefore, the odds are any new chair would be supportive.
Mick Gentleman, Minister for Planning
Pyne jeopardising Australian research with reckless plan
Education Minister Christopher Pyne has proposed denying $150million funding for science unless the government's higher education strategy passes the Senate ("Scientists shocked to hear funds linked to Senate vote", March 7, p4). Pyne had targeted the specific arrangements correctly identified by your reporter, Matthew Knott, as the backbone of research in Australia.
This is the most irresponsible proposal I have ever seen from a minister. If it goes ahead, there will be an incalculable cost to the economy, as well as to Australian sovereignty, when we become even more dependent on science and technology produced and controlled abroad.
I can only hope there is no connection between the Pyne proposition and the Liberal Party's plan to raise millions of dollars for election funding from the US, as reported in The Canberra Times on February 24.
(Dr) Roy Sach, Palmerston
What's Christopher Pyne's next gambit? Hold his breath until everyone agrees with him? It would certainly be consistent with his maturity.
Peter Edsor, Bungendore, NSW
Toni Hassan's article "Triggs report should be read" (Times2, March 4, p4) indicates both she and commissioner Gillian Triggs are extremely naive. The concept that any person who asks for asylum should immediately be given free access to all of Australia is ridiculous.
Detention centres would be better described as refuges for asylum seekers awaiting processing or who whose claims for asylum have proved unsuccessful. Unfortunately, some people oppose this because the phrase "held in detention" (rather than "accommodated in refuges") suits their political purposes.
Further, it is a long bow to suggest they cause "children's development to be stunted". The girl aged eight who asked "Why am I in prison?", when she probably had no concept of prison, was almost certainly coached. The concept that if pre-schoolers draw pictures of themselves crying, they and their families should be granted settlement in Australia is also absurd.
If the article truly reflected Commissioner Triggs's report, I can understand why the government has lost confidence in her.
Bob Salmond, Melba
The trouble with morality
In his article "Tension between mercy, justice" (Forum, March 7, p8), moral philosopher Dr Matthew Beard declares that, for himself and others, "every state-sanctioned execution is a crime: murder". That's the trouble with morality. Varying as it does from culture to culture, it's a highly pliable abstraction that make it meat and drink for philosophers.
Under English law and its Commonwealth heirs, murder was/is a non-state-sanctioned killing, and is presumably so under Indonesian law, rendering Dr Beard's rationale indicating distaste for executions something of an oxymoron that might have been better expressed.
On the question of mercy and forgiveness, I would add that surely the only person who can forgive a criminal perpetrator is a direct victim of the crime, admittedly difficult if a death is involved.
Bill Deane, Chapman
Thank-you, Dr Matthew Beard ("Tension between mercy, justice", Forum, March 7, p8) for reminding us of the comparison between mercy and justice. Punishment by death for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran does not in any way fit their crime, but a long term in prison to continue their rehabilitative activities for others may not only be justice, but could dissolve international tensions and contribute compounding benefit to Indonesia.
The influence of these two reformed young men upon others convicted of similar crimes must surely be seen as incalculable moral capital for Indonesia. It is a justifiable way of fighting this iniquitous trade in human misery and the Indonesian system of rehabilitation has shown us all a way forward – but execution undermines it all.
Derek F. Wrigley, Mawson
Clear case for clemency
I am horrified by John Richardson's assertion (Letters, March 7) that our politicians are morally corrupt in appealing for clemency for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Life is not black and white, but far more multicoloured. Indonesia itself is a vastly diverse archipelago in terms of ethnic and religious representation.
To reasonably ask for clemency in the case of the duo is clear, given their evolution towards good and normality; a cleric and gifted artist from an initially criminal start.
To ask for clemency is not a complicated call. I would love to meet Andrew and Myuran as free and contrite men, some day. The continuation of these lives is a test of good will and fairness. All reasonable people must raise their voices.
Matt Ford, Crookwell, NSW
What about Gen X?
If we regard those Australians born between 1965 and 1980 as the Gen X generation, the oldest of the Gen Xers will now be turning 50, and the youngest 35. That age bracket probably covers the majority of working journalists and commentators, and many politicians.
