On March23, it will be two years since Leigh Sales revealed on the ABC's 7.30 Report research that showed an alarming increase in the number of fatal accidents caused by drivers high on illicit drugs.

In some places, up to a third of deaths were linked to the use of cannabis, ecstasy and ice. And the proportion of motorists being picked up for drug driving at that time far exceeded the rate for drinkdriving.

There is growing evidence that the problem is increasing.

On December16, 2016, Peter Malinauskas, South Australia's Minister for Police and Correctional Services, announced that between 2011 and 2015, 22per cent of drivers or riders killed on South Australian roads tested positive for THC, methylamphetamine, ecstasy, or a combination of these drugs. Unlike alcohol-related deaths, this number was notdecreasing.

It would be comforting to think that the ACT has a different trend but the ABC online news of January31, 2017 revealed police were nabbing 12 times more Canberrans for drug-driving than four years ago in a trend experts say is sweeping the country.

But it added drivers do appear to be getting the message about drinkdriving, with the proportion of tested drivers over the alcohol limit nearly halving over the same period.

No matter what position is held on the use of illicit drugs, this situation is frightening.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Ross Gittins ("Unpleasant Home Truth", March8, p.16) points out why most efforts to make housing affordable do not work.

They fail, not because the homes are unaffordable, but because the money market that provides the money to buy a home favours those who already have assets.

A way to address the problem is to provide an alternative to the money market.

Mutual credit schemes and building societies used to do it. They now operate as minibanks and use money debt rather than mutual credit.

A way for the government to make housing affordable is to encourage mutual credit institutions by providing them with a line of credit from the Reserve Bank at the Reserve Bank rate of interest.

The mutual credit institutions can provide high-return annuities to long-term investors like superannuationfunds.

Most of the cost of interest goes and buyers give super funds a high return by repaying their loans for longer rather than paying more money through interest.

The housing market for new homes will have more buyers and this will stimulate the home-building industry, which will increase supply to meet the demand.

Kevin Cox, Ngunnawal

It has been claimed that when an assistant recommended to Winston Churchill he cut funding to the arts to increase funding to the war effort, Churchill allegedly replied, "Then what are we fighting for?"

The story is almost certainly apocryphal, but it makes a point that goes well beyond thearts.

The economy continues to grow, but the real income of most Australians is going down. Then what, we should ask, is the economy for?

By any empirical measure it's for the CEOs and the captains of industry, who are profiting handsomely; for the politicians we employ to manage it on our behalf, all of whom are doing very nicely; for the millionaires and multinational companies that make fortunes in Australia but pay no tax; for the gas exporters of our common mineral wealth, who sell to overseas buyers while it becomes increasingly unaffordable to those who owned it. Whoever the economy is for, it's certainly not for us ordinaryAustralians.

Fred Pilcher, Kaleen

Len Goodman's letter "Unfair Work" (Letters, March 6) rightly or wrongly points out the lack of independence of the Fair Work Commission.

One or the other of the major parties have been in power now for 76years, and the independence of our major institutions has been constantly eroded by these ideology-based, self-serving oligarchies.

The FWC is a typical example, with first Bill Shorten appointing unionists to the commission while in power, followed by Michaela Cash appointing business-associated people to the commission in2015.

All parties whilst in power will use that power poorly, and our democracy will always be under attack while we vote for political parties.

Vote independent, and individually they will provide the checks and balances we need. There will not be a government and an opposition. Just a government working for the benefit of Australia.

Max Jensen, Chifley

Mark Thomas (Public Sector Informant, March, p16) is insightful to draw Trump parallels from Thucydides and his account of the Peloponnesian war.

What Mark may have overlooked is the Trump parallel with Cleon, the populist leader to whom the Athenians turned in desperation, because he said he could fix things with theSpartans.

Cleon led a disastrous expedition to Amphipolis, where he was slain by a peltast. Thucydides doesn't have an ending for his account of the Peloponnesian war, but we know that the Athenians lost, and much else was lost besides.

Roy Darling, Florey

Michael Webb (Letters, March7) seeks an example of something section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act prevents one from saying and is not covered by section 18D.

Try this, Michael: " It's segregation for QUT to have a computer room reserved forAborigines."

The poor sods who passed this emailed sentiment around are now considerably poorer through having to seek legal advice to defend themselves from charges related to two people accusing them of offences under 18C.

Need more be said?

Bill Deane, Chapman

If Putin is unavailable to provide the strong leader Pauline Hanson craves, would she settle for Vladimir Abbott?

T.Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld

In our family we remember a little boy born long ago on a Pacific island where his father worked with a trading company.

When the little boy became ill he and his mother made the long journey to Australia for treatment for poliomyelitis.

Robbie returned home and some days the frail child was carried down the steep Levuka steps to school. On days he could not go to school, his big sister told him what she had learnt.

In her 93rd year, his sister recalled her amazement that her mother did chores for her while she was talking to Robbie.

One afternoon he played on the veranda with the assistant to a visiting dentist; that was all it took for Robbie to be diagnosed with leprosy.

Robbie went to live in isolation on an island where nuns cared for him and other leprosy sufferers. He was the only child.

Although the family could see the island from their house, his mother was allowed to visit just twice a year during the three years he lived there.

His three sisters never saw him again.

We remember Robbie and vaccinate our children with gratitude for the science that makes it possible.

