The Barr government now wants to make it legal for anyone to grow four marijuana plants on their property.
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If it's a group house and it's occupied by five people they are all legally allowed to grow four plants each and, as most know, marijuana plants grow very tall.
Now I live in a high-rise complex. You know the type, the ones we pay exorbitant rates and taxes for to pay for the Barr government's follies. I can just visualise it now — from my balcony, looking across into other units and their balconies, seeing marijuana plants galore.
Let's put that in perspective. Many other unit holders will be in the same position.
Some of those I suspect may be already taking illicit drugs and now they can see what their neighbours are growing, they'll be easily able to identify which units are growing the marijuana and what this may lead to is breaking into the units with the intent to steal the marijuana plants.
When the plants are matured and cultivated the unit occupants will possibly store them in the cages that are provided with every unit.
More possible break-ins and property theft.
Then spare a thought for the poor body corporate members who will most likely be inundated with complaints and try and attempt to manage them.
What about the impost on ACT Policing and their time in attending to break-ins and property theft? Is the Barr/Greens government going to increase ACT police resources? I think not. After all, any surplus funds will be directed to stage 2 of the light rail.
I sincerely hope the ACT will be headed to the High Court challenging if cannabis is legal next year.
I can only hope that common sense prevails, although with the track history of this current Labour/Greens alliance, I sincerely doubt it.
J. R. Ryan, Phillip
Show Broad's reports
For the past three months Andrew Broad MP worked directly to the Deputy Prime Minister as his assistant minister for that high office.
Michael McCormack should at least share with us the formal reports that Broad is required to submit about his taxpayer-funded work trips, as well as itemised expenditure incurred.
These could provide some reassurance the Nationals are not again attempting to sweep under the carpet another potential MP fiasco, this time with much-delayed news, just before Xmas, about AFP referrals and the like ("Andrew Broad used taxpayer funds for part of his bombshell Hong Kong 'sugar baby' trip", canberratimes.com.au, December 17).
Already this year we have witnessed much covering up, obfuscation and too many delaying tactics by the Nationals, at the federal level over their previous federal leader's lengthy sexual relationship with a staffer and by the NSW party when it investigated a formal complaint of sexual harassment concerning that same politician.
The National Party needs to grow up and be prepared to explain or own up quickly to any unacceptable behaviour or misdemeanour – or worse – that comes to light and so avoid more of the destructive mayhem that we endured for far too long earlier this year.
Sue Dyer, Downer
Nats staffer's vile text
The Deputy PM tells us a Nats staffer "accidentally" sent a vile text to a woman journalist (the subject of the message).
We are told it was meant for a friend and was sent on the staffer's private phone.
So what! Do we want people like this working in the offices of the nation's leaders?
What allegedly responsible person would send such a message even to a friend?
We are told the person is on "indefinite leave" (whatever that means) and is receiving counselling (whatever that also means).
Could it be that the real problem is there are too many such staffers on the government's payroll and it is these nasties who are influencing their bosses' appalling behaviour in Parliament.
It couldn't possibly be that, could it?
Eric Hunter, Cook
Climate deal loophole
The reported possibility of Australia using its overshoot of the patently inadequate Kyoto emissions target to reduce its commitment to the Paris accord ("Carbon credit loophole concerns", December 11, p1 & p4) amounts to cheating on the human race and the planet.
Bill Hare of Climate Analytics is quite right when he says that the Morrison government's possible move to use carbon emissions reduction credits arising from the Kyoto Protocol to reduce its Paris commitment is "fake action"' and "would be rorting the planet".
Mr Hare is also right when he says that if the use of this loophole, which could also be used by many other countries, were allowed, it could lead to "a fatal undermining" of the Paris Agreement.
It is to be hoped that Labor, which has not ruled out use of this loophole, takes heed of the expert advice that it receives from "relevant agencies and experts" and does not do what amounts to fiddling the figures.
