Future funds under table?

Unlike light rail, where the ACT government has not been deterred by unflattering economic analyses, the government seems to have lost interest because there is a risk of a significant cost blowout.

Perhaps the government is content to keep most of its infrastructure spending in the one (light rail) basket.

Is it possible the government is confident of receiving substantial largesse from a future federal Labor government?

In late May 2012, just over a year before the demise of the previous federal Labor government, the ACT government managed to wangle $42 million for the upgrade of Constitution Avenue, a project that could well be Australia's worst-ever road upgrade in cost-benefit terms.

Given that promises of infrastructure largesse for Canberra would likely cost votes outside of the ACT, we're unlikely to find out if the ACT government has been given a nod or wink from the opposition about future funding for a new convention centre, or light rail.

Bruce Taggart, Aranda

It is heartening that Andrew Barr seems to have recognised the notion of cost-benefit ratio: "once the cost moved considerably beyond $400 million, the cost-benefit ratio fell".

Unfortunately, his recognition occurred well after the ALP/Green government committed to light rail stage 1.

Furthermore, I expect that if stage 1 is shown to have a negative cost-benefit ratio, even after including social benefits such as reduced congestion, stage 2 will proceed – with Barr pointing to prospective "network" benefits.

While network benefits are probable, the construction costs of the light rail, including because of the ALP's MoU with the construction unions, probably makes it a white elephant for all time.

Bruce Paine, Red Hill

I am appalled at the lack of action and support by Senator Zed Seselja for retaining the APVMA in Canberra by voting in the Senate to support Barnaby Joyce's boondoggle transfer to his own electorate in Armidale ("Gallagher, Seselja clash over APVMA relocation", canberratimes.com.au., February 19) and his apparent disregard for continual development of government offices here ("Woden residents tired of 'the biggest eyesore in Canberra"', February 27, p4).

What is the use of a Senate representative who is largely missing in action and deliberately refuses to represent his constituents?

Yet he has time to promote himself at the South Quay building site in Tuggeranong (aprivate development) but not for the people of the ACT.

His changeable pandering to whomever is the current leader of the Liberal Party [has not] gone unnoticed.

A start to actually show some interest and concern for the ACT directly is required.

K. Williams, Bonython

I was delighted to read that the responsible minister did a walk around Holt (Letters, February27).

Such a walk is not something that would happen in Griffith or Narrabundah, as serious injury caused by broken footpaths, uneven roads and debris-filled laneways would be too great for asenior member of our local council to risk.

Having lived in the area for just on 14 years and walking nearly every day, I have to confess that I really don't get to see much of the suburban scenery, as the only way to avoid ending up sprawled on the ground is walk with one's head down.

Peter Langhorne, Narrabundah

Is it just me, or do the cars that regularly stop dead on Northbourne Avenue outside the Jolimont Centre drive anyone else crazy?

Northbourne Avenue is the major thoroughfare of Canberra and people simply stop their cars in the middle of a lane, just so they can pick up or drop off a passenger.

I agree that the parking situation for Jolimont is hopeless, yet forcing an entire lane of people to wait behind you is selfish and dangerous to cyclists, who have their bike path entirely blocked for minutes.

There is some, albeit limited, parking at the side and back of Jolimont. I have written to two ACT government ministers asking whether there's a plan to deal with this hazard, but never got a response.

Perhaps it is just me who finds this situation so annoying!

Fiona Green, Deakin

The overwhelming reason many paint purchasers request a "paint match" is to fulfil their lease obligation to make-good any damage.

Inevitably this reparative exercise requires an attempt at eye-matching using paint swatches or providing paint samples on or off substrates for processing with the not always successful paint calibration system.

All options are time-consuming, inexact and usually more expensive than is necessary.

While it is quite reasonable for a landlord to require restoration, it is not reasonable that the full onus of ensuring parity is borne by the lessee.

If a lease agreement requires make-good, then it should also provide full details of the exact type and colour of any paint/stain required to achieve parity.

No such information provided should mean that any make-good requirement is void.

Phil O'Brien, Flynn

If there was one moment at the Academy Awards which beautifully illustrated how too many Hollywood A-listers live in a self-inflated parallel cultural universe, it was Best Supporting Actress Viola Davis' affirmation regarding artists, that they "are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life".

Possibly, but allow me to suggest a few other occupations that might also have a probable grasp of the breadth, brevity and beauty of human experience and actively seek to uphold that: school teachers, cancer surgeons, funeral directors, emergency service workers, palliative care nurses, disability officers and ... well, we can all think of other remarkable citizens who perhaps do more for the welfare of society than simply turn up to a studio, read out other people's lines and brag about it afterwards.

Peter Waterhouse, Cragieburn, Vic

What I find the most "choking on my cornflakes" moment, is the coverage that the media give to the whole Oscars shebang!

Gobsmacking is the amount of attention the whole industry gets. Who was wearing what? Do people really care? Acceptance speeches? Don't get me started.

Kim Fitzgerald, Deakin

I agree with all points raised by Ross Gittins in his article ("Cut in penalty rates another victory for dubious 'bizonomics"', February 27, p.33); particularly the fearless prediction in his last paragraph.

The weakening of organised labour and the unions will come back to haunt our economy because we need a strong union movement and a strong business movement to maximise the value of our GDP.