This may explain why the media is full of criticism of "useless" Gen Y's and "greedy" Baby Boomers, but is silent on Gen X. Of course, even though they are now running the country, Gen X is obviously blameless for any current problems and is perfect in every way.
J. Angle, Curtin
The modelling in the intergenerational report assumes CPI indexation of the age pension from 2017-18, as proposed in the government's horror budget, but with reversion to indexation based on average weekly earnings from 2028-29.
Today, the present maximum basic rate of the age pension for a couple is $30,446 a year. If the pension had been indexed to CPI from 2003-04 it would be $26,483 a year, a 13per cent reduction, which reversion to AWE indexation will never recover.
Tom Hayes, Campbell
Rigorous process to decide heritage merit
To clarify the meaning of heritage (Letters, March 4), it is those items of our past that we keep to provide a sense of place and identity for current and future generations. It is important that we recognise and protect these places and objects into the future, and keep the stories they tell of who we are and the past that has helped shape us.
The processes to nominate, register and protect heritage places and objects for prosperity in the ACT are legislated in the Heritage Act 2004, which also establishes the Heritage Council and the Heritage Register. To determine whether a place or object should be entered in the register, the council needs to determine if it meets any of the heritage significance criteria defined under the act.
There are eight heritage criteria, covering qualities such as importance, rarity, potential to yield information, community value and creative achievement. The act determines that a place or object has heritage significance if it meets one or more of the criteria.
Before being placed on the register, however, a place or object must go through a three-step process of nomination, provisional registration and registration. Consultation is an integral part of the registration process, which includes consulting those affected, advertising decisions and inviting comments on the council's decisions.
David Flannery, chairman, ACT Heritage Council
Goalposts moved
Chief Minister Andrew Barr, bewailing the Heritage Council intercession on behalf of the Northbourne Avenue flats, says his government has had the goalposts moved against it. Now he has a small idea of how Mr Fluffy home owners feel every time his government and his Asbestos Task Force move the goalposts against them.
Kathleen Read, Watson
TO THE POINT
REPORT POLITICISED
Labor and the Greens are whining that Thursday's Intergenerational Report has been politicised. Where are they coming from? Of course the report will be political, as politics will drive where we will finish up 40 years from now.
Ed Dobson, Hughes
The problem of an ageing population is firmly on the agenda, as are two proposed solutions: working into old age and releasing more women into the workforce. Are we overlooking athird way? Having more kids.
Eris Kennedy, Wanniassa
With far too few jobs on offer for older workers, will Joe Hockey's valued "grey army" have to take up busking and begging?
Sue Dyer, Downer
SEND THEM TO MANUS
The Indonesian government should deport Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran by boat, so that the Australian government can send them to Manus Island and ensure that they never come to Australia.
Leon Arundell, Downer
FUNDING NEEDED
Our dysfunctional government continues on its merry way in its own ideological universe. Can anyone explain why essential science infrastructure funding is being held hostage by the Minister for an Uneducated Australia, rather than bythe pseudo-Minister of Science?
Adrian Gibbs, Yarralumla
ADF WELL PAID
The special benefits conferred on ADF personnel include tax-free treatment and a $150 daily allowance while serving overseas ("Defence staffers behind on pay, March 6, p1). That's an additional $55,000 a year on top of their base salary. Surely this must be a typographical error. If not, would someone please direct me to the nearest ADF recruitment centre!
Mario Stivala, Spence
DECIDUOUS WORK?
Rather than complaining about someone who "works deciduously" (Letters, March 6), why don't we all just take a leaf out of their book? Thisproblem has been raked over too often, and yet a public servant is still taking the fall.
Doug Thompson, Campbell
CGS SLIPS IN RANKINGS
It is with dismay that I see that Canberra Grammar School has performed disastrously in the latest NAPLAN primary level tests, tumbling as low as 28th in the rankings. I may well have to recommend that my grandchildren be enrolled in a government school such as Garran orWanniassa, which have performed fabulously well in comparison.
Graham McLennan, Higgins
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