Canberra Times Letters to the Editor: Canberra Raiders’ disunity on show

If a player wants to vent his disgust with a fellow team member he should do so at half/full time in the dressing rooms or better still at training, and not on the field for all to see. The players should own up to their mistakes on the field and then have the rest of the team run up to them and be patted on the back for their error in judgment (reverse psychology) — that's what the opposition teams do.

Admittedly, it is a hard task to ask the players to do this when they have a coach with a history of dummy spits. Stop blaming the players and put the blowtorch on the coach when the team loses because of poor team dynamics. After all, moulding a team of highly strung and talented individuals into a coherent and highly functioning unit is the coach's job.

Natali Rech, Yarralumla

I was one of the faithful Raiders supporters in the freezing crowd with Markus Lynch (Letters, July 6) when the team lost to the Cowboys.

I concur with Markus that the talented Raiders could still make the finals and give the premiership a shake.

This potentially great team is not given a chance to fire because it is regularly starved of possession, particularly repeat sets, as Markus also points out.

This should be so obvious to Ricky Stuart, who was a halfback himself. Ricky needs to get Aidan Sezer, Blake Austin and Josh Hodgson out on the training paddock and practise their short kicking game until the sun goes down. Possession is the key to success in rugby league.

Michael Lucas, Conder

So "The ACT prison is maxed out" (June 27, p1). There is little satisfaction in claiming "we told you so". In 1999 Families and Friends argued that the case for expanded prison facilities represented by the proposed new prison had not been made out and that the development of an effective evidence-based drug treatment strategy should be a condition for the establishment of an ACT prison.

The official projection was that a 300-bed capacity would be adequate for between 20 and 30 years. In 2008, the late Professor David Biles challenged that assumption. All it would take would be a slight change in the "extraordinarily low rate of sentencing to prison by ACT courts". Then attorney-general Simon Corbell dismissed that fear.

So, we have a prison intended to be big enough until 2028 bursting at the seams in 2017.

If there is one thing clear, it is that we wouldn't be in the human and financial fix we are in today if 20 years ago ex-pharmacist and Liberal chief minister Kate Carnell had had her way. She was blocked from permitting heroin prescription, an intervention that Swiss criminologists have described as being "without doubt one of the most effective crime prevention measures ever assessed".

Bill Bush, Turner, Vice president, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform

The banning of an AFL player recently for assault on the field is an excellent decision. All sportsmen (women are not the problem) who fight on the field should be sent off. What are the police at the ground doing? Has any player been charged with assault at an AFL match? Fighting in any ball game is not part of the game and players with poor self discipline are not welcome.

Adrian Jackson, Middle Park, Victoria

At West Basin there is a stone memorial to Grenfell Rudduck (1914-1964) associate-commissioner to the National Capital Development Commission. It reads: "Erected by his friends to remember Grenfell Rudduck 1914-1964 Town Planner and Architect who helped to build this city".

In the current replanning of West Basin it is hoped this memorial, part of Canberra's urban fabric and unwritten history, can be preserved. Without people like Grenfell Rudduck this city would not exist. Recognition of founders is what gives a city a soul. The memorial deserves to be preserved.

Penleigh Boyd, Reid

Bravo for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's call for demanding social media companies like Facebook allow access by Western society's military/security guardians to social media giants' encrypted metadata in the fight against terrorism.

I have read some of Facebook's owner's megalomaniac-like comments on social issues. Frankly, social media companies are behaving like "techno tories", thumbing their noses at requests by Western security services for access.

I hope Mr Turnbull gets support from other Western world leaders at the G20 summit in Germany this week.

Howard Hutchins, Chirnside Park, Victoria.

Bravo to the ABC Four Corners program and The Canberra Times articles (July 5, p19, p21). There must be something wrong with the legislation that allows various village operators to take advantage of seniors who may be contemplating moving into a retirement village in the ACT.

Many of the issues raised apply here in the ACT. The erosion of what has been invested in buying a villa in a village can be huge after the village operator deducts departure fees, deferred manage fees, maintenance fees, etc.

Something must be done through good legislation to protect seniors from poor contracts that are so confusing.

Ken Barrs, Stirling

Chris Lathbury asks: "What don't junk mail advertising delivery people understand about my No Junk Mail Please sign prominently displayed on my letter box?" (Letters, July 6). Chris suggests a boycott of that advertiser's products. As I remove yet another real estate agent's unwanted flyer from my No Junk Mail letterbox, I too have the same thought. I used to complain to the offending businesses and tell them I would never do business with them. Occasionally, in the case of real estate agents, I would refer them to their peak body for breach of their rules and a reprimand. That produces zero results.

The time for more draconian action may be approaching. The No Junk Mail sign on my letterbox is obvious. Does this mean that in delivering me their unwanted spiels, the offending businesses have breached the unsolicited consumer agreement provisions of the Australian Consumer Law? For example section 75 says that someone who calls on a person to negotiate an unsolicited consumer agreement must leave immediately if they ask them to. In a case in 2013 the Federal Court held that a do not knock sign aimed at door to door salespeople was such a request and fined the business a substantial amount. If that does not work, then maybe the time has come to consider the law of trespass and refer each potential trespass to ACT Policing for investigation. If, as is likely, the police refuse to take action, we aggrieved could perhaps launch a case for trespass in the courts ourselves.