The saddest part of the current situation is the pathetic approach of the National Party, which was once the voice of our farmers but has sold out to the frackers, open-cut miners and also Asian, US, South and Central American and European providers of fruit and vegetables.

The aforementioned ruthless miners who indulge in the rape of our prime agricultural land and also the pittance paid to exploited labour used to undercut the prices paid to hard-working Aussie workers and producers are ruining our economy.

There are wise heads out there who predict that in 30 or 40 or 50 years' time there will be an unstoppable mass world migration because of a food and water crisis created by the effects of climate change.

It probably won't affect Australia, which will by then have its own problems caused by overproduction using fragile agricultural land but "skills-biased" technology experts will probably still be winners.

The only consolation for Aussies will be they can look out their window to see a moonscape.

Les Brennan, Sunshine Bay, NSW

The Fair Work Commission has handed down its decision in the Penalty Rates Case in which the Turnbull Government's submission to the Full Bench supported the employers submissions seeking a reduction in penalty rates which has been determined for the five awards for a 25 per cent reduction. The latest wage figures released on February 27 confirm real wages have decreased for the second quarter.

On the flip side, we have the Turnbull government proposing a cut to company tax providing a return to the big end of town of ten billions dollars over the next 10 years.

A minister in the Turnbull government thought it was acceptable to attend a friend's Christmas party thousands of miles from her landlocked rural electorate and charging it to the taxpayer.

A former Speaker also could see no issue with a $5000 taxpayer-funded helicopter flight to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.

It is clear who are Joe Hockey's leaners and lifters and that the age of entitlement for friends of the Turnbull government is going full steam ahead.

Rohan Goyne, Evatt

The Fair Work Commission is right. Sundays are not as important as they used to be. In fact, it's probably time for a complete overhaul of the Sunday brand.

For decades Sundays have been lagging behind the rest of the week in terms of net contribution to economic growth.

For example, there's no need for Mother's Day to be held on aSunday and no need for it tosoak up a whole's day's productivity. Why not move it to a quiet Tuesday afternoon some time after the sales are over?

Peter Ellett, Scullin

I was interested to read recent comments relating to how the Defence Secretary Mr Richardson was going to be a mongrel with the Defence Technical staff and how there has been an increase in the use of contractors and consultants.

There is nothing new in what has been written recently in relation to the over use of contractors and consultants.

I worked in Defence for 43 years, 37 years in Canberra in the technical areas. Believe me, up to and many years before these recent articles, the racket of taking on contractors instead of in-house training of good technical staff and engineers to do many of the complex tasks [was prevalent].

Many of these contractors are ex-Defence technical staff or ex-military officers who know somebody within the organisation. Money that is paid to contractors comes out of a separate bucket and is not taken into account when costs for APS staff are.

Defence dismantled the engineering side to the point of crisis.

I call on Mr Richardson to rebuild engineering in Defence before it is too late.

Ken Barrs, Stirling

The NRL's sponsorship deal with Sportsbet is not in the interests of the game, especially given the current investigations by the NRL's integrity commission into NRL player betting activity.

This sponsorship arrangement has many possible conflicts of interest. It should be terminated.

Jeff Carl, Rivett

Here's a tip. Photograph your gas and electricity meters regularly and record the dates.

Tom Middlemiss, Deakin

ON ANOTHER PLANET

Immigration Department Secretary Michael Pezzullo says the Audit Office's criticism of the Border Force for undertaking illegal body searches is "unworldly" ("Border Force warned over 'unlawful' and 'inappropriate' airport searches", canberratimes.com.au, February 27).

I don't know what world Pezzullo and his department are in, but it seems a different one from that of most civilised people.

Michael McCarthy, Deakin

LEARN AND ACT

The uninitiated might be led to believe the ABC Learning scandal never occurred. Turnbull's government is seemingly devoid of corporate memory ("Crackdown on 'rorters"', February 27, p.3).

Experience gained cracking down on family daycare may embolden government to chase the really bigbickies: tax-evading corporate rorters.

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan, NSW

BATTER UP

As a parting shot, the former head of Australia Post, Ahmed Fahour, remarked that running Oz Post was "a bit more complicated than running a fish and chip shop".

Actually, it's debatable whether Mr Fahour would run a successful fish and chip shop without his army of Australia Post support staffers.

Christina Faulk, Swinger Hill

HOUSING TIP

Make housing affordable: allow owner occupiers to deduct their mortgage interest from their taxable income, and only allow expenses of an investment property to be deducted from the current income from that property, with no carry forward of excess expenses.

Bruce A. Peterson, Kambah

BRAVO, CIAO

Congratulations to the Ciao restaurant owners in Queanbeyan who will continue to pay Sunday penalty rates to staff. It demonstrates that the stability and encouragement of staff and service to the local community is more important than greed.

Gerry Gillespie, Queanbeyan

PUNCH DRUNK

Stung by a bee I was actually trying to rescue, I very appropriately started floating around like a butterfly. I am not sure Ali's routine also included wailing and cursing.

Luca Biason, Latham

NO YES MAN

[Trump] could be President of the US for eight years. He is more than likely to curtail a Yes vote in any referendum for Australia becoming a Republic during his term in office.

Bert Blink, Scullin

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