This is especially important given that, on present indications, Labor is very likely to form the next federal government.
One would sincerely hope that whoever is in government after next May does not succumb to the temptation of fiddling the figures while the Earth burns.
Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin
Paine restores honour
What a pleasure to see such a spirited Australian team playing so hard and competitively vs India and not stooping to low-grade, questionable tactics as per Kohli in particular.
Tim Paine as captain has been exceptional, strong, mature, balanced and fair.
He rightly brings honour again to what once was almost the most important role in Australian society.
No need for Smith (the boy child) or Warner (words fail me) to return.
We don't want you.
Your return would shatter team harmony, be lukewarmly received and would do nothing to enhance the improvements slowly coming to our test team.
John Mungoven, Stirling
Where's the integrity?
So Scott Morrison's proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission will only consider matters "referred by agency heads and existing integrity agencies".
Is this a joke?
Surely these parties already have the resources, and the obligation, to investigate any matters of which they are aware and refer them to the federal police.
Mr Morrison disparages the NSW ICAC, perhaps because the "I" stands for "Independent".
This means that the ICAC decides which matters it investigates.
So should any Commonwealth Integrity Commission.
H. Simon, Watson
Big blocks fail families
Exactly what kind of future Canberra is the Barr government planning for and which demographics will be most adversely affected by its current policies ("Tenders wanted for design of micro parks" and "Is Canberra becoming LA" (canberratimes.com.au, December 18)?
Traditional families are clearly not a priority for this government, which continues to favour future developments like Geocon's high-rise apartment blocks.
Such developments are not suitable for families with young children and teenagers/young adults, who require adequate open and green spaces to explore, roam free, play, enjoy nature and develop environmental and conservation awareness.
Prominent examples of failures in planning high-rise developments are evident from the now discredited public housing towers in central Sydney, Melbourne and London.
These developments are synonymous with major social dysfunction for the families who live in them.
More successful family-oriented developments in Sydney, such as Pyrmont Park, Green Square, Alexandria and Moore Park, incorporate large open and green spaces that cater for the essential real requirements of families.
Many of these green spaces have been specifically incorporated by developers in their initial development applications or are required under town planning regulations.
The Barr government's attempts (after the development approval process ) to provide a veneer of planning responsibility through the provision of six new public and micro-parks (i.e. pop-ups) would be laughable if it was not so serious for the welfare of those future families who may choose to live in such developments.
Ron Edgecombe, Evatt
Different approaches
I have been critical of the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) for ignoring the advice of the National Capital Design Review Panel (Interim) in approving the proposed hotel development in Manuka ("Design Review Panel urged ACTPLA to reject proposed Manuka hotel", December 17, page 2).
On the same day as that article I received a copy of ACTPLA's notice of decision on a proposed hotel development in Garema Place Civic. The contrast in handling the two proposals could not be more stark.
In the Garema Place one, ACTPLA appears to have carefully considered the advice of the National Capital Design Review Panel (Interim) and succeeded in negotiating with the developer a major change in the proposal, to reduce the building height from 16 storeys down to six and seven storeys fronting Garema Place.
In that case, the issue was about overshadowing Garema Place and the amended proposal is much more acceptable in that regard.
While I'm happy to applaud ACTPLA in the Garema Place matter, it does make rather a nonsense of the comment in the article, attributed to Ben Ponton, the chief planning executive of ACTPLA, that the interim panel was not a formal referring entity to the authority and the authority's ability to respond to its advice was "limited, and indeed, arguably nonexistent".
Come on ACTPLA, you've shown you can do the right thing. Why not admit you got the Manuka one wrong and withdraw your advice to the Conservator of Flora and Fauna supporting the developer's proposal to cancel the registration of the protected tree?
Richard Johnston, Kingston
Keep sites the same
Of course Anzac Park East must remain essentially as-is for at least the 30 years (more I'd say) that its twin, the recently renovated and reoccupied Anzac Park West, reportedly has left in it ("Development plans for site on Anzac Parade", December 15, p6).
