Charity a big business

There are very tangible synergies to be gained by amalgamating these charities, very similar with what is happening with councils in NSW at the moment.

A classic example (and there are many ) is Carers ACT and Palliative Care ACT. Both these very worthwhile charities have objectives that overlap, but they both have boards and administration overhead.

From my experience, 50¢ to 60¢ in the dollar should be the minimum amount that reaches the coal face.

There would be another winner if this strategy was seriously addressed and that is the philanthropic-fatigued business sector, which is more and more solicited to support the ever-increasing (but worthwhile) number of charities and foundations.

Brendan Ryan, Mawson

Turner parkland is indeed an integral part of the green belt running from Dickson to the ANU. Neil Parsons (Letters, December 3) highlighted its ideal position, as a park complementing heritage-listed Haig Park, to serve the nearby growing residential population. It is already well loved and well used.

Over the years, development has threatened the parkland, including a proposal for a large-surface car park and, more recently, an ill-conceived proposal for a bus layover. The citizens of Melbourne fought, at times, to preserve the wonderful parks that encircle that city. Those parks are now one of Melbourne's crowning glories. Turner parkland should similarly be preserved and upgraded for future generations. Once lost, green space is never recovered.

A landscape plan for Turner parkland was commissioned by government, using ratepayers' money. The plan quickly became an orphan, never officially acknowledged, adopted or resourced. That plan should be adopted without delay as a master plan for Turner parkland, before this irreplaceable green space is lost to piecemeal development.

Maggie Indian, Turner

David Apps (Letters, December 3) was taking comments out of context when he wrote that CanTheTram Inc proposed "the advantage of heavy rail over light rail".

In our September newsletter (available at canthetram.org/Newsletter—Sept2015.pdf) we state: "The distance as the crow flies from the south of Tuggeranong to the north of Gungahlin is more than 40km, the same distance from Campbelltown to Hornsby in Sydney. Suburban rail could well be a much better solution for Canberra in the long term."

Also, Mr Apps fails to recognise that in our newsletter we state: "A move to bus rapid transit is favoured because the infrastructure could be reused by emerging technologies, such as Uber and semi-autonomous vehicle fleets."

In relation to the comments by Cameron Gordon ("Time to get Canberra's transport debate back on track", Times2, December 3, p5), the lead article of our newsletter states: "Given the large financial commitment being proposed by Labor for one light-rail link, there should be an open and wide-ranging public discussion about land use/public transport in Canberra." However, it seems the government is committed to proceeding without having that discussion.

Dr John L. Smith, chairman, CanTheTram Inc

Gone are the good old days when we would flock to Garema Place for social interaction and shopping. There is little need to visit Civic now, as other centres have reasonable shopping and have fewer parking hassles and costs. Penleigh Boyd (Letters, December 2) is spot on – there is also little to attract people to Civic's CBD squares. Mr Boyd made several suggestions for improvement, as have others during the year. The West Basin development will intensify Civic's stress and, as many letters in The Canberra Times have pointed out, it is a problematic proposal.

Our national planners need to accept that some of the 2006 amendments to the National Capital Plan regarding West Basin and City Hill were flawed. How much drum-beating around creating vibrancy, densifying and populating from city developers and politicians can we tolerate? The lake, including its shores, is considered by many Canberra's greatest asset and it must be sacrosanct, rather than used up as a real estate resource. It is time the city planners and politicians stop forcing on the city this unwanted and superfluous West Basin development that will take away expanses of public lakeshore land forever. Instead, put ideas and money into improving the ambience of Civic.

Lesley Band, Campbell

I am disappointed at the ACT government decision to build public housing in the Franklin suburb in ACT (Kilmeny Close, Franklin, Block 1 and Block 3 Section 125. And, from feedback I received at a P&C meeting and from talking to residents, many others are unhappy with this proposal, which was arrived at without consultation.

The land identified for this development adjoins an early childhood school and children's play area (sharing a boundary wall with the plot). It is completely unacceptable to have housing adjoining a school, due to the invasion of privacy of children. The land layout is such that people staying in the houses could overlook into the playing area of children. I think placing public housing or, for that matter, any housing here is a terrible misjudgment on the part of the ACT government.

