Eucalyptus trees are fire adapted and fire promoting, it is their long term strategy for beating the competition. Eucalyptus oil can form devastating fire balls. Pine trees are filled with turpentine.

We have not learned any lessons from the Weston Creek fires. The pine plantation still stands. It could be replaced with beautiful, fire ablative, fire retardant deciduous trees which would attract more birds and wildlife.

But back to the eucalypts. There are thousands of them in the suburbs of Canberra. They are a high fire risk around child minding centres, primary schools, high schools, preschools and playgrounds. They are planted all the way along back fences and most free-standing homes have at least one or two. This is madness.

Some older suburbs are beautifully planted out with shady, green exotics that attract king parrots, cockatoos, crested pigeons. Many deciduous trees are fire ablative, will slow wind speeds near the ground and shield homes and property from fire.

During the major fires in Dartmouth, Victoria, my cousin's hotel was saved by two large claret ash trees. A heifer and her calf were found alive and well the day after the fires, having taken shelter under willow trees.

Even so called safe zones, such as ovals, are often surrounded by gums and present a continued danger for those sheltering from a bush fire.

Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, Woden and Belconnen are at risk because the eucalypts are the dominant tree and will one day allow whole suburbs to burn furiously.

It is high time for common sense to prevail and for the establishment of well planned fire retardant barriers across the landscape.

Deciduous, high moisture, low oil trees such as Professor Pryor's hybrid pencil poplars offer a nice aesthetic in the urban environment while serving as fire protection.

Eucalypts evolved to burn and that is what they do well. In most suburbs in Canberra we are sitting ducks. It is only a matter of time before we see incredible devastation from eucalyptus fuelled fires.

It is time to dispense with the "native tree good" and "exotic tree bad" ideology.

Eucalypts just don't belong close to houses in fire-prone places.

The ANU Election Survey has found Labor's policies on negative gearing and franking credits were major factors in Labor's election loss.

Never mind that we now face another three years of climate change inaction when we only have 11 years of climate action to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees.

The ANU survey also indicated that public trust in governments is at an all time low. It should also be noted that membership of political parties is very low.

Australians voted for their hip pockets instead of the future of humanity but don't trust governments and won't make the effort to get better governments by participating in social protest and joining political parties.

What a self-centred lot we are.

So we're to have 135 extra police patrolling the concourses at our airports with short barrel rifles. They say it's for national security reasons but the biggest national security issue, global warming, is being virtually ignored.

We need a climate emergency plan as serious as a plan to go to war, Both major parties have their head in the sand, presumably so they can't smell the smoke.

On Sunday I listened to Fran Kelly interviewing Mathias Cormann.

I don't think the bloke answered one single question in almost 10 minutes of questioning. Not one. This is why we don't trust our politicians. They're evasive, full of spin and never accountable. I was walking around the lake at the time so no one heard me swearing.

Revamping the public service to "improve service delivery". "How good is that?" the PM might ask. Meanwhile temperatures soar, the country is going up in flames, a pall of smoke covers eastern Australia, there's no rain in sight, highways are closed.

So how good is the "service delivery" from Mr Smirk and his clique? Where is the policy to strengthen the nation's fire-fighting capability? Where are the plans to reduce fire risk, keep Australians safe, tackle climate change, protect rivers and crops, and secure the country's future food supplies?

Clearly it's all hand-wringing and crocodile tears for photo ops. To borrow a phrase: "Scomo, where the bloody hell are you"?

Dr John Falzon's excellent article ("Defeat of union-busting bill is a tangible sign of hope", December 9, p14) deals with a problem that is always with us.

During the strikes of the 1890s employers argued that they were opposing a perceived threat to their right to manage. Unionists in response claimed: 'We just want out common humanity recognised'.

The ramifications of these two sincerely held positions continue to cause industrial conflict, and finding a balance between them is difficult whatever the circumstances.

Dr Falzon warns, however, that if the balance is permanently tilted in favour of employers the consequences for a democratic society may be worse than the frustration and discomfort of living with periodic industrial turmoil.

Unfortunately for those of us who share this concern, Pauline Hanson, Malcolm Roberts and Jacqui Lambie might again have to defy our Coalition government.

