John James Hospital board's decision sensible

The business was in dire straits at that time, capital starved with ageing infrastructure and equipment, and facing stiff competition from large hospital operators. It had considerable debts, growing each year as the losses piled up. The idea of a small, doctor-run hospital, however romantic that notion may sound, was antiquated. It was going to collapse in the face of this competition, somewhat like local service stations, food stores and hardware stores have closed.

The board then took the tough but necessary decision to sell the business to the highest tenderer, Calvary, and become just a landlord in receipt of rent. It also purchased the adjoining Moran building to increase the footprint for the future.

The company then morphed into a charitable trust helping medical causes.

I have not been a director for some 10 years, but have retained a keen interest in its future. I can readily observe the campus is becoming even more run-down now, simply with age, and needs a huge capital investment — I would suggest running to hundreds of millions of dollars — to make it competitive again. That would not be possible without a huge balance sheet.

Thus, while I am sure those angry with the recently announced $100million land sale are well-intentioned, their objections are simply naive. In my view, the board has taken a very sensible option and should be supported.

I have no financial or other interest in any particular outcome.

Ian Morison, Forrest

As someone with a long career in feral animal control, including assessing the benefits for native vegetation and animals, I must respond to Stan Marks' and Ken Helm's (May 26) letters on brumby management. Stan knows that brumbies seriously affect park values but, on imagining how brumbies might be culled, he is paralysed, unable to think further. How about applying that imagination to the native broad-toothed rat or the smoky mouse? Are they not sentient animals? What happens when alpine sedge land that provides food is destroyed, or loss of cover increases predation, and compacted soil makes burrowing impossible?

Stan might also consider the horses which are rounded up, broken in for 're-homing', or sent for slaughter. Is that less stressful than a quick death?

Consider the New South Wales government's perspective. Recently, regulations were altered to ensure that more kangaroos can be harvested in western New South Wales. The government is not against shooting for managing wild animals. Why, then, would they restrict methods of feral horse control on the basis that a shooter will occasionally fail to kill with a single bullet? That would surely be the case when harvesting kangaroos too.

Clearly, when it comes to horses, the political risk of a bad shot far outweighs any thoughts about protecting native animals and plants.

Ken Helm effectively confirms that National Parks already have many problems with controlling species like rabbits and foxes. Where horses are damaging habitat, limiting control methods adds to current problems; it doesn't resolve them.

We need clear, consistent thinking about protecting and restoring Australia's natural ecosystems rather than basing management on historical nonsense and selective sentimentality. Otherwise, expect continuing biodiversity loss.

Brian Cooke, Waramanga

Jenny Andrews (May 25) writes that those opposed to kangaroo culling may be interested in her conclusions that humans must play the role of top predator to manage kangaroo populations.

Opposition to the cull is not only an aversion to healthy animals being brutally killed, but also from an appreciation of the scientific evidence the cull is unnecessary.

The narrative of kangaroo overpopulation and loss of biodiversity has been described by a representative of the ACT Parks and Conservation directorate to be "public relations". The guesstimate of population density on Canberra reserves and the projected population growth was also shown by an independent ecologist to be based on faulty data.

The supposed impacts of kangaroos on biodiversity could also not be substantiated by the CSIRO. The supposed impacts to endangered species (such as the earless dragon) have not been observed elsewhere.

Queanbeyan in 2014 noted an uptick in their population following the end of drought conditions, with not a single kangaroo slaughtered to achieve this. If our reserves are so overgrazed why is the ACT government allowing livestock to graze on them?

The 2017 update of the kangaroo management plan allows extra kangaroos to be culled to ensure livestock access to the reserves.

This exerts greater grazing pressure and will result in soil disturbance and erosion from their hard hooves.

Where is the logic in this?

Bronwyn Wyatt, Braddon

The federal Coalition is now reported as throwing another $50million into the investigation of the 2014 downing of MH17 over Ukraine.

The ABC has uncovered serious Australian fraud and scandal wherever and whenever it has looked into our domestic industries this decade.

These included banking, investment advisers, greyhound racing, immigration agents, workforce contractors, building standards, the underpayment of casual and foreign workers, and quota-driven academic standards. It has received, for its trouble, hundreds of millions of dollars in funding cuts over this period.

This dramatically different interest in the investigation of scandals represents the stark contrast between a fundamentalist ideological focus on propaganda and a total disinterest in uncovering and addressing domestic outrages perpetrated by local favourites — often campaign contributors — who are of course above reproach.

Alex Mattea, Kingston

Your report on the increasingly testy exchanges between Qantas and the Canberra Airport ("More drama over airport 'piracy' row" May 29 p.3) leads one to wonder what Qantas has, if anything, to gain from taking such forceful aim at Canberra Airport management.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has clearly been nettled by alleged actions of the Canberra Airport and its recent criticisms of Qantas flight cancellations.

We can guess the origins of this spat have most likely been simmering across a range of issues for some time. It would be very interesting to gauge exactly what the facts of the situation have been, who did what to whom, when and what the cost in money terms has been to both sides.

Canberra Airport management are no doubt mindful of the fact that Alan Joyce has built a reputation as being a forthright sort of fellow and not frightened of generating a controversy or two.

This is the same Mr Joyce who, back in October 2011, shut down his airline in the face of significant headwinds he was facing from elements of his unionised workforce over maintenance issues, leaving tens of thousands of Qantas passengers stranded around Australia and in overseas airports.

When I read of Mr Joyce reportedly comparing the Canberra Airport with pirates it brought a smile to my face.

