When is a sentient animal, not a sentient animal? Well, obviously when it's a kangaroo. Apparently it's also OK for a jockey to use a whip during a horse race. ("Do let the dogs out", May 15, p1).
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Sentience is all about animals having consciousness, feelings and emotions; just like you and me.
There can be no exceptions. However the ACT government thinks some animals don't matter. Many people already know that animals have feelings, as we observe the reaction of our pets when they approach the vet surgery.
We have all seen video of the terror experienced by stock animals when they are about to be slaughtered at the abattoir or elsewhere.
Having tried to legislate from a highly principled position, the ACT government has let itself down by making exemptions and selectively turning a blind eye to cruel treatment against some animals including kangaroos.
Activists have been reporting cruelty during the killing of kangaroos for years. And are we now to start reporting landowners who leave their cattle, sheep and horses in the hot summer sun day after day, without shelter, and with little to eat from bare paddocks?
The ACT government may be on the right track with its new animal welfare legislation, but by making exemptions and not being rigorous in its application, it appears hypocritical, self-serving and selectively cruel.
Philip Machin, Wamboin, NSW
Feral horses are pests
I congratulate the ACT government on its move to declare feral horses a pest species. It is a good decision based on sound evidence, taking care of the best interests of Canberra's water supply as well as Australia's Alpine natural heritage.
The decision shows how urgently New South Wales Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean, must act to reduce feral horse numbers in Kosciuszko National Park.
The ACT and Victoria should not have to shoulder the responsibility for inaction by New South Wales. The passage of the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018 was a piece of blatant electioneering by the NSW Nationals, engineered by the former member for Monaro, Peter Cochran.
It needs to be repealed. It is my hope Mr Gentleman could go a step further and convey that message to his New South Wales counterpart.
Richard Barcham, Candelo, NSW
Libs were wrong on the tram
The ACT Liberals ran a single-issue light-rail referendum in 2016. The people wanted light rail. Armed with their instant MIT urban-transit doctorates, the haters have been in a rage ever since.
Inside two elections, the government delivers, well under budget, and the system is an immediate sellout. But the haters don't even miss a beat. The oppressed peasants have been forced onto rail. The socialist government is lying about the patronage. And, it had to come sooner or later, ("Light rail is a complete failure", Letters, May 15) because it is so popular.
How can the government ever win? Why would it even bother to try? Here's a tip for the haters. Outside of absolute peak hours, I still see too many scheduled buses driving around with the lights on and no passengers. Rage about that instead?
Stephen Saunders, O'Connor
A great outing for the kids
I join with Katherine McCarthy (Letters, May 8) in encouraging the use of the tram as jolly entertainment for children. The present cost is a bargain if you have a MyWay card.
Basil Fawlty would doubtlessly reflect on the current situation and instead of whispering "Don't mention the war". would instead whisper, "Don't mention the rates or the much lower cost of dedicated bus lanes".
Barry Suters, Charnwood
NDIS needs an overhaul
I can't help thinking the situation outlined in the article "NDIS falling short on guide dogs" (May 10, p27) is not an isolated one and probably systematic of the whole program.
The NDIS is essentially a private business sub-contracting to the government.
l have heard of several instances where people with a mental illness, the aged, or with a hard-to-diagnose illness have had to spend an enormously frustrating, and often very emotionally telling, time trying to get some sort of assistance.
Often, like Annette Holden, carers have resorted to public disclosure.
This can, in itself, also be emotionally draining for all involved.
And then, when the recipents turn 65, the NDIS stops. The real issue is that the NDIS can't make a profit with those over 65. The hope must be that the pension will be enough to fund their needs.
We are simply following the American system. Private enterprise is looked after and those in need are left to fight to try and fit in with society while relying on those who make a profit from their disability.
Geoff Barker, Flynn
Just another transport fail
I am a 77-year-old Canberran who regularly has my car serviced in Mitchell.
Last week, having left my car, I walked to my usual bus stop to find that all bus services in Mitchell have ceased to operate.
The closest light rail stop was more than a kilometre away.
In attempting to walk on Flemington road I discovered that there is no pedestrian access in either direction.
I find it extraordinary that the planners of transport routes in Canberra have provided no services for workers or people travelling to Mitchell on business.
- Sandra Mackenzie, Reid
I find it extraordinary that the planners of transport routes in Canberra have provided no services for workers or people travelling to Mitchell on business.
That means people have to drive, or like me get a taxi service.
Last week it cost me nearly $60 to travel to and from Mitchell and the city.
Sandra Mackenzie, Reid
We're not that gullible - are we?
How gullible do officials from Viva Energy, 7-Eleven and the Australian Institute of Petroleum think Canberra motorists are?
They expect us to believe that higher overheads and greater transport costs contribute to the ACT's higher fuel prices and therefore their higher net profit.
