What is it that he and, clearly, some of his colleagues, do not get about the vulnerability of young women in such situations where male power assumes so much importance?

He claims he was distressed that he wasn't told about the incident earlier. Anyone who has worked in or been closely associated with ministerial offices could be forgiven for thinking this was either incompetence or worse on the part of at least the senior staffers, to say nothing about the relevant MPs involved.

Once again on a serious matter the Prime Minister has been driven to take notice and promises to act, but we note that it will be a Liberal MP who will "investigate" how to "consider new standards".

We will have to wait and see if any significant action follows the talk. The Morrison record in such matters, so far, hasn't been good.

Each year on February 19 Australia marks "Bombing of Darwin Day" to commemorate the first time the Australian mainland came under direct attack during World War II.

Darwin as a major Allied base was regarded as a vital asset in Australia's defences against a Japanese Empire that had recently attacked Pearl Harbor, captured Singapore four days previously, and was rapidly invading the then Dutch East Indies to Australia's immediate north.

Darwin came under attack by Japanese fighters and bombers on 19 February 1942, the first of many air raids carried out on the top end of Australia. The two raids on this day, separated by about 80 minutes, killed more than 250 Australian and Allied service personnel and civilians. The air raids on Darwin involved more than 240 enemy aircraft.

During the first raid, the American Destroyer USS Peary was sunk, killing 88 American sailors and wounding 13, the greatest single loss of life on any ship attacked that day.

On November 12, 1943, the 64th and final air raid on Darwin occurred. Over the period, northern Australia had seen a total of 97 air attacks and while these ceased, enemy air reconnaissance continued over the region for the majority of 1944.

On behalf of Australia, we remember all those who died during the Bombing of Darwin and subsequent attacks in defence of our nation.

Lest we forget.

Craig Kelly is concerned that having children wear masks as a public health measure is "akin to child abuse". His government has kept two little girls and their parents in detention for three years. Now on remote Christmas Island, these young children have been isolated in an environment completely adverse to normal, healthy development.

To force children to live in conditions so detrimental to their well-being is, by definition, child abuse. Any individual or institution in Australia responsible for such abuse and neglect would be held accountable before the law.

And let us not forget that there are also hundreds of other children suffering serious physical and mental health impairments as a result of the gross neglect and abuse they experienced while in Australia's immigration detention system.

Would that Mr Kelly was as concerned and willing to agitate about this child abuse perpetrated by the Morrison government.

Ahh, those Russkies, trying to garner influence in Australia in silly ways. Shouldn't they, like the Chinese, have noticed - especially by observing the Coalition, its parliamentarians' immediate post parliamentary careers, and its favourites such as the property and mining industries - that anything can simply be bought for cash in the "Wild East" that's Australia?

Recent news in the farcical case of Bernard Collaery and Witness K, "Moves in Collaery Case Disturbing", February 10, p2), highlights the desperation of Attorney General Christian Porter in attempting to terrorise whistle blowers and truth tellers.

The very fact that national security laws are being used in an instance where the total subject matter is already public knowledge is a tragedy for justice and freedom and a demonstration of the social depravity of the Morrison government.

The Attorney General's missteps are becoming self-evident when the Justice hearing the case sees the immorality in Porter's actions in pursuing this case.

Those of us in the community dedicated to integrity and truth-telling must remain alert.

This case was instigated to protect personal political careers.

We the public need to remember that the use of our justice system must never be predicated on the pox of political power.

While I quite like the idea of setting up a "gambler's card" to monitor and control money laundering through our major casinos and registered clubs, I do wonder whether this card might end up being confused with the cashless debit card currently being trialled on the NSW North Coast and elsewhere, a card designed to be imposed on those the government identifies as being the financially irresponsible element of the class of undeserving poor/social welfare recipients.

I mean it would be a pretty poor show if, using their cards for entree, single mothers and invalid pensioners were to end up crashing the high rollers rooms at the Crown casinos and blowing their benefits this way, while standing next to the jet set and major respected international crime figures.

