The growing assertiveness of China has thrust upon Australia, as a liberal democracy, the great responsibility of developing a strategy to build a relationship with China which does not compromise our own.
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Although such a relationship will likely be sought by other liberal democracies, China's actions have singled Australia out and thrust this responsibility upon us. Are we up to this? That is the challenge China is posing.
The creation of such a relationship would be no mean achievement. We will certainly lose some skin; possibly a lot of it over a long period of time. We are not just contemplating a new world order; it is already emerging.
As Penny Wong has said, Australia must develop a long-term and pragmatic strategy in concert with other liberal democracies which will lead to the re-emergence of a rules-based world order in which the rules are respected.
That is a tall order given the fundamental differences in the values of liberal democracies and totalitarian dictatorships. Australia must prepare for a long bumpy road ahead.
Ken Brazel, Wright
Despotism works
I find it fascinating that China, despite its huge population, hasn't had a second wave of coronavirus while Western countries are falling like flies.
It leads me to think that the best cure for the coronavirus pandemic is to already have a social credit/surveillance dictatorship in place.
Dan Babilonsky, Berlin, Germany
Target not met
The ACT now draws non-renewable electricity from the grid only when renewable electricity is not available. For each kilowatt hour of non-renewable electricity that we use, we pay for other Australians to use an equal amount of renewable electricity. On balance, we have achieved our target of 100 per cent renewable electricity.
The ACT did not meet its legislated greenhouse emissions target "to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT to 40 per cent less than 1990 emissions by June 30, 2020", however.
According to the ACT Greenhouse Gas Inventory, in 1990 there were 1209 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in the ACT. That did not include the 2035 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions that were caused outside the ACT, in producing our electricity.
According to the 2019-20 Minister's Annual Report on Climate Change, emissions in the ACT in 2019-20 were 1684 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalent. That is a 39 per cent increase on 1990.
Leon Arundell, Downer
ACT ugliness
We need more pressure on developers to produce better architecture here (as well as better amenity and privacy for occupiers), because, generally, architectural standards here are mediocre compared with, say, Melbourne.
High-rise residential developments are major objects in the cityscape.
Take the new one going in beside Woden Town Square. It's not the fault of the architect that it's too tall, bulky, disrespectful, dull, and crammed with pokey hutches.
It's apparently that of a boorish developer, faceless bankers, the builder, its real estate "marketeers", and worst of all, our avaricious Treasury.
We have a planning "directorate", a government architect, and a major projects design review panel. I'm not alone in believing that they should all do their job, and make us proud of our developing city, not ashamed.
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
Name and shame
The builder and sub contractors on every job when there are issues arising from poor workmanship should be named ("We're at the builders' whim", December 6, p3). They should also be prevented from entering into new contracts while in dispute with owners on unfinished jobs. The additional expense generated by poor workmanship, legal action, counselling services and the builder-induced stresses would be more manageable if the rogues were eliminated from the mix.
W Book, Hackett
Quality matters
As a homeowning citizen I have been quite concerned for apartment owners in our new high-rise buildings, many of which have clearly been shoddily built.
We have seen frequently, on local news, the appalling condition of many apartment buildings in Canberra, which people bought into, in good faith. What happens to these homeowners who are stuck with unsellable property?
Then I read the ACT government has rejected a call for an independent building commissioner overseeing Canberra's construction sector because we already have an independent statutory officer with overarching responsibility for regulating building work.
It appears that the job is beyond the capabilities of the current system and it is time for a clean sweep. The only option is a new and independent building commissioner or watchdog.
People's lives physically, financially and mentally are at stake here. Minister Rebecca Vassarotti, this industry needs a big shake up and constant inspection.
Mary Brock, Kaleen
Why the CBD?
Your report "Education Department enters market for new ACT office" (December 2, p6) caught my attention, particularly the reference to the department's requirement its new premises must be "within the Canberra CBD".
It would be interesting to learn what compelling reasons require the department to put this restriction on its search for new premises.
In the past departments have been located in the central area of the city and the town centres. The Woden town centre has been adversely affected by poorly-thought-through government decisions, both Commonwealth and territory, in the past.
The Lovett Tower stands empty . Why can it not be considered, after some refurbishment, as a suitable home for the department?
Ian Cochran, Lyons
Surprise, surprise
I sat down to read my Saturday The Canberra Times and there, staring at me is the headline "Feds 'pass buck' on Fluffy fund" (December 5, p1).
