Nevertheless, minimum force may, in extremis, involve the taking of life by police.

In this, and any other case, the actions of police are subjected, as they should be, to close and independent scrutiny by the judicial system and, ultimately, wider society.

If we decide, God forbid, our police ought to have a more military edge, then the "rules of engagement" — and what our society once expected of a minimum-force body — will have to be very carefully reconsidered, as the lingering consequences, post the domestic terrorism era, could be far-reaching.

We must be very wary of any change that transforms our civilian police from being, first and foremost, trained to believe anything other than police and citizenry are indivisible, and that police perform their duties in our name and with our consent.

A. Whiddett, Yarralumla

The Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy (CAPaD) is encouraged by the Chief Minister's recent openness to listening to the electorate's voice between elections and his commitment to trialling new ways for ACT citizens to have a say in government decisions ("Comment"listening to everyone, not just the loud voices", May 20).

"We will consult and hear all Canberrans, not just the noisy," he said.

CAPaD supports any move to wise decision processes that value everyone's participation to achieve the common good.

We encourage him to consider a broad portfolio of citizens' engagement processes that build a new culture of ongoing partnership between elected members, citizens and public servants.

We invite him to work with CAPaD and other groups to explore and test out what will work well for Canberra. At a CAPaD meeting in April we heard from 50 leaders of ACT community councils, residents groups and members of the public that there is considerable disenchantment in the community at the current process of citizen engagement and consultation.

As a community group concerned with promoting real participation by the people in government processes, we look forward to an exciting phase of exploration and co-creation about what might work best here in Canberra as the government embarks on these new activities.

There is no doubt that the trust and responsibilities in the relationship between parliamentary representatives and the general community can be greatly improved.

Peter Tait and Beth Slatyer, O'Connor

Many Aborigines do need help and this is normally provided by numerous organisations. However, there are many more whites that need assistance, but there are no sole "white only" offers of help.

Imagine what the backlash would be if there was an "only white" team in any sport or an "only white" employment agency.

The Aboriginal industry feels they are discriminated against at every turn and are only too quick to put forward their arguments of the stolen generation etc and how they have suffered at the hands of non-indigenous people.

Under a lot of pressure, then PM Rudd stated that the Australian government of that time was "sorry" for the past actions.

It may have been a long time in coming but should have been enough. Most of the present white population had nothing to do with the bad treatment of blacks at that time and should not have to keep bearing the crosses of mistakes made by their forebears.

The Aboriginals want equality and fairness in all their dealings with the Australian population. That means we are all on an equal footing and there is no favouritism in law or any other respect.

I hope the Indigenous conference presently being held at Ayers Rock comes to some sensible agreement on how they want to face their future in a fair and reasonable manner to all.

Trevor Willis, Hughes

The Senate estimates comedy show just gets better and better ("Taiwan ruins our dumbest argument against marriage equality", canberratimes.com.au, May 26).

Taxpayer-funded advocate for the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, the Association of Christian Parent Controlled Schools, Salt Shakers, Focus on the Family, Lyons Forum, Endeavour Forum, Family Council of Victoria, Fatherhood Foundation, Australian Christian Lobby, Australian Family Association and Right to Life Australia, Senator for Tasmania and the very model of a modern member of the Liberal Party, Eric Abetz, took umbrage with SBS television boss Michael Ebeid for allegedly using his taxpayer funded position to engage in advocacy.

Abetz is an undisputed master of parody.

John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

Your point, Rita Joseph of Hackett, ("The child can't choose", Letters, May 20) has already been answered – see "None better to decide than the mother", Gayle Davies, North Sydney, SMH Letters, May 18.

As things stand in Australian law, a fetus is not a person until born alive.

If a husband kills his heavily pregnant wife, and the fetus dies unborn, he is charged with one count of murder (or manslaughter) not two.

Kenneth Griffiths, O'Connor

While doing my weekly shop at Belconnen, I witnessed a man order a large soup.

When he questioned the amount of soup, he was told that it is corporate policy to only half fill the bowl.

This seems like another example of big business dictating terms to the little person. The brave man took a stand against corporate greed and gracefully walked away. Bravo!

When you order a coffee from a cafe you expect the coffee will be filled to the top of the cup.

Why should soup be any different?

Dolores Whitehead, Dunlop

In the aftermath of the atrocity in Manchester, it is emerging that UK anti-terrorism authorities had been informed of the danger posed by Abedi, the perpetrator, on at least five separate occasions in the five years prior to the attack.

What happened to those warnings is for the UK government to assess and review.

I'd like instead to draw some attention to this detail: it is reported that the warnings were primarily raised by the local Muslim community.

This reinforces a point made before to counter the rampant and blind Islamophobia promoted in some quarters: when you do alienate a community (for political and personal gain, in fact) campaigning on stereotypes, decontextualised and fake news, and bigotry, one of the actual outcomes is to lose all intelligence sources from within.

A self-harming strategy to make those "lone wolves" truly undetectable, and one that only the most irresponsible would promote.

Luca Biason, Latham

Whether it's Islamic militants bombing rock concerts, Jewish settlers claiming their "god-given" lands, the enforcement of blasphemy laws in Indonesia (or worse, Saudi Arabia), or the sectarian violence in any of the numerous places around the world where cultures collide (or even just minor doctrinal variations exist), any notion that religious belief is benign is just as ridiculous today as it would have been during the Crusades.

