I REJECT outright the criticism of me by M. McConnell (letters, CN, February 2). 

Correctly, I put before the community the wholly contradictory statements made in 2005 by the then Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope and, more recently, in “CityNews” (January 17) initially rejecting needles and then giving support.

The needle issue is part of the harm-minimisation virus causing increasing mortality and morbidity, specially for our kids.

The community doesn’t have to believe me. In 2008 the UN Office on Drugs and Crime conducted a study of 180 countries using serious drug problems as the principal benchmark, 180 being the best, and 1 the worst. Australia came in at 6. Sweden came in at 162.

Not convinced? After 30 years of minimising harm, the UN’s 2014 World Drug Report listed Australia top in the world for per capita illicit drug use, meaning its harm minimisation.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Moore’s declaration of independence

I ALWAYS find Michael Moore’s column a worthwhile read. His view is always sensible and original, not especially tarnished by the constraints of association with either major party. However, today my eye lingered on the description of him as “independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly, 1989-2001”.

A look at the 1989 ballot paper suggests his first four years in the Assembly were as part of the Residents Rally. This was a successful party, having as many people elected as the Liberal Party (ie four) and one less than Labor (five). On that ballot paper, on the right hand side, there were nine “independent candidates” listed, Michael not being one of them.

Given Michael’s association with the Residents Rally and later the Michael Moore Independents, it would seem more accurate to describe him as non-mainstream/minor party member of the Assembly than simply “independent”.

Declan King, Braddon

MICHAEL MOORE replies:

“Declan is correct that I was elected in 1989 with Residents Rally. I had a major falling out with Bernard Collaery from very early in the Assembly when he was negotiating with Trevor Kaine to form government despite our promise to not do so with either of the majors.
I left the RR with just less than 50 per cent of its members less than five months later to sit as an independent. It is therefore correct to say that I was an independent from 1989.
For subsequent elections I was very clear for the elections that we were forming a grouping of independents. This was to deal with an electoral system that favoured parties.
When Helen Szuty was elected on the same grouping in 1992 she and I both sat as independents.
Most importantly… the Hansard shortly after my swearing in after elections in 1992, 1995 and 1998 will show that I informed the Assembly that I would be sitting as an independent.”

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