AWM's favourable heritage report comes as no surprise

So, the Australian War Memorial management have commissioned their own heritage report that supports their proposal.

This is hardly surprising.

Does anyone else sense the similarity between this and other controversial developments that have damaged our precious environment and cultural heritage?

The Australian Heritage Council is an independent body that was established to provide heritage advice to government.

We should listen to them.

Jill Sutton (Letters, October 10) asks the Treasurer a series of "whys?" on a plethora of subjects. They include putting conditions on borrowed money and higher payments for jobseeker recipients.

I would like to add another one to the list. Why didn't he buy a billion or so "money trees". That is what he would need to fund all of Jill's over the top demands.

Gladys Berejiklian acknowledges she "stuffed up" with her close personal relationship with a disgraced MP; a relationship that continued after he resigned from Parliament.

What else has she stuffed up? The Ruby Princess and Newmarch House? No person in her ministry was held accountable. Yet she lectures Annastacia Palaszczuk on opening the Queensland border. Scott Morrison says he has the utmost respect and trust for Gladys. That sounds like a footy chairperson about to sack his coach.

Josh Frydenberg, and the Victorian Opposition Leader, Michael O'Brien, pressure Daniel Andrews to remove the lockdown in Melbourne because of the economic damage it is doing to the economy.

I would rather be alive and poor than rich and dead. I won't take my health advice from politicians, preferring a health specialist such as Professor Brett Sutton.

Perhaps these Liberal politicians need to look beyond our shores and see what has happened in Europe, the UK, and the USA with the premature lifting of lockdowns.

My health, and that of my fellow Australians, should always come before the economy. The blue bloods clearly don't see it that way.

Brian Hinton (Letters, October 12) may not know that in the 1960s, when the Monaro Highway was but a lane through the paddocks, on Friday nights during the snow season the Kosciusko (sic) Express departed from Sydney Central with a great party spirit that carried on for most of the night. A huge breakfast was available at the Cooma waiting room. So began the riotous snow weekend.

Malcolm Mackerras makes a very brave (in the sense of Sir Humphrey's comments on proposed Ministerial actions) prediction in his excellent article on the upcoming US Presidential election ("My prediction: Biden will defeat Trump in a landslide", canberratimes.com.au, October 13).

However, he does himself a disservice by describing the US Constitution as "frozen". Since it came into effect on March 4, 1789 (after ratification by 11 of the 13 original states in 1787/88 - ratification by nine states was needed to bring the constitution into operation), there have been 27 amendments, the last being in 1992.

The first 10, known as the Bill of Rights, were enacted in 1791 - basically to address some important matters not specifically covered in the original. Three amendments were enacted after the Civil War, including the abolition of slavery and the removal of race as a bar to voting rights.

The last 12 amendments were enacted in the 20th century, including the imposition of, and later repeal of, Prohibition. Although the eight articles of the US constitution are written in 18th-century English, it is drawing a long bow to describe it as "frozen". Yes, the procedures and processes required to enact an amendment to it can be, and sometimes are, tortuous. However, 27 amendments in 230 years demonstrate that frigidity has not yet set in.

The Greens hope for a "fossil fuel gas free environment for the Territory is another vacuous policy anyone could advocate.

If universally applied, it would mean the end of the traditional Aussie barbecue and create major problems for the café and restaurant industry. The Greens should think before they advocate such anti-household and business policies.

I have just received my annual rates notice for 2020-21. The figure is $2,885. If the temporary rates rebate of $150 is added on it is effectively $3,035.

For comparison, my rates notice on the same property in 2010-11 was $1024. My rates have tripled in 10 years.

Go figure Canberrans. Please vote accordingly if you have not already done so.

Re "Paterson's curse looks pretty, but threatens native ecosystems", (canberratimes.com.au, October 12).

The problem of Paterson's curse threatening native ecosystems shows the misplaced budget priorities of our major parties, the Watson Woodland being a prime example.

Conservation volunteers face a massive task controlling such weeds in the wake of recent devastating fires and drought. They stop the regeneration of native flora, and harm habitat for many native animal species.