I accept one of their reasons, the sparsity of stations, is a legitimate factor.
When I completed my accountancy qualifications back in the late 1960s, yes - it was a long time ago, overheads and transport costs were still taken into account when calculating net profit.
These two items would form part of operating expenses thereby reducing net profit.
I M Hunter, Higgins
Students 'strike' had value
I hope some students and teachers will respond to Bill Deane's negative view of the so-called students' strike (Letters, May 13).
Bill claims it was a waste of educational time and taxpayers' money. I think it was practical exposure to current issues, including insight into how democracy can work, learning about differing opinions, and the politics of global warming.
My guess is it was a good bang for the education buck.
David Townsend, Curtin
What is the point of science?
What is the point of teaching our kids science in schools when our government is failing to act on climate change?
According to the recent UN report up to a million animal and plant species will be lost unless we take action on climate change.
Building coal fired power stations won't fix the problem, it would just put more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Anton Rusanov, Kaleen
The (petrol) price to be borne
There I was, having a premium retail experience at my local Coles Express servo. I stood in the wind, braced by the drift of spray from the carwash, and savouring the taste of petrol vapour. Soon I would compete to be number four in the queue, present my voucher and reject an offer of cheap sweets.
So what if the draft report on ACT petrol prices shows Coles Express charges 4.4 cents more per litre than the local market average? It's just the price to be borne by those of us who are princes in the realm of consumer choice.
Paul Feldman, Macquarie
Delays are unacceptable
Last week I waited with my partner in Canberra hospital for her appointment to see a doctor that was three hours late. It wasn't just us, there was a whole waiting room full of people.
I imagine if the tram was delayed even half an hour there would be swift and decisive action. It would appear the ACT government finds it perfectly acceptable for sick or injured people to wait in pain and discomfort for hours.
Enjoy your tram ride to Gunghalin but just make sure you don't get sick or injured and need a well-resourced, fully functioning health system.
Jim Derrick, Florey
Canberra going to the dogs
I know the ACT government loves social engineering more than most but this latest animal rights legislation takes the cake.
Do they have any idea how many ACT pet owners these ambiguous and poorly worded draft statutes are going to affect?
M Moore, Bonython
A BRIDGE TOO FAR
I was playing bridge at the Lodge. Bob Hawke stood behind me. I said "Did you ever play bridge Bob?" " Oh yes, before I went to Oxford I realised I had to give up bridge or beer. I gave up bridge."
Cynthia Moloney, Yarralumla
ANOTHER ABBOTT INSULT
Abbott's claim Hawke had "a Labor heart, but a Liberal head" is insulting to a great man's memory. Nothing new here; Abbott and the current Liberal rabble would have expelled Robert Menzies as a dangerous socialist.
George Butt, Oxley
THE GREAT MODERNISER
Vale Robert James Lee Hawke, the people's prime minister who, with the people's treasurer Paul Keating, dragged Australia's economy into the modern age.
Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin
BOB'S SAVING GRACE
While there is no doubt Hawke's place in history is well deserved, there is also no doubt that had social media been around during the 1960s and 1970s, he would not have become prime minister.
Ian De Landelles, Murrays Beach, NSW
GOODBYE SILVER BODGIE
There are two types of bodgie. The first has lasted for weeks and ended on May 18, forgettable. The second was silver and ended on Thursday, May 16. Vale Hawkey
Linus Cole, Palmerston
OUR MODEL PRIME MINISTER
Too young to vote during Bob Hawke's government, I grew up seeing him as the model of what our prime ministers were supposed to be. In the mid-1980s he stood outside the Lodge in stubbies and a T-shirt, waving on me and thousands of other Canberra Times fun runners.
Simon Kelly, Canberra
THE BEST THEY COULD DO
I am glad to see the end of the political campaigning. I am sick of seeing the Coalition's ads "the Bill Australia cannot afford". Is that the best they could come up with?
Phil Nicolls, Monash
SEIZE THE DAY
I was 22 when I voted for Bob Hawke in 1983. I'm 57 now. Things were a lot tougher then than they are now. He taught us we should never defer vital reforms until "better days".
M Moore, Bonython
SENATE VOTE EXPLAINED
A possible rationale for the misleading Senate voting instruction (Letters, May 17) is the Australian Electoral Commission wanted to distinguish the new voting rules from the old (which required us to number one square above the line). The simplest way was to tell us to number squares up to some arbitrary number greater than one.
Ian Douglas, Jerrabomberra
WAS IT WON EARLY?
More than 25 per cent of Australians voted early. Given it is possible to win with just 50.1 per cent of votes in 50.1 per cent (that being 25.1 per cent of the total votes) is it possible the result had been decided even before polling day?
Ian Morison, Forest
THE GREAT MYSTERY
We loved Bob Hawke for his vices just as much as his virtues because hypocrisy wasn't one of them.
N Ellis, Belconnen
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