“So who are the main under achievers, apart from the obvious ones of Chief Minister Andrew Barr and his Treasurer Chris Steel, who threaten to have our children and grandchildren paying off a decade of debts?” Letter writer RIC HINGEE isn’t shy to name names…
It is time we all had a look at the performance of our local MLAs and MPs to see whether we are actually getting value for money from their performances.
Unfortunately, I see little evidence of this except for a couple of notable exceptions.
Canberra voters really need to show more than lip service in looking for better people to represent us. I speak as someone whose qualifications are in economics, political science and business management with personal experience in the political process including addressing students at the ANU and the University of Canberra.
So who are the main under achievers, apart from the obvious ones of Chief Minister Andrew Barr and his Treasurer Chris Steel who threaten to have our children and grandchildren paying off a decade of debts? MP Katy Gallagher spends the bulk of her time as a party machine person cosying up to the PM with little time for addressing ACT issues because of her Finance portfolio.
When Albo made the ridiculous claim that reducing the loan component for a home to five per cent would not result in a rise in house prices, she was silent as she was about the “jobs-for-mates” report that sat around for a year.
Member for Bean David Smith has been practically invisible and, in my view, we need an active, energetic independent like Jessie Price in his place.
And finally, Assembly minister Marisa Paterson has been a great disappointment to me. She is now a creature of the Labor Party Machine after being made a minister.
One of her first roles for the party machine was to defend the multi-million purchase of electric fire engines, which are double the cost of normal ones and spend much of their time off the road because of faults.
Furthermore, fire brigade members reportedly hate them and no cost/benefit analysis was done, which the auditor-general then had to step in and do. I was also advised that electric fire engines must be accompanied by a normal fire engine when attending emergencies.
As a born and bred Canberran, whose civil engineer father helped build Canberra, I feel for those who have suffered years of mismanagement by the Barr government which, in management theory, is far too long. What is needed is a balance-of-power group of independents in the absence of an effective opposition.
Ric Hingee, Duffy
London Circuit Club Med needs a shake up
There has been extensive negative comment on the Barr government’s economic and financial performance and the black hole they have created as a result of the light rail project that’s crippling this city because of its cost and poor economic return.
It’s time for voters to express their disappointment because the Canberra Liberals are radio static at best and other people in the opposition ranks are Hare Clark “Hoover” free-for-alls.
It’s time to shout “enough of this nonsense”, let’s find some adults to get on with the job – we want the debt dramatically reduced, our AAA credit rating restored and economic common sense restored.
The average mother/family in this place runs their personal affairs better than Barr and his crew run the government. The London Circuit Club Med needs a shake up.
John Lawrence, via email
Moore column omitted Rattenbury’s downsides
I write in response to Michael Moore’s political column (“An open letter to Shane Rattenbury”, April 30), which offered a strongly positive account of Shane Rattenbury’s political career.
While it is entirely appropriate to recognise achievements, the absence of any meaningful discussion of the downsides of his policies presents an incomplete picture to the public.
For many in the ACT community, there are legitimate questions that remain unanswered. For example, the continued promotion of light rail as a major environmental solution is often accepted without scrutiny. Some residents question whether its impact meaningfully reduces emissions relative to its cost, particularly when broader transport behaviours remain largely unchanged.
To some, it feels less like a transformative environmental policy and more like a symbolic gesture in the face of a much larger problem.
Similarly, the decision to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 has been framed as progressive reform, yet it raises difficult concerns.
A younger child is still capable of serious harm, and victims of such incidents may feel that justice and accountability are being overlooked. This is not a simple issue, and it deserves a more balanced public discussion than it often receives.
Housing policy is another area where outcomes appear mixed at best. While intended to improve affordability and supply, many would argue that these policies have disproportionately benefited developers, with little tangible relief for everyday residents struggling with rising costs and limited availability.
These are not fringe concerns – they are widely discussed within the community. A fair and responsible public discourse should acknowledge both achievements and shortcomings, allowing readers to form informed opinions based on the full picture.
I encourage your publication to present a more balanced assessment of our elected representatives in future coverage.
Errol Good, Macgregor
And we wonder why clippings pollute waterways
The knee-high African Love grass growing along the median strip in Curran Drive, Nicholls, has now been mown.
The seeded offcuts that have not blown away to infest other areas remain in the gutters.
We wait for the first rain to move the seeds into our drains and waterways. We will then wonder why the grass clippings are polluting our waterways and into the river causing algae blooms.
Warwick Sainsbery, Nicholls
If we swept our streets…
If we swept our streets weekly like other cities the blue-green algae problem would probably disappear.
