Mr Pezzullo told the committee that "in some cases, the (ANAO) analyses that is brought to bear are unworldly".

By that, he explained, he meant "not rooted in any reality that we experience or anything that the commissioner, in this case, does day to day".

Because of the level of secrecy the Australian people don't know what's being done by Mr Pezzullo's department in their name and by what means.

We can only rely on checks and balances, and that includes the work of the ANAO.

We can infer from the secretary's comments that the day-to-day actions of his people may include unlawful and inappropriate actions.

Dallas Stow, O'Connor

President Trump has lodged a call for $1trillion of infrastructure spending made up of government and private funding.

He has not detailed the share the US government will make but his announcement appears to have been well received in the US.

My best guess is the US has a national debt of over $20 trillion which equates to a $72,000 liability for each US citizen.

By comparison Australia has a national debt of around $700 billion which equates to a $28,000 liability for each Australian taxpayer.

So how long before one of our political leaders will stand up and announce a brave infrastructure vision.

Based on the US example they will have $44,000 each Australian citizen will be prepared to commit to such a plan.

My bet is it will be Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten, Prime Minister Turnbull will be too fenced in to make such an announcement.

Bill Burdin, Monash

Re Trump's address to Congress.

What a "fantastic" achievement by President Trump. To simply stand at a podium, read from a monitor and turn America's Republicans into North Koreans.

Sixty-eight sycophantic standing ovations in a one-hour speech must surely present a serious challenge, even to someone as skilled in inspiring worshipful crowds as the amazing Kim Jong-un, himself.

Who would have thought that was what the Donald had in mind when he promised to deal with the threat from North Korea.

This is surely a president who will bring us many surprises.

But for now let us just bow in admiration and thanks to this wondrous New Leader.

God Bless America — and, hopefully, save the rest of us.

Donald J Fraser, Oxley

It is not only Defence (Ken Barrs, Letters March 1, M. Flint, Letters March 2) that is de-skilled. In the mid 1990s our son was fresh from university with a newly minted engineering degree. He soon found himself responsible for information technology (IT) in a government department.

As he told it, the department had been forced to make the IT staff redundant. The redundant staff immediately set themselves up as contractors to the same department.

They were making two to three times their former salary, and doing very little. However, no one in the department, except our son, understood what the contractors were up to. The contracts had been drawn up and let by people with little technical understanding, leaving him with no authority to enforce useful deliverables.

In order to prevent permanent damage to his moral compass, he soon left for an IT job in London.

When I read about technical problems at Centrelink, at the ATO, at Defence, I just nod my head and think, "that all sounds about right". De-skilling mistakes made two decades ago have still not been fixed.

Bruce A. Peterson, Kambah

In relation to disability access in Canberra ("Disabled parking", February 28, p.17) there are also issues for disabled people getting to and from the Canberra Airport.

Unlike many other cities we don't have airport public transport. The current private airport shuttle service also does not have wheelchair access for the disabled.

This means that many disabled people must rely on family, friends or an expensive taxi to get to and from the airport.

The Barr government needs to lift its game and understand that there is more to governing than big ticket development and infrastructure projects. It needs to put people first and do it's job as a local government and implement Canberra Airport public transport services for all including the disabled.

David Johnston, Ainslie

John L. Smith (letters, February 28) seems unconvinced a grid with high levels of wind and solar generation could be affordable.

He notes economists might argue no one would invest in capacity to have it mostly idle, but this happens already. In 2016, the Port Lincoln open cycle gas turbine ran for a total of 82 hours.

Peaking power plants have low capital costs and high operating costs, making them viable when prices are high.

Using flexible, dispatchable gas turbines to address critical periods (even if burning renewable fuels) is practical. There are numerous other approaches as illustrated by recent ANU research using off-river pumped hydro.

Ben Elliston, Hawker

It was reported ("Tara's family sets up own domestic violence group", March 1, p.9) that David Morrison has called for a national day of remembrance to recognise victims of domestic and family violence.

Such a day does exist – the first Wednesday in May every year.

For over 15 years there have been candle lighting vigils held around Australia on this national day of remembrance.

Further information about all State and Territory's vigils can be found on the website: https://fvcandlelightvigil.org.au/.

This year in the ACT our vigil will be held on Wednesday, May 3, from 5.45pm to roughly 6.45pm at Civic Square (outside the ACT Legislative Assembly).

All are welcome. There is no cost to attend and no requirement to RSVP.

We do recommend people wear warm clothing as the event is held outside.

Di Lucas, chair, Domestic Violence Crisis Service, Canberra

While in no way seeking to downplay the "inappropriate touching (of) a child" by a Catholic priest in Tumut some years ago ("Archbishop 'failed' on child safety", March 2, p.3) we must question the motives of Hetty Johnson (of Bravehearts) in seeking the resignation of Archbishop Christopher Prowse.

The priest in question is old and infirm and has lived next to the schools, and to us, for two years.

Can he really be a threat to nearby young people? Has Ms Johnson no compassion?

Timothy Walsh and Janet Thomson, Garran

The Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn clearly has very poor "judgment" (reference the Marist College ceremony of apology and the placement of a disgraced priest, however unhealthy, near schools in Canberra).

The Church's reputation and capacity to comment on any social issue is at an all time low.

