Australian War Memorial Director Dr Brendan Nelson is getting very careless with his facts when he states that arms companies that donate to the Memorial don’t have naming rights, “nothing like that” (“Nelson defends memorial donations”, April 6).
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As soon as one enters the AWM there are sponsors’ names prominently displayed near the entrance desk, including the world’s biggest war profiteer Lockheed Martin. And who is the Memorial’s BAE Systems Theatre named after if it’s not the arms maker BAE Systems (which is a key supplier to the countries currently bombing Yemen into humanitarian catastrophe)?
Are you really suggesting that there’s nothing in it for them when they donate to the Memorial, Dr Nelson?
Sue Wareham, MAPW Australia
Greener future
The report "Powering on in the push for a greener future" (Focus, April 7, p17 and p19) presents arguments for the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) to replace those powered by petrol or diesel.
Labor wants 50 per cent of all new vehicles sold to be electric by 2030. Even this modest target (the Greens aim for 100 per cent) is attacked by the Morrison government and the News Corp media.
The naysayers need to take into account that, because Australia no longer has a motor vehicle construction industry, all new vehicles are imported. Many of the countries that supply those vehicles are rapidly moving to EVs. Furthermore, because of the rapidly increasing number of EVs being built, their cost is decreasing just as quickly. Australians may soon have no choice but to invest in EVs and thereby help their country reach its emissions goals of Paris and beyond.
Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin
Light rail farce
Mike Quirk (letters, Apr 19) is quite right to say that light rail is “off the rails”. It would be another light rail travesty if the government forges ahead on Stage 2 without a valid business case.
There was one done for Stage 1, but was not worth the paper it was written on. The government will again ride rough-shod over the concerns of a great many taxpayers in the mistaken belief that it has a mandate from the last election and majority support for the Woden line.
I challenge the government to do a separate, valid survey for its claimed support for Stage 2, ie one where they also tell those surveyed the full cost of the project instead of framing the question like “Do you love light rail?”, to get its desired outcome.
M. Flint, Smart Canberra Transport
Price war felt
Sunday’s article (Price war could explain empty shelves, p.11) addressed a shopping dilemma. I have been deprived of my favourite, Uncle Toby’s oats in flavours I enjoy.
Until they disappeared, in both Coles and Woolworths they were $5.50 per box. On Friday I purchased a box from Coles in Belconnen for $6! My suspicions were confirmed, it wasn’t the drought (as my other half suggested), it was money! From the article we discover that Nestle was seeking a 6 per cent increase in price, you don’t have to be a mathematician to work out that the new price would be $5.83. However, Coles has the price at $6. Where has the extra 17 cents gone? To the supermarket, of course. I appreciated being able to buy the oats at Coles, but I have to give credit to Woolworths for trying to hold out. Woolworths, please accept the 6 per cent and make the price $5.83. Perhaps we can then buy our oats for that price, as hopefully, Coles will be forced to equal the price. These stores both seem to work together, if an item disappears from the shelf of one store, it also disappears from the shelf of the other. Likewise, when a price goes up or down, the other store follows suit. Let’s hope when it is resolved, it comes out to the advantage of the poor old consumer.
Rita Corbett, Spence
Obvious intentions
Mr Shorten recently announced that on becoming Prime Minister he will appoint a woman as Governor-General when the present incumbent's term expires I believe his intentions are obvious; (a) to muster the womens' vote at the forthcoming election and, (b) after gradually undermining and politicising the position of the appointed Governor-General in the next four years, hold a referendum to create a a Republic and President on the grounds the Constitution is not working properly.
Dick Ashby, Numurkah VIC
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