Jennifer Elizabeth, Franklin

Ann Finlay continues to fight for her son ("Losing Paul ... a desperate mother, an addicted son and the system", December 5, p1). In doing so, she also fights for those whose lives may be saved by any positive change in the system.

Co-morbidity is a symptom of our society and we should be prepared to address it, not just write notes in hospital files and wait in hope that another child won't be disrespected. These children are our future.

Thank-you, Ann, for having the strength and courage to be the voice of those who are unable to speak for themselves.

Kim Mckinnon, Pearce

Might an erudite Australian art historian be able to answer my questions of Tom Roberts' 1890 painting Shearing the Rams?

Why is the Ned Kelly look-alike shearer with an elongated right arm dragging the unshorn ram back into the counting pen? Legs first is not the way to retrieve for shearing. To where is the bare-footed picker-upper heading?

There appears to be no wool table in sight, even beyond the "tar-girl" (no swearing chaps – there's a lady in the shed).

Further, my research suggests both Roberts and Fred McCubbin depicted a very similar image, both in 1886. Summer Morning Tiff and Lost respectively appear to be more than just a coincidence in their comparative likenesses. Was one copying the other, imitation being, of course, the highest form of flattery?

Phil O'Mara, Macgregor

It's time someone finally debunked the myth of global warming.

For over 10 years I have religiously planted out my tomatoes straight after Melbourne Cup Day, the first Tuesday of November, and this year for the first time they have been staggered by near-zero temperatures as recently as a few days ago.

The formula always worked till now. This is clear evidence of global cooling, not warming!

Since the government is nowsaying we should take steps to adapt to and allow for the effects of climate change, I would suggest we move Melbourne Cup Day to the first Tuesday of December, thus preserving the integrity of the tomato formula.

I don't think it would affect the horses.

Philip Telford, Tarago, NSW

So, the Australian Border Force is taking more direct charge of immigration detention centres ("Higher fences and banned outings in 'command and control' regime", December 5, p7). Why don't we just outsource this work to bikie gangs?

Jim Jones, Charnwood

The actions of the Australian Border Force to suspend a trip by a group of nuns who routinely take children from the Broadmeadows detention centre to the Melbourne Zoo, the Collingwood Children's Farm and various parks sets a standard of immorality by our officials. These were routine visits for these children.

It is hardly consistent with the muttered concern of public officials for the increasing radicalisation of the young. These are children, whose crime is being born to a group consisting of disadvantaged desperates seeking to live a life of peace and harmony, a life most of us take for granted.

Not for them luxuries such as the business migration program, which enables those of dubious background to pay their way into our society and citizenship, regardless of how they achieved their wealth. Of the many things in this life that confuse and bewilder me, the main one is what has happened to our humanity?

Where are those freedoms that we send our armed forces overseas to protect? Somehow the Christian celebration of Christmas and the Jesus tenet of suffering little children to come unto me ring hollow right now.

James Grenfell, Spence

In the wake of two deaths and several hospitalisations at Stereosonic events around Australia, many are looking at who to blame and what to do. I look at these deaths and only see a couple of groups responsible for these deaths, and they are not who you might expect: the state governments in which these events are held and their respective police forces. I first blame the governments for enforcing prohibition-style drug policies in relation to these very common drugs.

A prohibition policy does not work. If it did, then prohibition in the US would have worked, no one would smoke marijuana and we would all live in a drug-free utopia. The opposite is true. Prohibition means drugs are free game for dodgy suppliers and in the hand of backyard chemists.

A legalisation policy for these types of drugs could ensure the level of purity could be set and dosages certain. Further, such drugs should be sold by pharmacists with heavy restrictions on the amount sold to an individual and with mandatory drug advice given on purchase.

Police enforcement of drug policy is also dangerous. If a person is carrying drugs at these events and police begin to search bags, then users are given a simple yet dangerous choice. They either take their whole stash to avoid a conviction and risk death, or they get caught and possibly ruin their life with a conviction.

Jeremy Banwell, Aranda

As they take a hot shower or turn on the lights in Paris, I wonder how many participants in the climate change conference are pleased 75per cent of France's energy comes from a source with very low CO2 emissions? Probably not many, given the animus towards the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

OK, we'd all like to see more use of solar, wind and other forms of low emissions energy, but those energy options don't have the grunt or storage capacity we need to power a modern economy. Nuclear reactors are very costly to build, and involve significant safety and environmental risks. But Australia is wealthy and stable, has great scientific and technical talent, has the capacity to manage and mitigate risks, and has vast open spaces.

