Good governance means finding answers to tough questions

Well I would have thought it was important and urgent as we do want to know how it happened as soon as possible, so as to possibly prevent this situation reoccurring in the short term as well as the longer term.

Mr Barr is starting to get a bit of a track record in this type of comment. It is a bit like his comment regarding the disastrous Namadgi fire when he said people shouldn't be "playing the blame game". Surely good governance requires we address the cause of such critical events?

In 1998, Andrew Wakefield authored a widely discredited paper in which he suggested that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was linked to autism. Wakefield lost his medical licence for this misinformation but by then he had effectively created the anti-vaccination movement. Since then, subsequent studies have analysed nearly 20 years of vaccine data and concluded that vaccines are "remarkably safe".

And yet, despite these findings, when they were surveyed about their willingness to get vaccinated for COVID-19, a growing number of Australians - one in six (16 per cent), so far - said they will never get vaccinated.

This represents a lot of people and if their anti-vaccine stance also includes vaccines used against other diseases and not just COVID-19, then old diseases could re-emerge and herd immunity be compromised.

How can we convince people like these whose closed minds refuse to accept the science-based evidence supporting the use of vaccines?

Perhaps we need some shock-horror images on TV and social media illustrating the horrific effects that COVID-19 has on the human body.

Earlier this year, I lost my mother to COVID-19 and I wouldn't wish what she went through on anyone, even a misguided anti-vaxxer.

I suspect that parliament's bipartisan condemnation of MP George Christensen's anti-vaccination rants is likely to be a fair representation of the views of the broader Australian community. What I can't understand is that given George Christensen's track record for making such outrageous statements, how he was elected to Federal Parliament? What does this say about those in the Queensland seat of Dawson who voted for him, and the quality of his unsuccessful opponent(s)?

ACT government, there are many grandparents who have had two shots of the vaccine. It is very hard for parents to work from home and home-school young children at the same time. Many found it impossible last time when they had a busy job and the kids suffered. Please let grandparents who are fully vaccinated home school their grandkids.

Cedric Nyamsi ("Canberra's first Covid case", CT, August 15) and all who have had Covid tests are zero heroes. Now that the virus is being found, we can test, track, pursue and crush it. We can distance ourselves from it, isolate it, and check in, mask and vax against it.

Thank you, Cedric, for being one of our zero heroes, via your responsible Covid test. And thank you to the terrific people of Canberra, our calm, clear-speaking ACT politicians and our heroic medical staff who are all helping us to fight this formidable foe.

The relative efficacies of the several Covid vaccines available in Australia have been reported as ranging from about 80 to 95 per cent, with only minor side effects, despite scaremongering about developing deadly blood clots from the AZ jab which, statistically, is a myth.

These numbers promote confidence in getting the jab to minimise the risk of infection for oneself and others, especially as new virus strains, Delta currently, promote widespread infection which now appears to be unstoppable, unless 80 per cent are vaccinated.

Infection from COVID-19 and dying from it are two different issues. Fortunately, it has become apparent that full vaccination from any of those available ensures not only a significantly reduced probability (one in five, up to one in 20) of contraction but also much less severe symptoms.

Get vaccinated, if only for your fellow man or woman who do not see, or fail to acknowledge, its importance!

My hobby microscope is proving to be a blessing during this Canberra lockdown. Just a few drops of stagnant water from a flower vase, bird bath, pond or similar and I'm immersed and travelling far into a wild microcosm. "Dragons be there", warned the old maps. And today, a trove of weird monsters are still lurking on stage: sliding diatoms, shape-shifting and hungry amoebas, swaying oscillatoria and one-eyed euglenas are just a few of the star performers. Ideal not only for students doing STEM, a basic microscope provides a fascinating window into a world that might alleviate lockdown's mental burden while awakening the inner child inquisitive mind in all of us, young and old.

P.S. I use an Em1 microscope fitted with 100, 400 and 600x.

The call for Canberra Times letter writers to stand as independent candidates (Letters, August 13) appears at least slightly tongue in cheek - as is G William's right.

While I hope that more people stand, it is very unlikely any independent candidate will be elected to the ACT Assembly under the current electoral system and practices.

