Education is needed

One of the criticisms levelled against the posters produced as part of the "What to Say" campaign was that they were produced for pubs and nightclubs, not for workplaces. That may be true, but our responsibility to address the epidemic of sexual assault in our communities does not end when the lights come on at the club and everyone puts on their business clothes and heads to work.

One in three women in Australia will be subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Just as concerning is that it seems community attitudes are not changing fast enough.

A 2013 Victorian Health report found one in five people think that if a woman has been drinking she is partially responsible if sexually assaulted. The same report found one in six people think that if a woman says "no" she sometimes means "yes" and one in four men believe women who say they have been raped in fact "led the man on and then had regrets".

While this campaign may have been initially designed for a nightclub or pub setting and aimed to target a specific demographic, it is a discussion we should be having across all ages and in all avenues of life – including the workplace. These are discussions we should be having with our mates, with our colleagues and with our sons. If there are opportunities to educate people in the workplace as well at pubs, then that is what we should do.

Some men reportedly found the images "confronting". Others were "offended" by the posters. Sexual assault is confronting. It is offensive. So is the fact one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes – and it's our job, as men and members of this community, to confront it.

Shane Rattenbury, ACT Greens MLA

Felicity Chivas wants dogs to be allowed to travel on Canberra buses, as happens in some countries. (Letters, January 19).

Putting aside the extra stress this would cause bus drivers who evidently would have the added responsibility of ejecting badly behaved dogs and their owners from their buses, there are many interesting questions raised by proposal: Who decides what constitutes "well behaved"? We know guide dogs and assistance dogs are well behaved and are no trouble on buses, but what about your neighbour's Rottweiler of bull terrier cross? Which raises the question of what size of dog would be allowed to travel and how many per bus? Would bendy buses be allowed three Old English sheepdogs but ordinary buses only two St Bernards?

Who would be liable to pay compensation if a passenger or driver was attacked by a dog, tripped over a dog or its lead, had an allergic reaction to a dog, or got in the way of a fight between two or more "well behaved" dogs? Who cleans up the urine and faeces at the end of each trip?

I once watched an immaculately dressed woman leave a French train without a backward glance to the puddle left by her "well behaved" small dog. Luckily for the next passenger, the wet patch was on the floor and not the seat.

Laura Rayner, Campbell

The ACT government seems to be completely unwavering in its determination to "railroad through" the light rail project before the next election, apparently so that it will be almost impossible for the next government to abrogate the contractual commitments.

Not only has the government chosen to ignore the growing crescendo of criticisms from ACT taxpayers about the long-term cost of the project, it has also refused to accept what seem to be entirely sound economic analyses from expert commentators as to whether the project represents value for money for taxpayers.

Although the government seems to be doing its utmost to keep secret any unfavourable feasibility assessments and economic analyses, the Capital Metro Agency has provided an opportunity for the ACT community to provide feedback in relation to the project, which can be provided online.

I suggest concerned ACT taxpayers should use the agency's online feedback form as de facto referendum in relation to the project that will be impossible for the government to ignore.

Bruce Taggart, Aranda

Greg Baker's letter (Letters, January 23) in favour of mandating belling the cat prompts me to advocate belling the bike.

My wife and I are regular early-morning walkers, in single file on the left on Canberra's shared pathways, when many cyclists pass us on their way to work.

We receive a range of friendly warnings from behind such as a vocal "bike on your right", "bike passing", etc, which we always acknowledge with a wave or "thanks". Occasionally, we hear the friendly tinkle of a bell and very occasionally, a snarled "bike".

However, the fact remains that we use the pathways with some trepidation. Even though we make every effort to be responsible walkers, a moment's distraction or inability to detect the direction a sound is coming from, due to a hearing disability, could easily result in a serious collision.

I am told the ACT road rules handbook stipulates: "A person must not ride a bicycle that does not have a bell, horn or similar warning device in working order."

It would appear that there is widespread disregard for such a warning device or its use.

I would, therefore, like to appeal to the cycling community and the appropriate authorities to do whatever they can to ensure that cyclists have a bell and use it.

Peter Howell, Curtin

Business leaders have expressed concern about the idiocy of a senator being elected to Parliament on a mere handful of votes ("Policy action needed to spur economy", January 6, BusinessDay, p9).

While reforming this situation, let's also ban senators from party membership. This would end the party-political wrangling between lower and upper houses. The Senate would then truly be a house of review.

Moreover, have each senator represent a region (for example, the Riverina, New England, far North Queensland) instead of a state.

We don't need the states. We are incredibly overgoverned.

Barrie Smillie, Duffy

We are saddened and amazed that the enthusiasts for the light rail are evidently uncaring that our noble avenue of eucalypts will be removed from Northbourne Avenue in due course.

Instead of being greeted by an avenue of Australia's iconic trees, Canberra will greet visitors and tourists with an expanse of glistening concrete and steel, bisected by piddling little trains and decorated with careful shrubs. This could be an introduction to any mundane city, particularly if tall apartment buildings line the roadside.

That Green Minister Shane Rattenbury can lead the push for this horrific removal of environmental beauty heartily endorsed by the new Chief Minister is a personal disappointment, as we have over many years supported Green values. Also with votes.

Progress has to be made, but how many times in history have efforts by reviled activists to preserve unique and unusual buildings or city areas, in the ultimate balance, proved well worthwhile.

Progress has to be made within the well-being of all citizens.

It will be really hard for us in the coming ACT election to vote for the ACT Liberal candidates, but if their party's platform centres on support for preserving Canberra's avenue of eucalypts, we will cross that line.

