Views on the news from Canberra’s top columnists
No doubt the ACT government's rhinestone cowboys will again be eagerly salivating the opportunity to fine citizens paying Anzac Day homage to those who did something worthwhile for their country, says letter writer JOHN MURRAY, of Fadden.
Rising food prices are certainly making things harder for many people, as cartoonist PAUL DORIN shows.
The solution to tempering the extra-curricular curiosity of jurors was to treat them as criminals. The crime of a 'Rattenbury' was born. HUGH SELBY says the new legislation is "farcical, doomed to ridicule and contempt".
"There’s something about Eddie Betts and his kids that takes it beyond the daily dispute between the contending forces," writes The Gadfly columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
KEEPING UP THE ACT's having a little flutter on RattsLotto, where they say if you want to blow your dough, they won't say no!
"The extent of high-rise development in the Woden Town Centre is beyond the pale. Similarly in Belconnen it has gone too far," says letter writer COLIN LYONS, of Weetangera.
"Making money by publishing 'juicy extracts', using the protection against legal action that follows from the material in those documents becoming evidence, is shameful. It happened," writes legal columnist HUGH SELBY.
"If a person who wants to share litigation material, the media has to say: 'Step one is to seek the permission of the court'. Arguably a failure to do so means the whistleblower and the media are in contempt of court," writes HUGH SELBY.
Whooping cough is surging in Australia. Why, and how can we protect ourselves? LAURENCE DON WAI LUU has some answers.
"Thursday's questioning of the 'new' witness, served Channel Ten more than it served Bruce Lehrmann; however, this litigation is an adult version of Whack a Mole that can’t be turned off," writes legal columnist HUGH SELBY.
"The community acceptability of redevelopments and the supply of social housing need to increase if housing inequality is to be reduced," writes former planner MIKE QUIRK.
Canberra Health Services boss Dave "Peff Daddy" Peffer raps to the beat of his sick new $1.6 million rebranding. But even Nurse Rach is having trouble with his groove!
The time has come for Chief Minister Andrew Barr to do the decent thing and fall on his political sword, says The Gadfly columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
Legal columnist HUGH SELBLY offers background to TV Channel Ten’s surprise application in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case to bring "new evidence" before Federal Court Justice Lee at 5pm on Tuesday.
"Elizabeth Lee's right that there should be an inquiry into the currently opaque LVC system. But rather than telegraphing the outcome, the LVC assessments should become publicly available," says letter writer IAN HUBBARD.
To quote an anonymous Russian: “What’s the difference between Capitalism and Communism? Under Capitalism man exploits man; under Communism, it’s the other way round.” CLIVE WILLIAMS takes a serious look at Russian humour.
Legal columnist HUGH SELBY is prepared to foolhardily forego his afternoon nap for a year – "a real sacrifice" – and selflessly take on the role of attorney-general for whichever winning party will have him. But there are conditions...
Australia’s biggest chemist is merging with a giant wholesaler. Could we soon be paying more, asks ANGEL ZHONG.
Think $5.50 is too much for a flat white? Actually it’s too cheap, and our world-famous cafes are paying the price, says EMMA FELTON.
