7-Eleven shows the need for organisations with the resources and the willingness to monitor the whole labour market and carry out targeted investigations involving unannounced visits.

In a fair society this function should not be left to a dwindling minority of independent journalists and individual crusaders. I don't care who carries out the function, but they need to be properly resourced and proactive. If they have to be rudely persistent to find out what is really happening, that's all right too.

Set-ups where exploitation is pushed down the line by profiteering and disingenuous top management are a risk we run in a free enterprise society, but they ought not to be tolerated. If pursuing these operations is seen as unfriendly to business and bad for the economy, then things and governments need to change.

Paul Feldman, Macquarie

Amanda Vanstone's comment piece "Labor treating us all as mugs" (Times2, August 31, p4) is probably accurate despite her obvious bias. If you replaced the word unions in the article with the words political parties, the article would probably be just as accurate. Unions coerce payments from businesses with the promise they will receive trouble-free project completion. Political parties coerce payments from businesses with the promise they will receive trouble-free legislation.

If one of these scenarios is illegal then both scenarios should be illegal. Especially when the political parties, money wise, make the unions look like amateurs. I am not a lawyer but I thought it was illegal to coerce or offer a bribe. So the businesses are just as guilty as the unions.

To remedy all this illegal behaviour we need to start at the top. That means we need a royal commission into our two major political parties and the connection between political donations and legislation. That of course is not going to happen until we remove the ALP and LNP from majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

It is up to us voters if we really want our oligarchy to become a democracy again.

Max Jensen, Chifley

Alan Shroot's claim (Letters, August 31) that none of the Israelis referred to in my letter of August 24 were in fact terrorists was not unexpected. Indeed, in the letter I submitted I stated that "perhaps Shroot would disagree ... on the ground that in his eyes they weren't terrorists at all but 'freedom fighters'," but this sentence was not included in the letter as published.

Shroot's claim that Ariel Sharon did not know the villagers from Qibya were inside their homes when he ordered the homes to be destroyed is simply not credible. In the first place, the Israeli commandos began their attack at 8pm, when the villagers would be settling down for the night.

Secondly, neutral UN observers reached the village some two hours after the commandos had left and described what they saw as follows: "Bullet-riddled bodies near the doorways and multiple bullet hits on the doors of the demolished houses indicated that the inhabitants had been forced to remain inside until their homes were blown up over them ... witnesses were uniform in describing their experience as a night of horror, during which Israeli soldiers moved about in their village blowing up buildings, firing into doorways and windows with automatic weapons and throwing grenades".

Even the pro-Israeli New York Post at the time compared the massacre at Qibya to that at the Czechoslovakian village of Lidice in 1942.

Justin McCarthy, Chapman

Industry super fund HESTA is to be congratulated for its moral leadership in rejecting any association with the ongoing, deliberate and permanent harm being done to asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus islands under the Labor and Liberal regime of off-shore indefinite detention.

It is hard not to be struck by the irony that it is a major national private-sector corporation such as HESTA, which is devoted essentially to the pursuit of profit, which has in deciding to distance itself from the moral morass of off-shore indefinite detention revealed so starkly the lie of the ALP's claim to moral superiority on human rights, social justice and fairness.

Jon Stanhope, Bruce

According to John Thistleton's article (Hungry kangaroos on collision course with snow traffic from Canberra, Canberra Times, 28 August) it would seem the only winners in the battle between our native wildlife and the speeding four-wheeled wildlife bound for the snowfields are the smash repairers.

While I have sympathy with the owners of cars bearing imprints of kangaroos and other wildlife on their expensive duco, it distresses me mightily to see the carcasses of these lovely creatures lining our highways.

A couple of possible solutions spring to mind, the first of which is driver awareness. Let's face it people, it makes sense.

Having lived for several years in the Snowy area, it has not escaped me that kangaroos are quite daffy when it comes to vehicle awareness. Consequently, if the car owner doesn't want to spend hard-earned dosh on car repairs, it's up to him or her to take the initiative and endeavour to avoid the animal.

The other alternative, for those drivers who, for whatever reason, prefer not to take evasive action, is to purchase animal warning devices which can be fitted to their cars. It could probably cut the holiday expenses back considerably.

For the princely sum of around $5 for a high-frequency sound generating appliance, it doesn't take a mathematical genius to work out that this paltry expenditure beats having to pay between "$2500 and $4500" in smash repairs.