Those buildings and others in the National Triangle (the heart of the capital), like West Block (west of the provisional Parliament House), should never have been flogged off by the Department of Finance, and should be returned to public ownership.
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
Put homeless first
I will not be voting for any political party in the next election that does not make its priority the thousands of homeless people, which includes women and children.
There was no mention of the homeless in the recent Labor Party gathering but Bill Shorten did say he would increase the intake of refugees to 27,000 and business and community groups would sponsor 5000 refugees.
Added to this came the news on Monday that federal government funding to St Vincent de Paul would be cut by 25 per cent between 2020 and 2023.
It is hard to believe politicians in Australia can be so heartless. I wish all the homeless in Australia a much better New Year and a home.
Penelope Upward, O'Connor
On target for housing
Re: "Government review of infill push", December 10, p1).
According to your report, "Canberra will need 12 homes a day" to meet the housing demands by 2041.
This shouldn't be too difficult to achieve.
According to the ACT's Indicative Land Release Program, through to 2022, land for more than 4200 dwellings will be released each year. That's more than 11 dwellings per day.
Furthermore, the number of dwellings in the private-sector pipeline needs to be included.
According to the most recent ACT Land and Property Report, there were more than 4000 multi-unit sites and dwellings under construction in the December 2017 quarter. And, if the redevelopments near the Red Hill Shops, at the Stuart Flats and Gowrie Court, as well as those along Northbourne Avenue and throughout Canberra are added to the mix, the target of 12 dwellings per day will be easily exceeded for the next several years.
We may need only minuscule changes to the current planning strategy or the territory plan. It looks like Canberra will have enough dwellings to house the increasing population.
But will we have the medical and recreational facilities, schools, shops and transport facilities to cope?
Ask those who live in Wright?
David Denham, Griffith
TO THE POINT
MILDER MILESTONES
It is nice to see in the Test match between India and Australia that the histrionics previously displayed by Australian players when they reached milestones like a 50 or 100 seem to have gone. No more leaping in the air like a gazelle on drugs, and punching the air like Rocky.
We do not miss David Warner's antics, only his runs.
Ian Jannaway, Monash
ODD AND UNFAIR
The inclusion of Qatar in the emptiest flights in Australia listing by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport & Regional Economics is odd and unfair ("Running on Empty", December 15, P22) given the airline cannot carry passengers interstate only.
Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla
ASKING FOR TROUBLE
Andrew Broad's resignation shows what can happen when you have Nats in the ranks.
T. Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld
POSSUMS BEWARE!
It seems that the once well-regarded political party of the farmers and rural, regional people espousing family values is now just a hollow stump that any self-respecting possum would shun.
G. Rankin, Holder
THREE'S COMPANY
It appears that the National Party's definition of marriage is between a man, his wife and his sugar baby.
Peter Harris, Belconnen
MAN TROUBLE?
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) seems to be calling for gender-specific expressions of interest (Advertisement, December 15, p.17). It's seeking "a man who is able to represent general community attitudes ..." I wonder if this is blatant discrimination or simply a misprint?
Thomas Natera, Ngunnawal
MORE ELECTIONS PLEASE
I suggest we hold annual elections. The budget seems to show a sudden improvement just prior to an election. More elections would keep us in constant surplus.
Jeff Bradley, Isaacs
CAPITAL FAILURE
A recent Express Post envelope addressed to "the Australian Taxation Office, in your capital city" (as required by the ATO), and posted in the yellow box outside the Canberra GPO, was delivered to Sydney.
Robert Niven, Aranda
MIXED FEELINGS
The Liberals are getting rid of woman-baiting Barry O'Sullivan as a senator.
On the plus side, it was his vote that forced the government to hold the banking royal commission.
While we are glad to see him go we are also glad he was here.
Michael McCarthy, Deakin
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