But what I would really like to see "carded" are all the donations to political parties and politicians, so that the public could see in real time who is paying the political piper, rather than having to wait until some months after an election for artfully adjusted figures.

Would it be such a bad thing to have political donation disclosure as public, visible and accessible as the records kept on the grocery spending of social welfare recipients under these cashless debit card schemes?

It could even be more ecologically sustainable if it cut down on all those circulating brown paper and Aldi bags.

If it hadn't already, America just forfeited any claim it ever had, imagined or otherwise, to the moral leadership of the world.

Finally, a regulator has taken action against one of Australia's most controversial gambling operators. But there's no reason to believe the rest of the gambling industry is any better.

The actions of suburban "casinos" in every state except WA, with thousands of poker machines and the unconscionable behaviour of online bookmakers calls for an overhaul of the gambling industry as a whole.

The recommendation for a truly independent commission is well overdue in all states and territories.

We need to overhaul the gambling industry, and that starts with holding them to account.

Here's a thought PM. I am a citizen who has had to delay my return to Australia because of COVID-19 restrictions and lack of capacity of airline to get on a flight with out paying an exorbitant price.

I am due back in May and am faced not only with the airfare hikes but a two-week hotel stay at my own expense.

As I will be coming back as an active taxpayer why not let me deduct the cost of returning against my earnings both income and investment? I am bringing capital back as well.

Thank goodness someone is thinking hard about how to avoid a catastrophic war with China even if our "all the way with the USA" government is not ("Kevin Rudd's plan to stop war with China", canberratimes.com.au, February 11).

With its disposition of US bases on Australian soil, integration of forces and follow-the-leader war policy, Australia has effectively abandoned its independence and sovereignty.

Have we forgotten the horrors of widescale war or the impact of nuclear weapons on all life and the environment? It is an existential issue. Come back Kevin, I wish. Or at least listen to him and act.

I watched Scott Morrison talk quite emotionally about the alleged rape. He, of course, involved Jenny and the girls in the discussion. In the end all he agreed to do was talk more. As usual all talk no action.

Here's hoping that our PM isn't filmed getting a shot of the Pfizer vaccine "to reassure us". Nope, any media event should be of him receiving the AstraZeneca version. Every dose of the Pfizer should be going to our frontline health heroes.

A thoughtless "planning bubble" by our Chief Minister ("Precinct vision for theatre", February 12, p1). Not only has he changed the location of the proposed theatre, he proposes selling the land to pay for building the theatre on the land he has just sold.

Perhaps "PASTPOTENT" would be better, Geof Murray (Letters, February 12). Unless, of course, you think Trump's hex on the Republican party delivers real power.

Oh, come on. Pete Evans standing for the Senate? Maybe he will become "Minister for Unscience".

Goodbye America. I'd like to say it's been good to know you, but it hasn't.

The PM has outsourced COVID-19 campaign planning to PR consultants instead of engaging the Collaboration on Social Science and Immunisation. No wonder people are questioning the vaccine rollout and considering the possibility a federal election is not too far away.

American democracy was defiled on January 6 with the Trump mob's assault on Congress. It was again defiled on February 14 when Congress voted to acquit Trump for inciting the insurrection, notwithstanding the fact it was a self-evident truth. American democracy will now never be what it was meant to be.

Cris Kennedy's recent review of Love, Weddings and Other Disasters was spot on. I just wish I'd read it before seeing the movie. I'd like my 96 minutes back please.

Australia has suspended its travel bubble with New Zealand. Was the bubble worth it to start with? What a waste of efforts and resources to please few travellers.

The ACT government says it needs to save money, but the proposed new John Gorton Drive bridge over the Molonglo River, subsidised by the Commonwealth, has a centre span of 92 metres. Er, it's not the Rhine. Engineering adages come to mind: "An unlikely solution to a non-existent problem", and "Columns are cheaper than beams".

Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message field, not as an attachment. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.