Covering up a cock-up?

From a lay perspective, it looked to me like the original investigation and subsequent trial fall into the cock-up category. A surprising confirmation of this perception came from two non-related people following the news of Eastman's release from prison last year.

One mentioned a policeman involved in the investigation who had committed suicide allegedly over the way it was run. The other person, a stranger met casually in the shopping aisle at a regional Woolworths, spoke of another policeman who never worked again over his alleged distress on how the murder was investigated.

And now I read about efforts to retry Eastman that include a secret witness whose testimony could be exculpatory to Eastman but whose testimony will be in part withheld from Eastman's legal team and whose identity will be shielded from the jury and the public. Smells like a conspiracy to cover up a previous cock-up.

Ann Darbyshire, Gunning, NSW

Jim Derrick (Letters, April 17) objects to the proposed Draft Variation 343 changes to the Territory Plan, likening it to a wealthy individual proposing a variation to line their own pockets.

I have always been of the opinion that the government's offer to Fluffy home owners was extremely generous and at considerable cost to our community and have been surprised at times to learn some homeowners do not agree.

This is not about a wealthy individual endeavouring to profit on some land sales. This is about the government endeavouring to lessen the financial load they are passing on to our community for many years to come. If there is anyone who believes the government will make a healthy profit on this deal, there is no way this will ever happen.

I don't always agree with our government, particularly with what they are proposing with the light rail.

I believe our government is making a very generous offer to the unfortunate Fluffy homeowners, very generous indeed, whereas with the light rail proposal, they are simply thumbing their noses to the vast majority of our community on whom they are imposing an unbelievable bad debt.

Rod Frazer, Garran

Damien Haas ("Capital's Liberals cannot ignore light rail mandate", Times2, April 17, p5) declares "the age of the car dominating Canberra is over." Most of us can't see it, particularly with innovations in the offing like driver-less vehicles, aluminium batteries and hydrogen cells, but Haas, the chairman of ACT Light Rail, apparently knows better. Despite his protestations, the 2016 ACT election is shaping up as a strange hybrid: a referendum on light rail and a vote for the Assembly.

The question of mandate becomes more interesting as the big day approaches. Dressing Labor's light rail commitment to Shane Rattenbury as a mandate looks increasingly desperate; and, more importantly, if the Liberals are swept to power over the folly of light rail, can they claim a mandate for their other policies?

Peter Robinson, Ainslie

Damien Haas ("Capital's Liberals cannot ignore light rail mandate", Times2, April 17, p5) says: "as much as people like cars ... the age of the car dominating Canberra is over".

There is a something not quite right here. There have been massive improvements in cars in recent years, making them safer and more fuel-efficient.

Renewable fuel and all-electric cars are becoming more common, but the driverless car is the really big breakthrough from fantasy to reality, being tested in several places right now (Elizabeth Farrelly, "It's a new world on the road", Times2, April 16, p4).

Ignore the illustration, but read the first paragraph and be inspired, as I was.

Noel Haberecht, Ainslie

Rex Simmons (Letters, April 18) makes a solid point: uber-expensive public infrastructure decisions need to be negotiated to bipartisanship before commitments are made.

This has to be the most common-sense proposition that has ever been somehow skipped over.

Both Liberal and Labor are mainstream parties, and if the two popular parties are in strenuous tension over a huge public project, then something is clearly wrong.

One of the major bones of contention could have been avoided by having the "build" work outwards from Civic in at least two directions simultaneously. Although progress would be slower, Canberrans in Woden and Tuggeranong would sense their opportunity to benefit from the great costs involved to be more than a remote (indeed, hypothetical) prospect.

Mr Simmons didn't go far enough in his criticism. To push on with "Capital Metro" at a billion-dollar cost to a regional city prior to bipartisan backing is wilful, inept and cavalier politics that raises even ethical questions.

Ross Kelly, Monash

I can honestly say (and not in order to give more chance of this letter being published) that on visiting Canberra last weekend, I was impressed with the quality of your newspaper.

Impressed also with the natural beauty at this time. That led to the writing of a words' worth of unorthodox sonnet on the train.

Autumn Capital

At last, we all like autumn leaves fall down, but first, their reds and yellows bring delight,/ briefly redeem, half naturalise the town, soothe stomachs, soften and deflect some blight.