Chris Emery, via citynews.com.au
Tram construction work is killing Civic restaurant
Recently, a friend and I decided to dine out at Little Steamer Chinese restaurant located on London Circuit in Civic.
The food was nothing short of exceptional quality, especially the Peking Duck and many other delicious Chinese cuisines.
However, business patronage and trade were exceptionally slow, almost nonexistent, due to the ongoing and prolonged excavation work for the light rail on the London Circuit.
I have dined there before in 2025 and it would seem that much delay and not much progress in said construction works is KILLING Little Steamer and no doubt many other businesses within the same precinct. I enquired with the owners just how they are handling loss of trade. Their response was heartbreaking, and I could see the anguish, the sadness and teary eyes.
As explained, foot traffic has almost ground to a halt due to the obstacle course-type barriers along London Circuit.
Chief Minister Barr, what you are achieving with your light rail and massive excavation along London Circuit from city to south Canberra is heart wrenching to witness this establishment and other businesses go under!
Little Steamer Chinese restaurant does not deserve to as they are exceptionally hard-working Canberra citizens and are at loss financially!
Fellow citizens, despite the footpath obstacles, I suggest you check out Little Steamer’s great Chinese menu and friendly owners Wei He and wife Kim. You will not be disappointed.
Ross E. Smith, OAM, JP
King credited with trumping Donald
Although I am neither a monarchist or royal watcher, King Charles deserves much credit for his visit to the US, addressing Congress and emphasising the importance of alliances such as NATO and the AUKUS submarine deal, particularly in the context of current global challenges.
The one downside to Charles’ visit, is that it has added more puff to Trump’s already over-inflated ego, that the king and queen would grace him with their presence.
Donald and Melania have always held the deluded idea that they are American Royalty with the White House even posting a picture of Trump and King Charles captioned, “two kings”.
Charles gave a diplomacy lesson that would make the world’ s top leaders proud, although his eloquent, yet strategically charged statements, would have been lost on Trump, who is rapidly losing touch with reality.
An April poll showed that Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to the lowest level of his current term with only 34 per cent of Americans approving his job performance, largely due to the nation’s cost-of-living crisis and the Trump-initiated, ongoing war with Iran.
In January 2025, when Trump took office for his second term, 47 per cent of Americans approved his work in the White House.
Declan McGrath, via email
No pass for Parliament House? No worries
Watching the coverage of the latest attempted assassination on President Trump reminded me of a day I spent at Parliament House, supporting a NDIS client who was appearing at a standing committee inquiry.
I was required to transport my wheelchair-bound client to Parliament House and support him for the duration of his appearance at the inquiry, including purchasing food and drinks for him, running errands etcetera.
When we arrived at Parliament House, we were taken through the bowels of the building, with the security staff being remiss in issuing us with visitors passes, let alone checking either of us for possessing any weapons.
However, that didn’t seem to be a concern, as I cruised around the building, rubbing shoulders with politicians at the “not for public” café and other areas that are off limits to the public.
I was even getting to know some of the security folk quite well, sharing some banter as I walked the corridors, making my way to and from the committee room on several occasions.
It wasn’t until about my sixth trip back to the committee room that I was stopped by a security guard I hadn’t met during the day. I was advised in no uncertain terms that I was not permitted in the area I had spent much of my day.
Fortunately, I was saved by one of my newly acquainted security guards, who vouched for my authorised presence, even though I wasn’t authorised.
Go figure.
Janine Haskins, Cook
Brothers amid our local political history
Thanks for Nichole Overall’s column “Vocal champion Chapman spoke up for Canberra” (CN May 7). This was a well-merited look at our local history and those who made Canberra happen in its very early days.
Its reference to Allan Fraser suggests a new topic, in considering two brothers who contributed to our local political history
According to Wikipedia, in 1974, Fraser won a seat in Fraser (named after his brother Jim) as an independent in the original ACT Legislative Assembly and was, in consequence, expelled from the Labor Party.
He died at Royal Canberra Hospital on December 12 1977, two days after the 1977 federal election, following several years of heart trouble. He was survived by his wife and son.
His brother, Jim Fraser, was MP for the adjoining seat of Australian Capital Territory from 1951 to 1970. Given the current debate about the numbers of our senators, it’s extraordinary to note: Jim Fraser did not have full voting rights until 1966; until then he could only vote on matters relating to the territory.
Our suburb of Fraser is named after Jim (not Malcolm).
Peter Graves, via citynews.com.au
Leave a Reply