The outcry over the government's proposal to become a major arms exporter is one recent example. A disturbing further development is a proposal through a Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry regarding a formal bipartisan defence agreement between the major parties.

It's not as if there isn't already bipartisanship on defence and security matters. If such an agreement were to be formalised, it would entrench even further the dangerous lack of debate on our foreign policy.

Submissions are currently open to the inquiry and I couldn't agree more with Dr Andrew Carr from the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at ANU, who said in his submission, "bipartisanship as it currently operates in Australia is not only failing to meet its expectations but actively impeding Australia's national security".

As such it would be an error to adopt a formal bipartisan structure for defence policy.

Instead, it is more politics and contestation of defence policy via our elected representatives which Australia needs to deal with these uncertain times.

Kathryn Kelly, Chifley

I write re: "More than 33million Centrelink calls unanswered as DHS denies staffing problem" (canberratimes.com.au, March 7). More weasel words. Centrelink blames digital technology and mobile phones yet again for tens of millions of calls going unanswered because "the number of staff on the phones has been broadly comparable for the last three years".

Surely the number of eligibility and benefit changes announced in the 2017 budget, not to mention the continuing fallout from the error-ridden robo-letter campaign to claw back payments, would have caused a larger than normal influx of genuine and possibly complicated inquiries, which management should have been able to predict and respond to by employing more staff?

Sue Dyer, Downer

One had to smile at the self-righteous warning from the government reported in "Super-union will lead to chaos: PM" (March 7, p7), considering its own super-departments of Human Services and Homeland.

Cold reality dictates that the government's failure to intercept asbestos-contaminated products, sub-standard steel components and prohibited fire hazards more than justifies the perceived power of "a merger between the militant construction and maritime unions".

Australia, on occasion, needs somebody with the power and will "to disrupt the supply chain at any stage of the journey between the port and installation at the building site".

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

Civil Liberties Australia in its recent monthly newsletter stated that the ACT is now ready for a UN sub-committee to inspect places of detention in the ACT.

"The right to be free from torture and cruel, inhumane treatment or punishment is an absolute right in international law that cannot be limited," the ACT Minister for Justice, Shane Rattenbury, said.

Such a new measure will only enhance the rehabilitation program already in existence, bringing benefit to those incarcerated as well as encourage their custodians to seek it. In particular, it could be of immediate benefit to prisoners who have been isolated in their cells for long periods.

Keith McEwan, Gordon

I note with interest recent reports that almost one third of inmates at the Alexander Maconochie Centre have used heroin while they were incarcerated. Given not everybody who is admitted to the "human rights" prison would be a heroin addict, this suggests not enough is being done to stop drugs coming in. Shouldn't a prison keep the bad people in and the illicit substances out?

M. Moore, Bonython

There is a story in the Canberra Times about a lack of affordable housing ("ACT targets 'insignificant"', March8, p1).

The root cause of the lack of affordable land and housing is that the ACT government is a monopoly. Vote Labor, Liberal or Green and the government will maximise its profits.

Perhaps the worst ACT government pillage (among others) is car parks and public housing being demolished in Civic and along Northbourne Avenue.

I had a personal encounter with the government's destruction of car parks.

I live in West Belconnen. I had an appointment with an optometrist in Civic.

So I estimated 30 minutes for the drive and 15 minutes to find a car park.

I was in for a rude shock.

I found that every kind of parking that I could possibly find was full.

I drove all over inner Canberra. Tall constructions blocked my view. For a Canberra song I'd suggest Verdelle Smith's Tar and Cement. You can find the full version of Tar and Cement on YouTube.

Graham Macafee, Latham

The Raiders Club claims that that Laurie Brown showed no signs of distress or problem gambling that could have triggered intervention, despite withdrawing thousands of dollars in multiple transactions from ATMs and staff-supervised EFTPOS machines ('Raiders Club could have faced harsher penalties over problem gambling failures: court', March 8, p3).

