UNIONSACT myopically complains about political donations to conservative parties (“Donations trail raises questions”, Alex White, CN, April 21) while totally ignoring its own “glasshouse” arrangements.

The hypocrisy is jaw dropping.

In the ACT, the CFMEU, through its poker machines, foundations and other sources, accounts for about 90 per cent of all Labor Party donations.

In return the union gets a secret part in deciding ACT government tenders. An MoU grants the union a formal role “contributing to the decision making process not only in appearance but in fact”. It also gives the union a formal role in deciding pre-qualification as well as ensuring the union is secretly privy to all tender details including company finances.

All of this despite the fact that the union has direct commercial interests in the outcome of the tender process.

This happens only in the ACT.

Here’s how the money-go-round works: union backroom deals, empowered by the MoU, hyper-inflate the cost of construction ($1000 a week above the award on the Majura Parkway, for example) and taxpayers pay.

The union takes a huge cut through its enterprise agreements ($1.2m in 2013-2014), along with extra “memberships” and “donations”. The union then pays the Labor Party ($1,086,854 from the Canberra Labor Club and CFMEU in 2011-12) and the cycle continues.

All political donations are worthy of scrutiny. Many stem from a genuine desire, on all sides of politics, to participate in the political process. Most donors, again on all sides, expect nothing further in return than a place in the policy conversation.

It’s not the contribution that’s the real issue. It’s what it pays for.

Where the quid pro quo extends to fundamental power sharing and a secret yet formal role in deciding how tax dollars are spent, serious questions are raised.

Kirk Coningham, executive director, Master Builders Association of the ACT

Spirit of the trees

FURTHER to Cedric Bryant’s timely piece “Time to stand up for our neglected street trees” (CN, April 14).

Don’t the American Indians believe that within each and every tree is a spirit and before one can be cut down a worthwhile reason has to be given to this spirit and respectfully ask for permission. It is to your peril if you fail to do so!

Okay, a bit over the top for some of us, but we could well give it a try.

A lot more good decisions about our trees would be made, I’m sure.

Suzanne Mitchell, Lyneham

Greatest Shave says thanks

ON behalf of the Leukaemia Foundation, I would like to thank the community for their active participation and support of the World’s Greatest Shave 2016.

Each year, the foundation supports thousands of people and their families by providing practical services at no cost. These services include: information, emotional support, transport and accommodation for regional families required to relocate closer to metropolitan treatment centres. We also invest millions of dollars each year into vital research to improve treatments and find cures for blood cancer.

Thanks to all of our supporters, we are only $40,000 away from reaching our goal of $450,000 in ACT. There is still time to make a donation to help us reach this milestone at worldsgreatestshave.com.au

Christine McMillan, general manager, Leukaemia Foundation NSW and ACT