At north Watson, volunteers have for years controlled weeds and nursed native plants, including hand watering through drought. Yet the Woodlands and surrounding areas are now experiencing a serious weed invasion including Paterson's curse and Cape weed.

Meanwhile there is reportedly bi-partisan support for wasting billions of dollars on construction projects such as a hugely expensive stadium with 25,000 seating capacity in Civic for 'post pandemic times'.

While "old thinking" in a crisis is always construction work, taking better care of our environment would also be a major source of jobs, is more gender balanced in its workforce and an investment for future generations.

Why does the ACT Electoral Commission not run specimen ballot papers in their regular multi-page newspaper advertising for the upcoming election?

Although specimen ballot papers for each electorate are available on the Commission's website not all voters will go to the trouble of accessing them.

It would be a safe bet most voters will not have seen the names of all the candidates standing in their electorate until they see the actual ballot paper. Not much time to do research then.

In Kurrajong, if one relied on letterbox drops and corflute communication alone, one might think there may be about 10 candidates appearing on the ballot paper, not 28.

The range of choice could come as a shock to many voters.

The ACT Electoral Commission has a duty to all voters, including the disinterested and uninformed, to properly advise the full range of candidates available in each electorate. It is not sufficient to say that the information is available on their website.

I commend the analysis of light rail and bus rapid transit in the Canberra environment offered by Leon Arundell (Letters, October 12).

The Democratic Labour Party has candidates in the Ginninderra and Yerrabi electorates. The main thrust of our policies is to make housing affordable for low income families and to put ownership within reach through housing cooperatives.

Imagine if the approximately $1 billion extra that is to be spent on a dubious light rail link to Woden (instead of busways) was used to establish housing cooperatives. There is nothing like ownership of a modest home to lift the spirits of people otherwise destined for renting.

Transport planning should be driven by new technology. Canberra is necessarily a car dependent city. The best way to address congestion is to facilitate ride-sharing for commuters. Uber-like ride matching, parking privileges, T2 lanes and discounted fares on public transport are low cost measures that could promote this potentially high impact form of commuting.

The background and aspirations of our candidates for the disadvantaged can be read on the Candidates' statements section of the Elections ACT website.

It is that time again. Many politicians talking about schemes. My dictionary describes a "scheme" as: "an organised plan for doing something, especially something dishonest or illegal". Perhaps they are correct using the term "scheme".

Murray Ewen (Letters, October 12) hit the nail on the head. Lower the aged pension back to 65 for males and 63 and a half for females. Many jobs would instantly be made available and there would be movement within the workforce. Just do it.

Seen recently at Huskisson; a group of people releasing a bunch of balloons over the pristine waters of Jervis Bay. It is sad some people are still so environmentally unaware.

I am surprised the Premier of New South Wales would believe that there is a gulf between a politician's personal (private?) life and public life. The Premier of New South Wales does not have a private life. That is the price of political life. Caesar's wife and all that.

It is disappointing a highly successful political career is at risk as a result of the Premier's heart overruling her judgement. Ms Berejiklian has provided exceptional leadership in an ongoing period of crisis. If she is forced from office the people of NSW will be all the poorer.

What's the betting the NSW Liberals are signing the farewell card already?: "Goodbye Gladys - it's nothing personal".

If I was applying for a public service job that required a high level security clearance and I was in a close personal relationship with a person who had a reputation like Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire I simply would not get the job. Did that never occur to Gladys Berejiklian?

Malcolm Mackerras is likely to be wrong and Trump will win. My friends in the US are scared Trump's armed to the teeth "bovver boys" will intimidate Democrat voters and they will stay away.

What Civic needs is a refurbished Civic Olympic Pool as part of a central aquatic centre, not another stadium with poor access options. Canberra has few other Olympic-sized pools with diving facilities - and none anywhere near central Canberra.

Father Brendan Lee offers great insights in his illuminating opinion piece "Why the love of money is to be avoided" (canberratimes.com.au, October 13). The perverse obsession with money distorts human nature. Money can ruin the noblest minds.

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