I was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Rosemary Lissimore.
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Rosemary, supported by her husband David, served as president of the Tuggeranong Community Council (TCC) for over 20-years. Throughout her time as president, she worked tirelessly to improve the facilities and the lives of Tuggeranong residents.
Rosemary retired as TCC president in 2009 and I took over the reins. I carried on with some her projects and campaigns some of wish continue today under the new leadership of the TCC.
Rosemary Lissimore was a strong and feisty character and I and many others crossed swords with her many times. Whether we agreed with her or not, we acknowledge Rosemary always had her community at heart and will be remembered as strong advocate for the Tuggeranong Valley.
Darryl Johnston, (former Tuggeranong Community Council President), Chisholm
Kitching facts ignored
What happened to fact checking and evidence in the media?
We know that Senator Kitching was under pressure but a lot of that was coming from her own party over pre-selection for the forthcoming election.
The fact that she didn't lodge a formal complaint about bullying suggests she might have reconsidered. The Senate "cabal" has shown respect and restraint.
Evidence suggests that it was appropriate for them to dismiss her from Labor's Tactics Committee. Publicity about her "leaking" behaviour wouldn't have helped her fight for pre-selection.
While she can't press her case now it is quite likely Senator Kitching would have chosen not to damage her reputation. The senators accused of bullying her can't defend themselves without airing all the relevant information.
They are showing compassion under these tragic circumstances.
Peggy Spratt, Ainslie
Incineration no answer
The attempt to build a waste incinerator on the Woodlawn mine site at Tarago is based on flawed advice provided to Angus Taylor as Federal Energy Minister on the value of incineration for energy supplies.
Waste incineration does not and has never generated income from burning waste. Incineration makes money because of expensive gate fees paid by ratepayers. The high cost of building an incinerator is also met by the ratepayers, who also bear the brunt of all air pollution issues. The process produces around one-third of the total input as a toxic waste which goes to landfill.
The only parts of a waste stream which will burn in an incinerator are either compostable or recyclable. A critically important question for Australia is why we are burning organic materials when, according to the NSW Department of Primary Industry 70 per cent of Australia's agricultural soils contain less than one per cent organic material.
If we had national laws which directed organic materials back to soils as clean source separated product, rather than to landfill or incineration, we would generate jobs while protecting our agricultural base.
Gerry Gillespie, Queanbeyan
Double standards?
Responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to attend the G20 summit Australian PM Scott Morrison said "The idea of sitting around a table with Vladimir Putin, who the United States are already in the position of calling out (for) war crimes in Ukraine, for me is a step too far").
It is indeed a repugnant idea for democratic leaders to be rubbing shoulders with a rogue authoritarian leader deemed to be a war criminal.
But why was it okay to sit around a table with Sri Lankan's leader Rajapaksha who the UN said had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity for the killing of over 70,000 Tamils during the final military campaign in the civil war?
Rajend Naidu, Glenfield, NSW
What about Holgate?
The hypocrisy of the PM and the press in the prosecution of the alleged bullying of Ms Kitching is shameful. The claim from Scott and supported by MSM, that Albanese must hold an inquiry beggars belief.
Not too long ago Ms Holgate, the then CEO of Australia Post, had been exposed by Ms Kitching in Senate Estimates for giving three executives bonuses of a Cartier watch worth $5000 each. Later that day Scott, incensed by this revelation, ranted in Parliament that "she must go".
This so-called crime was later found to be within company rules, had board agreement, in fact was a very small bonus in contemporary corporate life for an exceptionally well-done job.
Ms Holgate was bullied by the PM on national television. No wonder she was so traumatised.
Has our PM apologised to Ms Holgate for his false claims of corporate criminality? No. And has the press called him out for this blatant bullying? No.
Lucille Rogers, Kingston
Car free zones supported
I support the Greens idea of car-free zones in parts of Canberra. I also think it would be a good idea to follow Germany's rule and not allow trucks with a gross weight of 7.5 tonnes or more, that are used for commercial freight transport, to drive on Sundays and certain public holidays.
At least there would be some days of the year when our highways would be less congested, polluted and safer for cars.
This would make driving a car a more pleasant experience. Of course, moving freight by train, not trucks, is an even better option.
Felicity Chivas, Ainslie
Too many people
Thank you Jenny Goldie! ("Control the Population", Letters, March 28). Over-population of our planet is the elephant in the room few people, and certainly no government, dares to mention publicly. This has to change. The subject must be discussed openly and sensibly if we are to step back from the brink. We must listen to scientists. Humanity must not, as recently postulated by Julian Cribb, "lose the capacity to reason".
No biological population has ever survived continuous population growth, and humanity is no exception. It is of interest to note that the Australian Aboriginal peoples survived for some 85,000 years under what might be called "natural population control", while modern human peoples have, in a mere 2000 years, brought their world population to the brink of self-extermination due the lack of any sort of population control whatsoever.
