Now these arrogant fools want to build a tram at a cost of well over $1 billion which in all likelihood will be poorly patronised.

I have said before that a world class convention centre would be a better proposition. It would benefit businesses, cafes, restaurants, tour operators and generally add many millions to the local economy.

For heaven's sake, Canberra, wake up.

The Barr government has set rates and land taxes so high that investment is shifting elsewhere. We need our taxes invested in something that will offer a sound return to the community. But first Canberra must wake up get rid of Labor.

Warren Prince, Weetangera

In 2012, to lock in Shane Rattenbury's vote in the Legislative Assembly, the ACT Labor Party offered him a ministerial position and a promise that a hundred Greens policies would be promoted in the Assembly.

At a cost of over $1 billion and climbing, does the promise to extract monies from the Canberra electorate to fund a catastrophically extravagant 19th century transport system represent the most expensive vote in this, or any other democratically elected chamber?

Lee Welling, Nicholls

As a strong Tuggeranong supporter, I wholeheartedly agree with R. Wright (Letters, September 21). The question of what Mick Gentleman has done for Tuggeranong residents should be asked of the rest of the ACT government.

Only with the election looming has it suddenly focused on new hospitals, the duplication of Tuggeranong roads and the rejuvenation of Tuggeranong Town Centre. It knows the election is slipping away.

Labor has overlooked Tuggeranong roads, the Tuggeranong Town Centre, the Hyperdome, the Erindale Centre and the Kambah Centre which have all deteriorated greatly over their term in office. The focus has been the hyper-expensive light rail which is unlikely to ever reach Tuggeranong. And true to form, it appears to be all about swelling their coffers from revalued land sales along the light rail corridor. A rushed commitment to this extravagant project attests to Labor's arrogance.

The present government has lost the plot, and the support of most Tuggeranong voters.

Michael Lucas, Conder

The Clubs ACT political campaign against allowing clubs to sell poker machine licences to the casino is puzzling – the clubs will get money if they choose sell their licences to invest into other parts of their businesses – but possibly explicable.

If clubs sell their licences then club managers will need to have more than casino pit boss skills to keep their jobs – clearly the current crop running the clubs don't think they are up to it.

Most Canberrans will be happy with a situation where there are fewer poker machines in the territory (the casino has to buy five licences to use four machines) and fewer poker machines in our suburban clubs. I look forward to what the new higher-skilled secretary-managers come up with.

Michael Longley, Braddon

When the Raiders lost their semi-final game to the Sharks, I thought it was sad and that it was all over for them until next season – pity poor Julie, my friend with the customised number plates. How wrong was I? The Raiders' premiership dreams suddenly flamed alive when, spurred on by the "Viking clap", they went on to win their first preliminary final in 19 years ("NRL finals: Jump on the Green Machine bandwagon as the Raiders roll to Melbourne', canberratimes.com.au, September 17). Hooray!

OK, so now that the semis and the preliminaries are out of the way, they're off to the grand final, yes?

Wrong, again! Apparently there is yet another preliminary final to be played.

I'm too scared to stick my neck out and jinx the team by suggesting that a grand final is just one win away. Hang in there chaps!

Michael Crowe, Hawker

Greg Ellis (Letters, September 14) singled out the Canberra Jewish community for criticism, rather bizarrely saying they shouldn't build a Jewish museum and cultural centre until a national memorial to the Frontier Wars was created.

I await Mr Ellis's letter condemning the building of a hotel on the old Italian-Australian club site for the same reason. Otherwise a reader may get the impression Mr Ellis is demonstrating deliberate antagonism and hostility only towards Jewish people, which is the definition of anti-Semitism.

Simon Tatz, Curtin

I can assure Dugald Holmes (Letters, September 19) that I am taking a close interest in the Foy oil refinery proposed for Hume. One of my first environmental campaigns was against the toxic dioxin emissions from the Totalcare incinerator in Mitchell, and the Greens are known for our opposition to the gas-fired power station at the data centre in Hume in 2008.

Since the Foy proposal was brought to my attention, I have been seeking expert advice from a range of stakeholders, including the National Toxics Network.

The Greens are concerned that many of these sorts of proposals seek to dress up dirty processes with a greenwashing tinge of "recycling", whilst continuing to have serious issues with pollutant emissions.

We will continue with our considered analysis of the Foy proposal. I would welcome Mr Holmes contacting me directly if he has further information on the proposal.

Shane Rattenbury, ACT Greens Leader

Pauline Hanson's message resonates with many Australians.

Why are people (especially Muslims and the Left) so surprised that nearly half of all Australians oppose Muslim immigration ("Half want to ban Muslim migrants: survey", September 22, p6)?

Personally, I am surprised that half are still in favour, or undecided. And Pauline Hanson is not the reason for the disquiet – she merely says what 50 per cent of us think. Which is that we see what has happened in Belgium, France, Britain, Germany, the US (not to mention the Philippines, Kenya, Thailand ... ) and say we do not want it happening here.

Even though it is too late to stop home-grown terrorists, as events in Parramatta, the Lindt Cafe etc, have shown, we don't need to compound the problem by increasing the pool of potential perpetrators even further.

And to those who say Pauline Hanson, myself or most people I know are "racist bigots" (yes Bill Shorten, I mean you!), please name the last Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian or Christian terrorist caught operating here in the past 50 years.

The media should stop showing pictures of photogenic, "moderate" Muslims holding up their hands in horror at Australian "racism", and instead show some photos of burqa-clad women and bearded anti-infidel thugs in Lakemba or Canterbury. After all, the press should be balanced and show both sides, shouldn't it?