Along the curving roads – in parks – about the lake, oak, willow, poplar, golden birch:/ our loss becomes their gain but now their loss my benefit as they become my church.

The hotter, colder times do have their place, placate our thirst and nourish with their milk/ – the gum's unleafing, disembarking face, in summer – jacaranda, persian silk.

Yet best renewed in eastertide I see my artful God incarnate in a tree.

(Chaplain) John Bunyan, Campbelltown, NSW

Whilst I believe it is right to acknowledge the heroism and sacrifice of many generations of servicemen and servicewomen who have fought for this country, I am deeply concerned that the real message of remembrance is being lost in the current hoopla surrounding the centenary of the disaster at Gallipoli.

Places such as the Australian War Memorial and the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne were created in the aftermath of the "war to end all wars" to remind future generations of the futility of war and the needless waste of human lives. It seems to me that crucial message of the futility and senseless waste of all war, especially the mechanisation of war which happened in World War I and which is being continued in the disassociated technological warfare of today, is being lost in the current sanitised celebration of a military disaster that achieved nothing and, even if totally successful, could have achieved very little, if anything.

Brian Candler, Kambah

At last some much-needed balance to the sickening, misguided propaganda and jingoism which are being propagated in heaps, presumably because they are sharing in that $225million slush fund. I refer to the article "Anzac: who goes there" (Forum, April 18, p3) by Kate Aubusson.

As Aubusson says: "The [so-called] Anzac spirit" has been co-opted to prop up our more recent war ambitions" and it was about time we focused on the real issues, and the real message of World WarI – "never again" – and how to achieve that. Just ask the vets – from then and now.

Margaret O'Callaghan, Fisher

There has been quite a bit of heat generated in relation to how we should appropriately mark Anzac Day. Canberrans could not go wrong by visiting the wonderful recognition that the community of Hall have mounted at the Hall School Museum, which honours the significant input and sacrifice that this small village made back in those difficult days.

At the time of the First World War, when Canberra was in its infancy, the village of Hall served mainly farming families and the community spirit demonstrated by the residents then is recognised and honoured in a moving and personal Anzac exhibition, which is a credit to the organisers. That same community spirit obviously still lives on in the village. More power to them.

Robert Henderson, Jerrabomberra, NSW

The federal government has provided $4million to Danish climate-change contrarian Bjorn Lomborg to establish a "consensus centre" at the University of Western Australia ("Climate contrarian's influence grows with university deal", April 2, p4). In 2013, the Abbott government abolished the Climate Commission on the basis that the $1.5million operating costs were too expensive.

The commission included some of Australia's best climate scientists, economists and energy experts. The commission's role was to advise the government and Australia community on climate-change impacts relevant to Australia.

Abbott's on-going climate-change foolishness verges on the pure evil, and if Australians want their grandchildren to have a future, they need to throw Abbott and his gang out at the next election.

Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor

Jessica Irvine ("Taxman coming for more", Forum, April 18, p1) has suggested a few areas the government could seriously look into for raising more tax. But that should not be our only goal.

Our goal should be to make the tax regime fairer. A broadening of our GST regime, or even increasing the tax rate, will definitely collect more tax. But would it be fair to all? Low-income earners will be paying more for food, shelter, education and health along with the rich people and that would not be equitable.

Why don't we concentrate on, as Jessica hinted, looking into "cutting superannuation concessions", "family trust", "discount on capital gains", "ending negative gearing" and "making the multinationals pay their fair share".

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

I note your article "Fortunes of top mining magnates are evaporating" (April 18, p3) fingers Rio Tinto and BHP as being responsible for seriously injuring the Australian economy by manipulating the price of iron ore. Are they also among the number who expatriate their profits in order to avoid Australian tax?

I recently heard that Goldman Sachs were able to inflate the price of aluminium, despite an increase in production, by slowing down the supply chain. They were able to turn a profit by increasing inefficiency. If we could get them involved in iron ore, the big miners could still achieve their goal of eliminating Aussie companies, and all we would have to do to profit from the destruction of our economy is buy lots of shares in Goldman Sachs.

S. W. Davey, Torrens

While I condemn what they planned (vengeance on Anzac Day), my heart goes out to the alienated young men from Melbourne's bleak outer suburbs where unemployment is rife ("Arrested pair linked to suspect recruiter", April 20, p4). When I was young and lolling about in (what was then) the outer Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris, my mother warned me: "The Devil finds work for idle hands." I know what the youngsters crave, because I craved it in 1954 – manhood and self-respect. I found what they sought.

