During the late 1970s, while the old Belconnen Bus Interchange opened, a one-kilometer-long “Bus Way” ran from Benjamin Way to Coulter Drive. The busway exceeded alongside the front of the brand new Belconnen Mall. A pedestrian land bridge becomes available for customers and others to go into the mall from Lathlain Street and automobile park regions.
Along the busway, there has been an average strip in which many trees and shrubs were planted to split the busway and provide different widespread visitors. A brief time after the bus maneuver turned into a commission, teenage boys decided to move the busway in an attempt to climb the rock wall and get admission to Lathlain Street. Unfortunately, partly because of the trees and shrubs concealing them and lowering their vision and that of the bus’s motive force, one youngster changed into struck and tragically killed by way of the oncoming bus. The bus’s motive force becomes a shattered person for the rest of his life.
As a result of this terrible coincidence, a 2.2-meter-high chain-link fence turned into erected along both sides of the whole length of the bus lane. No, similar injuries have been recorded. Now that we’ve experienced the first recorded accident related to a pedestrian and tram, what physical measures will our fearless leaders put in place to prevent similar pedestrian incidents, such as this, or worse, that rationale on self-damage? It is one aspect for our government to induce the public to be aware of their environment; it’s another for our authorities to lessen the opportunity of similar incidents physically. Surely pedestrian barriers will want to be hooked up in and around the extensive pedestrian precincts consisting of Civic, Dickson Interchange, Showground, and Gungahlin Town Centre tram stop. What fee for public and worker safety? Greg Zakharoff, Macgregor Golliwog decision right, I would like to explicitly support the decision to prohibit the “Golliwog” balloon from flying this 12 months.
The golliwog is a racist meme from a past generation that persists by hook or crook. Events ACT was pretty proper, to name it out. What is more disturbing is the “volunteers'” behavior who took it upon themselves to contradict the selection via the Events ACT. In doing so, they uncovered their very own lack of know-how and shortage of perception approximately this vital difficulty. Soft racism should be faced. I propose that Events ACT think cautiously approximately the usage of volunteers in the future. Perhaps it might be higher to pay professionals. Brian Stonebridge, Barton Too little, too overdue. David Pope’s caricature of March 5 neatly summarises and satirizes Scott Morrison’s newly determined enthusiasm for renewable electricity. Only now, as seven of his ministers have elected to jump deliver before the election, is the PM claiming that he’s all for renewable electricity – even Mr. Turnbull’s Snowy Hydro 2.
Many Australians will, like me, see Mr. Morrison’s unexpected change of heart as simply any other determined attempt to shore up voter support before he delivers of country sinks below an electoral tsunami. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin Exemptions no longer on John L. Smith (“Confessional defended,” Letters, March 4) appears to elevate Catholic doctrine above “any civil law” and suggests that the specified reporting of expertise of pedophilia may be a horrific law due to the fact, he says, it’s going to lead to exemptions. What may be “terrible” about a regulation requiring the usual reporting of abhorrent criminal acts? Exemptions aren’t warranted. But he is correct that – in its put-up-biblical, artificial codifying of the doctrine of secrecy of the confession – the church has claimed that it was “from the start.” But this declaration is without ancient or objective foundation. It has as much credibility as, and much less biblical “authority” than, the ridiculous nonsecular notions of 7-day creation and the incestuous descent of the human race from Adam and his divinely re-engineered rib. The successors to folks who asserted that historical falsehoods are similarly able to proclaim now that “it is no longer so.”
They must accomplish that. Mike Hutchinson, Reid Land tax gouging ACT Labor’s claim that its new vacant land tax law ended up with a few unintended effects is a crock. It has been caught with its hand within the jar and now desires to make amends. Here’s a thought, Mr. Barr. Why not make the definition of “vacant” consist of all properties/families in Canberra that have unoccupied bedrooms? I’m certain you can provide me with simple components to calculate the vacant part of the residence and practice land tax. That should raise a few more dollars. And, while you’re at it, why not redefine the definition of “land” to encompass not most effective the real footprint/block of land occupied by multi-story dwellings, but also the overall area of each level. You know, below a redefined definition, a 10-story building, if laid flat, might be occupying ten times the original land length. Just think how a whole lot of land tax this would carry in.
Peter Toscano, Amaroo Self-fascinated view The pleas for leaders and governments to act on climate change so that our grandkids are conferred advanced potentialities of inheriting a habitable world ignores Mother Nature now not worrying one jot whether or not our progeny continue to exist or no longer, in consolation or suffering fiery climes. The pillage and savagery humanity has inflicted upon Earth are ameliorated by bringing fewer people into the sector. The only way to lessen ecological harm is to choose out to now not have (or fewer) kids, at the same time as we agitate for renewable electricity and eco-sustainable social coverage. I have yet to see a correspondent apologize that wounding the Earth and its different habitats is a morally reprehensible act with the aid of itself. The clarion call to act now ought to be divorced from the self-interest inherent in leaving a higher international for our youngsters. Joseph Ting, Carina, Qld Charity unwarranted: Can I ask why the federal authorities diverted $ 1.44 billion of taxpayers’ monies to rehouse fifty-seven dangerous (destructive man or woman) asylum seekers once they must be sent back to their u? S. Of starting place?
