Donald, tax, and the Libs

I'd really like to see what deal you offered to get that concession. Your lot are past masters at telling the bits of the truth that make you look good, and letting the bad bits dribble out on Easter Friday, or the day before Christmas (if at all).

And what about this push to drop corporate tax rates. Supposedly it's because if we don't, all the lovely money will go to the US which (post-Trump) will have a lower tax rate than Australia.

I'm puzzled. I've heard that the US' current corporate rate is 37 per cent and ours is 30 per cent.

There's something missing here and it's corporate tax. While ever there are countries with no corporate tax at all your argument suggests we should go for zero. Given your spirited defence of the now defunct TPP and insistence on lower corporate tax rates I'm starting to wonder what hold business has over you Liberals.

Gabriel Brown, Murrumbateman, NSW

We spent the past weekend in Canberra, attending excellent exhibitions at the various national and territory galleries and museums.

However, we did wonder how the planners of the capital expect pedestrians to cross many of the roads? For example, when walking along Brisbane Avenue to visit the Kingston Foreshore, the footpath simply disappears when you reach Bowen Drive, with no indication of where you're supposed to go next.

There are countless other examples where "goat tracks" across median strips indicate the real usage patterns, but a footpath or refuge island hasn't been provided.

Canberra has an amazing collection of attractions, but a little more thought for those not in cars wouldn't go amiss.

Andrew Dye, Melbourne, Vic

The controversy over development in the Curtin shops is a microcosm of what happens in any city.

As a former resident of Curtin, who still goes there, two things are apparent.

One is the pleasure of the beautiful square surrounded by a variety of shops. The other is the increasing difficulty in finding a parking space.

If the developers have their way the square will be less pleasant and the parking access much worse.

I would suggest that if it is costing them money the owners of the shops, instead of boarding them up which will cost them more money, should relinquish their leases for a fair valuation to the government and move elsewhere. The patronage would ensure new tenants would do well.

Howard Carew, Isaacs

Thanks for the update on the owners' attitudes to their DA on part of the Curtin shops. ("Curtin shops stand-off", February 2, p.1).

The run-down state of their building contrasts with the one of the same age in the square, containing the bank, hairdresser and baker among others.

It looks modern and maintained, by the various owners.

The owners of the block under review refuse to provide any details supporting their claim about "pumping money into it" and the building being at the end of its economic life.

If they intend not to continue with the purpose of their lease (operating commercial businesses), perhaps the ACT government should offer the lease to people who will.

The Curtin community should not pay when the owners won't.

Peter Graves, Curtin

Encouraging to see Caroline Le Couteur blow the whistle on the execrable over-development "planned" for Braddon.

Now let her cast a critical eye on the even worse development set to pollute the lake shore and the natural amenity of West Basin.

I would not vote for some slogan on number plates because, apart from being pointless, the options are so banal.

Where was "Canberra – The Warehouse Capital", or "Canberra – The Developers' Paradise"?

A. Whiddett, Yarralumla

I compliment John McKerral (letters, January 30) for his comments about the real cost of solar electricity.

The same analysis can be made for double glazing. In my case it works out at a break-even in about 50 years.

The difference is we now have a more comfortable room temperature, especially in winter.

Alan Parkinson, Weetangera

Bill Shorten's address to the National Press Club (January 31) opened by listing Australia's major deficits and lack of appreciable growth.

He then moved on to Labor's three point plan: 1. jobs; 2. jobs and 3. jobs.

Mr Shorten burbled for a solid hour about Jobsan Groath and Jobsan's children.

He did not present as an alternative to Malcolm Turnbull.

Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor

Yanks were not happy that Trump won and we have a similar mindless mob bilious against Turnbull because he, too, has money and independence. Bunch of bloody losers.

Robert S. Buick, Mountain Creek, Qld

What possessed SBS to change the times for the SBS Viceland (Channel 32) Thai, Bangla, and Sri Lankan Sinhalese, News to between 3am and 5am when most viewers would be asleep?

John Milne, Chapman

I've just watched the PM's National Press Club address live – well, most of it. The ABC telecast was cut in the middle of journalists' questions to allow for nearly two minutes of program promos. The next program, which started almost a minute early, was an old repeat.

According to the ABC the PM's first public address for the year was not important enough to keep on air for its full time (to include all questions from the press gallery).

In my time at the ABC a decision could be made to extend programs of national interest; by a senior producer or, if necessary, the head of programs. The flexibility existed to anticipate such a decision.

National Press Club addresses by political leaders were scheduled to run their full time and, if they were important enough, able to run over.

Today's ABC is not capable of such sensible action to the ultimate detriment of all Australians.

Eric Hunter, Cook

Weak PM? No

Your Editorial ("Shorten stance sound on jobs", February 1, p14) suggests Malcolm Turnbull is "increasingly viewed by voters as weak, vacillating and devoid of any immediate plans, let alone an overarching policy narrative".

How do you know? Do you make this judgment based on letters to the newspaper, or what is called the pub test?

Some critics point to his apparent failure to act decisively on the Australian republic issue. But what can he do? If he is seen as weak on this issue then so is Australian public opinion.

Do we want a leader who tries to be strong, who does not vacillate, who has immediate plans and an overarching policy narrative, like US President Donald Trump? Some would say the US has such a leader and the scenes of outrage across that nation show the American people are not happy campers.