Then I think of how this government is able to dole out money for sporting clubs in deserving electorates, how it can use the Regional Development Fund to help an inner city swimming club, how it has no trouble paying a friendly seller 10 times the value for a piece of land ... and I think how wonderful it is to live in a country that is not corrupt, so much so that our politicians do not need to be watched over by anyone with real and effective powers.
So I should feel comfortable that we in the ACT can pick up the bill for a major problem created while the federal government was running the ACT. Another example of responsible government. Glory be.
Warwick Budd, Nicholls
Credit where it's due
Whilst I am decidedly supportive of Jack Kershaw's arguments in favour of an Acton Peninsula/Lennox Crossing/Flynn Drive route for Light Rail 2 to Woden (Letters, November 27), and supported by John Gray (Letters, December 4), I would like readers to be aware that I first advocated the supremacy of this route in articles in The Canberra Times on December 20, 2017, and June 25, 2018.
The cost and inconvenience of tampering with the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge to support light rail, and the devastation to the visual integrity and traffic flow of Commonwealth Avenue and State Circle to accommodate the transfer station needed for bus or light rail connections to Kingston, Manuka, etc, is mindboggling. The Lennox Crossing route would cost no more, serve facilities such as the National Museum, Shine Dome, ANU. Llewellyn Hall and south west Civic and conserve the numerous vital heritage features between City Hill and Parliament House.
Thanks to Jack and John for continuing to press the ACT government to recognise the folly of its present proposal.
Garth Setchell, Mawson
Rock and a hard place
I tend to agree with G J May (Letters, December 7) that politicians should lead the way when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination.
Rightly or wrongly, there is a degree of scepticism to be overcome and concern that safety may have been compromised by the rushed development.
Unfortunately there will be many who will see May's preferred option as politicians jumping the queue.
It will truly be a case of damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Keith Hill, Bungendore, NSW
China's silver lining
It's not all bad. China's tweet has taken the pressure of General Angus Campbell over his ill-considered decision to strip SOTG members of their unit citation.
N Ellis, Belconnen
TO THE POINT
TIME TO MOVE ON
Those letter writers struggling to come to terms with the consequences of our involvement in the Afghan war should read Sue Wareham's letter ("And Bin Laden?", Letters, December 2) in response to a letter on the issue by Fred Bennett ("Presumed innocent", Letters, November 30).
John Rodriguez, Florey
HEATED ARGUMENT
Your editorial "Absurd and damaging climate approach" (canberratimes.com.au, December 3) spelt it out well; the Morrison government's attitude to climate change, the love of a sunburnt country - particularly its heat, bushfires and flies - and making sure there'll be more of these as time goes by.
Colin Samundsett, Farrer
CHINA LOVES CHRISTMAS
As Scott Morrison leaves The Lodge to enjoy the family Christmas tree - which almost certainly was made in China - does anybody realise how much China loves our obsession with the scary bearded bloke in the Coca-Cola suit.
As a child I refused to sit on this stranger's lap... now I find him even more irrelevant.
G Gillespie, Scullin
MANY OPTIONS
Has anyone else noted what appears to be a big increase in the shops of clothing marked as made in countries such as India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and other good neighbours of ours?
Geof Murray, Ngunnawal
AUSSIE HYPOCRISY
How can a government that is keeping a family locked up on an island prison, that denies medical help for sick refugees, and is prepared to keep newborn children homeless, even consider demanding China apologise for something as simple as a picture on the web? All this from the Prime Minister no less.
Rex Williams, Springwood, NSW
A TOP EFFORT
I was beyond thrilled to see young Alexander Logan's contribution to the letters page on Wednesday.
I'm one of a few millennial-aged Australians who take up their chance to take part, to the increasing bemusement of friends.
May Alexander be one of many Gen Z (or is he the one after that?) letter writers over the coming decades.
Erin Cook, Waramanga
QUALITY MATTERS
All Australians and the rest of the world are happy to boycott Chinese products for quality, not just political, reasons.
Everyone would welcome a Japanese comeback.
Mokhles k Sidden, Strathfield, NSW
HAIRY LEGACY
As President Trump's time in office draws to an end there is a brief window in which we can consider his legacy.
One item not mentioned so far is his hairstyle. This is now not thought of as "bouffant", but as "boof".
Peter Baskett, Murrumbateman, NSW
WHO'S A HYPOCRITE?
Okay Alan Murray ("Geese and ganders", Letters, December 7) and sundry others, let me get this straight. When we call out China for human rights abuses we're not meddling in China's affairs. When China calls out our abuses, they're meddling in ours. That makes them, but not us, hypocrites. Why didn't I see that before?
B Dudek, Calwell
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