Peace, harmony and prosperity can only be achieved through compromise, tolerance and understanding, but as long as people are convinced that there exists a higher, unquestionable authority with a documented history of divine violence, murder and genocide, the continuation of the long tradition of human suffering because of religion seems inevitable.

James Allan, Narrabundah

The article by Greg Colton ("Sleepwalking in Iraq", May 26, p20) is a reminder of the futility of war.

Why then, are we allocating so many more human and financial resources to military defence and national security than to diplomacy, people-to-people contacts, trade and aid?

When will we give priority to addressing the root causes ofwar before conflict leads towar?

The time is ripe for a public debate on what more Australia can contribute to global peacemaking and preventive action, rather than waiting for the next call to arms.

David Purnell, Florey

Now that scientists have developed a glove that allows the wearer to operate the touch screen ("Keep warm, keep swiping, keep texting", The Guide, May 22, p5), perhaps they can invent a device that can generate electricity from an infinitely renewable source: human activity.

A starting point could be with television reporters (particularly with a finance reporter on commercial television whose hands are in constant motion), who are used to having wires on their bodies, then concentrate on shop assistants who walk several kilometres during a shift.

Ken McPhan, Spence

Adam Gartrell's statement "the big four banks have all ruled out funding for the (Adani Carmichael) mine" ("Just 7 per cent of voters want the government to invest in Adani mine: poll", canberratimes.com.au, May22) is misleading.

Adani is a Commonwealth Bank customer, the bank facilitated Adani's recent purchase of an unrestricted water licence for its proposed Carmichael coal mine and, unlike the other three big banks, Comm Bank has not ruled out funding mines in new coal basins.

Patricia Saunders, Chapman

The Manchester bomber's beliefs would, of course, be rejected by the overwhelming majority of Muslims and he would not be seen as representing their views or belonging to their communities.

Nevertheless, there is no doubt that all Muslims will be made to feel culpable about this stranger's deranged and horrific actions. The bomber was also (apparently) a Manchester United fan.

Should we expect a shameful, public apology from Jose Mourinho and the club?

Richard Manderson, Narrabundah

It would be churlish not to appreciate the generous philanthropy of Andrew Forrest. He was surrounded by politicians who have all contributed to the likelihood the $400 million personal donation is probably a lot more than the federal government received in royalties, let alone taxes, from the companies involved.

Early impressions are that not a lot, maybe nothing, appears to be devoted to anything associated with the "environment".

Chris Fowler, Bywong, NSW

So, Terry Snow, the owner of Canberra Airport, is now Canberra's wealthiest man and our only billionaire ("Meet the Snow man, airport owner now worth $1 billion", May 26, p2). How unfortunate it is that our wealthiest man still accepts money from war profiteers and their promotions at our airport.

Any economic necessity to accept advertising from whoever will pay is looking more and more tenuous.

Is it really beyond Canberra Airport's capacity to replace weapons advertising with promotion of our beautiful city?

The Snow Foundation's philanthropy of $18.4 million over 25 years is commendable. The promotion of those who profit from the utter destruction and cruelty of warfare is not.

Sue Wareham, Cook

BULL AT LARGE

There is nothing wrong with being self-confident and looking after the welfare of his country, but when it crosses the border into arrogance then things change. And Donald Trump has crossed that border as he creates an environment similar to a bull in a china shop as he barnstorms through Europe.

D. J. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld

CREDIT TO HOLT

Thank you, Stephen Holt, for a masterful history lesson ("The other, forgotten 1967 referendum that delivered a resounding rebuttal to the Parliament", May 24, pp16-17).

John Rodriguez, Florey

SLEEPERS, AWAKE

Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying: "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them and do nothing." It is time world governments woke up and took a united stand against terrorists instead of placating them. Especially our Australian government.

N. Timms, Bungundarra, Qld

CARD TRICK

I am surprised that designers of credit cards and membership cards do not put the card's name along the top centimetre of their card, as this is what is visible in most card wallets. It would make finding the card you want so much easier. Some do, but most don't.

Brock Bryce, Canberra

RARE BEING

The antics on May 25 of the Father of the Senate, that North Queensland wonder senator Ian Macdonald, recall the Paris police chief's remark about Inspector Clouseau: "He's an extraordinary man."

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove

FORGIVE GREEKS

The Greek people are suffering from austerity measures, and Greece has a huge debt that it will never be able to repay. Greece's debt should now be forgiven.

Rod Matthews, Melbourne, Vic

TURN OFF, DUTTON

Peter Dutton doesn't like the ABC's Q&A program. Well, my advice to him is this: don't watch it. No one is forcing him to watch. There may be other things on TV that suit his tastes.

Patrick O'Connor, Spence

HANSON SUNSET?

I hope One Nation's stint in the Parliament is cut short by the latest scandals. There is no way we can cope with Pauline Hanson for six years.

Mokhles k Sidden, Strathfield, NSW

GETTING WASTED

Why does this government waste so much on "saving money"?

M. Moore, Bonython

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.

Keep your letter to 250 words or less. References to Canberra Times reports should include date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published).