At age 16, I was initiated into manhood (via an ordeal run by third-year students) at Longerenong Agricultural College. That done, the college gave me a man's work to do. While Tony Abbott preaches about jobs, he let Big Biz send thousands of jobs to low-wage lands. Abbott's neglect opened the door to: "The Devil finds work for idle hands."

Young men with a job, a car and a girlfriend do not join jihad groups.

Graham Macafee, Latham

Brumbies CEO Michael Jones is working on reinventing the "spectator experience" at home games ("Brumbies chief asks 'true fans' to step up", Sport, April 18, p2). To assist Mr Jones, I offer the following advice: I expect my "spectator experience" will include cheering loudly for the Brumbies with like-minded fans; offering my advice to the referee and his assistant about infractions they missed in the previous lineout/ruck/maul; and a polite acknowledgement of a stunning piece of play by the opposition – though this isn't critical.

I would prefer not to have a food-and-wine festival atmosphere and the constant playing of music during every perceived stoppage of play; it removes all crowd involvement in the game. Mr Jones might wish to remember that it is a game of rugby, not a gastronomics anonymous meeting at the local discotheque.

If Mr Jones continues to enhance my "spectator experience" with this kind of peripheral nonsense, he may find that this once-true fan may very well find a different "experience" on which to spend his time and money.

Simon Pellatt, Evatt

Jim Kaucz is a wonderful artist (April 18, p1), but his Anzac 100: Australia & the Great War is not a complete distillation of "Australia's experiences in World War I". Where, for example, are the physically and psychologically maimed, the bereaved, the anti-conscription rallies, the industrial unrest, the domestic surveillance of "suspicious" persons, the interned?

The art, for all its detail, perpetuates a disingenuous view of World War I and David Ellery's accompanying piece (Anzac 100: Australia and the Great War", April 18, p2) reinforces this. There is a lot more to war history than military history.

Mary-Anne Ellis, Bruce

CLIMATE POLITICS

Amazing! Mr Abbott abolished the Climate Council to save the $1.5million per annum cost, but has found $4million to pay the infamous climate "sceptic" Bjorn Lomborg to advise it on climate-change matters. Words fail me.

Margaret Lee, Hawker

ARGUMENT RUINED

Why did William Maley (Letters, April 17) have to ruin a perfectly good letter on refugee policy by using the emotive term "abuse factories" in his last sentence? This tainted his whole argument and makes me wonder how he can put "Dr" in front of his name, when he needs to colour his arguments with emotive terms.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

NZ MISSING FROM ANZAC

I am baffled by Jim Kaucz's Anzac 100: Australia & the Great War (April 18, p1). How can anyone come up with 100 elements of Anzac without mentioning New Zealand by name, or does the artist fail to understand what the NZ stands for. Shame!

Steve Foldesi, Gowrie

A DRINK TOO MANY

Manning Clark's difficult relationship with alcohol, largely kept at bay by teetotalism in his later years, is a similarity that Ross Fitzgerald ("Abbott: a politician straight out of Manning Clark's imagination, Times2, April 20, p1) overlooks and which incident-prone Tony Abbott, after his Saturday downing of a schooner of beer in one with shouts of "skol, skol" from a university football team, may want to consider.

Peter Smith, Lake Illawarra, NSW

WHAT A SKOLLER

Now I know Tony Abbott really is a skoller; a roads skoller even.

John Passant, Kambah

IRKSOME SOUND TRACK

My inner curmudgeon salutes Ian Warden's inner fogey ("It's time to bring back the oyster wenches", April 19, p18). Noisy eating, scrunching packets, loud whispers and the light splash from mobile phone screens are now the norm in cinemas. Regrettably, food and drink sales appear to be central to cinema chains' business models. Bring on food, drink and mobile phone-free cinemas!

Jonathan Miller, Curtin

WRONG ANGUS

It appears that S.Davey (Letters, April 21) is mistakenly identifying Sir Angus Houston, rather than Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell as his self-styled Sir Sovereign Borders. Angus Houston at that time was retired and simply going about the good work he does for the people of Australia, and our friends and neighbours. He is owed an apology.

David Elliston, Holt

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