Following a claimed "failure of the ACT building and construction regulations and/or codes to protect purchasers of buildings in the ACT", the Minister for Planning, Andrew Barr, asked ACTPLA to investigate legislative reforms to assist in dealing with construction-related problems.

In July 2010 he established a Building Quality Forum to discuss "the range and extent of problems related to building standards and certification in the ACT".

The forum's report, published in September, demonstrated just what was wrong with ACTPLA and the regulation of the building industry — lack of professional leadership and responsibility.

It ignored the minister's own objective to "review the current building certification arrangements", and ignored the recommendations put to it.

In 2011, Simon Corbell, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, invited the public to relate their experiences through a Building Quality Survey and allocated some $6.5 million to improve building quality and regulation. It was a failure.

Nothing was heard of the $6.5 million.

Nothing of any substance changed until 2015 when Mick Gentleman, Minister for Planning, wanted the community to have its say about "the serious building defects that have plagued the industry, led to financial loss, and heartache for Canberrans".

Nothing has been heard of this either.

Now, with no satisfactory action taken in the past nine years, the ACT government is to do it all over again. This is an absolute disgrace.

Murray Upton, Belconnen

The CT article "Land blocks up for grabs in ballot" (March 10, p2) would have dashed any hopes that low-income families had of getting a first home. The one solid truth is that without affordable land there cannot be affordable housing. The proposed prices for blocks are not affordable by any stretch of imagination for low-income families.

The ACT had, under a federal government, cheap land from its inception. Under self government, and mainly under the control of a so-called Labor government, cheap land has disappeared, as has the dream of their own home for many low-income families.

Under the present government apartments are increasingly the only last resort for first home buyers.

The social and financial cost of bringing up a family in an apartment far exceeds the financial benefits of land utilisation. Older members of our community can well remember Melba Flats. From when they were built they rapidly deteriorated until they thankfully were demolished.

If our ACT Labor government faced the truth it would change its name to the Land Sales and Developers Co-Prosperity Party.

Howard Carew, Isaacs

I am greatly encouraged by Mark Francis, Griffith, who lauds the improved manners of Canberra motorists (Letters, March 10). I wish I could share his enthusiasm.

Not a driving day ends without my astonishment of dangerous speed exploits on roads like Tuggeranong Parkway and Hindmarsh Drive.

I wonder, too, why some drivers think they are exempt from observing speed limits on construction roads like the Cotter Road duplication. There is a simple way of avoiding speeding fines – observe the advertised speed limits.

Motorists have only themselves to blame for the $6.5 million paid for speeding fines in the past year.

Perhaps Mark would do better to walk to the shops as he suggests – as a frequent visitor to this area, I can recommend it highly!

Miles Farwell, Stirling.

The situation that convinced me that mobile speed cameras have more to do with revenue-raising than road safety occurred in Dickson.

On a Saturday morning I drove past the soccer fields on Antill Street.

With cars parked everywhere and pedestrians walking around, safety required travelling at less than the speed limit.

At the roundabout I then turned left on to a quiet, dual-lane Phillip Avenue which had no parked cars, no pedestrians, excellent visibility and, you guessed it, a mobile speed camera.

If the focus really was on road safety then that mobile speed camera would have been on Antill Street where anyone exceeding the limit would certainly have posed a serious danger.

Jim Derrick, Florey

Paul E. Bowler's assertion (Letters, March 11) "We only have the tram because Shane Rattenbury saw one in Portland, Oregon", is incorrect. Light rail for Canberra had its origin in the ACT Greens' response to the Conservation Council of the South-East Region and Canberra's 1997 paper "Canberra at the Crossroads: a way out of the transport mess". The paper is available at the ACT Heritage Library.

Patricia Saunders, Chapman

Here we go again. Each year at the season's start, the Raiders' faithful eagerly hope that things have changed and each time they are disappointed. Each year they watch their team play like champions in the first half and like shot ducks in the second. Each year they watch their team get beaten in the last five minutes of a game they should have won.

