However, in the two southern electorates, the Liberals easily outpolled Labor, suggesting a majority of southside residents wanted the cancellation of light rail contracts. The electorate of Brindabella, covering Woden Valley and Weston Creek, returned 19,606 votes for the Liberals but only 15,774 votes for Labor. In Murrumbidgee, covering Tuggeranong, the Liberals got 21,425 votes easily surpassing the 17,265 votes for Labor.

There is strong anti-tram feeling on the southside and for good reason, given the traffic chaos that would be caused during construction as well as in its ongoing operation, the huge expense of building this outdated transport system and the fact that electric buses would be a far more efficient and cost-effective alternative.

The recent suggestion of a referendum is an excellent idea.

I need to correct Byam Wight (Letters, August 1). The award-winning biography of Alan Reid which I co-authored with Stephen Holt in 2010 provides a documented account of how the 36 Faceless Men photographs were taken at the Hotel Kingston in 1963. Our account shows how Reid got his friend and fellow angler Val Paral to take and process the photographs. All of this happened outside of regular office hours. None of Paral's colleagues at the John Curtin School of Medical Research were aware of what was going on.

The story on the artillery salute on Sunday to mark the anniversary of the formation of the Australian Artillery ("Canberra's artillery battery will begin a national ceremonial firing", August 1, p10) contained a serious omission.

In referring to the battle of Long Tan, the article noted the support provided by Australian and US gunners, but it didn't mention the Kiwis. It was actually the NZ 161 Battery which provided the close support which was so crucial in the battle and all fire support was called in by a Kiwi forward observer party attached to the Aussies in the battle.

It would be wrong to forget the contribution of our Anzac allies.

Once again Mario Stivala's (Letters, July 30) agent provocateur's approach to a discussion, this time about university teaching, has to be challenged.

Universities do teach students to think critically about problems. What he should be writing about is why politicians like those in the federal Cabinet have forgotten how to do that, except in the most cynical of ways.

Without universities teaching students how to think critically, and to ask the "why?" question, we would not have the wonderful researchers who have made the medical, scientific and technological achievements that underpin our world. Including COVID-19 vaccines.

John Malouff, in his article "How to overcome the psychology of the checkout," (August 1, p18) misses two reasons why older (and not so old) people prefer to use check out operators to assist.

Firstly it helps maintain employment opportunities. Secondly it provides opportunity for social interaction. A few friendly words can enhance the day for both operators and shoppers.

David Perkins (Letters, July 31) states "Trust in government needs to be restored".

In 1972 Sir Henry Bolte dismissed opposition to military conscription and the Vietnam War as "an insult to the intelligence of ordinary people" by "larrikins, louts and traitors".

Many "traitors" were too young to vote but still expected to "defend" a (once) fair go country of mostly honourable people and trustworthy public institutions against the "yellow peril" (not my words) and communism while witnessing Vietnamese villages incinerated with napalm bombs and chemical defoliation of their jungle environment.

If Australia had to resurrect military conscription what would we be asking young men to kill and be killed for? To defend the rights of foreign and local property speculators over young couples seeking a home? Defend precarious employment, obscene wealth inequality, franking credits, negative gearing, education indebtedness, couch surfing and the likes of robo-debt?

"Traitors" and green and gold hysteria won't cut it next time.

We prey upon our youth while trashing the environment and their future, yet expect their loyalty. How many species can you think of that have survived by eating their own young?

There is one very good reason why federal politicians are coming into Canberra rather than "Zooming". It's another chance to get their snouts in the trough, and claim the maximum possible for the "out of town allowance" while they stay with family or friends.

You can also guarantee they won`t be using the re-heatable meals available from Parliament House. Why would one sit at home with a reheated meal when one can gorge oneself at the taxpayers expense? Forget what is safest for rest of us. They expect and deserve the best, don`t they?

Acting Canberra Liberals Director, Josh Manuatu, objects that the Assembly should not consider decriminalisation because it "was not mentioned once" during last year's election (Liberals split over 'hard

drugs' push poll", July 31, p3).

