Tram project a dog

It is common knowledge that overpopulated cities have higher costs of living, high unemployment, pollution and desecrated natural habitats, among other problems.

Shouldn't we learn to build Canberra's communities, not by filling a paddock with homes, but by improving existing suburbs and offering people healthier lives, better infrastructure and a natural environment that maintains as much of our native flora and fauna as possible.

We need to start a discussion and come to an agreement on what is Canberra's sustainable population.

Andrew Tye, Cook

Levies lazy form of tax

It is a pity that the Canberra community has not reacted more strongly to the introduction of the domestic violence levy which is an addition to the fire and emergency services levy (which has tripled over six years), the ambulance levy, the road rescue levy and the former insurance levy.

This is not an argument against funding responses to domestic violence but an economic argument concerning the inefficient allocation of resources. The use of levies is a lazy form of taxation, is regressive in nature and is not at all equitable in that it often targets only sections of the general population. And who is it that decides that it is better to fund domestic violence measures rather than say youth homelessness which has resulted from family violence? Funding of initiatives and services such as those above should be done through progressive taxation and the lack of opposition to additional levies imposed by the ACT government only encourages it to introduce more levies in the future.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

Finding the truth

The plea for an open inquiry into the death of Steven Freeman by his mother, Narelle King, and echoed by Julie Tongs "Too little, too late for Freeman", Times2, June 20, p1) must be heeded by the ACT government and AMC.

Steven Freeman died in prison custody despite the promises by the authorities to keep him safe, while knowing that he had almost died last year after being bashed by other prisoners soon upon his arrival at the AMC ,then on remand for petty offences.

One hopes that the independent inquiry called for by the Corrections Minister, Shane Rattenbury, is guided by pertinent findings among the 339 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, especially recommendations from six to 40 .

In particular, the role of independent , well-resourced and qualified coroners could play a key role in revealing the true facts in this tragic event.

Keith McEwan, Bonython

Gas bills mystery

I have some sympathy with Roger Allnutt (Letters, July 17) and his frustration in trying to get an accurate account from his natural gas provider. I, and many of my fellow residents of our apartment complex, have had a similar experience. Our natural gas bill almost doubled in the recent billing period despite us being away from Canberra for much of the period. Our bill was also designated an "estimate".

However, rather than an estimate based on previous usage, the usage figures appeared to be derived from a random number generator. We have called our provider three times and, as requested, I have provided meter readings on each occasion. We now have four different bills for the period. The latest is still incorrect since it charges us for gas through a line cut off years ago. Roger was hopeful his correct reading would result in a bill reflecting his actual usage. I wish him luck!

John Huppatz, Kingston

Housing pain

David Pederson ( Letters June 21) points out house and unit prices in Watson and Downer increased 12 per cent from 2014 to June 2016, 12 per cent in Kaleen, 14 per cent in Kambah and 32 per cent in Aranda. Similarly, there were significant price increases in new housing in the Molonglo area once cashed-up former Mr Fluffy owners entered the market.

It's time for Senator Seselja to stop his scare advertisements parroting Malcolm Turnbull's misleading rant about negative gearing, and the senator's wish that the ACT government give him a new Tuggeranong suburb.

Instead, could he please set down what positive action the Coalition will take to make housing more affordable, particularly for younger families? I would hope the policy does not include Malcolm Turnbull's suggestion that parents buy their children a home.

Bill Bowron, Farrer

How we deal with refugees is the great moral challenge of our time

The biggest lie of the campaign is that a future Coalition government will sell off Medicare?

Rubbish. The biggest lie of the campaign and of the past 20 years is that we need protection from refugees.

Another big lie is that "stopping the boats" helps. It doesn't; it's just an easy way to get racists' votes by persecuting refugees, while people smugglers change their business model to kidnapping, extortion, torture and murder.

The two real problems relating to refugees are firstly, resolving the situations that make these people refugees, and secondly, to quickly and permanently resettle the many refugees stranded in camps in appropriate countries. Neither is easy. Even if it's possible, the first will obviously take a very long time, especially given the stuff ups in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The second would be possible if we (i.e. Europe and North America as well as ourselves) got collectively organised to work with the countries accommodating huge refugee populations.

