Imagine: Denmark has granted Greenland self-rule after 300 years under Danish authority.

The new agreement means Greenlanders (most of whom are native Inuit) will be recognised as a distinct people with the right to self-determination and Greenlandic will become the official language.

The new self-rule status also gives Greenlanders more control of their natural resources. Greenlanders will take control of the police and the courts; Denmark will have the final say in defence and foreign-policy matters.

Contrast this with the plight of the Tibetans under Chinese occupation for the past 50 years.

Tibetans, who are not Han Chinese and are as distinct from Han Chinese as are native Inuit from Danes, have an entirely different language, script and religion to Chinese.

But China refuses to grant Tibet even basic autonomy.

The Dalai Lama, who is not demanding full independence but meaningful autonomy along the lines of that granted to Greenland, says that Tibetan culture is in danger of extinction because Tibetans are now outnumbered by Han Chinese.

What the Dalai Lama says is true.

Chinese businesses predominate in Lhasa, most public signage and official business is conducted in Chinese, monasteries have become no more than museums and tourist drawcards.

Clearly China is capable of change when it suits them, such as adopting capitalist business practices, but it refuses to move on from its soviet style subjugation of its occupied minorities.

It is time to follow the Danish example and grant Tibet meaningful autonomy.

Suzanne Jedryk, Griffith

Babies welcome

John Warhurst (''Parliaments can't be strangers to changing times'', June 25, p15) may well be correct about the Senate's need to update its practices regarding young children. However, his comparison to churches is unfair to many churches.

Certainly the church of which I am a part Kippax Uniting Church has long since gone past the half-welcome of children described by Warhurst. We are delighted to welcome all people of all ages particularly including children into our services.

We certainly don't limit involvement, participation or welcome to ''well-behaved babies'' who are ''held quietly''. It's nice to know that there are some areas where the church isn't necessarily lagging behind.

Gordon Ramsay, Kippax Uniting Church

Rights of disabled

The recent use of the term ''spac attack'' by both federal and ACT politicians is unfortunate (''Dunne retracts comment'', 24 June, p3).

The fact that both politicians withdrew the comment does not alter the fact that they thought it was acceptable to use a term that is clearly derogatory towards people with disabilities.

Many people with disabilities experience this type of insult and discrimination, but may not know that they have a number of avenues in which to address this. One option is to raise it as a discrimination complaint with the Human Rights Commission if it were to occur in public life, such as in the provision of services.

However, the display of such unacceptable behaviour by our elected representatives is disappointing and concerning to say the least. As commissioners for Disability and Community Services, and for Human Rights and Discrimination respectively, our roles include the protection of people with a disability from discrimination, and the promotion of rights of people with a disability.

Unfortunately, as a community, we clearly have a way to go before those rights are appropriately recognised.

In recent times, there has been growing recognition of the contribution people with a disability, and their carers, make to our community.

However, there is still a significant gap in the understanding of many people regarding people with disabilities, their lives and the challenges they face on a daily basis.

While some politicians have been great advocates in this regard, the fact that others appear to lack understanding of these issues indicates that people with disabilities face challenges in having their situation considered when matters such as these are debated in Parliament.

We are fortunate in the ACT to have discrimination law backed up by the Human Rights Act, which provides a legislative framework in which to consider all legislation and the actions of government and public authorities.

Perhaps the current discussion about an Australian human rights act may assist in educating the public, including members of Parliament, about the issues involved for people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups in Australia.

Dr Helen Watchirs, Disability & Community Services Commissioner

Julie Field, Disability and Community Services Commissioner at the ACT Human Rights Commission