Patricia Watson, Red Hill

Having served in the ACT Legislative Assembly since 1997, Simon Corbell's claim that people will be willing to walk a kilometre to catch his tram shows he is increasingly out of touch with this community ("Trams good for the heart, minister says", August 27, p3). In this car-focussed city, the significant majority of people will not opt to walk at all if they can drive.

And they certainly will not choose to walk to catch a more distant, slower, more expensive and less frequent service than provided by the current bus service between Gungahlin and Civic. The whole premise of the Capital Metro project is wrong and claiming it will improve people's health is fanciful.

Corbell seems to confuse people's choice to walk greater distances to catch rail-based transport with the reality that people must walk greater distances if they wish to use it. Ideally people would make greater use of public transport to relieve the considerable cost of providing for private motor vehicles. But doubling the distance between home and public transport will see even more people eschew Canberra's public transport in favour of private vehicles.

Instead of clutching at straws, the government should promptly cancel its Capital Metro project in favour of a more efficient and considerably less expensive busway.

Graham Downie, O'Connor

Courtesy of the South Australian State government archives: "In 1894 David Shearer began construction of Australia's first car. He worked on the project for many years. Shearer's final design was a 'horseless carriage' powered by steam with local mallee firing the engine. It was first driven in 1897. In 1900 it was shown in Adelaide at the Adelaide Chamber of Manufacturers Exhibition, Shearer having gained special permission from the city council for it to be driven in the city streets. Shearer was not interested in manufacturing cars; he merely wanted to prove that the horseless carriage was a workable proposal."

The idea of a horseless carriage (on display in the Birdwood museum) was no doubt just as crazy in 1900 as a driverless car is for many people today.

The autonomous (electric) car is coming ... well it's already here ("Self-drive cars will best tram, says expert", August 31, p2). It's just a matter of when it will gain public acceptance and RTA certification, but in our tech-savvy world it won't take long.

Calling up a car on your smartphone that picks you up wherever you are will make mass transit accessible in a way light rail never be. For Canberra to be investing in light rail today may turn out to be as strategic as it would have been for the City of Adelaide to invest in a fleet of horse-drawn carriages 116 years ago.

David Shearer, Braddon

I was more than a little surprised by the passive helplessness implied by Alexandra Cain ("A full-time job is a huge risk", canberratimes.com.au, August 28). For someone who places herself in the category of self-starter, the lack of discussion regarding taking precautions and the initiative to hedge against job loss leaves the article woefully one-sided.

While Ms Cain correctly enumerated several benefits to freelancing, a self-starter truly concerned about their job security would surely be cutting unnecessary expenses, building up a savings cushion to tide them over in the event that the worst happens and possibly even starting a side-hustle – an extra stream of income besides one's full-time job.

I hardly think that Ms Cain's lack of imagination and flexibility is a reason to write off all full-time employment.

Nichola Cropper, Downer

Julia Richards (Letters, September 1) still insists that import-protection at levels which prevent any "loss of industries and jobs" in Australia is viable, long-term. It isn't. She sees no risk that mollycoddled industries, getting the protection they need here, will ignore (expensive) technological change and drift further into inefficiency? She crudely misrepresents the effect of us buying stuff from Asia, despite clear-cut growth lessons from Japan, China, Korea and India, not as hundreds of millions of Asian people being given the chance to climb out of grinding poverty (and become market-expanding consumers, including of Australian goods and services), but as us condemning them to "dangerous conditions in the sweat shops of Asia". Kidding. Buying their exports is targeting foreign aid to make a real difference.

Doesn't she see that demanding they buy our exports while we don't buy theirs is appalling hypocrisy? They do. We get really cranky when the United States and Europe block our farm exports.

Manson MacGregor, Amaroo

The letter by Penny Moyes "Brickworks Ruling" (September 1, Times2 p3) notes the unsightly impact the proposed West Basin buildings will have on Commonwealth Avenue. Visiting dignitaries travelling on this important avenue rather than looking across the basin's open space will be staring into the windows of apartments.

How can design experts get away with planning that enables development that will blight significant public open space of our national capital?

Juliet Ramsay, Burra

Union-sponsored advertising on TV states that building the light rail in Canberra will provide 3500 jobs.

