“I am in my 80s, next to my property there is a huge government gumtree that drops leaves and nuts on to my drive and into my courtyard. The hundreds of nuts are very dangerous because I slip on them.” But no-one in the bureaucracy is listening to RIA VAN DE ZANDT, of Latham.

The ACT government wants you to stay in your own home, but does not want to do anything to make this easier. 

I am in my 80s and I have been living in my place for the last 41 years. Next to my property there is a huge government gumtree that drops – throughout the year – leaves and, when it’s flowering, also nuts and yellow fluff on to my drive and into my courtyard.

The nuts are very dangerous, because there are hundreds of them and I slip on them. Now and then it also drops thick branches, which could injure the three-year-old girl, on whose home the tree is standing.

I have a file that thick with emails/letters etcetera asking different ACT ministers to remove the gumtree or at least lop it significantly to get rid of thick, old branches and leaves. 

I have even offered to pay for this, but the government just ignores me. I also contacted the garden section of My Aged Care, but got as an answer that this section was closed, because the government can’t get enough people to work for them.

Can anyone advise me what to do next? 

Ria van de Zandt, Latham

Evo doesn’t give two hoots about power outage

As a small business, times are tough, its even tougher when an event I was running late last year had to be called off just an hour into it due to an unplanned power outage at the venue, the National Press Club of Australia (NPC).

The subsequent response from Evo Energy to the NPC was negative in which they took no responsibility for the outage.

The NPC followed up with an email to Evo Energy CEO John Knox but only received much the same lame response, outlining “Evoenergy is not liable for your losses resulting from the outage”. 

If Evoenergy is not liable, then who is? It’s certainly not the NPC or myself. As for me, a small consulting business, I haven’t received a response to my email dated December 2.

It seems Evo Energy, a monopoly energy distribution company, doesn’t give two hoots about small business and its customers, and can basically do and respond as it likes.

Recently, the Albanese government announced the introduction of a charter for the airline industry where customers with delayed flights or lost luggage receive some sort of compensation. Maybe there needs to be something similar for energy distribution companies in relation to unplanned outages.

Outside of not getting paid for the job, I had fixed costs that I’m unable to recover.

I’m now waiting on a response from the ACT government, the shareholders of Evo Energy.

Paul Walshe, via email

Wake up to the Chinese manoeuvres, Albo 

The Chinese airforce attacks our aircraft patrolling international airspace. Its navy threatens our ships patrolling international waters and attacks our navy divers with underwater weaponry. 

More recently, it conducts “drive-by shootings” off the coast of Sydney and the only warning we get is from a commercial airline pilot.

Then China sends a surveillance ship into our southern waters following our underwater communication cables. Chinese ships are already accused of deliberately cutting the undersea communications cables of other countries. 

After all this blatant aggression from the Chinese Communist Party, the only response from Anthony Albanese is to kowtow to Beijing. 

He reminds me of the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, and his “peace in our time” declaration after meeting with Adolf Hitler. 

Wake up, Albo, I have family serving in the Australian Defence Force. History records what followed Chamberlain’s fawning and weak-kneed response to that Nazi German dictator.

Darryl Johnston, Tuggeranong

‘Disastrous’ economy for next three years 

The higher the public spending the worse the economy becomes through what is called “crowding out”, as private investment is crowded out by public expenditure.

If you thought that the last three years were ordinary, the next three years will be disastrous, regardless of which party wins the election. Income per head has declined over the past 10 years, and this decline will continue; and productivity, the source of all wealth, is declining to zero.

The government cannot raise more taxes from a dead horse; and printing money, as I said in a previous letter, will only cause the currency to cease to exist. Tariffs will be the final hit to knock the economy off its perch.

Sorry to be the bringer of this message of doom. But the readers of this letter have been warned, and can hopefully take precautions.

The economy is nearly bankrupt. Hemingway is quoted as saying: “The path to bankruptcy is at first slow, and then fast”. 

Governments will move to their last resort by loudly making excuses and stealing whatever assets they can get hold of.

Yes, society will rearrange itself. The winners will be opportunists. The losers will be the weak and stupid. 

Line up with the opportunists. At least you may get a bite to eat.

Tim Walshaw, Watson

Embargoes and ethics and Sofronoff’s integrity

I can’t argue with Hugh Selby over Walter Sofronoff legally “doing no wrong” in “leaking” a copy of his inquiry report into alleged political interference into the aborted 2023 Lehrmann trial (CN, March 27). 

