Ready to commit forever

I want to stand alongside our grandsons at the football and cheer on the Raiders and Brumbies with as much passion as they do; not compare them to the teams I've supported before. I want to read the Canberra Times because it's my paper, not just to keep up to date. When in Sydney I want to be able to say to smug hipsters in Surry Hills that the coffee in Lonsdale St is better and that people there (waiters and customers) say hello.

Finally, when other Australians attack Canberra, I don't want to stand on the sidelines but be able to say "I am a Canberran so get lost".

Being a Canberran can be just a state of mind, but publicly committing to it sends a clear message that this is the best place in Australia to live forever.

Allan Johnson, Canberra

The editorial ("No harm in conducting a health check on our bail laws", February 16, p.16) moderately phrased support for Jeremy Hanson's "call for a review of the ACT bail system".

The lack of statistics on reoffence and breach of conditions by bailees fails to meet due disclosure and transparency expectations and fails to provide judges with evidence on effective application of the law.

It is a perennial matter, even if Mr Hanson's call was precipitated by Melbourne's vehicular massacre.

The system cannot wait for a new data catchment system planned for next year. Existing historical data needs to be retrieved and collated.

Extensive periods spent on remand awaiting trial have previously been an issue as well.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

Thank you Times for your article on ACT bail laws ["ACT bail law bid review raises concern", February 15, p.6].

It was a fairly comprehensive commentary, albeit lawyer-centric, but a start nonetheless.

The Liberals want a thorough review but the irrepressible Jennifer Saunders asserts there's sufficient ACT legislation accommodating stakeholders' expectations and fears.

I'm not convinced. Victims, and frustrated police at the coalface who dodge criminals exiting the revolving door of magistrates' courts probably view things differently.

What does the community want? More iron in magistrates' bellies would be a good start.

Patrick Jones, Griffith

At first reading the Canberra Times article ("Blight on the tiles, February 15, pp1, 8 and 9) on the Sussex Inlet RSL indigenous artwork located in the men's toilet generated some unease about their inappropriateness. On further consideration of the article and photos it became apparent that the offending tiles were in fact on a wall adjoining the urinal, not in the urinal itself.

The tiles themselves are innocuous, sketch type, representations and in no way demeaning, more to the contrary, as evidenced by reaction of the club staff.

Please Ms Cody, give your PC outrage a rest and give the fleshpots of Sussex Inlet a break.

Mr Barr, could you please give your colleague something relevant to her electorate to occupy her.

Charles Adams, Yarralumla

Various men have defended the decision of the Sussex Inlet RSL to have pictures of Aboriginal people on their urinal.

Why not include a picture of the President of the RSL? Or the badge of the local football club? Of an Aussie digger?

Perhaps the Sussex Inlet RSL wants urinating men to reflect on the many Aboriginal soldiers who fought for their country and then were denied the pensions that other soldiers received.

Yes, at the going down of the urine, they will remember them, so why not have the names and photos of local soldiers who have been killed in battle? The urinals are apparently a fitting place to show your respect if you live in Sussex Inlet.

Rosemary Walters, Palmerston

I was dismayed you chose to give front page headline exposure to the confected indignation shown by Bec Cody over the "tilegate" issue. It must be a really slow news day with so little happening in the world that you should choose such a ridiculous issue to highlight in this way.

It also reflects poorly on the MLA that she should see some merit in pursuing such a trivial matter. In the end, however, she got the headline I suspect she was after and now has a more enhanced profile.

She will always be remembered in her parliamentary career for the sophistication she brings to a debate.

Colin Griffiths, Scullin

Bec Cody has gone from nobody knowing who she is, to everyone knowing what a waste of space she is. Ms Cody couldn't find one issue that needed raising in the ACT. She had to go to the men's urinal in Sussex Inlet, NSW.

You've got a real winner there.

That's what you get when you increase the size of Legislative Assembly.

Anthony Reid, Murrumbateman, NSW

Some shopkeepers are generous with apostrophes when advertising their goods.

I did not think your music critic Janet Wilson belonged to that category, but in her presentation of the program "Dangerous Romantics" ("Poems, music, create a sublime match", February 15, p.22) she wrote "Hahn's Chanson's Grises, a cycle of seven songs".

The apostrophe turns the adjective grises, "grey", into a noun.

Hans Kuhn, Campbell

Paul McGeough reports ("Trump adviser quits over Russia talks", February 15, p16) US intelligence agencies are being selective with information for presidential briefings and even eavesdropping on telephone calls.

He says foreign counterparts were warned to withhold information they would not want revealed by an administration "that leaks like a sieve".

What a turnaround. Organisations like the CIA with long histories of nefarious deeds in other countries, ostensibly to preserve democracy, now may be truly the custodians of American democratic traditions and the rule of law. But who will guard the guards?

David Townsend, Curtin

In his election campaign Donald Trump pledged to build a Wall to keep those Mexicans out of the US.

He reminds me of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, in more ways than one. The early pharaohs devoted their lives and the treasures of Egypt to building pyramids to preserve their souls, together with the treasures they would need in the next life.

Their efforts failed utterly and all the pyramids were looted by hungry grave robbers.

In the same spirit Trump seeks to build a Great Wall to protect his country from Mexican refugees.

It will fail just as the efforts of the pharaohs failed. Desperate people will always find a way when they have nothing to lose. As a wit remarked recently: "You build me a 50ft wall and I will build you a 51ft ladder."