Any comments or directions issued by the current Archbishop can hardly be taken seriously. Time for him to go.

At the same time the Church should relinquish the land lease on the Archbishop's residence, sitting exclusively in a portion of Commonwealth Park/ Regatta Point.

The isolated and prestigious siting symbolises the historic gap between senior clergy and the common folk. Not another Canberra resident in sight.

The land could usefully expand Commonwealth Park for the use of all Canberrans.

John Mungoven, Stirling

Re: "Tradesman blaming himself for Carwoola fire contributes to collective $130,000 for recovery", canberratimes.com.au, February 28).

As a very long-time member of the RFS I believe the shining example of honesty and Gold-standard best effort to help those affected by the unnamed tradie quite probably responsible for the fire, deserves a medal.

As RFS members, we see all too often the evidence of the cause of a fire and the obvious person responsible refusing to take any blame.

This tradie appears to have made a mistake; we could have told him the risk he was taking – but he has stood up and copped it, and is doing his best to make reparation.

You will not be forgotten as a decent person.

Richard Llewellyn, Colo Vale, NSW

I was interested to read the Summernats report by Rod Lestone in the last "Watzon" newsletter.

It stated "litter along the Northborne verge was attended to promptly by the relevant service authority".

That would make me the "relevant service authority".

For the past two years I have picked up the cans, glass bottles and plastics from the area along the Federal highway between Philip Avenue and Stirling Street.

In 2016, I did the clean up on the Monday after Summernats and filled my recycling bin with the rubbish. This year, hoping the "relevant service authority" would in fact clean up, I left it until the second Monday after Summernats.

There was less rubbish this year, it only filled one third of my recycling bin — but I did crush the cans as I went to save on trips to my bin.

It is obvious that people pre-load in the grassy strip before arriving at Summernats. There are often collections of four to six cans and bottles of the same type of alcohol in close proximity to one another.

This area is not a no-alcohol zone, unlike Phillip Avenue. In all the years I have lived in Summernats Central I have not seen evidence of the relevant authority cleaning up.

The litter becomes a bigger issue when the grass cutters move through, smashing the glass and shredding the aluminium cans, making the grassy area unsafe to walk dogs or ride bikes.

Lyn Clyde, Watson

It was good to see Meegan Fitzharris accepted Phillip Harris's invitation to walk around Holt (letters, February 9).

Well done to both of them. I trust the Minister for City Services has taken the correct message from the visit to Holt. While the utterly ridiculous speed humps on Spofforth St might be unique to Holt, concerns about urban maintenance certainly are not. The area around the Florey Oval could do with more regular attention as could the edge of Lake Ginninderra near the restaurants.

Jim Derrick, Florey

It is over three months since The Canberra Times first reported complaints from Hume businesses about piles of garbage at the Southern State Waste Recycling site yet our town council is only now "considering enforcement action to force the owner of the rubbish stockpile to bring it back under control".

One assumes the centre is part of the clean green credentials of which Mr Barr and Mr Rattenbury are so proud.

Gary J. Wilson, MacGregor

Barnaby bushed

Your page 1 headline, Thursday, March 2, states "Barnaby says go bush". He should follow his own advice; every time he comes to Canberra he gets confused. Must be all those circles to get to work.

Peter Baskett, Murrumbateman, NSW

WIN–WIN SOLUTION

A win-win compromise would be to move the (APVMA) managers to the bush, and leave the people doing the useful work in Canberra ("Barnaby says go bush", March 2, p.1). A further productivity increase could be obtained by doubling managers' pay on condition they don't communicate with workers.

Mike Dallwitz, Giralang

The National Party HQ (John McEwen House) is at 7 National Crt, Barton. When is it moving out of Canberra, and to whose electorate? Surely not into Armidale's McDonald's with the APVMA?

Geof Murray, Ngunnawal

CHILLING FIGURES

Our summer has been just so unusual. We even had the coldest ever February morning at 2.8 degrees. Except for 1925 (2.8), 1931 (0.8), 1932 (2.4), and 1933 (0.6). Of course, we can trust everything else we are told about the weather, even 100 years hence.

Brian Hatch, Parramatta, NSW

DRIVERS DISMAY

Re Jolimont drop-offs (letters, March 1). I find it dismaying drivers can show patience when a pelican crosses a highway but only find angst when a fellow Canberran stops their car for a few seconds on Northbourne for a loved one to hop in or out.

Kit Huang, Yarralumla

SCREEN CHALLENGE

Re Ross Gittin's article ("Hard education lessons", March 1, p.16).

If only the ABC would make it a condition for any appearance on radio or television that politicians cannot mention another party maybe we would get policies instead of politics and ABC ratings might go up too.

Peggy Spratt, Ainslie

PONDER WISDOM

My car broke down at the Erindale Shopping Centre and before I could seek assistance it was broken into. The only item stolen was a copy of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. I do hope the new owner of the book spends time pondering its wisdom.

Jeff Bradley, Isaacs

FREE SPEECH

I am an Australian who is offended by the limitations to free speech entailed in Section 18c. Am I entitled to take action against the Government under Section 18c for inflicting such offence on me?

Robin Eckermann, Campbell

MONEY CHURN

The Australian economy may have rebounded, but economic growth has little bearing on living standards.

It is more about measuring money churn.

Rod Matthews, Melbourne, Vic

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