What assurance can she provide the global community that the waste from those reactors will forever be secure?

The credentials and narrow focus of any headline-seeking individual (or nation) seeking to criticise Australia's energy policies should be similarly examined.

In Canada, for example, which vigorously, and without qualification promotes itself as clean and green, the disingenuously named Toronto Hydro power company uses no less than three nuclear power stations. (If you are going to tell a lie, make it a whopper!)

If it was simply a question of responding to the narrow focus of Ms Tubiana and others like her, Australia's abundance of uranium could have us not only totally independent of carbon emitting power generators within a decade, but also able to satisfy all current, and likely future, power generation requirements without concern about whether or not the wind is blowing or the sun shining, or how a future generation will deal with the spent batteries that could well become the greatest source of environmental pollution in coming years.

The safe operation of French and Canadian nuclear power stations is a matter of public record, and there is no reason why Australia could not emulate those achievements.

Now, if the Australian public could be convinced that spent nuclear waste could be safely stored for eternity, Australia could have a discussion with Ms Tubiana on a level playing field.

Ian Pearson, Barton

It is said that one can keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool, or open it and remove all doubt on the matter.

I would go further: one can write to the Canberra Times and announce the fact to the world.

My observation is prompted by certain letters published recently from persons seeking to replace our present, dull old national anthem with something based on that revolting "multicultural" ditty now being pushed relentlessly on ABC TV.

If there is one thing that gets me scrambling for the remote, that is it.

What kind of red-blooded Aussie adult could stand up and sing that saccharine, feel-good nonsense, pitched at the level of a noxiously idealistic 12 year old.

Bad as it is, I would much rather have the present anthem, or even the Aeroplane Jelly jingle, than anything like that one.

Bernard Davis, O'Connor

My mother has always thought the last verse of Henry Lawson's poem Waratah and Wattle would be a better Australian anthem than Advance Australia Fair. The last verse reads:

"Australia! Australia! Most beautiful name,

"Most kindly and bountiful land;

"I would die every death that might save her from shame,

"If a black cloud should rise on the strand.

"But whatever the quarrel, whoever her foes,

"Let them come! Let them come when they will!

"Though the struggle be grim,

"'tis Australia that knows

"That her children shall fight while the Waratah grows,

"And the Wattle blooms out on the hill."

Linda Elliott, Nelson Bay, NSW

Bob Salmond's mash of "I love a sunburnt country" with "I am Australian" (Letters, October 2) is a work of genius.

But I think it should be "We love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains..."

Either way, you have my vote, Bob.

I hope you're standing for the next election.

Anne Bowen, Macquarie

Sorry, Bob Salmond (Letters, October 2), any chance of The Seekers' hit single being adopted in full or part as our national anthem was cruelled by your/our ABC using it for self-promotion.

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW

Melbourne Storm players, supporters and Alan Leitch (Letters, "Bad sportsmanship" October 4) either have short, or selective, memories. In the Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks game the week preceding the grand final, Andrew Fifita was booed incessantly for 80 minutes by the Melbourne home crowd. This display of bad sportsmanship did not rate a mention in the post-match press conference.

Kev Kelly, Wanniassa

The classic harbinger of spring in Europe has traditionally been the call of the cuckoo, immortalised in Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. In Canberra, the first signs of spring include magpie swooping, the King parrots feeding on the flowering plums and groups of flirting Crested pigeons. The first calls of frogs were two weeks later than usual this year, possibly because of the prolonged drought.

As an entomologist I am advised of the arrival of spring with the return of Paper wasps to their nests under the eaves of the house and queens of the European wasp on the wing foraging for food and searching for suitable nesting sites. And Floriade. Summer cannot be too far behind.

Dr Philip Spradbery, Yarralumla

Michael Lane (Letters, October 3) suggests that slowing down for wildlife doesn't help.

I beg to differ. It does help. There is absolutely no reason to be speeding (the norm on most roads). Even in emergencies, unless you are a trained driver, speeding can be dangerous.

Late at night people speed and many kangaroos, and other wildlife, die because of this.

Of course, there will always be accidents, but this number can be reduced significantly if people slow down.

Driving at slow speeds, instead of the 130km/h plus often witnessed on roads at night when fewer police are around, is a good thing.

At night vision is hard, drivers are often tired. This, combined with speeding, sometimes results in drivers wrapping themselves around trees.

Slowing down is good for people and wildlife.

Carolyn Drew, Page

I'd love to see Donald Trump questioned in the same way he lampooned Christine Ford's testimony. Possible examples: "What was your father's estate worth; the $40 million you declared for tax purposes, or the $750 million you sold it for?" and "where did you meet the tax officials regarding your dodgy returns; what colour ties were they wearing and which chauffeur drove you there in which car?"

S. W. Davey, Torrens

Given the ongoing discussion about pill testing (of illicit drugs), I am none the wiser on the results.

Even the ACT Health website does not say exactly what happens after pills are tested.

Let's say a person buys a little blue ecstasy (MDMA) pill and then decides to get it tested.

The ACT Health site states: "Before your pill is tested, you are asked to take a pre-test self-assessment to identify the substances you believe are in your pill. Service staff then take a small sample of your pill to put through the test equipment. Once the test is complete, they provide you with information about the results and discuss the risks you face by consuming the found substances."

What happens next is the basis of my query.

Given MDMA is a controlled drug surely the only legitimate result from the pill testing procedure would be to destroy it right away and with no questions asked.

If, however, the pill testers say the ecstasy doesn't have too many nasty substances in it and you are free to go with it, what message does that send to the community?

If the pill is safe enough, then why not supply a "safe" batch to some licensed vendor who can sell them to patrons?

This would remove the inherent danger from someone cooking in a garage and the government would get some funds towards the light rail.