That number seems vastly inflated. Perhaps the unions will provide a breakdown of the numbers of various trades and what work they will perform. As a comparison, the May issue of the NSW Roads and Maritimes Services report for the upgrade of the Pacific Highway states that only 2700 workers are on site. And those workers are building bridges and levelling the ground – work that is not required for Canberra's light rail.

M.Moore, Lyons

Congratulations to Capital Football and chief executive Heather Reid for a great day out watching the women's playoffs at the Institute of Sport on Sunday. The carnival-like atmosphere was amazing and the huge turnout of spectators impressive.

I can not think why women's sport does not receive more attention in the media. Our community is clearly behind it and it's a great shame and a missed opportunity that no coverage could be found after a quick glance at The Canberra Times.

Perhaps the evening news will do the right thing?

Kathryn Kiting, Weetangera

Well done, Dyson Heydon. It was worth the wait and deliberations. Hopefully, the Royal Commission will put an end to the corruption, stand-over tactics and criminal behaviour seen in this country for too long, which has been the breeding ground for the politicians we currently see gracing the opposition benches.

Now all we have to do is weed out the Coalition members who show the same disdain for the public, both sides being the reasons for the low regard for anything political in Australia in recent years, from the front-bench circus performers to the innocuous "nodders" behind. What a country we have become.

Rex Williams, Ainslie

("Labor to ask Senate to remove Heydon", Canberra Times, P1, September 1, 2015). Under the Constitution the Senate does not have the power to sack anyone except the President. The best it could do is request the Governor-General to sack the individual. The Senate would have to present evidence of the legislation or regulation which the office holder has contravened; survey results showing results of "perceived bias" would not be considered to be "evidence". Similarly, for the unions to get the courts to sack Heydon, evidence of actual contravention of legislation or regulation would have to be presented.

Ed Dobson, Hughes

After reading Jack Waterford's article about Justice Dyson Heydon (Inquiry had the wrong man for the job", Forum, August 29, p1), I was moved to comment on that term "separation of powers". I wonder how many of our judges really leave their political leanings aside when they take up positions on the bench. And now that Justice Heydon seemingly sees no reason to resign from the Royal Commission, I wonder whether the word "impartial" is even in his lexicon.

Alan Parkinson, Weetangera

TO THE POINT

The Canberra Times wants to hear from you in short bursts. Email views in 50 words or fewer to

letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au

7-ELEVEN EXPLAINED

I wondered how 7-Eleven got its name – work 11 hours and get paid for seven?

John Passant, Kambah

ST EDDIES' RUN BROKEN

Congratulations to St Eddies for winning a second 1st XV premiership (St Eddies complete perfect first XV season, CT August 31). They are an excellent team. However, it was not a second undefeated season in a row. St Eddies forfeited a first XV match last year (June 28) to a local club side.

Jim Taylor, Curtin

ASSESS TPP'S IMPACT

I understand farmers' desire for "free trade agreements" to ostensibly deliver further markets for their produce. However, I am dismayed as to why any government would want to sign up to FTAs which threaten the infrastructure of our social fabric. Without an "independent social infrastructure impact study", the Abbott government should not proceed with the CHAFTA or the TPP.

Jane Timbrell, Reid

ABBOTT'S BOAT LEAKY

Peter Dutton claims Fairfax and the ABC are trying to bring down the Abbott government.With the non-stop leaks it looks like his colleagues are the real culprits.

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove, Qld

SELF-PERPETUATED BIAS

A charge of apprehended bias might be attached to Dyson Heydon's decision to exonerate himself from allegations of apprehended bias.

Ken Brazel, Weston

COMMISSION FLAWED

No matter what and how history will think about the Dyson Heydon Royal Commission into Trade Union Corruption, it will not think it was without any tint of controversy thus losing its status.

Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt

KYRGIOS UNABASHED

The Canberra Times reports Nick Kyrgios as saying, in relation to his sledge to Stan Wawrinka, "I wouldn't say I was embarrassed by it" (Kyrgios won't face Open bans, August 31, Sport p17). He should be! Kyrgios clearly needs sportsmanship and/or etiquette coaching! Kyrgios can be an embarrassment to Australian tennis.

Edward Corbitt, Farrer

CONSULT ON LIGHT RAIL

Now that the ACT government has listened to the people of Yarralumla about the proposed Brickworks redevelopment, can it not apply the same principle of consultation to the proposed Light Rail project? Can we not have a referendum or at least have any contract signing postponed until after the 2016 election?

Paul E Bowler, Holder

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