“THE Property Council wants more foreign investment in Canberra,” (citynews.com.au, March 2).

What an audacious statement by the self-interested Property Council. Quirking on about benefits to us but it’s all to them. They’re already getting the extras of light rail, Northbourne, city, Dickson, Woden, University of Canberra with more than 3000 non-student residents developments, greenfield plus normal everyday trade.

Catherine Carter says foreign investment can help us boost a sluggish ACT economy and help us build a better Canberra. How? We already have offices closing, an over-supply of one-bedroom apartments (caused by Property Council’s members e.g. developers and builders), and a planned slow release of new land to keep prices and taxes high.

Catherine says the federal government’s proposed changes to foreign investment rules, which would include fees of at least $5000 per application, will drive up house prices, make it harder for first-home buyers and ultimately hurt the ACT economy.

How? The $5000 fee would represent only one per cent of a $500,000 house. I fear foreign investment will distort our ACT residential market higher.

Geoff Davidson, Braddon

Sick with anger

WHEN I recently watched the “Four Corners” program on live baiting of greyhounds, I had to ask myself who the real animals were.

It made me sick with anger to see these people lie to the camera and laugh at the sickening sight of helpless creatures being ripped apart by these previously gentle, natural running machines.

Greyhound racing will no longer be considered a respected sport in the eyes of genuine, honest racegoers. It has been infected by deceitful, fraudulent, greedy individuals who have destroyed greyhound racing for us all.

Being a taxpayer I would be opposed to any government who turns a blind eye to such cruelty. It is obvious that illegal practices like this have been overlooked by many who had and have the power to stop this type of unacceptable cold-bloodedness.

M Medcalf, Belconnen