If our laws can't stop people buying pills, at least give them a safe option.

Stephen Petersen, Dunlop

I find myself in agreement with your correspondent, Claire Thurstans ("Diagnosing game-day violence", Forum, September 29, p12).

Except that I think that I know why it happens.

Children who go to these football games see plenty of violence there on the field.

It is no wonder that they then go home thinking that violence is OK and can solve all of their problems because that's how their hero does it.

It is up to us to make sure that violence does not happen in these games so that the children will not think that violence is a great way to solve their problems at home, at school, wherever.

And of course when they grow up it can become domestic violence.

It seems to me that the clubs should be making sure that there is no extreme violence in these games so that children will not emulate their heroes in the worst possible way.

Maybe the "heroes" should be on TV saying the message that violence is not the way to solve any problems no matter what they are.

Jim Hayes, Griffith

The recent discussion on the ABC misses the real point of the need for its independence and adequate funding.

Australia is very limited in its narrow newsworthy coverage, including current affairs.

Our press is dominated by one group and with now permitted TV, newspaper and radio ownership even worse again.

The reduction in newspaper sales and the lowered standard of journalism is of great concern.

The need to control and broaden coverage is obvious.

Subsidising a higher standard of journalism for better and broader coverage should be considered as a more democratic approach, but would be difficult.

It would be much easier to have a publicly funded independent communications outlet, such as the ABC.

Perhaps we should consider broadening it further. However, it is paramount that we protect and promote the ABC as an independent broadcaster to counter balance major deficiencies and bias in other private journalistic coverage.

Geoff Henkel, Farrer

Malcolm Turnbull can't get over the fact that his own party dumped him as leader, describing his opponents as miserable ghosts, claiming he has moved on and then sticking the knife in whenever he gets a chance. Reality check, Malcolm. You need to understand the concept of karma, plus the statement "what goes around comes around" — and the real beauty: live by the sword, die by the sword.

Malcolm disposed of Peter King, even though he was the sitting member for Wentworth. Malcolm then stabbed Brendan Nelson to become Liberal leader.

Then, after he was deposed by Tony Abbott over climate change policy, he got his revenge on Abbott after Abbott had led the party to a stunning victory.

Turnbull was removed by the party because he was a lousy politician, lost 38 Newspolls in a row, and was still trying to drag the Liberal party to the left.

Turnbull always wanted to be prime minister and didn't care what party he was in.

He originally pleaded with Graeme Richardson for a safe Labor seat. Richo showed his political genius. He realised Turnbull would do more for the Labor party if he was in the Liberals.

The rest is history.

John Burns, Hall

Recent writers to The Canberra Times urge that better choices be offered to the aged/infirm, especially those in care (Letters, "Death with dignity", October 2; Letters, "Aged care choices", October 4).

In the context of recent scandals revealing neglect and/or ill-treatment suffered by such vulnerable persons, one would have expected strong advocacy for improvements in, and close monitoring of aged care provision.

Disappointingly, both letters advance adding a radical solution to the offerings: assisted suicide, voluntary euthanasia or call-it-what-you-will – they all mean the same.

The frequent push for euthanasia-enabling legislation in Australia starts, as such legislation always does, with assurances that it would be restricted to those facing terminal illness or suffering "unbearable" pain.

Data from countries which have legalised euthanasia demonstrate access to state-approved death soon becomes available to the mentally ill, the handicapped, the frail, and even recently in parts of Europe, to children.

Persons in care and unable to fight for proper treatment will not be immune to pressure to take an "easier" road. What are the assurances that such a "choice" is freely and rationally given?

Kath Woolf, Bruce

DRUGS NOT SO FESTIVE

Those supporting pill testing and attending youth festivals should think again by remembering that Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for 2016 show there were 1300 road deaths, but 1808 drug-induced deaths.

Those taking "festival" pills anticipate recreation but, in their own way, so did many of the 1808.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

WOMBAT FOR ABC

If attributes desired for a new ABC chairman include Indigenous pedigree, historical experience of the ABC, animal instinct and lateral thinking, you'd have to consider the muddle-headed wombat.

M. F. Horton, Adelaide, SA

EMISSIONS DOWN, PRICE UP

Through careful use and concern about emissions, we managed to reduce our gas consumption by 30 per cent in the latest quarter, relative to the same quarter last year.

But the dollar cost increased.

Where is the dividend from lower wholesale prices that our Prime Minister likes to boast about?

Keith Croker, Kambah

ZERO PARKING ISSUES

I visited Floriade last week and avoided all the parking hassles by going by bus.

It was simple and I was dropped just opposite Commonwealth Park.

I recommend it as the easiest way to travel to crowded venues for those who do not have mobility issues.

Angela Douglass, Kambah

RAPPER EXPOSE

Judging by the lady pictured next to Kayo, it would appear the photo has been "over exposed" ("Rapper Marbilus gets new exposure with 99 judges", Private Capital, October 5, p12).

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW

TOWERS MAKE THEIR MARK

First we had the Hindmarsh "gateway" apartment complex on the corner of Launceston Street and Melrose Drive, Woden, and now we are to have the Geocon "marker" apartment tower opposite ("Geocon's Wova development given green light", canberratimes.com.au, October 5).

How many more "marker" towers does a well-known town centre need?

Patricia Saunders, Chapman

LIGHT RAIL STANDSTILL

When are they going to stop procrastinating about whether stage two of the light rail project should go ahead.

Is there anyone among the heads of government who can stand up, make the decision, do the right thing and just stop it.

Jenny Lee, Braddon

BROADBAND PERKS

I'm going to quit my job and go to work selling broadband connections to federal politicians.

That's got to be the best lurk in the country (apart from being a politician).

M. Moore, Bonython

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.

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