Robert Willson, Deakin

So the Prime Minister has revealed that last year he donated $1.75 million to the Liberal Party.

We would be far more impressed if he and his wealthy mates donated this kind of money to the many worthy charities in our community.

Warwick Williams, Nicholls

Malcolm Turnbull keeps telling us it is not his job to comment on other countries' domestic policies. Newsflash: migration, immi or emi, is not a domestic policy issue. It is a very global issue. This government's no-comments can only mean it supports Trump. Gives me the creeps.

Anne Willenborg, Royalla, NSW

Trust who? ("Swallow the money: Malcolm Turnbull's donation disclosure delay is foolish and unconscionable", canberratimes.com.au, February 1). Never you Malcolm, never you.

John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

The stockmarket can report financial transactions on the day. Why does it take so long to report political donations?

David Gibson, Bungendore, NSW

I was appalled to hear Treasurer and former immigration minister, Scott Morrison, boast Australia's cruel refugee policies are "the envy of the world" and that Donald Trump's horrific and heartless policies show the rest of the world is "catching up" with Australia.

Australia's policies might be the envy of the people Morrison mixes with, but they are certainly not the envy of the world.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Committee Against Torture, Amnesty International, Save the Children, Oxfam and many other government and non-government organisations have all condemned our policies as cruel, inhumane and contrary to international law.

I am overcome with shame, grief and anger at our treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. I do not feel proud people like Trump and Morrison use the suffering of innocent, but desperate, human beings to further their cruel, racist and divisive policies.

Charles Body, Kaleen

"The White House says refugees involved in Australia's deal with America will go through 'extreme vetting'." (ABC News, February 1).

We get an idea what this means in The Canberra Times ("Trump leaves experts out of the loop", February 1, p.4).

Some Muslims returning to the US were handcuffed, forced to sign documents removing their right to live in the US and forced to buy tickets out of the US. Then they had their passports confiscated (on arrival in Ethiopia).

Our refugees have been traumatised for years.

Now they are going to be subjected to totally undeserved harsh treatment.

And I dread to think what Trump-style "extreme vetting" might involve for a woman.

We should send our refugees to Canada if we are too miserly to bring them to Australia.

I suggest that anyone thinking of visiting the US should take their tourist dollars to a more civilised nation.

I feel for all those brave US citizens standing up for their democracy in its darkest hour.

Or is that yet to come?

Rosemary Walters, Palmerston

It is beyond comprehension to understand Pauline Hanson accepting the credentials of David Archibald in running for a seat in the WA Parliament.

("One Nation stand by WA candidate after calling single mums 'lazy and ugly"', Canberratimes.com.au, February 1).

Has David Archibald stopped to think how the single mums became mothers?

Where are the fathers of these children and why aren't they supporting the children they have brought into the world?

Robyn Lewis, Raglan, NSW

I never stand for the National Anthem, Jeff Day (letters, February 1), but not for the same reasons as Anthony Mundine, perfectly valid as those are.

We live in a world where the nation state and national governments have become almost irrelevant save as franchises for sporting events and branch managers for global capital respectively.

Why should I stand at the playing of my market's jingle?

Paul McElligott, Aranda

CAR WORKERS' PAY

One factor contributing to the cessation of car manufacturing in Australia could be that the workers priced themselves out of a job. The evidence: the reported words of a Toyota factory worker "it's good money too and I'm not going to get this sort of money anywhere else" ("Toyota car plant to close in October", February 1, p20).

Ken McPhan, Spence

PROFITS BEFORE HOMES

So we now have technology and techniques to clean asbestos from buildings with a guarantee that it's all gone. Pity these techniques won't be used on some of the remaining Mr Fluffy homes, especially where the owners would rather stay than move out. But of course the government would not then have access to the land and the subsequent profit.

Frances Cornish, Spence

CLEAN COAL, DIRTY LIE

There is no such thing as clean coal. Anyone who tells you differently is either stupid or a liar. Coal is made up almost entirely of carbon. Burning coal produces energy by combining carbon with oxygen, producing carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere. Putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a bad thing.

Bruce A. Peterson, Kambah

TAX-CUT FALLACY

With the proposal for tax cuts for big business "to stimulate jobs", who believes the 679 corporations who did not pay any tax in Australia 2013/14 will employ more people as a result of a tax cut? Renowned economists tell us trickle-down economics do not work.

Colin Handley, Lyneham

KIDS AND POLITICS

Was the chief Minister insensitive and wrong placing a large image of Muslim children on a billboard which resulted in their being subjected to hurtful comments? Should children be used to promote the views of political parties?

Penelope Upward, O'Connor

MCDONALD TRUMP

It used to be said there had never been war between countries with McDonald's. It seems that, for the next eight years at least, there will be no war between countries which host a Trump enterprise.

S. W. Davey, Torrens

BILLBOARD BAGGING

Despite tales from our Barr-geoisie, I doubt that we shall ever see a billboard lovely as a Northbourne tree.

Humphrey McQueen, Griffith

LESS MUNDINE, PLEASE

Mundine = Mundane. Please media, give his predictable flame no oxygen.

Linus Cole, Palmerston

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