Her solution to Sydney's growth is to make Canberra a dormitory suburb. Wouldn't that destroy Canberra's liveability? Metcalf suggested "good design and planning was key to maintaining Canberra's liveability".

She added "with a reasonably new population unburdened by nostalgia, the opportunities for high-density growth in Canberra were apparent".

Metcalf is wrong. The key to preventing "much harder living in Sydney" is by dramatically reducing immigration which is at a ridiculously high level.

Metcalf's firm makes money from population growth. These firms don't care that extremely high immigration makes all of Australia less liveable.

Robert James, Melba

Dying with dignity is a matter vital to everyone.

We will all have to leave the planet eventually and history has shown there are few pleasant ways of doing so.

Professor Fitzgerald's research (Canberra Times, December 9) has revealed the great majority of Australians – of all political stripes – are in favour of voluntary euthanasia, accompanied by appropriate checks and balances.

Much of the good work in generating public discussion on the topic was initiated by Fiona Patten, leader of the Australian Sex Party, who made the issue an important part of her platform in the last election.

The Victorian ALP's decision to allow Labor members a conscience vote on the topic in 2017 is a step in the right direction.

Let's hope this step turns into a march that allows Australians who wish to do so the right to die with dignity.

Richard Whitaker, Terrigal

Mr Fitzgerald's piece is full of poignancy and consideration, but we cannot condone the deliberate killing of another human being, either by themselves or an agent on their request.

Lest it be thought I have no personal contact with the issues, my family experienced the excruciating death of my father and we all felt it was truly horrible. I spent a lengthy period employed in the coroner's court, which led me to believe death, families and money can be a combination that causes utterly disgusting human behaviour.

Sometimes I wonder if the excruciating pain is actually experienced by loved ones' witnessing the seemingly destructive end of their relationship with a loved one.

It's absolutely true many do suffer very painful deaths, but that is surely a call for better palliative care than an explicit decision to support the end of someone's life.

No amount of safeguards can overcome the tendency of some to seek a benefit from someone's death.

J. Dalton, O'Connor

The Canberra Times (December 6) reported Emma Alberici supported moves to cut the ABC Science program Catalyst, the Fact Check Unit and the online Drum.

She is reported to have said these programs only appeal to older demographics and that the ABC has to appeal to younger people who embrace the digital media.

There has been a dramatic in increase in fake news in online sites. The same issue of The Canberra Times reports support for the Geneva Convention has declined and [almost] a quarter of Australians support the use of torture in war.

These trends suggest a worrying mindset developing among younger people.

Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor

I almost choked on my morning coffee reading the suggestion re light rail, from Gerdina Bryant (Letters, December 6).

She must be joking; the light rail trundling along the long rambling route she suggests.

Suffice to say most of the streets would not cope with the space needed for the infrastructure.

I am sure the residents of Mugga Way would not welcome this disruption to their life styles, and property values (definitely no apartment blocks)!

A ramble via a scenic route, culminating, as she suggests, with the trip down Hindmarsh Drive, checking out the view. . Instead of a 15-minute express bus serving Woden/Civic, an hour-long sightseeing tour! I think not.

And let's not mention cost, even if it does follow the direct route.

Heather McMillan, Greenway

While I have some sympathy for Ross Gittins's rallying cry for optimism ("Why I'm still an optimist", December 7, p12) I can't accept his belief in the therapeutic power of the glass half full myth.

The glass should be seen for what it is.

If it's being filled then it's half full, and if being emptied then it's half empty.

Pretending it's one and not the other is self-deluding.

In any case, being half full isn't necessarily good.

OK if it's beer, but if it's something like echidna urine I'll take half empty every time.

Philip Telford, Tarago

David Pope's cartoon (December 8, p19) points to one of the very few things I share with the Turnbull government.

Treasurer Scott Morrison and Minister for Being Almost as Important as Marise Payne, Christopher Pyne, criticise the Labor Party's policies and actions in almost every statement to the media as if Labor is still in government.

That contagion has now spread to PM Malcolm Turnbull.

Clearly they would be more comfortable in opposition where they can critique the government rather than take responsibility.

I would also be more comfortable if Turnbull, Morrison and Pyne were back in opposition.

Tony Judge, Woolgoolga, NSW

Perhaps Donald Trump's speeches may be described as the trumpeting of the GOP elephant?

Colin Roberts, Griffith

Testing illicit drugs at music festivals, as advocated by Warwick Davis – Drugs a medical problem – (CT Letters, December 4) raises some interesting questions.

What liability would it have if, despite testing, drugs caused death or serious injury?

If testing of drugs were permitted at music festivals, why not generally? Australia's official policy puts users at risk while supporting the drug trade.

A trial of supplying addicts with diamorphine (medical heroin) in Canberra was supported by the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy in 1997 but vetoed by John Howard.

A proposal for a medically supervised injecting room in Canberra was effectively defeated by the Labor opposition in June 2000 by rejecting its budget.

Though in office throughout the construction and operation of Canberra's prison, Labor, cowed by union opposition, has refused to allow a needle exchange program.

Drugs and needles enter the prison, exposing inmates and staff to potential serious harm. More than 70per cent of prisoners are illicit drug users.

