COVID response dictated by expediency

What would a "close contact" be if we had sufficient PCR tests and staff to administer, analyse, report them? What would determine end-of-quarantine if we had enough PCRs, RATs, staff?

"Case numbers" and "positivity" have become irrelevant as there's no requirement for RAT results to be reported or included.

Even if there were such a requirement how could it even be be enforced?

Data show RATs are highly accurate when done in laboratory environments and on patients who are symptomatic but far less accurate otherwise.

Without an accurate count of how many positive cases there are in the community how will forward planning for hospital loads be anything more than a wild guess?

If we end quarantine when "time is up" versus using an objective, measurable test, how will we identify, quantify, and manage long-COVID? How will we know a person's viral load is truly gone before public exposure?

New definitions, resulting in simultaneous major changes in multiple variables and processes, enable us to lose control over what our health care system - and our critical, front-line workers - can handle. How do we ensure the mental and physical health of already over-worked medical staff?

How do we ensure accountability of our policy makers, as they make decisions based on increasingly inconsistent, incomplete scientific data and more on economics?

It is now very clear that our governments are stepping back from any responsibility in controlling the current COVID-19 outbreak.

The most astonishing fact is that all state governments consider rapid antigen tests to be a "personal responsibility" whereas the very expensive PCR test was free to all with real or perceived symptoms as well as those wishing to travel.

The rapid antigen test is at our cost, requires diligence in its use and relies on our honesty when it comes to the result. As many families cannot afford to buy the tests many cases of COVID-19 will simply go undetected and the virus will continue to spread widely in the community. We are talking about a test that costs only about a tenth (or less) of the PCR test.

Why can't the rapid antigen test be professionally administered and be available for all at the current PCR collection stations.

"Don't worry", we're being told, "Omicron is now the dominant strain and it's much milder".

As of January 2 we were told that Omicron accounted for 75 per cent of the approximately 7400 new cases in Victoria. Unfortunately that means that 25 per cent were other strains, most likely Delta. Twenty-five per cent of 7400 is 1850.

This means Delta numbers in Victoria are at least equal to the peak back when officials were really worried about Delta and it's potential impact. There is no reason to assume it's any different in other states.

It makes one wonder about the decisions currently being taken and the "don't worry" spin from the politicians.

I might be an old journalist like Tina Faulk (Letters, January 3), but I get the impression I am a more committed Canberran when she says, "...the national capital might be better run from Sydney". Really? I might also be more democratically inclined than Tina, who asserts while "confirming the opinion of many", a certain Greens senator "has no place in a democratic parliament".

Why? Because the senator proffered a comment at odds with Tina's views. Would Tina provide us with a list of other MPs she would similarly like to see removed from their positions so we can see how many Coalition members will be among them?

Democracy is under serious assault globally. We had our own display of this outside Old Parliament House (OPH) recently with the fire apparently lit by anti-democratic demonstrators.

Many questions arise and I have two. First, it is not clear if the police were at OPH or not when the fire was lit. If they were not, why not? There had been a similar burning attempt a week or so before.

If the police were on site when the damaging fire was lit why didn't they stop the fire immediately? Second, Greens senator Lidia Thorpe apparently tweeted the following: "Seems like the colonial system is burning down". She subsequently took down the post , but neither Greens leader Bandt nor Ms Thorpe have apologised. So if this is an indication of what the Greens think of democratic institutions they don't deserve electoral support.

Apologies, Ann Kent (Letters, January 3), but it's an abstraction too far for me to imagine in future taking a visiting friend from overseas to an empty high hill overlooking Canberra and expect them to gush admiringly: "What a beautiful serene mountain, it's a wonderful acknowledgement of Canberra's enhanced environmental consciousness ..."

When in the good old days the tower supplied a reasonable meal with a moving 360 degrees view of the area, we'd be congratulated by overseas visitors on our good fortune in living in such a beautiful environment.