Jonathan Hayes, Hughes

It's hardly surprising that the Russian Ambassador Grigory Logvinov has dismissed the recent detailed findings of the Netherlands Police regarding the downing of MH17 as just "unsubstantiated allegations".

Well, we have known for a long time that it was the Russian military that downed the plane using a Russian-made BUK missile. There was clear evidence that the Russian missile entered Ukraine from Russia and after the missile was fired it left with one missile missing. Perhaps Mr Logvinov can explain what happened to the missing missile.

Evidence adduced now suggests that a senior Russian military operative in Moscow controlled this operation and gave the order to shoot down the civilian aeroplane.

The Russian-speaking separatists in Eastern Ukraine would have had absolutely no idea how to operate the sophisticated computer equipment needed to set off the BUK missile.

Phone intercepts indicate that Russian-speaking voices were involved and were giving the orders. The latest report also names a person based in Moscow they believe was responsible for this operation. He has now been tracked but is apparently avoiding the media. Does this suggest a "consciousness of guilt"?

After the missile shot down MH17, US Secretary of State John Kerry had a meeting with Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, and told him that US satellites had tracked the missile and they knew exactly where it came from.

Every step of the way Russia obstructed every opportunity, including in the UN, to set up a separate investigation.

Russia knew that it would be implicated.

Compensation is certainly due to all the 298 victims' families. The perpetrators of this atrocity and perhaps even Mr Putin, should be put on trial facing murder charges.

Coke Tomyn, Camberwell, Vic.

Dr Wareham (Letters, May 28) makes a number of unsubstantiated claims in her ongoing criticism of the Australian War Memorial.

Notable among these is that the AWM "fosters a fighting spirit" among our young and therefore we have lost our way. I have yet to see any among the thousands of school children leaving the Memorial with a 'fighting spirit', but many have left with a deeper understanding of our military history and of the sacrifices of our ADF members and veterans, and in particular an appreciation of what Granddad or Uncle Fred might have gone through.

To me, that means that the AWM is most definitely achieving its purpose of assisting Australians remember, interpret and understand.

Dr Wareham also seems concerned that the AWM is achieving iconic status and is drawing in crowds, and that, somehow, that's a bad thing.

On the contrary, that is not to be decried, but is evidence of the success of the AWM and the esteem in which it is held among the vast majority of Australians.

The fact that it is a 'must see' for visitors to Canberra is proof of its success in meeting its aims.

Dr Wareham has long-standing, deep concerns about war. If she feels that the AWM is counter to her views, then the logical thing would be for her to avoid it, so as not to be offended.

But to tell the rest of us that we have lost our way because we still place great value on this national icon merely demonstrates that hers is a minority view to be ignored.

Kym MacMillan, O'Malley

How sad the president of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, Dr Sue Wareham, interprets my "turning the focus of the AWM towards national spirit", (Letters, May 25) to meaning war (Letters, May 28) with her quote "it fosters a fighting spirit ... if that's the best we offer our young we have lost our way". Australians are better than that Dr Wareham.

As to the growth in numbers attending AWM services, my letter invited her to consider that "through their interest they get the concept that war may not be the answer but if challenged we will respond".

The words she quotes from the AWM's mission "to assist Australians to remember, interpret and understand the Australian experience of war" ring true in a society where we place heavy emphasis on transparency, understanding and education to form opinion.

Len Goodman, Belconnen

FAMILY FOR SALE

The payment for selling your soul was 30 pieces of silver. Now the return for selling your whole family's is $150,000.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Vic

WORTHLESS WORDS

What could Barnaby Joyce possibly have to say that's worth $150,000? Or even $1.50?

Gaynor Morgan, Braddon

BARNABY AND THE BARD

Barnaby Joyce might like to (re) read King Lear. It will give him an insight to what he has become.

Peter Edsor, Bungendore

GET HIM OUT OF HERE

I can think of $150,000 reasons for Barnaby Joyce to clear off.

Linus Cole, Palmerston

TIME FOR A DONATION

What children's charity is Mr Joyce donating the $150,000 to?

Doug Steley, Heyfield, Vic

SEEKING ATTENTION

Eleven weeks is far too short a time to be without Barnaby. And, no doubt, we'll be getting regular updates in any case. Attention deprivation will set in very quickly methinks.

N. Ellis, Belconnen

PATRIARCHY AT WORK

I wholeheartedly support the analysis of the show Blanc de Blanc, written by Emma Lattimore (Letters, May 29).

The features Emma describes made my wife and I particularly uneasy and we came away feeling that the performance was tasteless, demeaned women and had overtones of misogyny.

You are spot-on Emma, the show is patriarchy at work and it cannot go unchallenged.

Peter O'Dea, Canberra

THE PROBLEM IS ...

James Mahoney (Letters, May 29) is disenchanted with our politicians. His view might change if a more representative group were elected. Unfortunately this can't happen while section 44 remains. There is more to it s.44 than dual citizenship.

Steve Thomas, Yarralumla

POINTS OF DIFFERENCE

Airlines complaining about credit card payments to "release" their planes from Canberra Airport? Why? Just imagine the (frequent flyer) points (they could accrue).

Linus Cole, Palmerston

STOP MEDDLING

The federal government should leave industry super funds alone, since they outperform retail super funds associated with banks.

Rod Matthews, Fairfield, Vic

CORRECTION

The claim, in the letters section on May 28, by Jenny Moxham, that K. Harris and J. Kershaw had letters on live sheep exports published in the May 25 edition, was incorrect. Neither has written letters to the editor on this subject.