In winter I now wear a full face bicycle helmet that is certified to provide facial protection. In summer, when it is too hot for the full face helmet, I wear the Australian Standard helmet that I was wearing when I crashed. My head protected it from all damage, other than slight scuffing of the detachable sun visor.

Had Jacob Clarke been wearing the helmet provided with his e-scooter when he crashed ("Take it from Jacob: wear a helmet", March 1, p2) he would almost certainly have suffered exactly the same broken nose, grazes and bruises.

Jacob Clarke's experience of the consequences of riding an e-scooter without wearing a helmet ("Take it from Jacob: wear a helmet", March 1, p2) reminded me of an incident while I was cycling on the lakeside bike path near the Southern Cross Yacht Club several years ago.

I was negotiating a sharp curve when an oncoming cyclist suddenly swung wide into my path and hit the rear wheel of my bicycle. The bicycle flipped, threw me off, I landed heavily head-first on the path and was knocked unconscious.

When I came to, I was being loaded into an ambulance, along with the two halves of my helmet, and with one of the paramedics telling me that the helmet probably saved my life. Like Jacob, my advice is to wear a bloody helmet.

Alison Chapple (Letters, March 1) has our sympathy. In our small street, public housing comprises close to 60 per cent of the dwellings and is set to increase. The public housing component of the street is degraded, characterised by scruffy, overgrown grounds and vehicles parked in front yards and/or on nature strips despite perfectly good driveways.

The house next door to us contains not only chickens (acceptable) but also a rooster that crows from dawn to dusk. The conduct of the tenants is best described as "belligerent". Housing ACT presides over this, and other debacles, with studied indifference.

It's easy to describe this situation as part of the hubris of a long-term government. But who's responsible for this situation? The ACT electorate, that's who.

At last October's election, we had the opportunity to change the government and give Labor and the Greens a period of reflection and re-building on the opposition benches. They surely would have regained government within a relatively short period.

But what did we do? We re-elected this mob and, in so doing, enhanced the representation and thus influence of the hard-left Greens.

Until we grow up and periodically change our government, this hubris will continue. Good luck Canberra!

I can't believe how shameful it is that the Australian government has agreed to such a paltry increase in JobSeeker payments.

After years of not increasing the payment, and sending those receiving it further into debt and despair, there was, in 2020, a reprieve with the COVID-19 supplement making life for recipients more bearable.

The decision on whether to permanently increase the base payment was held off until the last moment. That alone was unnecessary torture for those recipients needing to know so they could plan how to live after the COVID-19 supplement ceases in March. Now, at the last moment, the government announces a base increase of $3.50 a day. How can we be so mean? Why does our government lack any empathy for the people who live below the poverty line? Does Mrs Morrison need to chat to the Prime Minister about how would he feel if..?

Come on members of Parliament, we are a wealthy country. Take care of our people.

Mokhles k SIdden asks whether people are prepared to pay extra tax for a larger increase to the dole (Letters, March 1). My answer is that of course, I am. I would hope that most other Canberrans would be of the same mind.

What many people don't seem to realise is that when the level of support to individuals is below a certain level, the time and energy that goes into looking for a job is, instead, devoted to just trying to survive, day to day.

This means that minimising the support paid in order to provide an incentive for people to work can actually be counter-productive. People who take an interest in such things understand this. Regrettably many don't. When I consider the plight of those who have trouble making ends meet, I keep coming back to "there but for the grace of God go I" - hence, my willingness to pay more tax, if that's what it takes.

The federal government has given the ACT government $132 million as a contribution towards Stage 2a of our non-essential light rail system. Those without jobs have been given a paltry extra $25 a week. I thought we were subscribing to "advance Australia fair". I don't think this is fair. What happened to the good idea of electrified buses as soon as appropriate batteries are available?

Isn't it wonderful that at least 16 publicly-listed companies have "chosen" to repay more than $125 million in JobKeeper subsidies because their businesses remained in profit. Gerry Harvey, however, with massive profits, prefers not to.

I have a great idea to get him and others to comply. Let's start "robodebt for business".