Tasmania is slightly under one per cent of Australia's land mass. I suspect that if a foreign power occupied Tasmania it might cancel any prospects for peace between Australia and that country. The ACT is smaller still but would Canberrans submit quietly to foreign occupation?

Would Australians be happy to have settlements take over our most fertile agricultural land with Australian farmers, who used to own that land, forced by economic necessity to work as labourers for the new occupiers?

Yet Mr Lee ("Calling for a one-state solution in Israel and Palestine is calling for a bloodbath", canberratimes.com.au, December 10) asks in the context of Israel's theft of Palestinian land: "How can that 1.1 per cent cancel the prospects for peace?"

This week I went to the dentist for a checkup. It included x-rays, a clean and fluoride treatment. I paid nothing. The fee was completely covered by my private health insurance.

Also this week a friend had his prostate removed. He also has private health insurance. He paid $12,000; the difference between what his health insurance covered and the doctor's fee. Another friend needs an ultrasound for a painful condition. His out of pocket expenses will be several hundreds of dollars, something he can't afford with a family and Christmas. So he will live in pain for quite some time.

How is it that some health providers are so greedy? Why is it that an ultrasound is too expensive for some? Why aren't more in the medical profession like my dentist? And why do we allow this to continue?

It is an understatement of gigantic proportions to suggest Jacqui Lambie abused her position. Her inhumane decision, in which she has turned her back on refugees on Manus and Nauru, is deplorable.

She covertly colluded with the "deep state", and the LNP to make a secret deal in order to repeal the Medevac legislation.

Her actions not only make a mockery of the institution of Parliament itself, but it also holds the Australian people in contempt. It is also undemocratic. She should resign immediately.

I am happy Tennis Australia has invited Margaret Court to the Australian Open to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her 1970 grand slam sweep.

The media has reported outrage by some in relation to Court's comments on same-sex marriage and "lesbians in tennis", inferring she alone is of that view. They say, for that reason, she should not be invited.

In the same-sex marriage postal survey nearly 40 per cent of Australians opposed same-sex marriage. It is possible some of these held some of the same views as Margaret Court. Should they be ostracised in the same way?

Tennis Australia is reported as saying while it doesn't agree with Court's opposition to same sex-marriage it is important to recognise her efforts. Does that mean 100 per cent of the employees of Tennis Australia supported the "yes" case? I don't think so.

Sue Brudenell's letter (December 11) about cloud seeding in the UAE was interesting.

I attended an RAAF institution along with a CSIRO scientist in 1971. He said he had spent some time working on cloud seeding experiments.

The program stopped because if it rained after seeding they could never be certain it was the cause.

Some claim that during World War II, when it was suggested the British arts budget be cut to support the war effort, Winston Churchill replied: "Then what are we fighting for?"

We cheated on the cricket field in South Africa and now we are trying to cheat on the world and future generations in Madrid.

Sorry J Nichols (Letters, December 10) mines has already been taken into Dutton's expanded portfolio; Security, Home Affairs and Mineral Exploitation.

It will secure mining corporation profits against battling farmers' home affairs.

WADA gets things done. The climate is on steroids. It is time to contact WADA.

Dear Mr Bolton, MBE, (Letters, December 6). As the old philosopher, whose name I do not remember, used to say "I do not agree with your views, but I would defend to the death your rights to express them".

But, in my humble opinion, you are wrong.

If, as the PM says, "Australia is a country of respect and of tolerance" why is it necessary to introduce a law that allows organisations to discriminate by allowing them to "hire staff based on their faith"?

If we respect and tolerate others' views, we don't need any law to ensure religious freedom.

I believe the religious discrimination bill came about because a Christian was discriminated against by a secular organisation.

The bill itself seems to be predominantly about Christian, or other religious organisations, being able to discriminate against people who are not adherents to their religion.

How do we make sense of that?

Ted Richards (Letters, 11 Dec) gives three pronunciations for Ipima Street. Ever since I lived just around the corner in Ijong (eye-jong) Street in the 1960s it's been "eye-par-mar" street. I can't vouch for how my car's GPS navigation system will say it however.

As we race towards an Orwellian dystopia I daydream about what it would be like to have a Prime Minister who's a leader; one who makes you proud of your country. Could we invite New Zealand to invade and take us over?

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