Dealing with refugees is really the great moral challenge of our time.

The great moral challenge for our Labor and conservative coalition politicians is to stop lying and start behaving like decent human beings.

R. Neville, Fraser

Johann Shellar (Letters, June 16) stated inter alia that "under Labor/Greens ... 50,000 boat people supplanted genuine refugees". Boat people not refugees! As to Mr Shellar's assertion that on refugee policy "there is a stark choice" between the two major parties, I fervently wish there was such a choice.

Unfortunately both major parties' refugee policies fall short of being humane and compassionate, (notwithstanding recent ALP announcements about emptying Manus and Nauru and allowing journalists to find out the truth of conditions there.)

D.J. Taylor, Kambah

All a bad dream?

I woke this morning with the copper taste of fear in my mouth, and awful memories at the back of my mind. I had dreamt that I was living in a country where it was OK to ignore the wishes of the majority; where paying tax was optional for the rich and a silly joke for the big companies, while multi-nationals were actually subsidised by the government! Where speaking the truth could get you fined or jailed but threatening the lifestyle of the majority was tolerated because those radical views were "part of their culture".

Where the major parties treated the public as morons who could be bribed in election campaigns while all the promises made were promptly broken after the election. A country where the shouts of "what's in it for me?" drowned out the few voices asking what they could do to improve the country for their kids and grandkids.

A country where the few honest politicians were all independent, and so could be marginalised (unless the majors needed their vote). Where work was becoming more casualised (when you could get it) while unions were demonised and employers resented paying minimum wages.

A country where farmers and manufacturers were forced out of business by big conglomerates who preferred to import cheap foreign goods so their massive profits could be funnelled to foreign owners via tax havens.

But then I awoke, and knew it must have been a dream, because those things couldn't happen in Australia.

Stuart Kennedy, Birtinya, Qld

End procrastipolicy

Readers may not be familiar with the portmanteau 'procrastibake'. This is when one does something useful and constructive (baking!) instead of what they should be doing (often, studying). This election campaign is accurately described as 'procrastipolicy'.

Most players are debating the merits of policy proposals (which is useful and constructive). But what they should be doing is debating how to fix the system.

We need proportional representation to end pork barrelling. We need political donation reform so parties are influenced by voters, not money (whether union or business). We need question time reform so it ceases to be a vacuous reality show. We need a federal anti-corruption body so we can trust that politicians are as honest as they say they are. We need (proper) Senate voting reform, so the Senate's make up reflects voters' intentions. We need longer and fixed terms to prevent short-sightedness.

Like all procrastination, procrastipolicy is an ultimately self-defeating distraction.

Christopher Budd, Turner

Gun laws do work

Hans Zandberg (Letters, June 17) repeats Donald Trump's argument that had some of the nightclubbers in Orlando been armed, they could have returned fire and reduced the death toll.

But that is to forget that although these mass shootings are a daily occurrence, they do not happen in the same place every day, and there is generally no warning.

So to stop the madman or terrorist, ordinary citizens would need to be armed all the time and everywhere. No thanks.

On the other hand Gerry Murphy (Letters, June 17) rightly says that strict gun laws would not stop massacres like the one in Paris, but big deal! Mr Murphy seems to be saying that if a law doesn't stop all crime therefore the law is useless? I took a brief look at the comparable statistics between the US and France.

The latter, with stricter laws, has vastly lower numbers of gun deaths, whether homicide, suicide or accident. Those laws make a difference.

Mick Callinan, Waramanga

Comments insulting

Craig Cormick ("Why emotions blind us to science and facts", Times2, June 20, p5) tries to understand why many of us don't want GM food.

I find insulting his notion that it is because emotions blind us to the science.

He misses what for many of us are significant issues.

First, can we trust the science, when there are claims that the research he cites was funded by biotech and agribusiness companies?