If we want to make a serious contribution to reducing greenhouse emissions in Australia, peaceful nuclear energy combined with further funding for renewables research could well be our best option as we transition to a cleaner, greener economy.

S. Henningham, Curtin

I'm sure I'm not the only one appalled at the limitless number of "personal leave" days our federal public servants are entitled to ("Smaller agencies rack up sick days", December 3, p1). What happened to 10 sick days (with the requirement for a doctor's certificate) and four weeks annual leave?

What the heck is "personal leave"? My understanding is that it can be whatever you want it to be and it's no one else's business. It's "personal".

Let's call a spade a spade. Someone is taking the mickey. If you've used up your sick days and you take a day off, you should not get paid. What's good for the private sector should be good for the bureaucracy.

Sonya Georgalis, Kingston

Sam Nona (Letters, December 3) leaves us with no option. Negotiation with Islamic State or continued bombing and destruction in the Middle East – either way, he says things will get worse.

Well, there is another option and that is to redraw boundaries in the Middle East that acknowledge ethnic, cultural and religious differences, rather than stick to boundaries decided by colonial powers last century designed to divide and rule.

Whether it is the Balkans, Africa or anywhere else in the world, these policies are not conducive to any degree of social harmony. Bombing, terrorising, demonising will never advance human dignity or produce peace. It will make things worse. Preset prejudices do not help. Caliphate is just a term to describe an Islamic state. It does not, by definition, imply evil. There are other ways, if we really want them.

Patrick O'Hara, Isaacs

What a world we live in. On any day in Syria, with half the world's air forces bombing that battered country with little concern for innocent civilians so it seems, more than the number of people killed in Paris would be daily victims, dismissed by the safe-in-the-air combatants as "collateral damage".

Still, if they aren't from the "West", as they were in Paris, who really cares? Where's all the media hype for these poor Syrians? Still recovering from their efforts in France, obviously.

Rhys Stanley, via Hall, NSW

DANGER NOT UNIQUE

A friend from Queanbeyan did not know what to make of an ACT road sign at Mawson that reads, "People Die on ACT Roads". He remarked that people die on roads everywhere, so what makes the ACT so special?

John Milne, Chapman

UNUSUAL DEFECTION

So, Ian Macfarlane has decided to defect to the National Party. Back in 1975, the then Country Party (now the National Party) held 23 out of 127 seats in the House of Representatives (18per cent). At the last election, it won nine out of 150 (6per cent). Is this the first time a rat has actually boarded a sinking ship?

Ken Maher, Ainslie

Obviously, Ian Macfarlane missed the perks of ministerial office so much that he sold out and switched sides to get back in the tough. Does this mean that if the Coalition loses government at the next election, Macfarlane will switch to the ALP to have a chance to prolong his magnificent ministerial career?

Graeme Rankin, Holder

A ROLE FOR ABBOTT

Peter Hartcher (Where now for an ex-PM" (Forum, December 5, p1) writes that "Tony Abbott is in post-PM phase [and] needs to work out how to shore up his legacy". As with Joe Hockey going off to Washington, the simple answer is an ambassadorship. How about Nauru?

Brian Millett, Yass, NSW

UNWELCOME SIGHT

Recently, for the first time, I took the train from Sydney to Canberra. The train itself was slow and it was a bumpy ride, but that was nothing compared to the approach to Canberra and the station itself. The former was ugly and the station a disgrace as an entry point to the capital city of our country. I would be ashamed to take a visitor to Australia on that trip and to arrive at that station.

Valerie Lillington, Millingandi, NSW

ANOTHER PEDANT

Peter Moran and Eric Hunter, may I apply for a Team Pedantry award? How about "alternate" and "alternative"? Does anyone in public life (ie, on television and radio) know the difference?

Geoff McLaren, Scullin

TRIGGS TOP AUSTRALIAN

Thank-you Dr Klugman (Letters, December 5). I was one of the many who nominated Professor Gillian Triggs for the Australian of the Year award. Until we see the counts for all those nominated, then for me Professor Triggs is Australian of the Year!

Jim Kable, Caves Beach, NSW

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