Each year they listen to the coach make the usual lame excuses. Each year they watch players who have failed to deliver in the past remain in the team. Each year they see players released to other clubs and become champions. Each year they see the team administrators do nothing about it. Each year they get more frustrated.

Noel McNamara, Burpengary East, Qld

It would seem that the Raiders of old are back! What an opening game disaster, going down 28-30 after leading 24-12 at half-time. The Raiders have not remembered that the game is played in two halves, and that the game is never won at half time. No team that only scores four points in the second half while allowing their opposition to score 18 points can be considered a contender.

Don Sephton, Greenway

To the dark forces of human greed and ignorance that threaten humanity's survival I would add superstition and populism, and they must be overcome by the proliferation of learning, scientific knowledge and intellectual honesty if we wish to remain on this planet beyond the next few centuries.

James Allan, Narrabundah

The Chief Minister's attitude to journalists and The Canberra Times (Canberra Times, March 12, p1) is alarming and repellent.

How many within the Labor ranks of the ACT Legislative Assembly will oppose or caution Andrew Barr for what he says about The Canberra Times and journalists?

Barr's attitude to those of mature years (older than 34?) is poisonous and abhorrent. The older cohort have experience to draw on, often providing corporate knowledge, and performing hours of volunteer work. Look at Diane Kargas Bray's contribution to community advocacy and philanthropy at the age of 70.

Volunteers, many in their 60s and older, help weed our nature parks which would otherwise be overrun with exotic species. Many grandparents provide invaluable care and help young families hold together.

Older people have time to think, reflect and critique what they hear and read.

The Canberra Times and its journalists are doing what they should in raising serious questions about land development in Canberra, the loss of green spaces and over-development especially along Northbourne Avenue and the lake shores.

Judy Kelly, Aranda

The report "Barr's hatred drives policy" (March 12, p 1), in which it is stated that Chief Minister Andrew Barr "is 'over' the mainstream media", has plans to "bypass" them, and "hates journalists" strongly reminded me of Donald Trump.

Trump shows many of the characteristics of megalomania and an almost paranoid distrust and hatred of the mainstream or traditional media, especially the press. He uses Twitter, entirely or almost so, because he has total control of the message it carries.

Mr Barr also shows shows signs of megalomania when he uses phrases such as "my government, my administration" rather than "our government, our administration". He seems to also be hypersensitive to criticism and disagreement when it comes from the mainstream or traditional media.

Mr Barr is not an absolute dictator, much as he might wish to be.

Mr Barr claims that the average age of viewers of ABC TV's 7pm news is in the mid-60s. I don't know where he got this "information" from, but I doubt that it was from the ABC. He also claims the circulation of The Canberra Times hard copy is "less than 15,000." Monday's Times Editorial states it now has more readers than ever before and that "three-quarters of Canberrans" over 14 years old read the paper in print or online. Mr Barr could at least make sure that his information is correct.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

The Chief Minister must have been watching too much footage of young North Koreans enthusiastically clapping Kim Jong-un for hours on end. Clapping as if their lives depended on it, which is exactly the way it works in North Korea.

Andrew Barr expects young Canberrans to give him that Dear Leader treatment; ceaseless, unquestioning applause. And like the Dear Leader, he hates anyone who might harbour cynical, anti-regime thoughts, i.e. older Canberrans, journalists, whinging ratepayers (Barr's hatred drives policy, CT, March 12, p1).

When the tram starts running Dear Leader Barr will expect Canberrans always to look forward and never backwards. Perhaps he would like to reset Canberra's calendar so that 2018 becomes Year Zero and 2019 becomes Grand Vision Year 1.

I'm sure he'd love to be able to erase and rewrite the history of the tram.

Bruce Taggart, Aranda

Advertising for the ACT election showed that ACT Labor costed the development of a light rail route at $614 million, and another $30 million for concept and design.

