As well, there are her concerns about the phenomenon of ever-increasing tightening of rules meant to keep terrorists in check, and her implication that relevant authorities are remiss in adequately reconciling anti-terrorist concepts with human rights safeguards ("Canberrans could face 28 days with no charges", October 23, p.3).

My difficulty with Dr Watchirs' overall appreciation of how best to manage broad community expectations lies, however, in her avoidance of stating what optimum safeguards might be.

The ACT Human Rights Commission is, of course, against "cough and squat" strip searching at Bimberi but needs to acknowledge that its implementation counteracted what had been the norm in achieving contraband importation.

The policy clearly works.

And it's all very well to express concerns about the use of force, but Canberrans need realistic explanations about what has driven staff to employ this method in maintaining reasonable discipline in a place where inmates, before incarceration, overwhelmingly had been or are the victims of thoroughgoing dysfunctional upbringing.

All in all, Dr Watchirs' position on the operation of human rights legislation, the common law andanti-terrorist measures focus on the rights of those who intend to deny, or have denied, victims their rights in all their dimensions.

I find myself attaching weight to those whose thinking is governed by bitter experience, rather than by book-learning.

Patrick Jones, Griffith

Officials from the Snowy Mountain Ltd told a Senate inquiry that they could add 2000MW of energy to the grid with Snowy Hydro 2.0 (CT 25 Oct). As this is a pumped storage scheme, it will need another source of electricity to pump the water up the hill. As we are in a period of declining electricity supply, it is essential that the proponents of the scheme identify the primary source of the additional electricity to meet this requirement.

Alan Parker, Gordon

On Wednesday, October 16, Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt gave presentation of the government's plans for care of the aged.

Those plans envisaged a population of increasing longevity continuing in the workforce and respected for their wisdom and expertise.

For a moment he donned his cap as the Minister for Indigenous Health to point out thatthe Aborigines so regard their elders.

The minister spoke of the population not experiencing significant disability until the age of 80 or later.

He said men currently enter aged care facilities at the average age of 82 and women at 84, and that the the government funds three-quarters of these.

There would be many aged in their sixties and seventies who would be dismayed by this vision.

They would consider the planned increase in age entitlement to the pension to 70 as a cruel manoeuvre to avoid a debt and the thin end of the wedge.

While many do not suffer extreme debility warranting palliative care at this age, their capacity to hold down a full-time job is sorely diminished.

They must fear for their younger associates stuck in subservient paralysis.

The historically demonstrated greed of the younger generations has become institutionalised.

Gary J.Wilson, Macgregor

Who is Mr Alex White of UnionsACT trying to kid in crying a flood of crocodile tears about the ACT government allowing $25million in tax breaks to developers ("Unions decry $25mlost to developers' tax breaks", canberratimes.com.au, October 24).

And what gall to accuse the developers of "excessive greed" and of "political power the industry has", no less, given the MOU between the government and UnionsACT, signed by Messrs Barr and White, that gives UnionsACT (and the CMFEU) virtual veto power overany contract let by the ACT government.

What developer could move without the CMFEU being involved and calling the shots? Ms Cirson of the ACT Property Council is so right to call Mr White out in saying "that's why UnionsACT's position is non-sensical". Or could this mean a falling-out between Mr Barr and the unions?

I don't think so.

M.Silex, Erindale

So Michaela Cash's senior media adviser supposedly tipped off the media about the "Shorten raid" after receiving the information from a "media source".

Does this mean he tipped off the media to information communicated to him by the media itself? Could the term "media source" encompass a press officer from another Commonwealth agency?

The minister still has some explaining to do.

H.Simon, Watson

I know it is futile to regret what cannot be undone but since the blame game for the NBN debacle continues, let's put it where it belongs: in John Howard's lap.

If he had not insisted on selling all of Telstra instead of just its retail arm, Telstra would by now have replaced all its copper with fibre to the curb, just for the sake of operation and maintenance efficiency.

By now retailers all over the nation would be selling fast broadband services, via a public communications network just like transport providers use the public the roads network.

John F.Simmons, Kambah

Following the savage mauling and death of our beloved pet Buzz on January 31 this year after which the offending dogs, two Arab Bulls and one Pitt Bull were returned to their owners with minimal restrictions, I had attended the ACT Legislative Assembly meeting at the request of Steve Dozpot in support of his proposed changes/tightening of ACT's Domestic Animals Act.

Minister Meegan Fitzharris and the Labor party dismissed the proposed changes.

In spite of my personal request to Ms Fitzharris to have the offending dogs that slaughtered our pet at least declared dangerous, and the following hour-long meeting with the then Registrar, Fleur Flannery, all that we received were more excuses and excuses as to why no change would be made.

I expressed my concern and disappointment to Ms Fitzharris in follow-up emails, warning her that eventually the inevitable would happen and perhaps then she would stand up and be counted.

Well it has happened and our condolences and sympathy goes to the family of the lady killed in Tuesday night's attack by what was reported to be a Pitt Bull.

I am sorry that we and others in the "action group" have been unable to enact changes to the legislation that may have prevented this tragic event.

The time has come for change and I urge all Canberran's to line up front and centre at 10am next Wednesday morning, November 1, as a show of solidarity when the ACT Liberal Party will be tabling their recommended changes to ACT's Domestic Animals Act.

Peter Toscan, Amaroo

Following the tragic death of a dog owner in Watson, City Services Minister, Meegan Fitzharris says "If dog owners cannot take responsibility for their own dogs the ACT government will."