Australia should attack the criminal drug trade by decriminalising the use of illicit drugs and providing registered addicts with controlled and safe drugs.

The risks of using all drugs must also be widely promoted.

Graham Downie, O'Connor

After the 1990 World Summit for Children, I had thought international standards of care and protection did mean something to the world's governments, especially concerning refugees and their children ("More back torture in war" CT December 6, p4).

At the WSC, world leaders promised to put children first for resources. From Section 38(4) of that 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child, one law of war reads: "In accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population in armed conflicts, States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict."

This suggested the UN's Blue Helmets could be used actively to protect civilians affected by war (CT, Jan 22, 1993, p9).

After the first Gulf War, a very appropriate use of Australia's military medical and engineering skills occurred in 1991, when the ADF cared for Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq .

Yet still children and their parents are dying in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The laws of war do matter — if only compassionate governments were to apply them.

Peter Graves, Curtin

Your editorial "Caution needed on any loans to Adani" (December 6, p14) is far too mild.

I do not want my tax to be used on a $1billion loan to build rail infrastructure for the Carmichael coal mine.

Recently Turnbull said that "no public money" would be provided for the project. Untrue.

Why are the federal government and Queensland Labor supporting the development of the world's largest coal mine that will contribute to increased CO2 emissions and have a detrimental impact on the Great Barrier Reef?

Who believes Adani's claim on the number of jobs that will eventuate?

Why not provide jobs through renewable energy enterprises? Or in conservation of the land and marine environment? Or in scientific marine research?

Tourists don't want to see bulk carriers, polluted waters, and dying coral.

Why are we encouraging and supporting Adani when the Queensland Treasury noted "it 'was not particularly transparent' about company equity and debt"?

Will the electricity produced from Carmichael coal really go to "electricity-deprived Indians"?

Judy Kelly, Aranda

I am appalled with the decision to erect tall security fences to prevent public access to the grassed slopes over the Parliament House.

The slopes influenced the selection of the Mitchell Giurgola and Thorp scheme and reflected a sensitive appreciation by the designer of the significant role of landscape in Canberra as originally envisaged by Walter Burley Griffin.

The issue of security about the slopes has been around since the Parliament House design competition.

I remember appearing before a committee chaired jointly by the Hon Gareth Evans and Sir John Overall to provide design comment.

When it became clear most attending were backing the Mitchell Giurgola and Thorp scheme, a security expert raised security issues about the slopes.

The scheme was still selected as the winning design.

I am surprised that in the 30-odd years since then the security experts haven't been able to find an appropriate way of dealing with the issues.

Surely they can do better than this?

Dr John Gray, landscape architect, Mawson

M. P. Canavan demands pro-refugee protesters should "pay the price" for their actions at Parliament House. (CT December 1).

Perhaps their actions were dishonourable, disrespectful, and disruptive of our parliamentarians and guests. And perhaps their actions were even illegal.

Certainly, their actions were born out of frustration over the increasing intransigence of our many governments and the resulting damage done to those deserving of our duty-of-care.

Still, the protesters' actions were entirely non-violent and non-harmful, which is significantly more than I can say about our governments' policies dealing with asylum seekers.

Judy Bamberger, O'Connor

BUSINESS BENEFITS

The Turnbull government claims it is concerned about rising costs for energy, while, at the same time, it supports the export of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) at cheap prices for its corporate mates.

This drives up the cost of domestic gas to households and industry for the benefit of big business!

Gerry Gillespie, Queanbeyan

NOT TO BE CONFUSED

Seeing The Canberra Times has called it — it is official (Wet September and Dry October, ACT a 'tinder Box', December 8).

I am wondering whether your reporter, or in fact many of your readers, know what a "tinder box" is. Hopefully they wouldn't confuse it with a "thunderbox".

Terry Walls, Canberra

EXCELLENT CARE

Hats off to the staff at Canberra Hospital.

During my two recent emergency admissions I received fabulously high-quality, kindly and respectful care.

I am grateful too for the hospital's excellent facilities.

My extra special thanks go to the team in emergency department and in the stroke unit.

Jo Bothroyd, Duffy

MOST DESERVING

Thank you for your story ("Canberra's 'real Santa Claus"', CT December 9) on Beryl and John Fillery of Kambah. John was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in June 2010 "For service to the community of the Canberra region as a volunteer with a range of social welfare organisations".

Ed Highley, Kambah

PURE FICTION

Please stop perpetuating the Productivity Commission's myth books sold in Australia are more expensive due to parallel import restrictions. Most books are cheaper in Australia. As in New Zealand, abolishing PIR would make books more expensive, not less.

Jackie French, Araluen Valley, NSW

ROAD TO NOWHERE

Who seriously takes responsibility for the shambles of Horse Park Drive.

A shambolic goat track that joins a mega suburb to Majura Parkway.

A road with a shoddy widening to nowhere it appears.

Linus Cole, Palmerston

SESELJA SILENCE

I cannot recall having seen or heard one word from Senator Seselja about the proposed move of the APVMA to Armidale. Could it be he is too busy with his assistant minister's job?

Roger Terry, Kingston

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).