But the Auditor-General indicated the ACT budget will need to accommodate the expected cost of the Capital Metro Light Project of approximately $939 million (present value, January 2016) or $1.78 billion, just for Stage 1 alone. Big discrepancy.

Now, ACT Labor is the party of fairness in Canberra, with a proud record of fighting for equality and of countering discrimination and disadvantage, so says its website. Tell that to the 2000 public housing tenants waiting for a place to call home, or the 2000 homeless without shelter in this most well-off of jurisdictions.

I am so glad we have a democratically elected government that has a proud record of fighting for equality and of countering discrimination and disadvantage.

R. Morison, Theodore

So the illustrious Chief Minister, Mr Barr, says he hates all journalists and The Canberra Times in particular. Given that primary causes of hatred are frustration at not getting one's own way and when one's blunders, faults and foibles are exposed for all to see, The Canberra Times must be doing a good job.

Does Mr Barr also intend to cut off the ABC or are its journos friendly?

The older generation are too experienced and too wise to be conned by Mr Barr and his cohorts.

M. Silex, Erindale

I read with delight your response (Editorial, March 12, p16) to the declaration (by inference) of the ACT Chief Minister the mainstream journalists of Canberra are lower than a well digger's shoelace.

It was these journalists who helped to propel the Labor Party to successive election wins in the ACT by the unbiased reporting of these institutions.

Andrew Barr may not want to talk to the press any more, however, there are many of the current MLAs and prospective candidates that would be only too happy to communicate with these journalists in order to lift their profile and chances of re-election or election as the case maybe.

One would hope there is sufficient whistle blower legislation in place to cover all the leaks that this repressive path will lead to.

This is a Trump-style reaction to the press, Andrew Barr is not even close to the same league and never will be.

Warwick Priestley, Amaroo

GRUMPY OLD MAN

It's not surprising to see Andrew Barr have a tanty over the accurate portrayal of his government in the mainstream media ("Barr's hatred drives policy", March 12, p1). That's what grumpy old men over 40 do when they don't get their way. And it's only going to get worse as, believe it or not, ancient Andy turns 45 next month.

C'mon old man, it's time to retire and hand over the reins to a more representative under-34-year-old.

Simon Cobcroft, Lyneham

BAH, HUMBUG

Perhaps it is time for another political slogan. May I suggest "Bah, Humbug, Barr!" It sounds more plausible than "Jobs and Growth". And a reminder to his young supporters; you yourselves may be old one day. Enjoy!

Ted Tregillgas, Flynn

ON THE SLIPPERY SLIDE

Would someone who uses non-print or social media please remind Andrew Barr that in only 15 years he is scheduled to join the age group he so obviously despises. He might also be reminded that he's now "middle-aged", and ripe for replacement by a younger, more vibrant and energetic person.

D. C. Mildern, Lyons

DICTATORS SURROUND US

So Andrew Barr wishes to silence and close The Canberra Times. China's President Xi is in power for life. Dictators small and large surround us .

Paul O'Connor, Hawker

SUPREME LEADER

So Mr Barr says that He (sic) "hates journalists and is over dealing with mainstream media as a form of communication with the people of Canberra". Pesky (older) citizens need not comment either. Wow! I had to check the date. Where do I go to worship?

John Mungoven, Stirling

OUT OF TOUCH

So Chief Minister Barr plans to abandon mainstream media? I must get my granddaughter to show me how to use Facebook before the next ACT election. (It does have a "Like-Dislike" button doesn't it?)

Geof Murray, Ngunnawal

XI THE ROLE MODEL

I bet Barr wishes that instead of being limited to putting out his own propaganda, free of pesky journalists, he could model himself more closely on China's President Xi.

Maria Greene, Curtin

PRAGMATIC STANCE

I recall an article in The Canberra Times which included unattributed comments from a prison guard which answer M. Moore's question: "Shouldn't a prison keep the bad people in and the illicit substances out?" (Letters, March 12) The answer, from the warder's point of view, was: "Anything which keeps these mad b-----s happy is a plus."

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

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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