Besides that, the politicians involved may not be around long enough to implement them anyway. For instance, is there a report somewhere of the three-week tour made by Giulia Jones and Vicki Dunne in 2014 studying prostitution in Europe? If so, does it state what problem the study was hoping to solve, were our information gaps filled, what improvements to the present sex work environment in the ACT should be made and what is expected to eventuate from them, and what does it tell us that we didn't know already?

Perhaps either Giulia or Vickie might enlighten us some time. Still, as Giulia once told us that poking fun at Hitler was anti-Semitic, I'm not expecting much profundity there.

Bill Deane, Chapman

I read "Armidale's capital territory" (January 1, p10) and thought, "Funny, it doesn't say 'advertising feature"', and was also surprised to confirm that Stephen Jeffery is a Canberra Times employee and not from the Armidale Chamber of Commerce, because this was pure propaganda, not news.

Mark Chapman, Palmerston

Gee, Gerry Murphy: must you be so unkind to our best buddies on the other side of the ditch (Letters, January 1)?

Have we not said more than enough, derisively, about the RNZAF sans fighters, and the porosity of its sea borders due to sparse, under-equipped tramp steamers patrolling the shaky isles? How can you be so dismissive about the Kiwis' legendary contribution three-quarters of a century ago to the Allied victory in WWII?

When it comes down to it, they're almost as good as our boys (and girls). What motivated you to discount what the Kiwi can rise to when the good old Haka is exhibited at inconsequential sporting events? It can't be envy, surely!

Patrick Jones, Griffith

In 44 BC, on steps near the Theatre of Pompey, Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by Longinus and Brutus. Some 2000 years later, perhaps the globe's most significant act of terrorism was facilitated by box-cutters. Primitive "weapons" changed the course of history in both instances.

Trump promises to expand military spending and modernise nuclear weaponry, which, doubtless, would encourage China and Russia to retaliate correspondingly. Meanwhile, amid the kerfuffle over the presidential campaign hacking, reports emerge of operation Grizzly Steppe, which may be related to the former using phished emails to trick a Vermont utility into revealing its passwords ("Russians hack into US grid", January 1, p14).

From knives to keyboards, simple "weapons" have greater potential to influence events much more subtly, and inexpensively, than inordinately costly "shock-and-awe" or multiple-headed nuclear missiles. With cyber warfare already being waged – by nations against nations, and governments against citizens – why is it thought necessary to donate zillions to prop up the anachronistic military industrial complex, merely to continue "developing" arsenals designed to fight wars of a bygone age?

Australia's intent to invest $50billion-plus in submarines, and billions more in Joint Strike Fighters, proves Turnbull's commitment to an agile, innovative, disruptive economy is just lip-service, with arms manufacturers salivating and trembling with excitement, anticipating tax-free dollars flowing to their offshore havens.

Instead, were Turnbull not in thrall to his fascist right coterie, he might be committing to investing in a strong, cohesive, educated, proud, independent Australia.

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan

So Gerry Murphy sails toy ships in his bathtub (Letters, January 1). Says it all really!

Eric Hunter, Cook

Michael McCarthy (Letters, January 6) is absolutely correct. The One Nation and Donald Trump supporters are striving for a future that's unrealistic and unobtainable, and handing power to those who sold them lies. In doing so, they're ultimately delivering a future that nobody wants.

James Allan, Narrabundah

So, police are looking for two men with a handgun who committed a home invasion in Canberra ("Police calling for witnesses of Calwell home invasion", January 6).

Maybe the AMA's Live Registry could help? Except that illegal guns aren't registered and the users aren't licensed. Or maybe we could just ban guns? Except that criminals are still importing and manufacturing them, or acquiring guns imported before the 1996 buyback, and therefore will still have guns and the capacity to use them.

As for the police stating that because this was a targeted attack the public have nothing to fear, I am a little confused. How are two proven violent criminals with a firearm no threat to the wider community? And just because this was a targeted attack, what is to stop them changing target next time? Or getting the wrong address?

Apparently new restrictions and regulations on law-abiding firearm owners is of vital importance for community safety. This is a classic example of anti-gun rhetoric creating a political environment where we cannot even acknowledge the true threats our community faces because it does not suit an agenda. At what point are we going to acknowledge that gun control does not equate to crime control?

Shane Bennett, Rivett, Firearm Owners United

Michael McCarthy is spot on with his succinct definitions of "conservative" and "reactionary" (Letters, January 6).

But, Michael might have also included "liberal" in his discussion. This word is so varied in its current usage as to be almost meaningless. It ranges from the US style of, "I want to do and say what I like" (also held by some Australians), to the "Liberal" Party which, in reality, is an unproductive mix of both conservatism and reactionism, although there's very little remaining today of Michael's "best" style of conservatism (which was what Menzies envisaged when he founded the party).

Then there's the equally meaningless "left" and "right', often used to signify, confusingly, elements of both the Liberal and Labor parties. As John Hewson also observes in more detail ("Wolves among sheep", January 6, p20), it's no wonder some people are bewildered and are turning to reactionary groups like One Nation whose simplistic aim is to turn back the clock.

While this is just not possible, it's depressing but not surprising that the Hansonite approach seems to be more appealing than the major parties who are unable, or perhaps too scared, to decide what they really stand for and who they represent.

Eric Hunter, Cook

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