ANU Vice-Chancellor, Brian Schmidt, is to be commended for his efforts to encourage Indigenous Australians to attend the university, and make the institution "carbon negative". One of the most powerful ways to tackle climate change would be to prevent ANU funds from supporting it by divesting any investments in fossil fuels.
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The ANU could take another powerful step and ensure its funds do not support the other existential threat to humanity, nuclear weapons. When governments, particularly in Australia, fail us, withholding our funds from destructive industries has a huge role to play.
Climate change and the threat of nuclear war demand a full commitment to action.
Sue Wareham, Cook
It's the Coalition
Re: "Politicians treating us like mugs" (February 8, p1).
This article deals with the ongoing concerns over poor governance in Australia such as the sports rorts.
It would have been a more accurate heading to say "Coalition politicians treating us like mugs".
The Coalition has been in power at the Federal level for seven years.
I cannot recall the same level of rorting under Labor Federal governments which seem like a distant memory.
Rod Holesgrove, Crace
Inquiry is suspect
The administration of the sports grants scheme and the Female Facilities and Water Safety Stream by the Morrison Government has all the hallmarks of pork-barrelling. However, of greater concern to me is the government's "independent" inquiry into the sports grants scheme.
The Prime Minister has used the secret report of his appointee, the head of his own department, to absolve himself and any other members of his government, with the exception of Bridget McKenzie, from any misdemeanours in relation to the administration of grants scathingly criticised in the public Auditor-General's report.
This is not democracy in action. Democracy is based on government of the people, by the people, for the people. What we are being given is government of the party, for the party, by the party.
- A Williams, Hawker
This is not democracy in action. Democracy is based on government of the people, by the people, for the people. What we are being given is government of the party, for the party, by the party.
The Gaetjens' report, and all documentation relevant to the report, must be open to public scrutiny, otherwise the moral authority of the Morrison Government is lost irrecoverably.
A Williams, Hawker
Thank-you NRMA
I am writing to thank the NRMA for the excellent services they provide. I joined in 1969. I have never been disappointed.
My latest contact was on Friday, February 7, while travelling from Batemans Bay. While turning the ignition key to start the car the shank snapped from the remote control casing. I improvised by pinching and turning the protruding end using pliers while holding the remote close by. The engine would spin but not run.
A phone call for roadside assistance was the next option. The operator, Daniel, said the only solution was to dispatch a tow truck which could take up to two hours.
Then, 40 minutes later, he called me back to talk me through an attempt to start the car. We were finally successful. The sense of relief was indescribable and the drive home was trouble free.
The way I was looked after was heartwarming. There was obvious concern for my well being.
These consultants are not motor mechanics or IT professionals. Yet, with dedication and perseverance, the breakdown went from an expensive and lengthy nerve-wrecker to nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Michael Catanzarati, Florey
Surprise for Angus
The AFP have found no evidence that the Federal Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction was involved in the clear falsification of numerical information and analysis that he used to attempt to discredit Clover Moore over climate change.
The police have neither the inclination nor the resources to pursue the actual fabrication any further ("Police drop Angus Taylor false-documents investigation", canberratimes.com.au, February 7).
Yet just over a week ago a key political staffer who worked in Taylor's office when the false document was distributed retreated to the ACT to head up the Liberal Party in an election year.
Given the unanswered questions he brings with him about the use and abuse of dodgy figures in his previous workplace others in the party hierarchy no doubt will be doubly transparent and careful about the ACT Liberals' basic figure work, new policy costings, and any public claims made about Labor/Greens' past and proposed expenditures.
Sue Dyer, Downer
Democrats trump Trump
A sloppy editorial last Friday. ("Trump is on track for his second term", canberratimes.com.au, February 7).
In the midterm elections in 2018 the Democrats won by eight million votes.
In the 2016 Presidential elections Trump lost by between seven and 11 million votes (If you count third party candidates).
The Democrats are the majority party.
The only reason Trump won was because of the electoral college system.
That is a relic designed originally to protect slavery.
It will be very close again this year.
David Browning, Queanbeyan, NSW
Consider Tracey
A recent Four Corners (ABC, February 3) showed repeat-after-repeat of bushfire tornadoes throughout the south coast of NSW and Victoria.
The constant unasked and unanswered question was "what is government, the Commonwealth and the States, individually and collectively, going to do about it in a manner that is purposeful, committed, and with an underlying recognition that climate change is here to stay".
Why doesn't Four Corners look at the way in which the destruction of three quarters of Darwin by Cyclone Tracey in 1974 was handled by the Darwin Reconstruction Commission.
In the space of three years an urban landscape that looked like a battlefield was transformed into the genesis of what exists today.
It is now a well-planned, and attractively built, tropical capital city.
Tony Powell, AO, Griffith
Barnaby's war on English
Congratulations to Barnaby Joyce for deprecating the use of fashionable linguistic inventions such as "learnings". ("The Challenge is over; it's time to set the agenda", canberratimes.com.au, February 5).
Less praiseworthy is Joyce's use a little further on of "off" as a synonym for "from" in the phrase "I'm not sure others will want to buy that view off you".
Paul Pentony, Hackett
Lights are welcome
I'll be very happy when traffic lights are installed at the Starke/Southern Cross intersection in Holt. It will end years of frustration waiting to turn right on to Southern Cross Drive.
W. A. Brown (Letters, February 8) is trying to whip up public sentiment against the lights by suggesting the first signs announcing them disappeared as a result of community protest.
He is also assuming the lights at the Florey Drive intersection won't be synchronised with them but provides no evidence to support this. He also claims there is no evidence of any need for them. Did he bother to ask?
He is also asking where the local member is, Apparently they should be standing by the sign to answer questions and get community feedback.
I do hope W. A. Brown has also written to the government to express his or her concerns. As for me, I can't wait.
Jane Craig, Holt
Commonsense needed
Finally brains at work. A new power station, eh! The Institute of Public Affairs released a research report in August 2018 "Why Australia must exit the Paris Climate Agreement".
The report estimates that the Paris Climate Agreement emissions targets will impose a $52 billion economic cost, over 2018 to 2030. This equates to $8566 per family.
Under the accord China, the worst polluter, can continue to increase carbon dioxide emissions by 50 per cent. The US is out. India can double its pollution and Russia can increase its pollution.
A total of 2384 new coal-fired power plants are planned or under construction in 62 countries.
It is hypocritically stupid to place carbon costs upon Australian industries and devastate our economy with massive costs on families. Export coal sales negate any reduction effort made here.
G J May, Canberra
Ethics? Uncharted territory
MPs should sit in on the APS morality re-education classes as object examples of what not to do.
N Ellis, Belconnen
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