Australia's indigenous peoples have been subjected to injustice, inequality and racism since the beginning of European settlement.
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Much of the collective insult they have endured has been institutionalised and continues today; it has taken too long to be remedied and demeans us all, whatever our origins.
![Dawn over Uluru. The rock belongs to all Australians a reader says. Dawn over Uluru. The rock belongs to all Australians a reader says.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc77gaf1mo3vp5cb7o8zp.jpg/r5_0_2311_1295_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
However the political kidnapping of Uluru cannot be justified.
Uluru belongs to all Australians and should not be held hostage to appeasement or guilt.
The closure of the Uluru climb denies all Australians the opportunity to truly appreciate its grandeur and cultural and geographic significance, not just to those who inhabited this country before the arrival of Arthur Phillip.
Yes, it is a sacred and significant site, but not to only one segment of the Australian community.
Mark Slater, Melba
Snow family defended
I suspect Sonja Weinberg did very little research before penning her letter (Letters, October 18). If she had, she would have understood the profound impact Terry Snow's personal generosity has had on the Canberra community.
In 1990 Terry and his brother George established the Snow Foundation using their own money to support those people experiencing hardship or challenges.
In 1986, Raw Potential Canberra (formally known as Open Family, YouthCARE Canberra) was created to provide social support services for the Canberra region's most vulnerable "at risk" youth. For 33 years we have been diligently helping Canberra's at risk and vulnerable kids.
Many of these disadvantaged kids have had a raw deal in their young lives and are emotionally raw from their experiences. Yet they have so much potential and just need someone to believe in them.
We receive no recurrent government funding and depend on grants, self initiated fundraising activities and the generosity of the Canberra community
Since 1990 the Snow Foundation has generously donated nearly $500,000.00 to Raw Potential.
This has enabled us to help over 10,000 of Canberra's most disadvantaged youth by helping them break the cycle of poverty and realize their potential.
There are many worthy charities that Terry Snow has and continues to support. Raw Potential is but one example of his personal generosity and the positive impact it makes to the lives of our disadvantaged youth and the Canberra community more broadly.
Paul Kane, chair,
Raw Potential Canberra
Plastic ban
If this government stays in office after the next election we will, no doubt, have a ban on a lot more plastic because Barr cannot stand up to the Greens.
As is often the case, people can see the problems with the present situation but give little thought to the consequences of change.
I wonder, for example, what single use plastic bags there really are. Those I take home either end up as bin liners, which means two uses, or are kept for when I go away for the weekend, when I use them for my stuff (multiple use).
The only genuine single use plastic bags I can think of are the bin liners which I will need to buy if there is an absolute ban on plastic bags from shops.
- Stan Marks, Hawker
The only genuine single use plastic bags I can think of are the purpose-made bin liners which I will need to buy if there is an absolute ban on plastic bags from shops.
The reusable cloth bags that the government and the Greens are so keen on are themselves becoming a problem, every charity plus others give you one. I have a dozen of them and will need to start throwing them out soon.
As for plastic cups and take away food containers, those with long memories will remember the fuss made by the Greens two or three decades ago to get businesses to use plastic which, they said, was made out of hydrocarbons whereas paper ones are made out of trees.
Glass has several disadvantages. It costs more in resources to manufacture, glass vessels need to be washed so that detergents must be manufactured and then disposed of, and they break, meaning that some people will cut their hands and their feet, sometimes badly.
The problem of plastics is well known but banning them in many of their uses will only create other problems.
Stan Marks, Hawker
Respect it is
ACT Opposition leader Alistair Coe may well have cause to repeat the word "respect" a lot between now and the ACT election in 12 months' time ("The race is on for 2020 election", canberratimes.com.au, October 19).
But then what? Much more timely, transparent and in-depth policy and implementation detail over the coming months is required from all parties. All need to offer more than ad hoc remedial patch ups to what Labor indicated before the last election would be a "smart, integrated public transport system that is easy to use, there when you need it and gets you there on time".
The recent Liberal promise to restore some cross Canberra bus trips twice a day for relatively few yet potentially very lucky younger bus passengers only skims across the surface of the loss of amenity experienced since April 29.
Sue Dyer, Downer
Wrong party Phil
I to write to respond to Phil Creaser (Letters, October 14). I am sympathetic to his plight but feel he is blaming the wrong party for his predicament.
The land tax that is liable on his unit is due but the party responsible for paying the land tax is the corporation who owned the unit prior to Mr Creaser and his partner's purchase of the unit. Further, the matter should have been rectified when Mr Creaser's conveyancing solicitor did the paperwork.
Prior to settlement the conveyancing solicitor should have made sure that outstanding rates etcetera were paid in full. Many years ago a similar thing happened to me. I took the bill to the solicitor acting on my behalf and they settled the bill.
