Pollies continue to frustrate

On June27, Penleigh Boyd and Graham Downie's assessments of the spendthrift ACT government's increasing desperation for revenue would raise alarm bells in any normal electorate (however, the monorail proved that collectively Canberrans are anything but). And anyone reading Peter Dahler's rather dry implication of politicians' self-servitude would have felt the same pang of uneasiness that I did at the ongoing swindle we're all aware of but almost powerless to prevent.

Environmental lunacy regarding Adani and fossil fuels in general, inter-generational inequity stemming from CGT, negative gearing and superannuation tax concessions, the maintenance of marriage inequality and the near inability of governments at all levels to effect any meaningful change whatsoever all reinforce my decision not to participate.

With representatives like these, who needs enemies?

James Allan, Narrabundah

I was glad to read James Massola' article ("Two Libs working on marriage reform bill", June27, page6) that two Coalition parliamentarians – WA senator Dean Smith and NSW lower house MP Trent Zimmerman – are contemplating bringing a private member's bill to legalise marriage equality.

It seems that they are more pragmatic than many other parliamentarians. We have, in the past, sent our girls and boys to overseas wars without going to the country.

If the private member's bill gets up in the houses of Parliament, I would hope Labor would support it.

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

Noel Towel reports "Lower super and higher pay would benefit public servants, says Dixon" (June27, page4).

The jury isn't in on that judgment.

When loyalty for continuing employment is adequate for both, a super scheme benefits employer and employee. That's hardly pie-in-the-sky optimism; as demonstrated by Carl Zeiss since about 1888. And similarly, until recently, the Commonwealth of Australia when it had wisdom enough to adequately share benefits with its workforce via its superannuation scheme.

Isn't the matter of loyalty inducement solely a matter for individual employers, of which the federal government is just one?

The Commonwealth continues, since 1908, with a responsibility for funding an aged pension scheme. However, in 1992, the then government conflated pension and superannuation by introducing compulsory super schemes.

Taken to a logical conclusion, governments might be better by contributing more to needy pensioners, and abandoning support for super schemes other than its own. There lies the potential for saving a lot of brass; and perhaps returning loyalty, expertise and dedication of its workforce to the needs of Parliament (rather than to passing fads wished for by itinerant governments).

Colin Samundsett, Farrer

On the same day last week, I received in my letterbox self-congratulatory material from Andrew Leigh and the ACT government.

The government brochure proclaims how they have spent millions of dollars in so many areas – no mention of all the higher rates, taxes and charges they have imposed to pay for it.

They appear determined to ensure the ACT retains leadership as the jurisdiction with the highest taxes and charges in the country. The cost of the light rail system will continue to blow out as it has done already.

In the federal arena, Andrew Leigh blames the Coalition government for high medical expenses in the ACT.

There is significant bulk billing among GP's in some parts of Canberra, and bulk billing rates are higher than in many provincial cities and towns.

In a Canberra Times advertisement on June10, Andrew Leigh lavishes praise on ACT Labor for building a new road (the Majura Parkway).

He really is scraping the barrel if he believes this is a notable achievement in a city where it is a questionable long-term policy to spend many millions on new road infrastructure that can only encourage ever more reliance on private cars.

Colin Lyons, Weetangera

Alan Shroot (letters, June27) claims that for members of the (Australian) Jewish community to join and fight with the Israeli army that is occupying Palestine, oppressing its people and committing war crimes, is "totally legal".

This is not correct. Australian law prohibits the recruitment in Australia of persons to serve in an armed force in a foreign state. This is precisely what pro-Israeli organisations are doing in Australia for years by different means.

Mr Shroot's letter raises also a number of essential questions: Wouldn't Australian Jews serving in the Israeli army make Australia and the Jewish community complicit with Israel's violations and crimes?

And would that give Israel the right to recruit Jewish Australians to counterfeit Australian passports, as it has been doing in Australia for decades, and use them to spy on other countries and carry out assassinations as it did in 2010 in the United Arab Emirates, a country friendly to Australia?

And according to Shroot's logic, would Australian Arabs, Muslims and others be allowed to join foreign armies and securities also?

Ali Kazak, Narrabundah

I see pokies and the casino are in the news again with the hotels joining in.

When Casino Austria proposed opening a casino in Canberra in the early 1990s the government asked the Club Association whether clubs would support the proposed casino; the answer was clubs would not support it but would not object if poker machines were exclusive to clubs.

I was president of Clubs ACT and led the negotiations.

The government of the day agreed and put this into legislation. Casino Austria went ahead in this knowledge. Nothing has changed since then apart from the casino offering more inducements.

My hope is there are enough community-minded Labor MLAs to join with the opposition and deny Rattenbury/Barr the numbers to pass their legislation.

Frank Boyle, Isaacs

What a sad letter from Helen Connor of the Turner Residents' Association on Haig Park (Letters, June 24).

Just because a resident makes suggestions doesn't mean they are accepted. Many of us, who don't belong to her association, have also made suggestions.

Most of us are awaiting the outcome and are looking forward to seeing proposals from the extensive consultation. It is somewhat premature of Ms Connor to suggest that Mr Barr withdraw any proposal and "start again" based on her assertions that "things are in a big mess".

It is a sad that it is expected we have a park in the centre of the city which is not able to be used (because of little access), feels unsafe (no lighting at night) and is unfriendly for families and other members of our community who may not be as able-bodied as others.