Robert Willson, Deakin

We are told there is no need for a federal ICAC because existing committees and other institutions are adequately effective. But such institutions have two equally important aims: one is to expose and deter corruption but the other is to reassure the public and raise the electorate's confidence in our democracy.

Existing institutions may meet the first objective – although that is contested – but with 84 per cent of those polled calling for an ICAC, they have certainly failed to meet the second.

We should have a powerful, independent ICAC with a remit to investigated suspected corruption by federal politicians and their staff, public servants and members of the Defence Forces.

If it has very little work to do, so much the better. Politicians who oppose it invite questions as to their motives.

Ron Walker, Campbell

Headmaster's Report School Debating Team: It was hoped that Masters Malcolm and William would live up to their solemn promises at the end of last year to concentrate exclusively this year on the formidable challenges before them and the school community.

I regret to say these boys, one of whom showed exceedingly encouraging promise earlier, have been bitter disappointments.

Both possess theatrical qualities of a high order, are given to confected outrage, rhetorical flourish and florid hyperbole, but there is, sadly, very little substance.

Apparently they see it as quite enough to play to their respective supporters. If I can be forgiven for lapsing into the colloquial: I predict it will end in tears for both boys.

A. Whiddett, Yarralumla

Malcolm Turnbull doesn't believe what he says about renewable energy, as it contradicts everything he said before he became PM and he knows that burning coal is causing more extreme heatwaves.

But Mr Turnbull is stuck with the deal he made to become Prime Minister. He got the position, but not the power.

We have a climate emergency and we need to change to renewable generation.

The next stage for our clean electricity supply has to be storage. Batteries, hydro and solar thermal, can all be used to store energy. We have to stop the squabbling and get on with it.

Allan Rees, Moruya

Summer arrives, a few warm days and the warming alarmists have fits of hysteria. (We see statements like) "... record-breaking extreme heat"; "... 50,000 lives per decade" and ".... suffering and painful deaths of thousands of Australians". And apparently the elderly are dropping like flies because they can't afford to turn on their airconditioners.

A solution to make power more affordable: tear up the Paris Climate agreement, scrap the RET, and withdraw subsidies to the renewable energy industry.

Owen Reid, Dunlop

Jeff Bradley is entitled to his view of politics (Letters, February 14) but I find it hard to understand that contending that "it's the job of the Opposition Leader to destroy the Prime Minister" reflects the crescendo of voters calling for an end to such political violence and negativity.

Jeff goes on to say that conversely "it's the job of the PM to govern".

One statement seems to negate the other; how can any PM do that when constantly bombarded by what mostly amounts to "playing point-scoring politics", personal invective and ideology?

If we expect any improvement in our politicians is it not reasonable that we at least try to encourage more focus on sensible policy?

We would need our media to inform with a more balanced account of politics and also to objectively question interviewees.

Len Goodman, Belconnen

The government is stealing from pensioners to pay the corporate giants and politicians. It is too afraid to tax the giants for what they should be paying. Medicare and other infrastructure would be paid for if these corporate giants and overseas multinationals paid their dues.

Liberal and Labor alike are in bed with these corporations, receiving party donations.

Don't expect multinationals to be paying fair tax soon.

But be prepared for the pollies to cut services and pensions to feather their own nests.

Billions are owed to the people of Australia in taxes from multinationals and yet the government is prepared to squeeze the life out of the poorest and most vulnerable end of society.

Margot Sirr, Gowrie

CODY OFF THE MARK

Re MLA Bec Cody and her husband's complaint about Aboriginal people featured in an historical setting. If the tiles had featured a non-aboriginal person in say a historic bucolic scene ploughing a field, or hunting, would they have complained? Or is it only the images of Aboriginal people that must be removed from sight?

Julie Macklin, Narrabundah.

As I keep telling my long suffering partner and immediate family: We need another world war to reset things and realise what is important in life ("Blight on the tiles", February 15, p.1). I hope the incident was a publicity stunt by the ACT Labor politician concerned.

Pete Howe, Evatt

Impressed by our local ACT member expanding her sphere of influence into other jurisdictions, creating divisions that do not exist. Fake news at its lowest form.

Bruce Ritchie, Lyons

As the club in question is an RSL club ("Blight on the tiles", February 15, p1), perhaps tiles featuring diggers might be more appropriate?

Patricia Saunders, Chapman

SACKABLE OFFENCE, PM

It is outrageous for our Prime Minister to blame the SA blackouts on the "failure" of renewable energy. It is a lie to gain political capital and based on the scientific nonsense of "clean" coal. It is a fraud against the Australian people and a sacking offence.

Derek F. Wrigley, OAM, Mawson

LAMBIE IS SPOT ON

Khizar Rana (Letters, CT, February 15) is mistaken or deceived. If the Koran instructs Muslims to "obey those who are in authority among you" why don't more do so? "Among" can also be read as the 'authority that is among you' means Imams, and not Australian law. Jacqui Lambie speaks the truth.

J. Halgren, Latham

FANTASY PARTY

Maybe Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott could get to get together "bury the hatchet" and form a new political party, The Fantasy Party of Australia, before we go down the drain.

Could be better than what we have now.

Brian Hale, Wanniassa

USELESS REPORT

Another mealy mouthed Government report where no one is accountable for the failings with indigenous policy. The time is overdue for us to recognise those making a positive difference, while castigating those — whether responsible for policy or its implementation — who are taking their salaries under false pretences.

Roger Dace, Reid

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