Letter writer RICHARD JOHNSTON, on holiday in Brisbane, salutes Brisbane Metro’s electric buses that work like trams, but at a fraction of the cost.

Don’t worry about Perth’s yet to be implemented “trackless tram”, Michael Moore (“Stop slugging the ratepayers, take the trackless tram”, CN July 3).

The Brisbane Metro already has 60 new bi-articulated electric buses, about twice the size of a standard bus and with decent seats! 

The picture shows one at the Queensland University “station” getting a quick charge from an overhead, retractable pantograph. 

Looks and works like a tram, but at a fraction of the cost!

Richard Johnston, Kingston

Why no light rail rigorous analysis?

Matt Baille (letters, CN July 10) claims trackless trams, without evidence, would have a similar cost to light rail.

The EIS for the extension to Woden states trackless-trams were not considered as they were oversized and overweight vehicles that the road network is not designed for nor are the vehicles permitted to operate on them (light rail would also have such issues if operating in general traffic).

The EIS also did not analyse bus rapid transit (BRT) operating on its own right of way. Instead it considered a “minimum rapid bus augmentation project” including upgrading the fleet to electric vehicles and introducing more frequent larger-capacity buses.

Unsurprisingly, it found the minimum BRT option would not deliver the congestion-busting benefits of a light rail option developed wholly separated from an increasingly congested future road network.

An analysis comparing BRT, trackless trams and light rail systems separated from the road network should be undertaken. Comparative analysis was undertaken in Brisbane for its “metro” and in the City of Stirling (Perth) in the assessment of a trackless tram proposal. In Brisbane, BRT was found superior to light rail and in Perth a trackless-tram was recommended.

Substantial cost savings are possible. The ACT government’s assessment for Stage1, Civic to Gungahlin, found BRT provided similar benefits to light rail at half the cost.

Light rail is a high risk project. Rapidly developing electric bus and autonomous vehicle technology and increased working from home could undermine its performance.

Given growing unmet community needs in areas including health and social housing, it is essential the most cost-effective system is adopted on the inter-town public transport route.

The Assembly should halt the project and require, given the deficiencies in the EIS, an independent assessment of the project.

Mike Quirk, Garran

The proof of the ABC pudding rests with Mr Marks

I never miss Clive Williams’ Whimsy column. It often features entertaining sayings, adages, axioms, etcetera that were a feature of my early learning days.

They’re also nostalgic, because, in many instances, they offered advice and encapsulated obvious truths in a few succinct words.

The trouble is, many of those old sayings have lost their strength because later iterations have been inaccurate renditions of the often more pithy and thoughtful originals.

But why have they changed? American influence, of course, has played a large role in distorting the English we were once taught – admittedly, some of it improved traditional usage but in other instances it has diminished the impact of the original.

The real fault, however, lies at our own door. We read or hear something and because we’re too “busy”, we immediately adopt (and repeat it) without bothering to check its accuracy and what it really meant.

The most recent and irksome example is, “The proof is in the pudding”. Sounds like the frantic search we used to go through in dismembering the Christmas pudding in order to find the elusive three-penny bits hidden therein.

The more profound original is, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”, which means you can’t judge something’s worth until you’ve tested and evaluated it.

Pretty obvious, but too complicated it seems for many “modern” writers, including, sadly, literary compilers who seem to think both versions are synonymous.

They’re just as careless as the ABC’s managing director who used the “new” version in an interview excusing how the ABC will be judged following alleged changes made by management consequent to the Antoinette Lafouff shambles.

So what, readers might ask? Hugh Marks has no extensive journalistic experience, so it should be no surprise that he made a slip like the above.

Much worse though is the doubt he has further cast on his ability to restore ABC journalism to the highest level of professionalism it once enjoyed. 

But the real blame must lie with the ABC board that appointed him. It is they who persist in thinking that managing ABC editorial standards is simply an unqualified add-on to the MD’s other myriad responsibilities. It’s a soggy pudding that contains no evidence of any rewards, symbolic or otherwise. 

Eric Hunter, Cook 

Growing homeless ghetto in Petrie Plaza

I own a health business that is being impacted by the growing homeless ghetto on the benches in Petrie Plaza. 