R. McCallum, Higgins

While people may disagree with the policy preferences expressed by Jenna Price ("How Hanson rose again", p16, March 7), it is very hard to logically disagree with her that "It's you" – really us voters as a group – who are responsible for the composition of Australia's Parliaments.

Reread the last two sentences of Jenna's opinion piece, where essentially she urges voters to consider the impact of politicians' promises and likely actions on not only themselves but also their neighbours, friends and indeed the whole country.

Furthermore, I suggest considering their long-term impact.

Until many more voters think broadly and about the long term before voting, we should not be surprised that Australia is not doing anywhere near as well as it could.

Bruce Paine, Red Hill

Defence Minister Marise Payne and our top military leaders should remain above politics however this does not appear to be the fact when it comes to the politically charged Gay Mardi Gras.

Over generations men and women charged with protecting our freedoms have not been allowed to participate in our political debates while in uniform with examples when members of our armed forces were refused permission to march in the Queensland pro-life March for the Babies while in uniform and last year Liberal MP and former SAS operator, Andrew Hastie was essentially forced out of the Army Reserve for using photos of himself in uniform while campaigning.

It is also very shameful that there is now a special rainbow Rising Sun Badge commissioned to celebrate Mardi Gras.

The Rising Sun Badge has been unlawfully adjusted with rainbow colours.

This has devalued a time honoured, globally recognisable, sacred and integral piece of army uniform, worn by our soldiers for over 100 years.

Bruce Hambour, North Haven, SA

Tom Switzer's article ("Abbott Mark II looms" CT, p12 March 6), is very "wishy-washy" in terms of recent past Australian politics and ignores the cost to Australia of Abbott's meddling with the NBN, the negative strategic implications of his treatment of the car industry and his meddling with the then existing carbon mitigation policy.

I won't address Abbott's "shirt-fronting" of Mr Putin — his continual shirt fronting of PM Gillard showed us what he is made of and there are also his Knights and Dames and other Captain's Picks.

Leaving aside the irrefutable fact that Labor lost the election that saw him become our PM and then together with his Treasurer, he was "cock-a-hoop' in their assurance that; wait for it; "Budget deficits aren't in our DNA".

Labor may have been on the ropes recently however in the past, it has given us PMs including Curtin, a school teacher, Chifley, an engine driver and Hawke, an intellectual – they all excelled in the Parliament and in their role when PM.

I believe our future is too important to be left to the likes of the Deputy PM and Ms Hanson. To PM Turnbull, I say; "Bite the bullet and show your true colours" because we are dicing with the future of our civilisation.

Les Brennan, Sunshine Bay, NSW

There is much wrong surrounding abortion. People getting abortions are wrong. People giving abortions are wrong.

Public commentators and politicians (on both sides) are wrong.

People framing this as a women's rights issue are wrong.

Protesters outside clinics are wrong.

People against abortion who do nothing to provide viable alternatives are wrong.

That women feel shame instead of confidence society will assist them is wrong. I am wrong. Everyone is wrong.

There is no right on any side in the abortion debate.

Next time you see or hear anyone comment on abortion, or are tempted to comment yourself, bear in mind they and you are wrong.

Then do something to assist those who have befallen the extreme difficulty of an unplanned pregnancy and be thankful it isn't you.

Christopher Budd, Turner

The Western progressive left is engaged in radical change to our cultural mores.

Rod Matthews, Melbourne, Vic.

WHY NO CHARGES?

Re: "Church set to move another ex-priest," March 8.

If two claims against Brian Hassett in an investigation overseen by the NSW Ombudsman were substantiated, why were no charges laid? Is the legal hierarchy full of good Catholics reluctant to embarrass the church?

M. Davis, Charnwood

DEADLY IGNORANCE

I have no sympathy for anti-vaxers whose medieval views put public health at risk, especially the lives of infants and children. Proponents of such conspiracy theories either have guacamole for brains or are ignorant cement-heads. Either way, they are dangerous.

Gerry Murphy, Braddon

THE BIGGEST FAKE

Congratulations Keith Hill (letters, March 7) on nailing the six top items of fake news. My only gripe is his placement of "giving companies tax and wages relief will boost employment" at No.4. This is the biggest.

T. J. Marks, Holt

Congratulations Keith Hill. Your letter was succinct and comprehensive. Deserved placement on page one.

Jeff Bradley, Isaacs

BAN MISSES TARGET

Trump's new Muslim ban is now downsized to include six nations. It should be re revised to include one nation only. Saudi Arabia.

Mokhles K. Sidden, Strathfield, NSW

Who would have guessed that nested inside the Russian political babushka is a funny fellow with orange hair?

Matt Ford, Crookwell, NSW

A QUESTION OF CHOICE

John Lynch (letters, March 7) claims Canberra's low rate of births to teenage mothers is because of the sex education they receive. Canberra's low rate of teenage births is because of the ease with which people can get abortions.

Daryl Powell, Griffith

CHINA'S ATTACK DOG

The mad dog China keeps tethered at its door is becoming strident in its demands to see the efficacy of the West's anti-missile systems ("Anxiety in Tokyo over missiles," March 8, p13). That is alarmingly indicative of China's short-term intent.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

SCALING THE HEIGHTS

Nice idea to have height restrictions ("Storeys of the city set for next chapter", March 8, p6) but they don't appear to be worth anything. Barton used to have a restriction of five storeys. Then Doma got permission for nine. Go figure.

Lesley Fisk, Barton

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