More than a day off

It is not a day of joy: it is a day for paying respects to our war dead and those who suffered as a result of their death. It is a time for the nation to reflect on what their sacrifices have done for it. Yet, because Anzac Day falls this year on a Saturday, Canberra government employees are allowed a holiday on the next Monday even when they are required to work on Saturday. Those who do work, I assume, are compensated by extra pay.

Shame on the government that legislated to allow this to happen. Shame on the present government that allows it to continue. Shame on the spokesman for the bus drivers' union who I saw on television saying everyone should have the extra holiday. They should show respect for the men and women who died, and sympathy for those who are still grieving.

Terry Colhoun, Waramanga

Thank you, Graeme Dunstan (Letters, March 26) for deconstructing the whole circus hoopla surrounding the so-called "Operation Slipper" as reported by the media. Many Australians believe that it was indeed the most futile and shameful (as well as illegal) war adventure in Australian living memory.

This missive intends to pre-empt for once Mr James, the war-apologist on duty, pulling in front his heaviest calibre armoury to defend the circus.

The hysterical hyperboles of "noble sacrifice" (for Australian expeditionary force volunteers), and "game changer (for the hapless people of Iraq and Afghanistan), peddled by our news-hungry media, require urgently a critical and impartial assessment by independent historians and political scientists. They will, undoubtedly, have to consider the application of the term "(criminal) mercenaries" to this conflict. The dictionary definition of the term fits exquisitely in this context – and so we will have to wear it – with pride, or shame, depending on the political and moral compass of individual Australians.

Some personally benefited from the participation in the conflict, as we are reminded by Mr Dunstan, in pecuniary or career advancement terms, others suffered moral indignity of illegal war and diminishing our international standing as a consequence. The problem of utter politicisation of our military (who should serve the nation, and not some political vagaries of ill-advised government cliques currently in power) is another urgent matter we shall have to address in a national and parliamentary debate very soon.

Adam Rustowski, Belconnen

Maureen Hartung (Letters, March 26) is right: every community needs a free, fully government-funded "community school" for its children. It's called a public school!

There are more than 7000 of them serving communities across the country and they've been a key ingredient in the evolution of a prosperous and inclusive democratic nation.

I'm not sure what international norm Maureen is referring to, but what we don't need is gaps in schooling provision being opportunistically filled by particular groups with a particular perspective on the world or, worse still, "edubusinesses" like Pearson or Gems stepping in to provide schooling in developing nations and pretending it's about something other than profit.

What we need in every neighbourhood is access to a well-resourced, fully inclusive public school, and if others seek to supplement that in the name of "choice", that's a matter for them and their own finances.

Glenn Fowler, secretary, Australian Education Union, ACT Branch

I support the Canberra Hospital doctors taking industrial action in protest against the enterprise agreement they have been offered by ACT Health ("Canberra Hospital doctors ready for strike action, March 26, p1). A scary aspect of the proposed agreement is that it would enable ACT Health to cut the pay of senior specialists up to 25percent without fair review, by removing bonuses designed to keep them in the public system.

If the agreement is concluded in its current form, the likely effect would be the loss of senior doctors to private practice, or from Canberra altogether.

In recent years the Canberra Hospital has treated me as a public patient for reflux, prostate, stroke, gall bladder and a heart condition. That I am still here and still in good health is a tribute to the excellent treatment I have received. I would hate to think the hospital's ability to treat public patients could be compromised under a Labor government that appears in danger of backsliding from its commitment to public medicine.

Michael McCarthy, Deakin

Sometimes you are not sure whether to laugh or cry about the Property Council reports such their latest gem: Transforming Canberra's City Centre.

This document contains demands for government assistance for the property sector while recommending cuts in taxes and other revenue-raising measures. They ignore the elephant in the corner, being the Canberra Centre. The report is flawed by not having addressed the problems caused by the growth of the Canberra Centre and how this has mauled the businesses in the surrounding plaza areas.

This being the 21st century, one would have hoped for some environmental responsibility. Alas, there is not a mention of essentials such as climate-change adaptation measures, solar or any wise use of water. The Property Council has used outdated and cliched Melbourne graphics throughout their document and sadly these simply enhance the report's lack of originality and innovative ideas. This document is a lost opportunity to offer serious contributions.