Murray Upton, Belconnen
In defence of Zed
Peter McLoughlin (Letters, March 24) criticised our only good candidate for the Senate, Liberal Senator Zed Seselja.
Zed is a happily married man with a family and he has good family principles. Zed is the only candidate who is opposed to euthanasia and serious about the problem of hard drugs.
He is fighting for cheaper housing for families and making Canberra a safer place to live. What family living in Canberra wouldn't want that safety for their children?
Peter McLoughlin seems to have an obsession about Zed being a Catholic. I too am a Catholic and wouldn't be any other religion. At the same time, I know there are some very good people in other religions and I respect their beliefs.
Peter McLoughlin makes a big issue on the proposed location of the upgrade of Viking Park and although this is proposed, he has criticised the location. I grew up in Sydney's suburbia and know that people can't expect every facility to be at their front door.
If he doesn't like what Zed is doing, why doesn't he move? Zed is here to stay.
Anne Prendergast, Braddon
Tidbinbilla needs love
What a shabby place Tidbinbilla has become. What was once a bright and welcoming people's park is now drab and neglected.
The main entry building is well overdue for renovation and a coat of paint, many barbecues are choked with wood ash and the number of tables continues to decline.
Over the last few years, as regular visitors, we have watched this slow decline so from now on we will seek other venues for outings. What a shame.
Peter Murray, Red Hill
Our city lacks "soul"
Canberra always had the potential to be a "cool" place. Unfortunately due to bureaucratic bungling and lack of foresight the city lacks "soul".
I remember the beautiful old Capital Theatre in Manuka. What a loss. That building reminded me of The House of Blues in New Orleans. A recent controversy over spending half a billion dollars to showcase the makers of weapons and in the process destroy our war memorial is a case in point.
G. Gillespie, Scullin
Save the generals
I recall reading a British special forces plan to assassinate Hitler was knocked back because his bungling helped the Allied war effort. Using the same logic the Ukrainians should stop killing Russian generals.
N. Ellis, Belconnen
TO THE POINT
SHE'LL BE RIGHT MATE
Relax. We've got about three weeks of diesel in storage if shipping to Australia is disrupted.
Rod Matthews, Melbourne, Vic
PRICE OF PROTEST
The BBC reports that Dmitry Reznikov, a 22-year-old student, has been fined for "discrediting Russia's armed forces". His offence? Holding up a string of asterisks drawn on paper. It seems the Gremlin of the Kremlin acknowledges his machines of war now resemble smudges of soot on a flat surface.
Michael Barry, Torrens
WHAT A FIELD
At the upcoming federal Senate election the ACT is fortunate to have a range of talented, high quality candidates from which to choose, any of whom would make an excellent representative. Zed Seselja is also running.
Rob Ey, Weston
VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN
The air is redolent with the scent of pork. After years of neglect and mismanagement, the government suddenly promises us all manner of shiny things providing we re-elect them. What's the be done? The answer's obvious: we need to hold elections every six months.
Fred Pilcher, Kaleen
P.M. NOT ELECTRIFYING
Soaring fuel prices make electric vehicles even more attractive. Unfortunately only a tiny percentage of cars in Australia are electric. Imagine where we might be if we had a PM who had not said three years ago electric vehicles would "ruin the weekend and wouldn't pull your caravan or boat". What ill-considered words.
Dr Ross Hudson, Mount Martha, Vic
CHANGE OF TUNE
Imagine if the PM had broadcast, loudly and nationally, to waves of anti-vaccine and sovereign citizen protestors that they were lucky they are not living in a country where they would be pursued and shot ("Police say Canberrans should let 'annoying' anti-vax protestors 'rant and rave'", March 26). But that is clearly something only a crowd of peaceful, respectful and non-disruptive women need to be told.
Sue Dyer, Downer
INCONVENIENT TRUTHS
Ian Morison argues that Mr Albanese should address bullying in the ALP (Letters, March 26). I was of the same view until I read that it is widely believed that the late Kimberley Kitching leaked to both the government and the Murdoch papers on a regular basis ("Mean girls? Sorry, I don't buy it", March 25, p53). Thank you, Jenna Price, for bringing this to light.
Herman van de Brug, Belconnen
MPs SHOULD DO BETTER
There are plenty of interjectors and poorly behaved politicians in question time. They are from all sides. For those hopeful aspirants running for a position in the 47th Parliament, it would be good to restore credibility to question time by acting like goddamn bloody adults.
Chris Doyle, Gordon
SEDUCTIVE BUDGET
The budget seems to include everything but a glass of Madeira for us all. And I guess we should be grateful for that. However, I fear that when we wake in our beds there may be a voice in our heads singing "Have some Madeira M' dears".