What I will reflect on is Hugh’s interpretation of Mr Sofronoff’s actions in providing an embargoed copy of his report to News Corp journalist, Janet Albrechtsen (herself a qualified lawyer who well knows the rules surrounding embargoed material). 

Mr Sofronoff was engaged by the ACT government to carry out his inquiry; therefore his clear first duty, if not legal responsibility, was surely to provide a copy of the report to his “client” who would make any decision about if and when it was to be released to the public and under what conditions.

I’d love to know what passed between Ms Albrechtsen and Mr Sofronoff during their reported conversations. Did they include any thoughts about giving a copy to another journalist, the ABC’s Elizabeth Byrne? 

This might have enabled the judge and the noted conservative Murdoch commentator to claim they were being “balanced” by also providing the report to a reporter from the notorious left-wing ABC (they would have gambled that Ms Byrne would have abided by the embargo – actually, I’m sure she would have).

Janet Albrechtsen is arguably the smartest commentator in the Murdoch stable. She would be well aware that when you receive information that is embargoed, or “off the record”, it is not illegal to seek a second source who doesn’t put any restrictions on its publication. 

Which is what Ms Albrechtsen has claimed happened – plus she has carefully asserted this second copy was the basis of her scoop and came from an unnamed person (protecting her sources of course, like any good journalist). 

But we don’t know if she actively sought to find that second source, or if it perhaps “fell off the back of a truck”. 

From a journalism point of view is such a practice ethical? From my ex-ABC perspective it is definitely unethical, especially if your aim is to circumvent other established guidelines. 

And if Mr Sofronoff was aware of such an intention, where does that leave his integrity? 

Eric Hunter, Cook 

Too old to assume positions of importance?

Was the point of Hugh Selby’s otherwise intellectual article on Sofronoff (CN March 27) meant to be that “old” people, or people in the “retirement phase of life” are not fit to assume positions of importance?

I note that the word “old” was used to describe both of two men endeavouring to perform important roles. 

May I enquire how “old” Hugh Selby is? Whilst he is not sitting in actual judgment of anyone, he is certainly in a position to influence people who may look to him to explain the law.

For the record, I’m a retired lawyer aged 83, so I imagine my letter is of little interest to him. 

Patricia Worthy, Kambah

Editor’s note: with each passing day “old” Hugh wakes to 70 being ever further in his past. He says he’s delighted that for the moment he can remember it.

Will you be here paying the burden of light rail?

I notice an escalation in the number of letters opposing the tram in recent editions. 

An awakening to the debt burden has filtered through to a greater number. Thoughts of a $12 billion debt by 2028 along with the ever increasing costs of rates and taxes has moved more to urge restraint and terminate thoughts about 2b.

If this madness continues and the line goes through to Woden the possible debt will be in the range of $20 billion by 2032. Borrowings will be more expensive as our credit rating will decline under this incredible burden.

To prevent the populace from frustrating his desire to push on to Woden, Barr will lock in contracts ASAP to deny the wishes of the people.

What is needed is a referendum on the extension of light rail to Woden. If the people vote against 2b where will Barr be constitutionally?

I’m 86 years of age. By 2032, I will be an afterthought. I will not be burdened by the rates and taxes required to repay this enormous debt. But will you be here to pay? 

Certainly, your children and grandchildren will be unless they have sensibly moved interstate to avoid the burden.

If you want to escape this burden then give some thought to means of stopping Barr in his tracks. Get a referendum on the go ASAP!

John Quinn, Spence

Will Dutton spare national cultural institutions?

As prime minister, would Peter Dutton extend additional funding commitments to the National Library and our other national cultural institutions that still suffer lingering impacts from the harsh cutbacks made during the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison years? 

Let’s not forget Dutton was a senior cabinet minister in the former Coalition government that in 2018 was quick to provide $500 million to the War Memorial for a major pulldown, rebuild and add-on construction project.

So will they, before the May 3 election, at least promise to ensure that the much needed professional and operational staffing positions that are left in all the national cultural institutions located in Canberra are not cut or lost via pressured “attrition”, if they form government and fulfil their promise to cut at least 41,000 APS staff positions from the 80,000 or so that exist in Canberra? 

Or are the Coalition’s trigger-happy Chief Musketeers – Dutton, Angus Taylor and Jane Hume – happy for these institutions, as well as the War Memorial, to possibly lose up to half their staff, close their doors to the public for three to four days a week and mount only one major exhibition in every three-year parliamentary term?