It is fallacious to assume that problem gamblers can be identified by 'irrational behaviour' such as 'intoxication or large amount so alcohol being consumed', 'bad language', violence or other signs of distress. Problem gambling is simply the urge to gamble continuously.

People are unable to resist the urge to gamble, or are having difficulty in limiting money and/or time spent on gambling.

The neuro-pleasure that problem gamblers get from being 'in the zone' of continual poker machine gambling means that they will typically come across as relaxed and happy rather than anxious, agitated, or distressed.

And of course, venue staff do not know how much any gambler can afford to lose.

While a more sensible set of criteria on which to base interventions could no doubt be developed, it is clear that any system that places the entire responsibility for managing problem gambling on venue staff is bound to fail.

A more comprehensive response is required, including fewer gaming venues, lower betting limits, re-designed gaming machines with automatic time and loss reminders, and Norwegian-style maximum loss limits.

Karina Morris, Weetangera

Perhaps it is the site testing of Mr Fluffy remediated blocks which is questionable ("Family find asbestos on $1.6m cleared site", February 26, p1).

It appears that only a minimal soil testing and soil validation program is being conducted despite the fact that Andrew Kefford told Mr Fluffy home owners and neighbours, on several occasions at various venues, that no short cuts would ever be taken by the ACT Asbestos Taskforce and people's health was far more important than time and money to the ACT government.

One 783-square-metre block, which is reported to be one of the worst asbestos contaminated blocks, to date initially had only 11 "scrape" samples (about one sample every 70 sq m).

Is this testing adequate to sign off the block as being ready for sale and suitable for residential reuse by our government's agent?

Scientific "grid loam" sampling is performed on a far tighter grid not only with surface scrape sampling but also shallow coring (below foundations on Mr Fluffy blocks). If this had been done then more "hot spot" pockets for further remediation may have been located and potential carcinogens safely removed before auction.

Surely if our government is selling these remediated blocks (at inflated prices) as suitable for residential reuse, it should be completely confident and give written guarantees that all the blocks it sells are now asbestos-free.

P. R. Temple, Macquarie

Together with thousands of others we spent several happy hours on Sunday, March 4, on the foreshores of Lake Burley Griffin.

Several dozen sailing boats of all classes were enjoying the brisk breeze. Countless family parties thronged the grass at the yacht club and in the Chinese and Japanese gardens. Others were visiting the antiques fair in nearby Albert Hall. There are not many cities where citizens can revel freely and relax in such lovely waterside spaces.

We back the calls to include Lake Burley Griffin and the lakeshore landscape on the National Heritage List. We also support appeals to halt the imminent reclamation of two hectares, to build multistorey apartments in West Basin ("West Basin development: call to put lake on heritage list", March 5, pp1-2).

We need to be vigilant to protect all our lakeshores and nature parks for public access and enjoyment. The loss or diminution of these well-loved public spaces, through attrition and/or privatisation, would be a disaster.

Elizabeth and David Teather, Reid

In my view, the likelihood of light rail proceeding to Woden is near zero (unless madness prevails).

The multitude of arguments against are too numerous to fully list here.

Fait accompli to stage one. So, why not make the project more useful and continue the route around London Circuit and backto Northbourne Avenue in a neat circle?

This would access more workplaces, retail areas, theatres, New Acton, the law precinct, ANU etc and encourage usage from the north and return far more than current plans.

One or two additional trams could also be designated to operate free in a continuous-circuit-only "City Loop", encouraging usage by those, including tourists, wishing to avoid a long walk or drive across the city area.

That would really get bums on seats and improve and smarten the city experience.

John Mungoven, Stirling

Contrary to what Mary Robbie (Letters, May 7) believes, there certainly was a mandate for light rail, given that both the ACT elections in 2012 and 2016 were fought on the issue.

The choice for voters couldn't have been any clearer in both elections.

A vote for the ACT Greens or ACT Labor was a vote for light rail.

Prior to the 2012 election the ACT Greens committed to "the first stage of light rail" and ACT Labor promised "a public private partnership to build lightrail".

