Once a fortnight rubbish collection trial a failure

Despite having three active compost piles, two recycling bins, (yes, we pay extra for this), 80 per cent of our weekly groceries as fruit and vegetables, and a family of two, our garbage bin is completely full come the fortnightly collection day.

Others in the suburb, who live similarly but have larger families, comment on their overflowing bins.

On two occasions, we have required the contractor to return to completely and properly empty our bin; an issue if you push too hard on the contents to try to close the lid.

Overflowing bins with raised lids invite vermin, maggots and bird and animal attacks.

Chris Steel MLA claims there is "huge support" for fortnightly collections however we have yet to be surveyed regarding this pilot. Where is the data supporting his claim coming from?

Our rates have increased, yet our tree-lined streets and blocked drains are rarely swept of fallen leaves and we're lucky if our pathless reserves have more than one mowing of a one-person path cleared through the surrounding waist-high grass in summer.

If the ACT government wants a long-term, cost-saving, fortnightly garbage collection, then put some of our ever-increasing rates towards a one-off, free, much larger, garbage bin.

The decision to reduce garbage collection to fortnightly is another straw on the stack for people to vote against the Barr. Despite the ACT Liberals still short of being a viable choice people might decide enough is enough and consign local Labor and the Greens to the garbage bin of history. On-the-job training is not unheard of.

Doug Steley (Letters, March 30) of course the budget is one to try and save the LNP at the next election. Do you really believe that Labor would do any different if the boot was on the other foot. They have been notorious for wanton spending when in power. Why was that do you think?

Amanda Vanstone's article on Labor and Kitching (The Canberra Times, March 31) seems less balanced than her usual efforts; in fact it looks as though it could have been written for the Murdoch press. I can only think this article must have been written before Tuesday's outburst from Liberal Senator Fierravanti-Wells about bullying from the PM and the Coalition. Anyway, whether or not Amanda has a temporary red face, I will continue to look forward to her contributions.

Almost exactly 118 years ago on March 31, 1904, the Deakin government, with support from the Labor Party led by Andrew Fisher, banned the importation of labour from the Pacific Islands.

The practice had a dirty history amounting to slavery at its worst and cruel exploitation in return for low and often garnisheed wages at best.

So what's happening now 118 years later? The LNP is reintroducing recruitment from the Pacific Islands as a way of addressing farm labour shortages but they are effectively doing nothing about the wage exploitation that is so rife in the sector.

Just another example of the total lack of moral scruples at the helm of this government and another reason why it doesn't deserve another term.

I was dismayed to find the new road resurfacing on Wentworth Ave to be the horrible, noisy and uncomfortable coarse chip road surface used on Gungahlin Drive.

Driving from the existing smooth road to the new coarse road is like driving into an earthquake. I can only imagine the residents along this road find the tyre noise to be unbearable now. I also feel for any unlucky pedestrians or cyclists who may fall on the road.

Please ACT Roads; go back to the smooth bitumen.