What a total dishonest sham this Gillard-Rudd Government is.
Firstly there were the unemployed who didn't receive a brass razoo from either of the cash splashes.
One would have thought if the Government was serious about stimulating the economy the first people they would have targeted would be those who would be more likely to spend, rather than throw taxpayers money at the well-off in the community who in many cases simply banked their windfall.
Then we had the tax cuts, of which once again the less well-off in the community received zero.
Now on behalf of the Government the best Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan can do is offer platitudes.
If they are ''disappointed'', how do they think the lowly paid feel?
If they are so concerned about the decision handed down by the Fair Pay Commission why didn't they fight as hard as the unions did for a wage increase? So much for the ''show pony'' always accusing John Howard of only looking after the rich.
Tom Griffin, Pambula
Megalo's move
The decision by the ACT Government to designate the former Fitter's Workshop on Printers Way at Kingston as the new home for Megalo Print Studio and Gallery is timely.
The venue is ideal for a print workshop, having formerly been a machinery fitting workshop with the structure and flooring appropriate to Megalo's workshop equipment which includes heavy presses for etching and lithography.
Megalo was facing a bleak future due to an imminent steep increase in rent at the current premises.
The organisation can now reconsider the varied functions of the studio in order to relocate and maximise this wonderful new venue.
What a rare and welcome opportunity it is for Megalo with its strong community-based activities.
Megalo has a long history as an active and accessible facility with a diverse workshop teaching program and a well-deserved reputation for experienced and innovative staff able to communicate with all sectors of their interested public, including children, community groups and professional artists with specific print projects to be coordinated.
As a tertiary educator it has been gratifying to see the talented graduates from the ANU's School of Art take up a range of opportunities provided by Megalo, including emerging artist studio residencies, exhibitions, teaching and technical training opportunities.
Megalo has been a springboard for many productive careers in the visual arts and this decision helps to ensure its future capacity to continue with these opportunities.
The decision to relocate Megalo Print Studio and Gallery to the former Fitters Workshop at Kingston foreshore is welcome news indeed.
Patsy Payne, head of printmedia and drawing, School of Art, ANU
Solar sanity
Professor Andrew Blakers and Julia Richards (Letters, July 3) want us to support rooftop solar systems.
Why there seems to be a desire to place solar systems on house roofs evades me.
In many cases the house roof is the least effective place to put solar panels due to shading, poor orientation, an inability to keep the panels clean and an excess of connections to the grid.
If we are to maximise on the technology it would seem to me to be better to place the panels where they can be placed as effectively as possible, be well maintained and with a minimum of associated infrastructure.
Well-placed community facilities would offer the greatest potential for maximising on this vital technology. The ACT Government could make suitable sites available for individuals to place their panels on a common array in the same way as they assist other groups in the community.
Steve Thomas, Yarralumla
Power pays
Your correspondents (Letters, July 6) complaining about the feed-in tariff have missed the bigger picture .
For energy produced by home solar generators and for other green choice energy, consumers pay a higher price, but they pay a lower price for energy that produces greenhouse gasses.
This works against any government policy intention of promoting renewable energy production.
Should it not be the other way around?
Charge more for polluting energy, the extra income then used to subsidise cheaper renewable energy?
B. McConnell, Higgins
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