Sue Dyer, Downer

But Dr Hughes, I beg to differ about Dutton

Columnist Andrew Hughes (“Framing those first impressions to win”, CN April 3) opined that Peter Dutton 2025 differs from Morrison 2022 in being “sharper, more astute”, with a “good backroom team”. 

Dr Hughes also argues that Dutton’s reply to the March 25 budget speech was a demonstration of these qualities.

I beg to differ. Peter Dutton’s speech was rambling, disjointed and confusing. It also lacked important details, many of which were to be announced – if ever, in the case of a cost-benefit analysis of up to seven government-funded nuclear power plants – during the five-week election campaign.

Dutton’s “backroom team” includes Angus Taylor who, according to an acquaintance who is a professor emeritus of economics, was a brilliant student at the University of Sydney. He was awarded a university medal, then won a Rhodes Scholarship to study for a Master of Philosophy in Economics at Oxford. 

Despite these achievements, he seems to have a poor grasp of economics in 2025. Taylor also has a rather simplistic, black-and-white, view of political strategy in present day Australia.

Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers would beat Taylor hands down in a debate on 21st-century economics.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin 

Young voters will find message appealing

Michelle Grattan hit the nail on the head as to the real reason Peter Dutton would live in Sydney rather than Canberra if elected PM. 

“When you’re planning to get rid of tens of thousands of Canberra-based public servants” shopping might be “awkward.” 

And while “energy wars” have replaced “climate wars” (“Climate change slips into the election shadows”, citynews.com.au April 1), polling finds that “62 per cent of respondents agreed impacts of climate change – such as more frequent and severe bushfires and flooding – worsen the cost of living through insurance cost increases and grocery prices”. 

Even more may agree given the recent record-breaking flooding in southwest Queensland.

Australians know that the Coalition is not serious about tackling climate change and Labor’s ongoing support for new coal and gas has disappointed many. The Greens have spoken out strongly about housing and cost of living – the record number of young voters will find their message appealing. We will know on May 3 how appealing it is.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria

Hold the light rail, catch a ‘Barrney’ home

I understand from the letter (CN March 27) by Leon Arundell, of Downer, that the ACT government has signed up to pay $577 million for Stage 2a of the light rail “albatross”, which will yield “only $150 million worth of benefits”. 

Chief Minister Andrew Barr will likely want to raise some of that $577 million by selling off parks and other public assets for cheek-by-jowl housing as seen in newer suburbs. 

From my travels over the years, the best public transport system I have used is the one still to be found in Manila, capital of The Philippines. 

Something similar could fill Canberra’s public transport needs, and at virtually zero capital cost.

At the end of World War II, the Americans left around 200,000 military jeeps left behind in The Philippines. They were sold off, mostly to enterprising local owner-drivers, and so became the iconic “jeepneys”, of very distinct and original decor. 

They ran like buses on fixed routes, with seating for seven passengers. 

So, my suggestion is this: use the money due to be blown on light rail to expand the ACT taxi fleet, so that it includes cars going point-to-point and minibuses running on fixed routes.

My suggested name for the vehicles would be not jeepneys but “Barrneys”, in honour of Andrew Barr, the infill galah, who must presently be causing poor Walter Burley Griffin to rotate rather violently in his grave. 

Ian MacDougall, Farrer

I took a good look at the professor’s report

We need an informed and respectful debate around the critical question of our energy system. 

Curious about Max Flint’s claims on the topic (letters, CN, March 27), I had a good look at his preferred expert, Prof Stephen Wilson. 

The professor is a visiting fellow with the Institute of Public Affairs, a conservative lobby group funded now or in the past by ExxonMobil, PhilipMorris, Caltex, Shell, Esso and British American Tobacco. 

These days, it’s sometimes hard to know who to trust for independent advice. But the IPA is near the bottom on my trusted sources list, especially for issues involving fossil fuels or tobacco.

On the other hand, Bill Gates’ well-known enthusiasm for nuclear makes his assessment that in Australia “for now, (nuclear’s) just not worth touching” pretty significant. 

I wonder if Mr Flint should send him Prof Wilson’s report?

Lesley Walker, Northcote, Victoria 

Concentrate on serving the public

If Opposition Leader Peter Dutton wants to cut public service jobs I suggest he lets them concentrate on serving the public.

When I worked for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs we always had an extensive file of question time briefs (QTBs) ready for the minister in case he was asked a question at question time.

I suggest that if the minister is asked a question he can take it on notice and then ask DVA staff to prepare a brief. 

This way they could concentrate on serving the public (eg, processing pension claims and the enormous backlog might have been avoided).

Carol Carlyon, Mawson