Letter writer MURRAY MAY, of Cook, worries that the bureaucratic bias is to protect dangerous tree, not the people below them. 

When Canberra residents apply to have large trees posing a safety risk removed, this is next to impossible on safety grounds. 

What normally happens is that a government arborist visits and declares the tree to be “healthy”. The bias is to protect the tree, not those below it. The safety assessment is very crude.

The girl recently seriously injured by a falling branch at Government House is such a case. The tree in question was judged as healthy in the previous six months. Obviously no guarantee in preventing a life-changing event.

Murray May, Cook

Timely column on hospital misery

How timely was Michael Moore’s column “Excuse after excuse but hospital misery remains” (CN February 20) on the appalling state of Canberra’s public health system. 

I recently publicly chronicled my distressing experience at the North Canberra Hospital, formerly the wonderful Calvary Hospital. Now subsumed into the Canberra public health system, its patient care, safety and hygiene leave much to be desired.

I have pleaded with the health minister to allocate the promised $22 million into these three core services. I also challenged her to make an unannounced visit to some of the wards and see what the conditions are actually like there. 

Minister, just don’t bring your lunch to heat in the ward microwaves, you may end up as an inpatient with a case of food poisoning!

Angela Kueter-Luks, Bruce

Nuclear reactors underpin a secure network

Sue Dyer (letters, CN February 20) doesn’t seem to understand the technical issues in the transition of the electricity grid. 

Meeting 38 per cent of energy needs from nuclear power will have other important outcomes.

Nuclear reactors power synchronous generators and so they will underpin a secure network, a requirement that has yet to be resolved for a renewable-only grid. There are many questions about the proposed grid forming inverter technology.

Furthermore, if the balance of the energy needs were to be met from wind and solar sources, there would be a much smaller requirement for utility scale battery storage than the pro-rata amount in a fully renewable grid.

Similarly, Ms Dyer quotes a use of “2000 litres of water per second”. If she is referring to reactor cooling, the water would be recycled in Australian situations. The water used in the steam cycle is about the same as for the coal-fired plants being replaced.

John L Smith, Farrer

Just think what could have been 

Just think of the sports and sports venues that could have been developed in the ACT from the money wasted so far and the millions still to come for Rattenbury and Barr’s absurd tram set.

Michael Attwell, Dunlop

Dark clouds sometimes have silver linings

In his column “With so much debt, can we even afford light rail?” (CN, February 27) Michael Moore wrote “The good news for Canberrans is that the federal government is contributing $344 million to stage 2a”. So far, so good – or is it?

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has signalled his intention to take an axe to the Australian Public Service and is unlikely to provide financial support for ACT projects such as light rail. 

If, as seems increasingly likely, the Coalition is successful in the forthcoming general election, there will be little or no contribution to the breathtaking cost of light rail stage 2b as outlined in this edition by Richard Johnston (“Revealed: Light costs that Labor won’t tell you”).

Mr Dutton is no fan of Canberra, but he could save its government from a mountain of debt, and Canberrans from skyrocketing rates payments. Dark clouds sometimes do have silver linings.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

Cost-of-living election, bring it on, Albo!

The Albanese government is boasting about its alleged achievements to date. What about the other side of the coin? 

Housing affordability is currently only for the very rich, and we have an ever increasing exorbitant cost of living. 

Many are struggling to make ends meet, reliance on charitable organisations and food banks has escalated. Building companies and small businesses insolvencies are increasing exponentially.

The government’s profligacy in spending has resulted in high inflation, prompting the Reserve Bank to push up rates. After 13 consecutive interest rate hikes, only recently dropping by 25 points to 4.10 per cent.

Under the above circumstances, surely anyone even remotely considering voting for the status quo must be either misguided or have masochistic tendencies or both .

As the upcoming election will undoubtedly be all about housing affordability and the cost of living, bring it on, Albo.

Mario Stivala, Belconnen 

Thank you, Memory Walk supporters

I extend my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the community of Canberra for their participation and support of our 2025 Memory Walk & Jog.

It was wonderful to see the community of Canberra rally in support of people living with dementia, their families and carers. 

The February 23 event at Lake Burley Griffin was a success, with the community helping to raise $240,000. These funds will help us provide invaluable support services, education and resources for all Australians impacted by dementia, including the 6100 people living in the ACT.

It was also great to see everyone getting active for their brain health, one of the key things we can all do to help lower our risk of dementia.

Prof Tanya Buchanan, CEO, Dementia Australia

Government has stayed true to climate targets

Perhaps Dr Douglas McKenzie has been a tad tough on the Australian government, implying that it is a “submissive ally” of the US being led away from the Paris Agreement (letters, CN February 27). 

Despite much criticism from business, the Opposition and conservative commentators in the media, the government has stayed true to its climate targets. 

The Coalition cannot make this claim; they have announced that they will scrap the 2030 target if elected. 

Furthermore, the government has shown courage by strengthening the safeguard mechanism (reigning in big emitters) and introducing the Capacity Investment Scheme to encourage greater investment in renewable energy and energy storage.

It’s the Coalition, under the spell of mining magnate Gina Rinehart, who has opposed stronger nature laws and wants to extend the life of coal-fired power. 

While the Albanese government has disappointingly approved new coal and gas projects, it is far superior to the Coalition and the previous Morrison government on climate action. It is voters at the election who must not be “submissive” – to disinformation, self-interest and amnesia.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria