“Who, apart from fragile government egos, benefits from continuing to pour our rates into the bottomless tram pit? Of course, the answer is the developers, who seek to increase densification along the tram’s route,” says letter writer IAN PEARSON, of Barton, 

Ryss Morison and other correspondents, (Letters, CN January 18), hit the nail on the head with respect to the Greens/Labor tram vanity project: quite simply, the numbers don’t stack up. 

With only seven per cent of the ACT population using public transport, the question must be asked as to who, apart from fragile government egos, benefits from continuing to pour our rates into the bottomless tram pit. 

Of course, the answer is the developers, who seek to increase densification along the tram’s route, not for the benefit of ACT residents, but for their bottom line. Imagine Yarra Glen as wall-to-wall apartment buildings, because that is what it will take to make Stage 2B come anywhere near to being financially viable for the ACT community – developers aside. 

This in turn must beg the question of who is running the ACT, the developers or their government lackeys? 

If the government must have the continuing support it receives from developers, then give them some projects that benefit more than seven per cent of our population – better sporting arenas, swimming pools and convention centres are possibilities that immediately come to mind, and that’s before we start looking at sub-standard existing facilities such as our schools and hospitals. 

While we are still some way out from the next election, we must be fast approaching the time when the ACT Liberals start announcing their alternative vision for the ACT, with costed plans that reveal them to be a serious and viable alternative to the rabble that seems hellbent on burying the ACT in the landfill now covering London Circuit.

Ian Pearson, Barton

Electric buses kill emissions 

Our new planning minister should realise that 30 years of failed public transport patronage says something – apparently, we like direct door-to-door, minister. 

I estimate 10,000 commuters use our buses, and we’ll spend a staggering $3-4 billion building the tram to Woden. 

Cancel Light Rail 2B and spend the money, $1 million each, ie $450 million, on replacing all of Action’s buses with electric buses. That kills emissions as quick as!

Russ Morison, Theodore

Planning minister has no power, it’s a demotion

Fantastic two-page puff piece in the “Canberra Times”; the failed “Prince of Potholes” has now become a bright shiny new Developers’ Delegate. Flats in every shopping centre – what a delight!

Of course, everyone knows that becoming Planning Minister means you actually have been demoted as the portfolio gives you absolutely no power whatsoever – that’s wielded by Mr Barr, the champion of filling in the missing middle. 

Just remember this, any block of flats that has any sort of food preparation in shops underneath carries a premium on its building insurance – restaurants and cafés have a nasty habit of catching fire. And even though the upper floors of your building may not burn, the smoke/water damage will last for ages as will your debate with the insurer.

Not to mention long-running arguments with dodgy builders/developers

Bill Brown, via email

More difficult questions need to be asked

Prof Susan Harris Rimmer asks some excellent questions and makes some important points, including that our governments need to think carefully about the many and various problems that our warming climate is bringing. (“As the world heats, are we ready for it?” CN, January 18)

Of course, governments also need to act to cut emissions and do so in a consistent way. The Albanese government’s attempts to bring on more firmed renewable energy are in stark contrast to their support for fossil fuels. 

As a result, in November, the Australian Conservation Foundation found that for every tonne of climate pollution reduction by Albanese government climate policies to 2030, more than seven tonnes of additional pollution will flow from new fossil-fuel projects they have thus far approved or given material support. 

To make it worse, the NT government has asked the federal government for more taxpayers’ billions to refurbish the Darwin Port’s Middle Arm gas hub with a carbon capture and storage facility. This would be a gift to companies intending to export LNG produced from gas fracked, in direct conflict with the wishes of the area’s traditional owners, from the Beetaloo Basin.

Many more difficult questions need to be asked.

Lesley Walker, Northcote, Victoria 

Ramp up sales of emission-free vehicles

There are more than 20 million motor vehicles in Australia and almost all of them are still powered by fossil fuels. 

The exhaust pollution from these transport vehicles accounts for 21 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions (“Fossil-fuel cars may dominate for another decade”, CN January 18), and is also estimated by the University of Melbourne to cause 11,000 premature deaths in Australia a year. 

These statistics highlight the imperative for Australia to ramp up the sales of emission-free electric vehicles. 

As your article explains, Australia’s transport and energy ministers must join other developed nations by adding fuel-efficiency standards and putting a deadline on the sale of polluting, fossil-fuelled cars. 

Electric vehicles are a dream to drive, cheaper to run, healthier, and much better for the environment. Win-win-win-win!

Amy Hiller, Kew, Victoria 

My vote for police officer of the year 

Police inspector Mark Richardson’s calling out of the anti-social behaviour at Summernats should be applauded and he gets my vote for police officer of the year. 

I have no time for the comments of Samuel Gordon-Stewart (Letters, CN January 18) who sees fit to write this officer down for speaking his mind. I hope the ranks of the AFP are full of like-minded professionals.

What does our critic infer? Surely not suggesting that AFP officers should have a TAFE III certificate in tut-tut-tutting before being sworn in and only those who can tut-tu-tut without grinding their teeth suitable for senior rank? 

John Lawrence via email

Cherry-picking facts lead to wrong conclusions

Unfortunately, some correspondents have started 2024 where they left off in 2023 – cherry-picking facts that lead them to misleading and incorrect conclusions. 

Ian Pilsner (Letters, CN 18 January), implies that, because there were several Africans aboard the First Fleet, any subsequent accusations of racism are therefore unfounded. How so? 

The more logical and demonstrable argument is that they received very little attention because of racism – that heroic white British endeavours in settling a “new” continent, didn’t need the distraction of some non-whites also being credited. The rare exception to their lack of notability was that one of them is alleged to have been our first bushranger; totally consistent with the “superior whites” imagery that was created right from the beginning.

Ian continues his dissembling, blaming young Australians for their supposed lack of knowledge; “not knowing what they’re protesting against” and of confusing Cook with Phillip. Hardly limited to “young people” I suggest. 

Ian might slip off his rose-tinted glasses and read David Marr’s “Killing for Country”, a chilling account of the murderous activities of the native police, led by their white officers who included Marr’s great-great grandfather. 

Marr also deals extensively with the criminality, corruption and denial that was endemic among literally all levels of colonial administration, starting with the “settlers” who successfully pressured officialdom to “get rid” of the “troublesome blacks” by any means. To describe what happened as simply “bad” is a massive understatement.

Eric Hunter, Cook 

Nuclear energy powers at least 30 countries

Predictable Eric Hunter once again doesn’t disappoint in one of his latest letters circulating Canberra. He labels me an “ever-energetic penman”. Quite ironic considering any week one can read one of the many letters Eric sends to the various media outlets in Canberra, including the local, lefty leaning Faifax paper. 

I don’t know what experts Eric is listening to, but they aren’t the same ones the rest of the world are as nuclear energy is powering away in at least 30 countries.

Even here, in uranium-rich Australia, the experts, that Eric obviously doesn’t listen to, have stated that we are not going to reach net zero targets without the introduction of nuclear energy. 

Ian Pilsner, Weston