Theresa and Oliver Baudert, Braddon

The ever increasing certainty that Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan will be facing the death penalty under Indonesia's sovereign right to execute serious drug offenders does nothing to assuage the fact that capital punishment presents the greatest blight on the core values of human civilisation ("A day with Myuran Sukumaran, a remarkable artist who won't give up in the face of bleak destiny", January 23).

How can it be possible that Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which prohibits the use of the death penalty and is legally binding upon all 47 member states, can be in existence while 60per cent of the world's population live in countries where executions take place, such as in India, China, the US and Indonesia?

Sukumaran's extraordinary rehabilitation only adds to the absurdity of this flagrant abuse of the fundamental human right to life.

It not only makes a mockery of Indonesia's claim to be a democracy, but it propels Australia to stand in solidarity with other nations who also believe that such barbarity is a diabolical offence to human dignity.

Reverend Dr Vincent Zankin, Rivett

Bill Deane may be correct when he says that the term "terra nullius" was first used in the Australian courts in the 20th century. (Letters, January 21).

However, according to the Oxford Handbook of the History of International Law, "terra nullius" and its related term "terratorium nullius" had been used in law in the 19th century and were also used in canon law in the 18th century. Nevertheless, the concept that it represents — land or territory over which no state exercises sovereignty but that is open to claims of exclusive rights — goes back a long time in local law.

In the decision of R. v. Steele in 1834, Chief Justice Sir Francis Forbes said: "The Colony of New South Wales is a settled Colony – on a possession acquired by the act of His Majesty's subjects settling an uninhabited country ..."

Roy Jordan, Reid

It is remarkable that Europeans took so little interest in "Terra Australis Incognita" during the hundreds of years of migration that saw European settlement in North and South America, southern Africa, and many other parts of the world.

The Dutch were in what is now Indonesia from the 1600s. The few Dutch ships that encountered the NW coast of Western Australia found it inhospitable, and the Dutch never settled in Australia. The Aboriginal people were free to pursue their lifestyle, as they had for thousands of years.

It was not until the 1700s that Europeans became interested in the east coast of Australia, and then it was a race between the British and the French as to who would get there first. Human beings have always migrated, and will continue to do so.

Beryl Richards, Curtin

It seems that every year at about this time we see a flurry of letters on whether we should celebrate our national day on January 26.

Bob Bennett (Letters, January 20) suggests January 1, 1901, when Australia ceased being six British colonies, is a better option for Australia Day than a date which "... gratuitously offends the descendants of the first inhabitants".

Keith McEwan (Letters, January 16) endorses an earlier letter by Ester Gaia (Letters, January 13) calling for a change in the date and, being the father of an adopted Indigenous man, described the extent of racial discrimination, dispossession of land under the "the falsehood of terra nullius", and controlled existence of Indigenous people in Aboriginal reserves.

In reply to this letter, Bill Deane (January 20) says that the expression "terra nullius" was coined in the 1930s by a well-known Australian historian. While debate continues on a more suitable national day for us all to celebrate, recognition of our "First Peoples" in the Australian constitution is a positive step towards reconciliation with our past.

Lorraine Ovington, Fisher

It's nonsense to say as Bruce A Peterson (Letters, January 22) does, that "names will never hurt me". Most bullying, whether in school, at work or on a sports field, is verbal. It is one way that some people make themselves feel better by making other people feel worse and it does incredible harm.

I have seen it done to Aboriginal children (and adults), migrants, people with disabilities and gay people. Bullying of teenage homosexuals is a frequent reason for suicide.

To call people derogatory names because of what they are is disrespectful, harmful to the individual and to society. It is not free speech, it is bullying and no amount of resilience or skin thickening makes it any less harmful.

Jennifer Bradley, McKellar

A DAY TO CELEBRATE

Much has been said, written, posted on the appropriateness of celebrating Australia on January 26. I suggest we create more of our history by celebrating Australia Day on the day we become a republic.

Deborah Crossing, Curtin

REMEMBER UTEGATE

Will they roll Tony? If so, my fellow Liberals, don't put Turnbull at the head; remember his disgraceful role in the Godwin Grech utegate affair?

Gordon Nevin, O'Connor

MCCULLOCH STREET

I happened to drive in Curtin recently and saw what Alan Dalling, of Richardson, writes about (Letters, January 23). McCulloch Street has no fewer than six traffic-calming devices, speed humps and roundabouts on half a kilometre. Someone important lives in McCulloch Street.

Anna Nguyen, Holt

APT COINCIDENCE

How appropriate the late newspaper giant Harry Gordon is himself making the news this Australia Day. Harry was a founding member of the first National Australia Day Committee appointed by prime minister Malcolm Fraser in 1979 to build our national day into the wonderful day of celebration and commemoration it is.

Frank Cassidy, Kambah

WE ARE THE LOSERS

The Australian dollar, now below 80cents, must please the very highly paid governor of the Reserve Bank, who would like to see it even lower. The average Australian and the country are serious losers.

Selwyn Baines, Charnwood

MEDICARE LEVY

Mr Hockey, a high income earner, can best contribute to his child's treatment in a public hospital by raising the Medicare levy to enable all high income earners to pay more for health.

Moira Smythe, Forrest

AN INVITATION FOR TWO

I'm not on Facebook, so I thought I'd use the newspaper to announce that I am holding a party for every single person who commutes to work on the Tuggeranong Parkway who understands the three-second safety gap. Seriously, you are both invited.

John Howarth, Weston

STAMP DUTY STING

Owners of Mr Fluffy homes were told by the ACT government that, if they bought another home, it would be exempt from stamp duty. Now the government has decided the owners must pay the stamp duty and be re-imbursed. How many of these unfortunate people can afford to do this?

Trish Blakey, Belconnen

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