My staff and patients do not feel safe and cannot use this public space. Other businesses are affected as well.

The ACT law states: “Under the Public Unleased Land Act 2013 a permit is required to use public land when your activity may impact the amenity or other people’s enjoyment of the area.”

I have contacted the police, who told me that “it is not illegal to be homeless” and cannot do anything.

Access Canberra took a week to send a ranger to move the person who was sleeping against the window of the law firm next door, but did nothing about the homeless people on the benches, illegally camping there.

I know that homelessness is a huge  issue. The ACT government needs to house these people temporarily where they are safe also. 

At a recent meeting run by the City Renewal Authority, I was told that it is “too complicated” to do anything about the homeless issue. I have sent them emails and photos of the problem seen from my reception windows.

Recently, I had a patient try to leave my business at 4pm and was not able to open the door to exit (it opens outwards) because there was a man sitting against the door injecting himself, with presumably heroin. She had to ask my receptionist to help her leave our premises. I run a Health Facility!

Something needs to be done to help these poor people as well as our businesses. The numbers of homeless are steadily growing.

Janet Fabbri, via email

Green lights not long enough

I am frustrated at the seemingly increasing number of traffic-light controlled intersections in Canberra that show a green light for only three or maybe four seconds.

The average driver reaction time to traffic light changes is, I believe, one to three seconds. The number of potentially dangerous “red light runners” I have seen at these intersections is frightening.

Brian Bell, via email

Hypocrisy of government is mind boggling

What bizarre times we are living in where the ACT Labor government proposes a new law stating dogs legally need three hours of human contact a day otherwise owners can be charged with neglect and animal cruelty.

The same government that says it is legal to rip joeys out of their mother’s pouches and decapitate or bludgeon them to death, yet these actions are not considered animal cruelty.

The hypocrisy of this government is mind boggling. Imagine the outrage if puppies could be decapitated and bludgeoned to death. Why the apathy when it is wildlife?

Whitney Anders Richardson, via email

Cull’s not just an exercise in brutality

Letter writers carping against the equally deemed necessary and maligned cull of our territory’s furry macropods often imply, by omission, that they would prefer to see numbers reduced by attrition via roadkill or maiming along increasingly busy thoroughfares which, as an added impost, costs thousands of dollars in vehicle repairs and personal injuries sustained in collisions when attempting to avoid the roaming animals. 

Decisions to implement the cull are based on a variety of purposes and not merely as an exercise in brutality, points seemingly beyond the ken of many critics whose comments often denote a relationship to both national icons in having small brains and big bums.

And on the value of icons, we should recall that were it not for the predations of its long gone Neanderthal inhabitants, those presently governing the British Isles would now be disputing the worth of culling lions and unicorns. 

John Murray, Fadden

Never mind the dogs, help the suffering humans 

I’m incredulous when I read that our magnificent ACT government thinks that it is worth their time and money to try and dictate a minimum contact time residents should spend with their dogs! 

Would it be too much to ask them to focus on the needless suffering endured by many ageing human beings who just want to die?

My beautiful 96-year-old mother is lying in her nursing home bed in her nappy, unable to move, unable to see the TV or even read as she’s almost blind and to top it off, she is now going deaf. She is tormented continuously with dry, itchy skin, she can’t smell or taste her food and her days are spent endlessly questioning how she could end up like this.

All she wants is the right to die with dignity, with her three daughters around her bed. Instead of that, she has to suffer and we have to watch, spoiling what little remains of our own lives and losing sleep while worrying about her.

We attended the debate on voluntary assisted dying and had our say, but to no avail. VAD should be available to those who feel they have no quality of life and do not wish to suffer any longer. Perhaps a threshold of 90 years old could be adopted. 

Please, please do something now to help our family and many others.

Alayne Richardson, Narrabundah

Nuclear energy and things called buses

I have never met letter writer Ian Pilsner, of Weston, but I thank him for his support regarding the desirability of nuclear electricity generation if we must reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which frankly, is arguable as CO2 is essential for crop and other plant growth, and for our skeletons.