Prior to the 2016 election both ACT Labor and the ACT Greens committed to Stage 2, whereas the Canberra Liberals took the position that "should the Canberra Liberals win the October 2016 election we will tear up the contracts".

The ACT Greens and ACT Labor received more votes than the Canberra Liberals in both elections, granting them the authority to pursue the policy of light rail for Canberra.

Chris Doyle, Gordon

Agreed, Bob Salmond ("Northbourne Canyon", Letters, March 8), a disaster is being prepared for us.

We only have the tram because Shane Rattenbury saw one in Portland, Oregon, and decided that Canberra should have one.

On that trip he must have visited Chicago or New York, strolled along State Street or Fifth Avenue and decided that Northbourne Avenue should look like either "canyon".

Perhaps he did not notice that along both "canyons" the metro rail line runs under the street, not along it!

Time to repeal the Self-government Act of 1988.

Paul E. Bowler, Chapman

A couple of days ago, two young women dumped a considerable quantity of rubbish in the greenway that runs through Waramanga.

It was mainly pizza boxes and empty vodka and fruit juice bottles.

Putting it into a waste-bin I read some handwriting on one "authentic New Yorker" pizza box.

The scribble included:

"I hope I wake up, Love you all."

"I just drank something weird so I hope I don't die."

"I hope the world knows that D---- loves everyone."

"This is the happiest I've been in forever."

"I hope I don't wake up to the pain — D----."

Just guessing, but it seems that someone had a party while mum and dad were away and didn't want them to see what was in the waste bin.

But, more to the point, if you are reading this, and can put two and two together, it's high time for talking between parents and offspring. It shouldn't just be about dumping rubbish either.

Brian Cooke, Waramanga

TAKE THAT AUSTRALIA

America stitching up Australia, a friend, with Trump's new tariff regime should remind Australia how the East Timorese must have felt all these years with Australia stitching them up over resources in the Timor Sea.

Rajend Naidu, Glenfield, NSW

SHORTSIGHTED MOVE

USA has been advising the rest of the world about the benefit of free trade. Now it is making a tactical retreat. This move will bring chaos in the world trade. Who will believe USA in future.

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

OFFENSIVE ATTITUDE

G. Wilson wonders when the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme's well of funds to treat genetic diseases will run dry. He ponders the benefits of eugenics. Me, I wonder if his sump of nastiness will ever drain?

Matt Gately, Rivett

NO TIME FOR OUTRAGE

Ronald Elliott is disappointed with the absence of outraged replies regarding a culinary bias towards dogs in some Asian cuisines (Letters , March 9). 'Tis footy season and everyone enjoys a hot dog with a beer chaser at the footy. No time to be outraged. Yum!

Peter Snowdon, Aranda

WHAT WARMING?

With multiple icy storms in the US, the "Beast from the East" freezing Europe and Japan having had its coldest winter for decades, some are blaming climate change. Does this mean we can now stop worrying about global warming?

Jevon Kinder, Murrumbateman

ANY COMMENT SENATOR?

Remember those Britain First videos Australian senator Jim Molan shared? The two leaders of this fascist organisation have just been jailed in the UK for anti-Muslim hate crimes. Over to you Senator Molan.

John Passant, Kambah

JOINING IN THE FUN

Now that the Mardi Gras is over, I trust that our politicians' flights, accommodation and Comcar expenses are being checked to see that they are not charged to the taxpayer in the same way that Sarah Hanson-Young did in 2013.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

FOOLISH MOVE

Extraordinary that the Liberal government of Tasmania is seeking to weaken gun laws. Shame on the very idea of it. Don't go to water Malcolm, stand firm and do whatever it takes to stop this foolish and offensive move in its tracks.

Judy Hutchinson, Hawker

CAR TARIFFS UNFAIR

An example of how America is disadvantaged in trade, is that US duty on European cars is 2 per cent, but Europe has a 10 per cent tariff on American cars. What's fair about this?

Rod Matthews, Fairfield

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