Letter writer SUE DYER, of Downer, says the ACT government is preventing public school visits by independent senator David Pocock, despite the schools inviting him. But why?

During a recent public meeting, some wide-ranging discussions on ACT education matters revealed that the ACT’s Senator David Pocock has been repeatedly invited to visit ACT government schools but refused permission from the ACT education directorate.

Since he has been able to visit non-government schools, our government school students should have the same opportunity to benefit from such visit arrangements.

Hopefully before the ACT election senior ACT Education Directorate personnel will be able to set aside some time from preparing for the Integrity Commission inquiry and related court hearings to sign off on protocols and paperwork that would give a trustworthy politician access to our public schools in ways provided to ACT local and federal politicians who belong to the main political parties. 

This is especially important given that public school funding soon will be subject to a vote in the Senate.

Swift review and revision of any relevant rules should have occurred in June 2022 when it was clear the political landscape had changed significantly in the ACT.

Sue Dyer, Downer

Boot Barr before we go broke

My holiday from reading the letters page, often featuring one particular ex-journalist, is doing me a power of good. 

I have kept an eye on what is happening in Canberra from the other side of the world. I notice that no mention has been made by any of the independents as to whether they support the expensive toy tram or not. 

Having ridden on the electric cable buses in Lyon, France, it is quite obvious that we should have gone down this route with cable buses and trams rather than light rail. 

Also, none of the many towns and villages I have visited seem to have a problem with rubbish, potholes, overgrown weeds and footpaths. 

It is obvious that the Barr government is just not up to the task of making the national capital a pleasant place to live and visit, despite the high taxes and charges, and should be given the boot before we all go broke.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

‘Omnibus Rapidus Wodensis’ under threat

The Gang Gang cockatoo has joined the Green and Golden Bell Frog and the Golden Sun Moth on the ACT’s threatened species list. A small colony of Spanish Gastropoda aureus levis (Golden Light Snail) has become established in the ACT. It threatens the survival of “Omnibus Rapidus Wodensis”.

Leon Arundell, Downer

Stadium plan faces gridlock and traffic chaos

Earlier in the year Andrew Barr discussed a new stadium where the Civic pool is. Now the Libs are stating Acton Peninsular.

It has been suggested that people can get public transport to and from the stadium. 

Given the only public transport is the buses, or if people get the tram and walk, other than this, how are they meant to get there if there is no parking? The parking for a stadium would have to be quite large for 30,000 people, which apparently is not the plan in the city. 

And buses? Has anyone considered how many would be needed to fill a 30,000-seat stadium and get out on to the road afterwards (from what I can see, there is only one road in and out). 

It would cause complete gridlock and traffic chaos. Has anyone really thought this through?

Then there is the noise. There are homes and hotels nearby. If it is the intention to have music concerts there as well as football, it will be very noisy for the locals, or do the Libs, Senator Pocock, the Business Chamber and the National Rugby League not give a damn? Or do they intend to do a compulsory purchase on them and knock them down? This is something Labor would do but I am surprised at the Libs.

It is not what I would call close proximity to restaurants, bars and hotels, they are across major roads.

Vi Evans via email

Independence or cowering vassal state?

Former ALP Foreign Minister Gareth Evans is utterly correct in maintaining that the AUKUS submarine agreement is a dangerous deal.

AUKUS not only represents an abrogation of our sovereignty but is a major threat to our security as a nation.

By provoking China, instead of protecting Australia, AUKUS substantially increases the possibility of attack.

Ross Fitzgerald, Redfern, NSW

Controlling renewable grid is a learning exercise

Mike Quirk (CN September 17) made the reasonable claim that “nuclear power is unlikely to be available for at least 10 to 15 years and will increase rather than decrease energy prices”. 

He failed to acknowledge:

• That time frame is still well ahead of that of the major carbon polluters in the world.
• Nuclear power is a proven technology that would integrate with existing solar and wind resources.
• There would be no need for any major extension to the transmission network.
• There would be minimal requirements for costly energy storage.
• The requirements in skills and industry and workforce would overlap those of AUKUS.

The renewable eastern grid proposed by AEMO is the most complex and extensive dynamic network ever conceived. It would consist of nearly a thousand wind and solar generation sites, as well massive amounts of energy storage and gas fired generators for reliability.

Connecting large generators to a conventional grid is a well understood procedure. Stability would be guaranteed by the inertia of the large, nuclear-powered turbines. Complementary wind and solar sites can be managed as is the case today. 

However, operating a completely renewable grid is currently a learning exercise requiring new control technology. We can’t be sure that it will work and we don’t know the cost.

John L Smith, Farrer

Columnists again hit government’s sore spot

Once again Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed (“Welcome to the island of unaffordability, minister”, CN September 19), have hit one of the ACT government’s many sore spots squarely on the head. 

Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr and Housing Minister Chris Steel seem intent on the building of high-density apartment tower blocks wherever the opportunity arises.

New single-dwelling suburban developments in Canberra are dominated by houses with huge, expensive footprints that are commonly only a metre or so apart, have no front garden, little or no back yard in which children can play, and have little or no space for greenery and trees. They are a recipe for insufferable outdoor heat and rocketing air conditioning bills come the next hot (eg, 2019-2020) summer.

In other words, such houses are not family friendly, are unattractive to and unaffordable for most couples seeking their first home. Furthermore, they worsen the housing crisis in the ACT at a time when housing is at a peak in demand. About one in 150 people is now seeking a home.

Yet another reason for a change of government in the ACT?

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

‘Investing’ in expensive coliseum projects

ACT politicians confronted by pauperizing, unaffordable rents, unremitting homelessness, intensifying social inequality, gambling and drug addiction, a gouging supermarket duopoly, endemic domestic violence, decrepit infrastructure, environmental free-fall, they, in electoral mode, choose to be blind to society’s basic quality of life needs, instead undertaking to “invest” in obscenely expensive coliseum projects, to be utilised a few days a year, merely to gratify their private-box society clientele. 

Albert M White, Queanbeyan West

O’Keefe deserves compassion and help

I have been following the sad and tragic decline of Andrew O’Keefe, ex-TV presenter and lawyer.

Having allegedly recently overdosed on heroin, Andrew was found to be in breach of his bail conditions, and his bail was revoked. He is now remanded in custody.

I am concerned and disturbed that Andrew’s health issues (mental health and substance misuse) have landed him in a prison facility, as opposed to a health facility.

Further, the remarks made by Magistrate Milledge simply serve to label, judge and stigmatise Andrew. She is quoted as stating: “He’s a frequent flyer, he’s just so used to it,” further stating, “I just don’t see the same thing over and over again is going to be working for him and, God help him, it’s a shame that he doesn’t have an epiphany.” Pardon?

These kinds of comments are simply not helpful and appear to recognise that Andrew is a very unwell man.

And due to there not being a secure mental health facility to place Andrew, he is now incarcerated. Will he come out rehabilitated and reformed? I highly doubt it.

While taxpayers fork out immeasurable amounts of money to punish people like Andrew for his co-occurring conditions, I suggest that more resources be poured into appropriate treatment facilities for people suffering from health issues.

Come on, it’s not rocket science. We don’t know Andrew’s story, and yet judgements are being thrown around, left, right and centre; it is unfair and unwarranted.

How about we show some compassion?

Janine Haskins, Cook