Mr Creaser's criticism "Yet another example of an unjust and unfair tax imposed by an uncaring and incompetent government" seems a bit strong and in my opinion, a bit rich. A Liberal government would take the same approach and rightly so.
Frances Corcoran, Fraser
Where are the wagtails?
Has anybody else noticed the recent decline of the willie wagtails in Canberra?
When I moved to Greenway in 2013 there were numerous colonies of them all around lake Tuggeranong. They were a regular visitor to my rear garden.
On a recent excursion around the lake I didn't see any. Nor do I see them in my garden anymore.
As readers of The Canberra Times would know they mainly live on insects and use spider webs for their nests. There appears to be a decline of insects right across the globe and that may be part of the reason for their decline around Lake Tuggeranong.
I suspect the use of chemical sprays may also be a cause.
Whatever the reason, I sadly miss the willie wagtails.
Seeing their babies in my yard was a rich and rewarding experience. The most beautiful baby animal I have ever seen.
Terence Wilson, Greenway
Dam the drought
The drought will be long gone before we get any of the recently proposed new dams.
So why should we ignore every principle, just because it's dry?
A dam that will never fill, or will so rapidly evaporate that it will be dry when the water's needed, shouldn't be built.
A dam that will wreck downstream water flows shouldn't be built.
A dam that will provide private benefits the private users won't pay for, like the Ord, shouldn't be built.
Yet our government says that because of the drought cost benefit analysis is too onerous. Because of the drought environmental assessment is too burdensome. Because of the drought no impact should matter.
The "politician's syllogism" in Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister was "we must do something; this is something; so we must do this". Is that the best our government can do?
Christopher Hood, Queanbeyan
Right is right
Spot on, Greg Jackson (Letters, October 19). "Give way to the right" should be the rule on roundabouts. The question I have asked myself in situations such as the one Greg described is "who, as shown by their actions, believes they have right of way?" The answer is invariably that it's the fast-moving car approaching the roundabout.
If I'm about to enter slowly and I see someone on the right approaching the roundabout going fast, I instinctively give way even though I know that by continuing on I would technically have right of way. There is no reason why instinctive behaviour and the law should be at odds here, so we do need to change the law.
Locals could get used to it quickly because we already behave this way.
Then we just need to find a way to educate visitors to the ACT (who struggle on our roundabouts as it is).
Terry Werner, Wright
LABOR SHOULD LEAD
Congratulation to David Smith MP on his excellent lead letter (Letters, October 28). The only thing that detracts from his statement is that Labor in opposition and in government has been complicit in the excessive terror laws being passed by the parliament. Labor has been so scared of being wedged on national security that they have not stood up for people's rights. I hope the indications Labor is finally standing on principle have concrete results.
Dr Kristine Klugman OAM,
president, Civil Liberties Australia
WAY TO GO GENERAL
I would rather see His Excellency overdraw his allowance time to enable assessment and recognition of deserving Australians than have elected representatives rort the system ("Award boom blows Governor-General's staff budget", October 27, p3).
Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW
JOB WELL DONE
Congratulations to the Australian Diamonds netball team on their two to one victory over New Zealand in the Constellation Cup series. From the outset I viewed the series as the Consolation Cup after the Diamonds lost to the Kiwis in the World Cup final last July.
Keith Hill, Isaacs
WRONG BUBBLE
Pollies should refer to the "Federal Bubble", not the "Canberra Bubble. Canberrans live in a world of diverse people, cultures and beliefs and we have our own government. By the way, where does PM Scott Morrison live? In a state capital (Sydney) or the nation's capital (Canberra)? Does he receives travel allowance when "visiting" either city?
H. Merritt, Downer
SPEAK FREELY
I am probably a dumb, quiet Aussie but I don't want my kids to grow up in a police state. I want to hear about everything the government is doing.
L Paul, Kambah
THE WATERBOY
Running the water out to players is one thing. Providing water to drought stricken communities is another. It's time for the PM to do his job.
Jeff Bradley, Isaacs
ART ATTACK
Our sports loving PM has attended the Prime Minister's XI cricket match at Manuka Oval. I would like to see Mr Morrison attending, and therefore supporting, the opening of a new Australian ballet, the launch of a new Australia film, the presentation of a literary award or the completion of a new museum. He seems to avoid all possible contact with the artistic and cultural aspects of Australian life.
Timothy Walsh, Garran
WINTON, NOT WILTON
Can someone tell your reporter the outback town in the ABC drama series Total Control is Winton not Wilton because that oversight detracted from an otherwise good article "Biting one-liners are icing on cake" (TV Guide, October 28, p2).
Duncan Fyfe, Malua Bay, NSW
EXISTENTIAL CRISIS
R. Baczynski's letter (Letters, October 26) was all about survival. We are faced with existential threats. We need to increase worldwide awareness of the real and present danger to civilisation and humanity. Nature is just amazing. We need a Charter of Rights and Obligations to the Earth.
T. Bialkowski, Phillip
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