Nor have I met your columnist Michael Moore, who advocates a trackless tram in lieu of one running on costly steel and concrete tracks. But apart from being bi-directional it sounds very much like the ACTION buses that have been running between Civic and south Canberra for decades. Why not simply keep using them at no extra cost?

Anthony Hordern, Jamison Centre

Critique counters cancer research claims

Public health research has been known to acknowledge single, ground-breaking studies that present new information to challenge previous evidence and assumptions, however the study that purports to show “no association between wine consumption and cancer” is not one of these (letters, CN July 3-9). 

The 2023 study cited by your correspondent was the subject of a published critique in February 2024 (by Natella, Pastore and Canali in Frontiers in Nutrition).

The authors of the critique found numerous faults with the original authors’ conclusions, including the mention of “negligible quantities of compounds with presumed anti-carcinogenic action” while “forgetting to mention the presence of over 10% by volume of ethanol, classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen, that is certainly carcinogenic to humans.” 

The authors of the critique note several instances of “spin and misrepresentation of study results”, culminating in a call for the article to be retracted on the basis that it is misleading. 

The authors also note that all cancer prevention guidelines agree that there are no levels or quantities of consumption of any type of alcoholic beverage considered “safe” for health.

Among those who have issued recent advice that the consumption of all types of alcohol, including wine, carries cancer risks, are the Cancer Council (Australia), US Surgeon-General, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Institute for Cancer Research (ACIR) and the World Cancer Research Fund. 

As the ACIR explains: “When your body breaks down alcohol, it makes a harmful chemical called acetaldehyde. This chemical can damage DNA, causing changes in genes that control the way cells grow and multiply. This can lead to cells growing out of control, which is what cancer is.” 

Karina Morris, Weetangera

What about the stuff experts do get right?

Letter writer Ian Pilsner deserves to be entered in the 2025 Cherry Picking Award for digging up a 17-year-old CSIRO report and a 20-year-old forecast by Tim Flannery as evidence that experts aren’t always right and forecasts don’t always come true (“Not smart enough to follow yellowcake road”, CN July 3). What about all the stuff they get right, Ian?

Mr Pilsner is also an advocate for nuclear power and believes there are “vast numbers of scientists and engineers around the world who have stated it is impossible to get to net zero without using nuclear power.” That may be true globally, but each country has different energy generation opportunities. 

On a visit to Australia last year, Amory Lovins, energy adviser to major firms and governments in more than 70 countries for over 50 years, said nuclear power “has no place in Australia’s energy future. No one who understands energy markets would claim otherwise”. 

Also last year, the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said: “If there is a country that has a lot of resources from other sources, such as solar and wind, I wouldn’t see nuclear as a priority option. I’m talking about Australia now.” 

Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria

It’s time to action the Legge report, Tania

I was one of those who worked with Alistair Legge, the independent facilitator, of the Coronial Restorative Reform Process, which advocates had fought for to ensure the experiences of families who have navigated/are navigating the coronial system were central to shaping a stronger coronial process.

This process took 18-months and involved the courts, AFP and the voices of those with lived experience along with the coronial reform advocates. The report was handed to the attorney-general in June 2024.

One of the key recommendations was that there be an independent review to determine if having the roles of chief magistrate and chief coroner held by one person was in the best interests of a robust and effective coronial system.

Attorney-General Tara Cheyne has agreed to provide 12-month contracts for two legal advisers to assist in clearing some of the backlog of coronial matters, which is a helpful resource, it is a Band-Aid approach. Further, the attorney-general has not responded to the Legge review.

Families deserve to have their coronial matters handled both well and quickly. This is not occurring, with more delays due to deaths in custody at Canberra’s prison, which are given priority (and rightly so), in the Coroners Court queue. Delays are unconscionable and limit the making of recommendations that could save lives in the future. 

Being a good coroner is not the same as being a good magistrate. There is some overlap, however there are significant differences too, most importantly that a coroner’s inquisitorial mind set – looking for truth – is so different to what is expected of magistrates sitting in our adversarial courts, focusing on criminal justice matters.

As a matter of urgency, the A-G should action the Legge report recommendations. Doing so will strengthen the delivery of justice, and it will save lives and alleviate some of the suffering of families.

Janine Haskins, Alliance for Coronial Reform