Why are we becoming a charity for the world’s problems? We don’t want these kinds anywhere close to our us of a. Let their very own authorities address them and at their cost. Lib/Labor/Greens – take note if you need to preserve your job appearance after us in place of those charged with homicide, baby sexual assault, drug trafficking, and terror activity. Russ Morison, Theodore School investment, a trouble Warwick Bradly (Letters, March 5), asks some pertinent questions. Why will we permit the Catholic Church to hold to perform schools? The easy solution is that we allow all religions to function without discrimination. Sadly, even Scientology became approved after it declared itself a religion. However, his 2nd query about government funding of Catholic faculties, “Worse nevertheless, why is it showered in ever greater stages of government investment? Is this a few kinds of unwell shaggy dog story?”
It is extraordinarily applicable in light of the current revelations of sexual abuse of minors. As a secular society, where authorities’ investment in religions is expressly forbidden through the charter, there is no cause to subsidize nonsecular indoctrination of any kind, whether or not it be Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Catholic, Orthodox, Christian, or a few different versions. Non-authority colleges operated pretty effectively earlier than federal government money was delivered through the “back door” of tied presents in the Sixties. Since then, they appear to have come to be hooked on government cash, with the wealthier private schools receiving the extra largesse. Some claim that government-funded kingdom schools might no longer cope if all independent colleges closed due to the withdrawal of illegal government funding. This is a crimson herring, as surely “poor” schools would close. As the Catholic Church is one of the richest establishments globally, this can not in all likelihood follow to its colleges.
Anyone arguing for authorities’ funding for religious and unbiased faculties based on the fiction of “choice” must be pretty glad for their taxes to pay for my vehicle, on the premise that I “select” to apply it in preference to public transport. Any shortfall in funding for authorities colleges would be greater than compensated through the reassignment of the finances from private schools, as government subsidies to them now often exceed funding consistent with a student of state colleges. Robert McKenzie, Dunlop Water rate a rort. Perhaps the High Court must reconsider its 2011 decision to permit the ACT government’s annual $30 million water abstraction charge, given that the money is not devoted to the seizing and delivery of water. (“Water surcharge well worth $30million 12 months not spent on water initiatives” canberratimes.Com.Au). The Queanbeyan Council’s project to raise the rate within the High Court in 2011 became unsuccessful, basically because the court standard was that the money raised was being spent on the seizure and delivery of water.
In October 2003, the ACT Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission warned the authorities that the water abstraction rate could no longer be used to raise revenue. Australia’s charter prohibits states or territories from charging excises. In its October 2003 document to the ACT government, the commission said the recommendation regarding the fee was that the constitutional query did not exist, wherein the price recovered definable charges associated with the capture and delivery of water. But it ought to no longer be levied for sales-raising purposes. Now, the government says it gathered nearly $60 million from the charge over the preceding two economic years but spent the handiest $15.6 million in 2016-17 on water initiatives. Meanwhile, the ACT Environment Commissioner’s workplace points to the most important threats to the Cotter catchment: feral animals, invasive weeds, and burned-out cars.
This catchment is rightly the envy of most Australian jurisdictions and needs to be well controlled. But, as with different infrastructure, including taking walks and cycle paths, is being allowed to degrade through a smug government, more reason to raise money for needless projects consisting of the light rail. The water abstraction charge must be used for the purpose for which it miles collected or reduced to reflect the authorities’ lack of challenge for Canberra’s vital water catchment. Graham Downie, O’Connor, show some compassion. As Shakespeare put it: “The greatness of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.” News reports that the little son of British-born Islamic State captive Shamima Begum has died in a Kurdish-run refugee camp in Syria. Begum ran away to join the IS with other Muslim schoolgirls at the age of 15. The record says she had previously given delivery to 2 other kids who are also dead. The 19-year-old has been stripped of her citizenship by the British authorities despite her desire to return. Her case is similar to that of Melbourne-born terrorist Neil Prakash, presently in jail in Turkey.
Prakash was stripped of his Australian citizenship closing 12 months by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who claimed that he was virtually a Fijian. This falsehood angered the Fijian authorities to such an extent that a hasty conciliatory go to by Scott Morrison turned into an organized effort to ease the ruffled feathers. Both cases spotlight an ongoing dilemma for governments confronted with what to do with those undesirable prisoners. While there may be understandably little sympathy for them back in their domestic, international locations, it’s miles manifestly unfair to the Kurds to be lumbered with them. After all, it is they who shouldered the maximum of the weight in bringing about the military defeat of the IS. I could favor returning them right away to their international locations of origin. Ms. Begum, especially, whose youthful foolishness has brought extra pain and heartbreak upon herself that any 19-year-old must endure, needs to be shown the form of mercy that the Islamic State might by no means dream of extending to its enemies.
Such an act of compassion might function as a clear example of the fundamental distinction between a civilized reaction, as guided using the values of the Enlightenment, and a regression to the darkish a while of nonsecular barbarism. Peter Ellett, Scullin ‘Quieter’ now not quiet, I could pay attention to the noise of Project Wing’s “quieter” drones being examined for the public from inside my domestic five kilometers away. Robyn McIntyre, Bonython TO THE POINT PM, MAKE IT RAIN Our enthusiastic, gee-whiz prime minister, ScoMo, is now providing instant answers to boost the wide variety of Liberal female representatives in Federal Parliament and has given Snowy Hydro 2 the thumbs up. Perhaps he may want to flick the rain switch to provide a remedy to our primary river structures, together with the Murray-Darling and the parched herbal surroundings.