A key reason is that the Labor, Green and Liberal Parties have held all the seats since 2004 and have set the rules to stop any independent or minor party candidate being elected, including by carefully setting the quota at 16.6 per cent - which is just beyond the plausible reach of an independent candidate. To elect an independent candidate to the Assembly in 2024, people should vote in descending order for any independent candidates that you support.

Furthermore, and importantly, please don't vote for more than the 'lead candidate' from your preferred major Party.

Otherwise one or more of its other candidates also will almost certainly be elected ahead of the most popular independent under the ACT's 'single transferable vote' electoral system.

In the meantime, I hope letters published in the Canberra Times continue to cover a range of views and hence support our democracy.

With reports that lockdowns across the country have cost the economy $17 billion in the past two months, the estimated $6b cost of Anthony Albanese's cash reward for those who receive a Covid vaccine is beginning to look like good value for money.

Its rate of return will continue to increase the longer lockdown's spread beyond NSW and persist for longer periods, with the Sydney lockdown alone estimated to cost $1b a week.

My dad lives with his partner down at Tuross on the NSW South Coast. He's in his 80s with Parkinson's, which makes him very frail.

His street has filled up with ACT number plates, including the neighbours. He's worried about going outside now. He is lucky that he has a partner who can help him, but neither of them are fully vaccinated.

That means he's more at risk than ever, in an area with limited health services where he needs regular medical support and medication outside of home. I accept there are some that may have legitimate reasons for being down the South Coast, or that they were there before the lockdown came, but many arrived on Thursday afternoon. I'm disappointed in my fellow Canberrans. As a highly-educated, articulate population who are well-informed - when did we become so selfish?

Zed Seselja's opposition to voluntary assisted dying is firmly embedded in his religious views. He thinks it is wrong, so it is not something he will seek as he nears the end of his life.

It was the same with his opposition to marriage equality. He thought that was wrong, too, and I'm pretty sure I'm safe in saying he will not seek to have a same sex marriage. But Zed, the vast majority of us don't share your religious views. Stick to yours by all means, and keep your conscience clear. But let the rest of us exercise our consciences, based on compassion, empathy and sensitivity.

This lockdown is brought to you by the incompetence of the Morrison government (quarantine failures, vaccine supplies) and the arrogance of Gladys 'gold standard' Berejiklian.

First: I would like not congratulate the idiot that brought Covid to the ACT. Second: I totally agree with Don Sephton (Letters, August 12), the matter that Don is saying also happens at the Woolworths store at Kippax.

A much better, and long-time Australian, word for police is "Traps" (Rod Holesgrove, Letters, August 13).

The colonials used it and it exactly defines the police role. Being "trapped" usually ends with someone landing in the "Quad," not that other Americanism, the "Big House."

Further to Rod Holesgrove's letter (CT, August 13, p45). I have many times been directed to the bathroom, without ever finding a bath.

What is so bad about the word toilet that it has to be avoided?

Canberra grapples with the grim reality of Covid's insidious spread. Failed control of inter-regional travel remains a notable cause.

Urgent tightening of travel rules and conditions has become imperative.

Surprised and disappointed to see that the majority of people we passed today walking around Farrer Ridge were not wearing masks. Unless a gentle walk is deemed vigorous exercise?

Jenna Price ("Equal treatment would be nice", Opinion, August 13) rightly identifies Zoran Radovanovic who broke NSW lockdown laws to visit Byron Bay.

What about all the other selfish offenders, still unnamed, who partied or travelled out-of-area with unhealthy results for so many? Ethnic protection perhaps?

The biggest surprise, after impending lockdown was announced at lunchtime on Thursday, was the demographic of the queue in the chocolate shop in Canberra Centre: older men, coming in one by one, leaving with their packet of chocolate frogs or packet of freckles.

Your letter Why, oh why won't Andrew Barr listen to the highly qualified medical professionals like Nigel Poole ("Lockdown is ridiculous", Letters, August 14).

May I suggest to the chief minister that he consider using government buses as testing stations. Positioning them at shops or prominent locations, it may lessen waiting times and congestion at test hubs.

Buses could go suburb to suburb at specified times. Just a thought.