The demand to remove inlet parking suggests only those who live within a walk (or are able-bodied) should use the park. Surely an outcome for the community is that it is a park for all residents, not just those who live nearby. Let's at least wait until the consultative process has concluded and have a look at the proposals.

In any event, it is to be hoped that this beautiful park reaches its potential and invites the community to use it.

Helen M. Goddard, Turner

I have recently witnessed, at close hand, the brilliant care given at The Canberra Hospital to a young person of my acquaintance.

The situation was very complex, but I cannot find sufficient words to praise the patient-centred care delivered by so many people from the emergency department, from specialist teams and from thewards, especially the empathetic nurses.

Their challenges, and the challenges for the family involved, may have been less ifthere had previously been afull suite of services for adolescents in the ACT.

Improvements have been made, but further planned additions need to be fast-tracked.

Sheelah Egan, Hughes

As a person who regularly walks for exercise, my thoughts on the container deposit scheme suggest it is just an unnecessary and ineffectual additional impost on most of the ACT population.

I occasionally see a smashed beer bottle and I doubt the person responsible would take it home and store it for six months until they have a suitable quantity to take to the recycling centre. The problem is that person may well be a model green person who lives in a unit with no car parking and rides a bike, so they can't put their empty bottles in the garage or out the back.

Isn't the recycling bin that every household has the proper place to put drink containers? If so, then the deposit is just an added cost for the consumer they most likely will have to bear.

The government has completely missed the mark with litter. The average burger value meal contains around eight pieces of paper (including tissues) that make up the bulk of the litter I regularly see (excluding cigarette butts).

Having a container tax on each piece of paper in a takeaway meal is highly unlikely to ever be recovered by the consumer, so the government is just going the easy solution and not really addressing the root cause of litter.

South Australia introduced the deposit system before every household had a recycling bin, so it is not really a suitable model to use.

Stephen Petersen, Dunlop

While it is nice to think that the Long Paddock Egg chooks that are able to scratch around in open paddocks under clear skies are "the happiest chooks in the world" ("Happy Hens: Long May They Roam", June 27, p2-3) , I suspect that this claim is contradicted by the other comment of co-owner Amanda Mutton that "if an eagle flies over and scares the chooks they might not lay for aweek".

In their original state fowls lived in the shelter of forests where they were protected from overhead predators, and their natural instinct is to seek shelter.

I expect chooks forced to live outside under an open sky during daylight hours experience an underlying level of anxiety – notwithstanding those beautiful Maremma dogs that protect them from foxes.

J. Neely, Curtin

M. Flint (Letters, June 26) attempts to sensationalise the costs of a light rail network by comparing it to rates.

Is he aware that taxation as aportion of government revenue is 32 per cent. Rates isonly about 30 per cent of taxation.

To equate any general expenditure against such a small portion of revenue, and then to simply divide the number of ratepayers by the total is ridiculous bordering on the duplicitous.

One might as well say how on earth are we going to pay the health budget now that stamp duty is going down.

He also neglected to acknowledge any benefits, only the costs.

Already we have witnessed numerous transit-oriented developments along the light rail stage 1 route.

These promote construction activity, additional rates and land tax, payroll tax, GST, wages and so on.

We all understand "can the tram" (or now "smart Canberra transport") objection to light rail, but at least be honest in your arguments.

Peter Brassington, Coombs

CARCINOGENIC TREATS

The festivities advertised ("Private Capital", June 28, p13) for Garema Place this Friday sound good. However they include toasting marshmallows. The titanium dioxide used to bleach marshmallows, toothpaste and other white products is carcinogenic. Should products containing titanium dioxide be banned?

P. A. Upward, O'Connor

HAVE SOME FAITH

I agree with Roslyn Phillips (Letters, 28 June) a "no religion" entry on the census does not equate to godlessness (but) indicates only fewer people want to be identified with organised denominations, most of which seem to be more concerned with materialism and hypocrisy than spirituality.

Brian Smith, Conder

PROMOTING POVERTY

Our lowest-paid workers, who include many of those receiving penalty rates for weekend work, need every dollar they can get to make ends meet. Ensuring that they will likely fail to do so, our leaders are bent on taking from them every dollar they can. Where is the sense in this?

Ed Highley, Kambah

MAKING IT UP

I agree with Brian Hale (Letters, June 28) regarding the difference in entertainment value between AFL and NRL. However as far as rules changes go, both codes are on a par, with AFL umpires adding a few interpretations of their own as the game goes on.

Alex Wallensky, Broulee, NSW

HITTING THE CEILING

Commendable that the women's glass ceiling also is being challenged in the Alexander Maconochie Centre ("ACT prison 'maxed out"', June 27, p1).

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

BURIED TREASURE

Just one point to add to the comment in Rod Olsen's letter (June 27) that "national bodies belong in the national capital". In my view, some of those bodies should be six feet under.

Mike Heap, Stirling

NO ARGUMENT

No one seems to have noticed that the arguments for same-sex "marriage" apply also to polygamy and polyandry, in some ways making a better case.

Charles Hirst, Latham

CLUTTERED

Another solution to the War Memorial's space problem ("War Memorial plans new depository at Mitchell," June 27, p8): stop acquiring all that stuff.

David Stephens, Bruce

JAIL SOLUTION

If the Chinese ever annex Australia they'll need new jails across the country to house the gambling promoters.

Matt Ford, Crookwell

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