A motion on 20 August that year, supported by Liberal Assembly members, "called on the ACT Government, and whichever party or parties in the Assembly that form government following the October 2020 election, to investigate the feasibility of a simple offence notice for other drugs of dependence to ascertain the legal, social and health impacts".

Michael Pettersson who proposed that motion may have jumped the gun by submitting his private member's bill but how is the inquiry of the select committee different from what Mr Manuatu's own party endorsed? It's a bit rich of him to accuse Labor of failing to give notice of the proposal to the electorate.

I commend you for your attention to the fundamental issue of legislative rights for territorians. However the conflation of the broader issue of legislative rights with issues such as voluntary assisted dying, and drug legislation is misguided and likely to garner support against legislative rights. This issue is about the ability of the territorians to legislate on any issue without Commonwealth interference. If you support territory rights, I urge you not to conflate this with specific issues.

There is a simple way to move the debate forward on euthanasia.

Some issues are too important to just let politicians decide for us, so lets have a territory referendum on the issue, a simple yes/no debate on whether we should have VAD. This would be democracy in action, let the people decide.

It is morally reprehensible for me to have the right to put my dog down, but not let me choose when I die.

Withdrawing medical aid and refusing food so that I die in pain and starve to death is disgusting.

Brian Melville's conclusions on COVID risk (Letters, July 30) are certainly different to mine. Both AstraZeneca and Pfizer are highly efficacious vaccines with statistically very rare side effects. The dangers of COVID-19 are obvious but can be significantly mitigated by vaccination. The gap between the two shots does vary between the available vaccines, but some of us completed the Astra Zeneca cycle in the ACT weeks ago. All of those currently with access to a COVID-19 vaccination have it immediately.

It is "bizarre" (Letters, August 3) the mural of Marion and Walter Griffin at Kingston is obscured by a tall pole. It is the only place in Canberra where they are honoured together. Their planning vision is already subject to being dishonoured. Free the vision of Marion and Walter and their mural.

Brian Melville describes himself as an older person (Letters, July 30). If he is my age or older, and had promptly gotten the first AstraZeneca vaccination he would either have had the second or it would be imminent. Pfizer is still not available to my age group and will be for some time with so many under 60s needing it.

It is sheer hypocrisy for Pope Francis to decry the existence of hunger in the world while he feasts at the Vatican table and his church is involved in buying luxury investment property in London.

The concern expressed by Defence for the safety of their helicopter crew is commendable and proper. But if it takes 45 minutes to report a fire that they started one cannot help wondering how they would cope with the heat of battle.

Why would Zed poll ACT voters ("Liberals split over 'hard drugs' push poll", canberratimes.com.au, July 31) when, given his approach to allowing the ACT to make their own laws on euthanasia, he obviously doesn't care about the views of the electorate he supposedly represents.

Described as doing little harm but not much good Marise Payne would appear to be one of the better performers in the Coalition government especially when compared with Matthias Cormann, the Finance Minister who never paid off any debt, or Christian Porter, the Attorney General whose legal opinion was usually wrong.

While "returning" art works to India "is the right thing to do", the reason reeks of incompetence and an absence of due diligence in disbursing scarce funding. ('Zero tolerance': NGA to return 14 more artworks to India, July 30, p11).

If protecting their own lives as well as those of their families, friends, and the community isn't sufficient motivation to get vaccinated then a $300 payment is unlikely to work on dedicated anti-vaxxers.

Cartoonist-laureate, David Pope, surpassed himself with his effort of Saturday, July 31. To depict Scomo as the backside of a horse may be a slight lapse of taste but accurate and forgivable since it was a sterling police horse with Gladys bestride it.

I registered to be an organ donor after learning the driver's licence tick box is obsolete. What would be the legal implications of changing the system from opt-in to opt-out? Imagine the life-changing opportunities for those in need.

I haven't heard the expression "so unAustralian" for over a year. Is it because our governments are so Australian? Not for me. All nine have been "so unAustralian".

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