So why didn't the government take responsibility for the dogs illegally housed in one of its own apartments in 2010 which led to a young boy being critically injured?

This same government then denied any responsibility and refused to pay even token compensation to cover the massive medical bills thus incurred, despite being aware that the owner could not look after the dogs adequately, and it was also against the terms of her tenancy.

Frances Cornish, Spence

We see so much print, and hear so many voices, complaining about how the beauty of Northbourne Avenue has gone with the destruction of the trees.

This is a building site. I have never seen a building site that looked beautiful at the time. It is light rail being built. If this had been started 30 years ago, we would have rail to all town centres and to the airport!!! There would be beautiful trees growing again along Northbourne Avenue. So, People, Just get over it.

Auriel Barlow, Dickson

First it was the energy policy which failed to keep the lights on at affordable prices. Now it is the NBN failing to deliver and the Murray Darling headwaters not flowing as expected. This country might be better governed by non partisan citizen committees which listened to the experts of the day and didn't waste time doing things like soliciting for the next election around 10-year-old GetUp! ads against, for example, $22million dollars worth of ads from the Mineral Council against carbon pricing.

Athene Anderson, Fisher

I strongly endorse the proposal by Vee Saunders, Weetangera (Letters, October 25) that designated parking areas be introduced for large vehicles.

I, too, have noted the proliferation of SUVs and other oversize vehicles (due at least in part, I assume, to the obesity epidemic) and am similarly concerned by the hazard these enormous monstrosities create by blocking off the view of drivers of smaller cars.

An alternative could be to have designated parking areas for smaller vehicles only.

Anne Laisk, Weston

Obviously Kim Carr was joking even to mention Kosciuszko National Park as a dumping place for the excavated rocks from the Snowy Hydro upgrade.

Why not ship those rocks to one of the vulnerable populated coastlines, or atolls, thereby securing the livelihood of the inhabitants from being inundated? If this was possible, I assume the rocks and rubble would have to be loaded one way or another onto trucks and transported towards an intermediate destination. From there a ship could freight the rocks to its chosen destination. This way at least there would be benefits on the receiving end. Is this an utopian idea, or a possibility?

Erwin Feeken, Bywong

I received an unaddressed junk-mail letter from ACTEWAGL's CEO informing me that to "reduce confusion" they are changing the name of the network half of their business to Evoenergy.

However the first two Google search results for "Evoenergy" are for a UK solar-panel installation company of the very same name.

And in an era of ever-skyrocketing electricity and gas prices who will pay for all the shiny new "uniforms, vehicles and signage, plus a new website" that ACTEWAGL smugly informs me will now have to be changed?

I bet it's not the bright spark who came up with the idea.

Give Evo the heave ho!

Brendan Whyte, Phillip

As an avid analyst (and frequent debunker) of statistics it may seem strange I welcome ABS cutbacks.

That is because so much of current programs are simply a waste of space: for example, the annoying passenger embarkation forms have been abolished and no one has noticed any difference in useable data. Who needs to know where I went or the purpose of my trip?

I can remember when arrival cards asked for marital status. Why? Even ABS's internal papers admit this serves no purpose even in the census as it no longer represents "breeding population" with large numbers of children born outside "an officially registered union".

Why is it one of only three items processed for overseas residents?

John Coochey, Chisholm

SISTER JANE'S STRENGTH

Thank you Sister Jane Keogh. You flesh out hope, strength, integrity and compassion which are so badly lacking with our present Government and Opposition. We can't build a better Australia with brute force and a fortress mentality.

Thorwald Lorenzen, Googong, NSW

WHICH WHAT WITCH

What a government. They cannot even organise a witch hunt properly.

John Passant, Kambah

ZERO RESULT EACH TIME

I am not a mathematician but following the letters of Ronald Elliot (Letters, October 23), and Ian Douglas (October 26) I decided to try out the maths question "one divided by zero" they have been debating, on my calculator. The answer came back — written out — "cannot divide by zero". I don't know what all the fuss is about.

Geoff Barker, Flynn

SACKED STAFFER SECRET

So Michaelia Cash's staffer knew of the AFP raid on the AWU and told the media but failed to tell the minister. No wonder they got the sack!

M. Pascoe, Woden

DENIAL HISTORY A PLUS

Michaelia Cash has history on her side. Peter only denied three times and went on to fame as the first Pope. Michaelia has denied on more occasions in relation to the invasion on the AWU. Good luck Michaelia with further promotion.

Jeff Bradley, Isaacs

EXCITEMENT TO DANGER

It seems like only yesterday that the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said there had never been a more exciting time to be an Australian. On Wednesday, in Question Time, I'm sure I heard him say we are in dangerous times. Danger and excitement might be all very well, however, plain old good governance would be even better.

Annie Lang, Kambah

GIANT OF NEW ORLEANS

RIP Fats Domino. Ain't that a shame. The man who found his thrill on Blueberry Hill and took it to the world, along with New Orleans fine cooking.

Peter Crossing, Glengowrie, S.A

CLOSER TO KAOS

As the famous Maxwell Smart, agent 86 of Control would put it: "It's the old overzealous staffer tips off the media but doesn't utter one word to the minister trick."

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld

SLIPPER STILL MISSING

In light of the AWU raid, I wonder whether our 'apolitical and independent' (Senator Cash) AFP have yet received the AG's diary/notebook to finalise its Peter Slipper probe?

P. R. Temple, Macquarie

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