While many Australians, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, will welcome the agreement reached between the peak body of Indigenous leaders and the federal government for further initiatives to "Close the Gap", there is an ongoing need to hasten reconciliation between black and white Australia.
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A majority of non-Indigenous people have never had the opportunity to have a conversation with a First Nations person and, if given the chance, might gain a better understanding of past and present injustice, and future aspirations, as outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
For many years there has been an Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra at the front of Old Parliament House. How appropriate would it be to have a dedicated building on this site, on the same Burley Griffin axis as the Australian War Memorial but costing a fraction of the amount proposed for the expansion to that institution? A structure worthy of celebrating 60,000 years of continuous occupation and culture and giving a voice to our First Nations People.
Rick Smyth, Narrabundah
Sad day for journalism
On Thursday I watched as a small number of journalists brought shame on their profession. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was questioned about modelling reported in the Murdoch press, targeted at driving fear into the Victorian community and inciting panic.
The Premier, the deputy chief medical officer and the Federal health minister all confirmed no such modelling had been presented to health officials. Nonetheless, some journalists, who clearly needed hearing aids, continued to imply the Premier and his officials were attempting to hide official advice.
They also questioned the Premier about what he knew, and didn't know, about the breaches of security in the hotel isolation process. The Premier had to repeatedly remind journalists that as soon as he became aware this could have caused the second wave he established an independent judicial review at arm's length from government. He also pre-emptively accepted full accountability for any adverse findings.
Despite this some journalists continued with their attempt to conduct a "kangaroo court".Aged care is a federal responsibility. There is already a Royal Commission into it.
Journalists need to ditch the old adage that you "shouldn't let the truth get in the way of a good story". Thank goodness we still have the ABC.
Doug Rankin, Isabella Plains
Curiouser and curiouser
It's odd that ACT Labor doesn't support longtime-planned residential development west of the Murrumbidgee, close to Tuggeranong Town Centre. It is purposely located on the west side of the valley to cater for that expansion. The party does support the privately developed, remote, and sprawling Ginninderry, which will rely on group centre Kippax Fair as a shopping centre for a very long time, even to the extent of encouraging its questionable expansion.
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
Development inappropriate
In mid-April residents of Highgate apartments in Civic were invited to comment on the proposal to demolish a nearby building for a new hotel development. In my submission I said it was impossible to comment as no information was provided on the impacts of this demolition, including traffic flow and pedestrian access along Rabaul Lane which is a chaotic shambles at present due to illegal parking. I heard nothing more from the Environment and Planning Directorates (EPD) until an email on July 21 advised me the proposal was approved.
I emailed back seeking additional information. I have still not received it.
I would like to know why my submission, and others from Highgate residents, were seemingly ignored; why the additional information wasn't provided; and how we could find out more about the planned demolition plans.
I feel the demolition has just been rubber stamped; that it was always going to proceed.
Highgate residents have also received letters, dated July 16, seeking comments on a further proposal to develop a basement hotel carpark off Rabaul Lane. Why would we bother commenting given our comments are ignored?
There is an urgent need to consider the cumulative impact of all developments in Civic. We need a master plan, not just one-off proposals.
Phil Creaser, Canberra City
The rise of China
Crispin Hull asks a very pertinent question in "Who is more risky: The US or China?" (Forum, August 1). He catalogues, though only in part because he'd need more than a page otherwise, American breaches of the "international rules-based order" since the 1940s.
America's interference in other countries' affairs, including funding assassinations and coups, goes back to the 19th century. The USA calling China out for "bad neighbour" behaviour is no more than the pot calling the kettle black. There is no doubt that China is flexing its muscles in the South China Sea but it's not the country with around 90 military bases around the world, nor half a dozen in Australia.
We might not like the idea of an assertive China to our north, but it would be sheer stupidity to harness our carriage to the mad horse of Trump's USA. But it's not just Trump. Malcolm Fraser, once a defence minister and then Prime Minister of Australia, recognised as much 40 years ago in his book Dangerous Allies. The Liberal party would do well to heed the message of one of its own; a message that has been ignored repeatedly at great cost in lives, treasure and reputation.
Bronis Dudek, Calwell
The birds, the birds
I wish someone would take a look at the current pigeon population here in Canberra, particularly in Red Hill. There are battalions of them. I'm all for avian company but this is beyond a joke as they not only deter the native birds, which I am at pains to encourage, but they despoil every surface they perch on - and then some.
Instead of concentrating all the efforts on the, now apparently annual, kangaroo cull, can someone please trap a few hundred pigeons?
They've even got the maggies bluffed and the currawongs bemused.
Patricia Watson, Red Hill
Right wing agitators
Many factors have contributed to the ongoing pandemic including the mismanagement of hotel security, the casualisation of the workforce, under-resourcing of aged care and delays in introducing a pandemic leave payment.
The contribution of hectoring and unqualified commentators such as Andrew Bolt, Chris Kenny, and Alan Jones should not be overlooked. By downplaying or dismissing scientific advice, just as they have done in relation to climate change, they have exacerbated the impact of COVID-19.
They should be held accountable for their Trump-like ignorance and bluster.
Mike Quirk, Garran
Report's calculations flawed
Your editorial of July 30 "The ACT needs to be business friendly" brought attention to a recent National Australia Bank report on small business. There was a particular focus on its finding that "The ACT was ranked the nation's worst in the amount paid on payroll tax for a firm of 50 people ($270,000)".
The NAB report's calculations seem to contain substantial errors. Reverse calculating the $270,000 payroll tax implies average weekly earnings of $2,285.23 for the ACT. This is higher than adult full-time public sector total cash earnings.
Applying the report's methodology with a sensible earnings figure, the payroll tax for a firm of 50 people is $68,000, making the ACT the second best rather than the worst. Tasmania is the best, because a firm of 50 people there is expected to have a payroll that is 15 percent lower than the ACT, rather than a lower tax rate.
Peter Bradbury, Holt
Down memory lane
Discussions regarding the naming of the school in the suburb of Molonglo reminded me that I attended the original Molonglo public school in 1938 and 1939. The buildings there had been erected where Fyshwick now is as an internment camp during World War I for German families but the war finished before it could be used for that purpose. The buildings were then converted for use as accommodation for Canberra workmen. The number of children in the area soon warranted the provision of a school. The Molonglo Camp Public School opened in January 1922 and closed in September 1942. We were living in Molonglo when I was born in the original Canberra hospital in Acton in 1933.
Trevor Shumack, Lyons
The value of money
No Peter Cooper, money is not worth what we agree it's worth (Letters, August 4). It is worth what currency traders speculate it will be worth. Should we leave it to gamblers to determine the value of our currency?
John F. Simmons, Kambah
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