I have a feeling that we have overreached ourselves in the area of child safety. This might seem like harking back to the good old days, but there was a time when children were allowed some measure of risk as a way of learning how to cope with risk.
If we remove all chances of risk from their lives, we are doing them a great disservice. In my childhood (admittedly 80 years ago) we were exposed to risks and there were accidents. Occasionally, a child died. This was very sad, but from this his friends learned a very valuable lesson.
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I was a Scout leader for more than 25 years and know the value of limited risk.
If you do not allow some degree of risk in children's' lives they are at a great disadvantage in their teens and adult life. We have to reassess the "helicopter parent" attitude and allow some natural learning.
David Barrott, Belconnen
No excuse for ignorance
To the Russian ambassador. Due to the state control of the media, it is possible that most Russian people are unaware of the carnage and murder being committed in their name in Ukraine.
You, Mr Ambassador, do not have those restrictions. You have the same access as everyone in Australia or any democratic country, so you cannot pretend to be ignorant of the horrors that are being perpetrated against the people of Ukraine. You are as complicit as those who ordered the invasion of a sovereign country.
Shame on Russia. Shame on you.
Tony Pelling, Nicholls
Christian men have my support
Both Senator Zed Seselja and Scott Morrison are good Christian men and are doing a very good job. There appears to be an action out there to get rid of the Liberals. The main objection against Zed is the fact that he is a good Catholic.
Both Senator Zed Seselja and Scott Morrison have my full support (as a party member) and I will continue to keep working hard to get them both back into their present positions.
Anne Prendergast, Braddon
Leaders doing plenty of harm
After watching and reading the continuous stream of "news" on the upcoming election I have been able to come to one simple conclusion. Labor's best asset is ScoMo and the Coalition's best asset is Albo. What a sorry state of affairs for Australia's near future.
John Kenworthy, Hall
History repeating itself
Poor communication between Allies during the battle for the Solomons in WWII meant that the warning of an approaching Japanese fleet was not conveyed to the Allied fleet at Guadalcanal. Caught by surprise, Australia lost HMAS Canberra. Poor communication/understanding between Solomons and Australian governments mean that we will lose out to China. This time, the loss will be greater than one ship. Trade, freedom of movement, general national security are all at high risk. What next? PNG? Timore Leste? Chinese pressure won't stop.
Christopher Ryan, Watson
What hope did we have?
Really, what hope did we have, when we were never going to throw as much money at the Solomons as that "still developing country" China?
Alex Wallensky, Broulee
Falling further behind
The leaders' debate barely raised the issue of climate change policy yet it was reported on the same day that Australia has fallen from 35th to 52nd in the world for effective responses to climate change. Poll after poll indicates that climate change mitigation is overwhelmingly the main election issue for Australians, so why aren't our major parties listening? One solution is for voters to use their vote for minor parties and independents who really are listening.
Chris Aulich, Giralang
Turf not up to scratch
Perhaps many ACT Liberal Party members have been writing to The Canberra Times for weeks now about hard drugs ("Consider writing a letter, Liberal astroturfing in the ACT Senate race", April 21) but their letters were judged too pedestrian?