It worked for the most vulnerable in our community, squeezing every last cent, frequently wrongly, from those with very little money, with reckless regard to the effect of someone's last dollar being taken, and no effective way to appeal.

The different ways these two groups in our community are treated by this government is obscene.

I'm writing on behalf of the majority of men who have never raped a woman in their life but have experienced consensual sex. I do so to express alarm, which most males are not prepared to voice, at the drift in claims of sexual assault.

It is worrying that events from years ago, even in youthful agreed casual affairs, can now be resurrected anonymously and without evidence to name somebody, perhaps a prominent figure.

The alleged victim can be unnamed, and in a recent case even deceased, yet proven or not the publicity exists.

The law needs to suppress the identity of the accused up to the point where they have been proven to be guilty. Otherwise no man is safe from unjust persecution.

The GIO Stadium website states that under their "early bird" policy, anyone arriving within 45 minutes of the ground's gates being opened will be eligible for a $5 discount on the $10 parking fee.

The same website also stated that the gates for the Brumbies-Waratahs match on Saturday night would open at 6.30pm. The "early bird" discount should have applied until 7.15pm. However, on presenting at the parking fee collection point at 7.10pm I was advised the discount finished at 7pm and therefore "that will be $10 please". The GIO Stadium needs to clarify its parking fee arrangements.

I don't even have a receipt, let alone a time-stamped receipt, to pursue a refund.

We won't see the end to rape until all men learn women are not property and deserve respect.

The excellent review by Peter Wilkins of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ("Admirable staging of a powerful drama by Canberra Rep", February 23, p.34) was sensitive and perceptive. I too was much impressed by the outstanding performance of Teig Sadhana as Brick. Bravo all around.

John Sandilands (Letters, February 24), compared the "house on the hill" to a circus and, at times, that is an appropriate comment . However it's that very same "circus" that has very successfully managed the COVID-19 pandemic to the point where Australia is now a role model. It's not what happens in between, it's the end results that count.

Scott Morrison's response to the aged care Royal Commission report was so laden with spin that I was expecting him to finish with "it's a proud day for Australia".

A $452 million "boost" for aged care vs $450 million to pull down an award-winning structure to accommodate more exhibits at the AWM. Some of the aged are veterans. Ask them what's more important.

Since the Prime Minister has thrown Senator Reynolds under the bus for not informing him about the alleged assault in Parliament House, why has he not done the same to Peter Dutton who also did not inform him? Perhaps because Dutton is a serious rival it's best not to upset him?

Where is the Minister for Women, Marise Payne? Is she hiding away as Kelly O'Dwyer seemed to do when Alan Jones spoke so disgracefully to Louise Heron? As Jenny Morrison has the ear of the PM maybe she should have the role.

With the allegations re the unnamed cabinet minister remaining a running sore for the government, maybe it's time for ScoMo to talk to Jenny again about what to do.

Re Mokhles k Sidden (Letters, March 1). The government should have no trouble funding a decent increase in JobSeeker if they just diverted some funding from what they spend on rorts and pork barrelling.

Re: Mokhles k Sidden's query (Letters, March 1) about how to pay for a meaningful JobSeeker increase. I pay more than enough tax to fund a robust increase to the dole. We could save plenty if we weren't spending $27 billion every year for the next 10 years on the military. We could use that money for a lot of things.

I recently suggested Parliament House is looking more like a circus tent than a seat of national government. After reading of the alleged sexual assaults by senior Liberal politicians and their staffers I'm now picturing a hilltop imperial palace complete with a "God-emperor" surrounded by a gaggle of guards, eunuchs, concubines and political mendicants.

Once again, this time in relation to sexual assault and misogyny within parliament, Scott Morrison has emphasised he doesn't "hold a hose, mate". On the other hand, he's shown he's had no such problem holding his nose, mate.

The remarkable politicisation of the AFP is best demonstrated by its pious admonition to parliamentarians that rape, and presumably murder, are actually reportable crimes. Just to set the record straight, and divert and dilute all issues otherwise bothersome to the government.

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