Now Ann Kent wants to add God knows how many millions to our rates by destroying what could be a tourist attraction again and bringing in a dollar or two for far less cost at the same time. Whatever amenity is lost by having it is far outweighed by that of having it.

Congratulations to Mark Kenny for his perceptive article on the "Voices of" independents ("Election 2022: a chance of something better?", canberratimes.com.au, January 2) standing at this year's federal election. Far from being spoilers, they are our last best hope of turning around the decay in our democratic system and honouring our Constitution.

It takes courage and tenacity to put yourself forward as an independent candidate, re-invigorate debate and campaign for issues on their merits, challenging the inertia and vested interests of our hollowed-out major parties.

The Australian Constitution makes no mention of political parties. It assumes parliament will comprise independent individuals elected to represent the direct interests of their constituents - no more, no less.

Parties come and go: today's major groupings did not exist at the time of federation. In time, they too will pass.

We have a choice. Let us use it wisely.

Mark Kenny ("Election 2022: a chance of something better?", canberratimes.com.au, January 2) is spot on when he notes that the media should stop paying attention to internal power struggles within the two major parties and give independent candidates a fair go.

In addition to independents, there is another alternative - an ethical party who has been active on climate change for decades and takes no donations from fossil fuel or other corporate entities - the Greens.

Many media outlets tend to bash the Greens rather than present a balanced review of their policies and actions.

The media should pay more attention to the substantive policies and actions of the Greens and independent candidates instead of focusing on internal power plays in the two major parties.

How excited will her Brittanic majesty be when she learns that what was once a small hill in a sheep paddock has been renamed in her honour? What bliss. But what are we going to rebrand in honour of Charlie?

The government is doing an outstanding job of promoting the Republic by naming or renaming everything it find in the Parliamentary Zone after Queen Elizabeth II. Not even an original or imaginative idea after the Queen Elizabeth Terrace "crimson thread of kinship" renaming debacle for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

These place names on large, hi-vis signs are a constant reminder to all Australians who their Head of State is and where she lives. Come the republic, they can be easily regazetted, as the local Indigenous people well know, along with Dominion and Empire Circuits in Forrest.

With respect Dr Sue Wareham (Letters, December 29), since The Canberra Times became available online we cancelled our print subscription, primarily in the interest of carbon conservation.

Many of the statements being made by Dominic Perrottet in relation to the virus just aren't true. They are also grossly irresponsible. Less than 1 in 10 people have had the booster vaccine which is essential to delay Omicron. Why say right now that everyone will get the virus as this is a post-booster line?

Dealing better with global warming, intensifying inequalities and COVID-19 needs leaders who think big and move fast. Where are they?

Whatever caused the Jolly Street, Belconnen, ACT waste paper and bottles recycling drop-off to be roped off last week has been cleared. Tried again in desperation on Thursday and it was open. Hooray from me and all the other people there.

Not content with 462 locally-acquired COVID cases on December 31 our business-friendly government wants to import interstate cases during its "COVID-Safe" (its words) Summernats event.

Dr Helen Scott-Orr AM PSM ("Climate change and hotter summers endanger health of pets, livestock, wildlife", canberratimes.com.au, December 3). Is simply wrong. Anyone in Canberra knows that paralysis ticks on the south coast have been a problem since the first Canberrans took Fido to the coast.

Ann Kent wants to remove Black Mountain tower (Letters, January 3). Fifty years ago, those old enough will remember a scattering of unsightly red latticed pylons on top of Black Mountain. They have been replaced by the elegant tower, built by the then Commonwealth Department of Works, which provides essential communication facilities for Canberra.

I have lived in Canberra since 1962 and have always found it comforting when returning from any direction, to see the tower, which we have always called the hypodermic syringe, on Black Mountain. Please let it remain.

Rather than renaming Aspen Island Scotty should bring back knights and dames, and make Her Majesty a dame. It would make us proud.

I can't help wondering how many of our fearless leaders are nipping down to the chemists and forking out their own hard earned for an ample supply of RATs? What's the bet that parliamentary expense accounts (ie our taxes) are covering the tab?