The lesson here is that we need to keep this style of thinking away from the future of other commercial centres. There are many battles ahead for residents as they strive to keep such shallow concepts from doing damage to the wonderful ambience of business centres such as the Dickson shops.

Paul Costigan, Dickson

I struggle to feel any sympathy for V. Scipione (Letters, March 23) who complained about the lengthy wait for one of five copies of a particular book at the local library. The problem is easily solved: simply go to one of Canberra's few and struggling bookshops and buy the book. If a new copy is too expensive there are some great second-hand bookshops.

The Canberra Times informed us that yet another Canberra bookshop, Electric Shadows, is closing because of lack of custom ("Final chapter for Braddon bookshop", March 21, p6). V. Scipione could give some sympathetic thought to authors and the few cents they receive (if they're lucky) from a library when their book is borrowed.

Authors receive about 50c for each ebook version of a book which took perhaps years to research and write. My sympathy lies with the authors and bookshops who endeavour to enrich our lives with something which lasts more than a fleeting few seconds and can remain a vibrant presence in a home.

Kathryn Spurling, Chifley

Tasmanian MP Andrew Nikolic attacked the ABC for showing "a lack of situational awareness" in presenting material about Gallipoli that revealed misogyny, racism, discrimination and exploit-ation. Showing situational awareness in this context seems to mean "pipe down, you people with awkward opinions (however well-grounded in evidence), while the rest of us get stuck into some sentimental commemoration-celebration." Mr Nikolic was trying to suppress free speech and robust debate, the values he claims he absolutely believes in (Letters, March 27). He ignored a number of offers from Honest History to debate the issues he raised, including an offer of space on our website to present his views in detail.

David Stephens, secretary, Honest History, Bruce

It seems a young man has committed a heinous crime, killing 149 people as part of his own suicide. And yet has he no attorney? Out of six billion people is there no voice that questions the rush to judgment?

I am very grateful I do not live under the Napoleonic code where, accused of a crime, I must prove my innocence.

But a worse fate awaits, to be tried summarily by international media. It appears the jury of thousands of journalists has not one angry dissenter. French prosecutors make their case, not to a court but to a media conference, with the accused, silenced by death and otherwise unrepresented. This is not justice.

Richard Moore, Griffith

I am a doctor who previously studied one of the principal disciplines in behavioural science, and I think that by interest and training in both degrees I have a sense for the patterns in human behaviour – which are overwhelmingly greater than any residual randomness.

We are being asked to believe that a pilot turns up for his rather delicate work without anyone spotting something odd or alarming in his mood or behaviour, gets behind the controls – again without raising an eyebrow for an extended time – and punts something as desperately determined as a suicidal intention on a colleague's toilet break taking place in a shortish flight. Douglas Adams' hitchhikers would have engaged maximal improbability drive well before the end of that sentence.

This is at least the second major time in (exactly) one year that we have been faced with unprecedent-edly inexplicable aviation events.

Journalists should not let this one go with a shrug of the shoulders, like everyone else, and engage psychiatric expertise to analyse the odds of this explanation for this disaster being plausible.

Nothing can be tampered with and falsified more than electronic communications, so if that is what the case so far rests on, you need to ask the questions. Lest we terminally enter an era, begun at least as early as 9/11, where the unlikeliest interpretations – if there be any at all – of the most bizarre events become "just so" by default.

Alex Mattea, Kingston

Alternative cockpit safety regu-lations may pose nearly as many problems as it may solve ("Cockpit safety rule options being considered", March 29, p6). The idea of having a member of the cabin crew fill in in the cockpit when one of the pilots leaves will require the psych-iatric vetting of that person or persons before they are permitted to enter and lock the cockpit door behind them .

I imagine the remaining pilot would be safety-harnessed into his seat and may be vulnerable to an attack from behind by the crew member . Also, without disrespect, a smaller female flight attendant might not be a match for a large homicidal/suicidal remaining male pilot. However, the memory of this latest terrible event will linger in the minds of those flying for quite some time to come.

Paul O'Connor, Hawker

Peter Hartcher ("Govt commits to climate agreement", March 28, p2) claims: "A real fixer has won the climate debate". Really?