Second, should we accept his definition of "safe"?

The food he promotes is grown in soil-degrading monocultures with regular use of glyphosate. Third, would he claim that farmers sent into bankruptcy by the business practices of GM seed corporations are "safe"?

Janet Grevillea, Wangi Wangi, NSW

Residents foot the bill for municipal neglect

La Perouse Street at the corner of Arnhem Place in Red Hill has been flooded several times following rain in the past few weeks. The cause is undoubtedly due to blockage with autumn leaves from the oak street trees. Not only a traffic hazard, it is a symptom of gross municipal neglect.

When I raised this with the previous minister (Shane Rattenbury) in 2014, I was informed that suburbs with deciduous street trees where there is a heavy leaf fall during autumn months are swept by Roads ACT once per month (an "additional service" to twice per year for all ACT streets!) with additional loaders and trucks said to be used "as required" from May to August to remove accumulated leaves.

Local residents spend significant time and money each week during autumn removing fallen leaves. They can attest that sweeping the leaves once per month is completely inadequate and explains why ACT taxpayers were paying today for a contractor to pump out the drain at Arnhem Place.

The attitude of the present Minister is unknown to me. It took more than 11 weeks to receive a response to an email sent on March 7 about a pressing need to trim the branches of oak trees being hit by passing trucks and overhanging private properties. Why

bother?

John McEwen, Red Hill

Meat has to make way

There is a strong environmental argument to reinforce Jan Darby's passionate call (Letters, June 21) to stop raising animals so that they can be slaughtered and eaten. Her plea was made on moral grounds, but in addition, sooner or later as the human population continues to expand it will no longer be possible to continue the environmentally costly practice of raising billions of animals so that they can end up on a dinner plate. Apart from the production of qualities of potent greenhouse gas methane entailed, we are going to need all the fertile land to grow food for ourselves.

Harry Davis, Campbell

TO THE POINT

THE SPENDING CYCLE

What a shame it only happens at election time. So many promises and so much money to spend. Hard to believe we had to tighten our belts not that long ago.

Barbara Mecham, Melba

LABOR'S MEDICARE LIE

I am a longstanding Liberal Party member and I am sick and tired of the accusation by Labor that Malcolm Turnbull will be privatising Medicare. That is a lie, and must be stopped. Bill Shorten is becoming so desperate that he will go to any length to become prime minister.

Anne Prendergast, Reid

POLICY DOESN'T ADD UP

So Mr Turnbull now wants to compel all students to undertake maths and science throughout their high school years ("PM pushes for maths, science to be compulsory", June 20, p4). A good case can no doubt be made for such a policy in terms of the importance of these areas to our future. However, to avoid confusion the PM better make no reference to the treatment meted out to the CSIRO.

Tim Hardy, Florey

ZONE OF UNFAIRNESS

I find it surprising the ACT government pays top dollar for a prime piece of real estate in Civic based on its potential use after rezoning. If only Mr fluffy homeowners were afforded this same convenience. Instead, they received a price for the land based on zoning as is, with the government reaping the reward of "rezoning" prior to the on-sell of those blocks. Shouldn't the one rule apply to all?

Bob O'Bryan, Yarralumla

QUICK HISTORY LESSON

Andrew Barr says West Molonglo was eight years from conception to starting ("Barr tips backlash over land project", June 21, p1). In 1956 the NCDC was created. By 1961 the CSIRO Research Farm on Northbourne Avenue was gone and all the streets laid out, and the first houses were being built in Downer.

Brian Hatch, Berrima, NSW

QUESTION FOR PM

Malcolm Turnbull explained on Q&A that he felt compelled to follow his Coalition Party colleagues and respond to their views. The key question he has never asked is: what if they are wrong?

Howard Spicer, Bondi Beach, NSW

SPECIAL COMMISSION

Having sent my postal vote to the Electoral Commission last week I was amazed and delighted to receive an email from them, the next working day, to let me know that my vote had arrived safely. A big thank-you to the AEC for their efficiency and user friendliness!

Gay von Ess, Aranda

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