S. Kennedy, Birtinya, Qld

There are reasons why the much-despised Pauline Hanson gets a better hearing than 20 years ago – her message resonates with many Australians, since we now more generally recognise the right and the duty of governments to control immigration.

And why?

The noticeable reluctance by so many of our Muslim community to join in. Indeed, their spokesmen say that is our job, not theirs. And no, of course they are not all terrorists!

This tendency has never been so markedly displayed by an incoming ethnic group. Of some 250 language groups since the 1950s, none has ever so stubbornly resisted integration as do our Muslims. They are determinedly "locked in." By the way, my career was largely concerned with migrant settlement.

Barrie Smillie, Duffy

Bravo, Dr Anne Aly for calling-out Australia's long history of xenophobia ("This is not the Australia I know: first Muslim woman MP hits back at immigration poll", canberratimes.com.au, September 23).

Like the resurgence of Pauline Hanson and the dog-whistling of George Christensen, the Essential poll reminds us that, sadly, the real problem has always been our own intolerance.

John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

Anyone who's dined at the Griffith Vietnamese Restaurant will be familiar with the extensive display of A4 laminated message cards that are signed by many notable diners including, as could be expected given the proximity to Parliament House, many pollies.

Well, it seems Pauline is a fan of this Vietnamese gem and has enthusiastically penned her own message card. With apparent indifference to the origin of her infamous "Please Explain" response when asked by a reporter if she was xenophobic, she has included that very slogan on her message card. Perhaps we can expect that, in 10 years or so, Pauline will be at peace with our Muslim community as she moves her sights to some other populist target.

Ian Duckworth, Griffith

I really like the sound of the incoming RBA chief Philip Lowe. Here is a person talking vision for Australia, who understands that being in debt is not a bad thing as long as it for the right reasons ("Borrow to build assets: RBA plea", September 23, p10).

Absolutely right, let's get on with it. Let's build the fast train, the Maglev, up the entire Eastern seaboard of Australia. Let's connect our cities and our people. Let's make it so you can live in Canberra and work in Sydney or vice versa. Let's power it with solar energy with a solar array and battery system, infrastructure again. This is a truly capital project, a bit like the Snowy Hydro scheme. Let's do something big again.

Joe Murphy, Bonython

The two-part ABC TV documentary on Robert Menzies will certainly be required viewing for your older readers. John Howard endeavours to be even-handed in his coverage of Menzies' early years, but inexplicably omits three significant matters reflecting adversely on the great man. These are the controversies over Menzies' failure to enlist in World War I, the export of scrap iron to Japan just before the war ("Pig Iron Bob") and the defeatist "Brisbane Line".

It is to be hoped that the second episode will contain more inclusive coverage of Menzies' final 10 years in office.

In particular it will be interesting to see whether Howard omits, or glosses over, Menzies' acceptance in 1966 of a Malvern mansion gifted by unnamed wealthy Melburnians.

I refer to Peter Martin's excellent observations on Newstart ("Why Newstart is bad", Comment, September 22, p16), and fully concur with his and others' observations in relation to the significant financial, physiological and social challenges faced by those required to subsist on a benefit of just $264.35 a week.

As Martin also observes, there is no apparent rationale on which the design of the Newstart system is based, and in fact at such a low rate diminishes people's capacity to obtain work. Perhaps as a starting point we should tie weekly Newstart payments to the minimum charge federal politicians claim of $271 per night for staying away from home!

Jeremy Halcrow, CEO, Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT

So many many people, a majority, agree 100 per cent with Ross Fitzgerald when he writes of the wish of elderly or terminally ill people to choose the time of their death ( "Dying with dignity: It's a no-brainer", Comment, September 22, pp16-17).

People don't want to be kept alive against their wishes. Professor Fitzgerald is to be congratulated for making his views public.

Kirsten Garrett, Redfern, NSW

ENCOURAGING STUDY

The study on the effectiveness of bike helmets in reducing head trauma in accidents ("Bike helmet 'will reduce' brain injury", September 22, p3) was very encouraging. Has a similar study been conducted on the benefits of helmets to car-users and to pedestrians?

J. Wright, Ainslie

NO NEED TO BE NAKED

Buying Chinese-made ADF uniforms is further reason for Australia to maintain cordial relations with China. We wouldn't want our troops going to war naked!

C. J. Johnston, Duffy

ACCEPTING THE TRUTH

Is it possible Pauline Hanson's maiden Senate speech attracted condemnation and vitriol because there is an element of truth in what she said? The truth is often unpalatable and therefore unacceptable to some with opposing views .

Maio Stivala, Spence

AN OBVIOUS SOFT TOUCH

I have a bridge I'd like to sell James Allan (Letters, September 21). Anyone who believes US State department propaganda about Russia is obviously a soft touch.

Greg Ellis, Murrumbateman, NSW

PARTY FORESIGHT

Who'd o'thunk it ("No hint of revolution at Telstra restaurant since early 21013", September 21, p3)? Seems that the Sex Party's proposal to re-purpose it was prescient!

Fred Pilcher, Kaleen

REMEMBER SIMPLE JOYS

Pamela Collett (Letters, September 21) laments that dog owners let their dogs off-leash and "say something quite negative directed towards me" when she reproves them.

Why not just lighten up? Seeing dogs running and having fun reminds one of the simple joys of life.

Christina Faulk, Swinger Hill

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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