If Tony Abbott has done so, it is only by setting a laughably low target for greenhouse gas emissions reduction (of 5 per cent by 2020) and by good luck rather than good judgment. Changing demand for electricity provides a wonderful opportunity to lessen Australia's dependence on fossil fuels.

Merely leaving the current Renewable Energy Target at 41,500 gigawatt-hours (by 2020) will mean a greater than expected proportion of electricity will be generated by renewables and less carbon dioxide will be emitted. But the Abbott government is hellbent on moving the RET goalposts to make sure this doesn't happen.

The longer the RET remains a political football, the more people will realise that the Abbott government's policy on climate change is deeply flawed – shortsighted, pandering to vested interests of obsolescent industries, contemptuous of the public interest, and damaging to our international reputation.

David Teather, Reid

According to the Climate Council, last year clean-energy investment grew in China (32 per cent), the US (8per cent), Japan (12 per cent), Germany (3 per cent) and Britain (3per cent); but fell 35 per cent in Australia (with investment in large-scale renewable energy falling an incredible 88 per cent), due to policy uncertainty.

This is an appalling indictment on the Federal Government and is making us a laughing stock worldwide Why can they not see that investment in renewable energy creates thousands of new jobs and an economic boost especially in remote and regional areas, all without polluting the environment.

Estelle Ross, Riverside, Tas

Thanks Peter Graves (Letters, March 27) for shining a light on our reduced aid to Afghanistan. In contrast, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on March 24 that $30million has been allocated towards research to improve the treatment and diagnostic testing of tuberculosis and malaria.

TB is a disease that kills 1.5 million people a year and half of about nine million new cases each year, happen in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ms Bishop's concern is obvious: "Drug-resistant TB and malaria pose a threat to health security in our region and carry a high burden for our Asia-Pacific neighbours."

Let's hope that she can maintain or increase the aid budget come the May federal budget.

Within the current climate of cuts, allocating more to our poorest neighbours would reflect the compassionate attitude of many Australians, whose support to aid organisations doubled last year.

Sue Packham, Woolamai, Vic

SWEET SWAN SONG

Two years and two days ago, I wrote to The Canberra Times: "Is it any wonder that Michael Clarke's back hurts? One game of golf or bowls with the wrong partner will bring most blokes to their knees. Poor old Pup has been carrying the weight of several of his teammates and our expectations for much longer! He'll be back and so will we." What a way for him to finish his limited-overs cricket career.

Charles Smith, Nicholls

SAFETY IN NUMBERS

Since 9/11, US aviation authorities have required all American airlines to have a senior flight attendant in the cockpit whenever one of the two pilots leaves for whatever reason. If this simple procedure was adopted worldwide, it would all but eliminate any crashes caused by either intention, or incapacity, by a solo, securely isolated pilot.

Geoff Nickols, Griffith

JOB VACANCY

Don't worry, Mr Abbott; One Direction has a vacancy.

John Passant, Kambah

EXTRA SECURITY

Will a security fence around Parliament House prevent Tony Abbott from shooting himself in the foot?

Maureen Fisher, Hawker

DON'T TARGET DRIVERS

I was disappointed to read last week that the Chief Minister was considering contracting out bus services to private providers. It seems that he is blaming the troubles with ACTION on an enterprise agreement negotiated and agreed to by the government. So if he's willing to allow another entrant into the market then it's purely to undermine the conditions of bus drivers. Shame.

Nick Dixon-Wilmshurst, Canberra City

TERRITORY HISTORY

Actually, Athol Morris (Letters, March 30), the ACT did exist on April 27, 1915, (its then wordier appellation being the Territory for the Seat of Government of the Commonwealth).

Frank Marris, Forrest

DIGGERS DESERVE MORE

Commemorating Anzac Day on a Monday denigrates the sacrifice of our Diggers in the most shameful way. Dying for this country is surely worth better recognition than that.

Frank Cassidy, Kambah

GRATITUDE REQUIRED

One assumes that L.Christie (Letters, March 27) is one of the hordes of New Zealanders enjoying the benefits of living in Australia. Be grateful, Kiwis, be very grateful.

John Robbins, Farrer

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