John Passant, Kambah

Once again we have a case in which a young man has been accused, tried but ultimately found not guilty of a very serious charge of rape. While the young woman's name and details were (rightfully) suppressed, the young man's name and face has frequently appeared on the pages of The Canberra Times and local TV news bulletins. I have to ask why?

That young man will be followed for the rest of his life by this charge – every potential employer or acquaintance who Googles his name in future years will find out he was once charged with rape. The fact he was found not guilty will never completely negate the innuendo or suspicions. The young woman, however, can continue her life in anonymity.

How is this fair, or justice? In such cases, both parties should be protected, and the details of the accused also suppressed until, and if, he is found guilty, at which point he gets all the public humiliation he deserves.

I hope that ADFA and the ADF close ranks around this young man and allow him to resume his career.

Kym MacMillan, O'Malley

The firing of a possible ICBM missile by North Korea puts the world into a very dangerous place. The US says all options are open, and the Australian government has no position of its own in this dire situation.

Former foreign minister Gareth Evans and former ambassador to Korea Richard Broinowski are both of the view that negotiations with North Korea can be productive.

Broinowski said in April, "Pyongyang has said many times that it would dismantle its nuclear arsenal in exchange for a written pledge that the US won't attack it, attempt to overthrow it, or impede its economic development through sanctions on trade and investment. Between bombastic statements threatening Japan, South Korea and the United States with condign nuclear punishment, Pyongyang still offers this compromise, even though no one in the West appears to be listening."

China and Russia are calling for a de-escalation of the tensions. Australia should adopt an independent view and support these calls for de-escalation and for putting every effort into negotiations to defuse this critical situation. It is too important at this time to take leadership from the irrational US President.

Kathryn Kelly, Chifley

The anti-tram letters to The Canberra Times may be from grumpy, bored retirees or fat cats who never drive along Northbourne Avenue in the rush hour. But the wearisome bombardment of letters suggests a concerted Liberal campaign running up to the next ACT election. Yes, costs are a moot point. So is population growth. In the long term light rail could be of great benefit, complementing bus and other shared transport systems. What we really need is fewer cars on the road.

Susan MacDougall, Scullin

In his rather dismissive letter about the critics of light rail Bill Gemmell (Letters, July 6) is clutching at straws when he explains the higher transit speed of buses by accusing them of exceeding the posted speed limits.

He glosses over the fact that the light rail vehicles are designed to have a maximum speed capability of only 70km/h, which means that the light rail system never had a hope of becoming a rapid transit system, or competing with buses which are capable of sustaining 80km/h along Adelaide Avenue without difficulty.

Roger Quarterman, Campbell

Bill Gemmell might or might not be right in his assertion (Letters, July 6) that the express buses to Woden speed but his letter doesn't help the case for the tram.

The key point is the tram will have a maximum speed of 70km/h while the legal maximum for the buses is 80km/h. Then there is the fact that the tram route will be less direct than the bus. Thus, the tram will never be faster than the express buses.

Express busses running in bus lanes are a relatively inexpensive and much more efficient way of addressing the city's public transport needs than a tram.

Stan Marks, Hawker

Bill Gemmell (Letters, July 5) can relax on tram safety. The Spanish vehicles we are buying only have a maximum speed of 70km/h. Our buses move safely at 100km/h and are the only vehicles able to provide the "rapid" public transport specified in the ACT government's own "Transport for Canberra 2012-31".

The most favoured light rail route from Civic to Woden looks like taking about three times the current journey time.

Chris Emery, Reid

NAMING AND SHAMING

And another young man's career ruined ("ADFA cadet not guilty of rape: jury", July 6, p3). Again, why publicly name before conviction?

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

TOO MUCH ALCOHOL

ADFA says it will respond to the recent case by providing more counselling about consent. It could also provide counselling about excessive consumption of alcohol — and reduce the amounts of alchohol laid on at ADFA functions.

David Stephens, Bruce

WARM FEELING

God bless you, Barb Mitchell (Letters, July 3) for knitting scarves for homeless people. You're a champ.

Gerry Murphy, Braddon

FRONT YARD EYESORES

The time has surely come when restrictions should be in place to control the number of "bombs" in front gardens. Sure junk up your back yards with these "restore" cars. Our suburban streets can only benefit from these eyesores being removed.

Barry Maher, Richardson

NUCLEAR RIGHTS

I don't want to appear as an apologist for North Korea or nuclear weapons in general, but with somebody as unstable as President Trump with his finger poised over the button, what right do nuclear armed countries have in telling others that they can't be also be nuclear armed?

Kim Fitzgerald, Deakin

DISSOLUTION POWER

Penleigh Boyd (Letters, July 5) suggests that the federal Minister for Territories may dissolve the ACT Legislative Assembly in extraordinary circumstances. Actually, that power is vested in the Governor-General.

Frank Marris, Forrest

ABBOTT'S TRUTH

Are the jellyback bedwetters in the Coalition masquerading as conservatives and complaining about Tony Abbott, able to identify anything he is saying that is contrary to conservative values? Is there anything he is advocating that is not true or of benefit to the nation? Abbott's comments and criticisms are made openly and publicly. Not behind closed doors in Queanbeyan with a handful of co-conspirators.

Owen Reid, Dunlop

CANCER FUNDING

My heart goes out to Matthew Owen and his family. Here in Australia, every year, we give millions to the Cancer Council and numerous other cancer "foundations", and not one red cent gets to a bloke like Matthew. It is an absolute disgrace. Stop paying your CEOs and boards and start actually supporting the people who have cancer.

Anne Goyne, Aranda

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