Compassionate
On August 18, I received a letter from [immigration minister] Amanda Vanstone. She says: "We should not allow the debate about failed asylum seekers who arrived unauthorised by boats to detract from Australia's generous and compassionate refugee program."
Amanda, if you use solitary confinement, indefinite detention, intimate body searches, tear gas as part of the way we treat asylum seekers, then of course it will take a little of the gloss off any good things we do! Are we helping Sudanese in order to atone for what we do to Afghans?
Elaine Smith
West Haven, NSW
Richard Butler
It's high time that Richard Butler is given the credit due him for advancing the cause of republicanism in this country. Far from a neo-conservative flunkey, in truth the ex-queen's representative in Tasmania had a cunning plan to gradually undermine the vice-regal position and by extension the monarchy.
I have come to this conclusion after a phone conversation with the governor prior to his resignation after his 16-year-old stepson had organised my son, a (public) school mate, to visit him and stay in the governor's manor over the X-mas holidays.
Initially, on receiving his phone call at 5pm on a Friday afternoon, I was taken aback when after introducing himself he aggressively demanded to know why I hadn't checked my phone messages as he had been calling since 9am. I explained that, unlike a governor, I had to actually work for a living. Ignoring my feeble attempt at sarcasm, he proceeded to berate me and my son's lack of due formality in dealing with the queen's representative. When I pointed out that teenagers often visit friend's houses informally, he gravely intoned "Mr Boylan I am the governor of Tasmania".
This got me thinking — why on earth is he making such a fuss? And then it hit me. Of course, a ruse! No one could really be such a pompous arsehole, least of all a republican, over such a minor matter. Funny thing though, when I pointed this out and congratulated Dick on his cunning tactics, he hung up.
Terry Boylan
Manly Vale, NSW
Double back-flips
Congratulations to our synchronised divers on the bronze medals. Perhaps if we had Howard and Latham we would have won gold! They have double back-flipped on the FTA, PBS fees and tax cuts for the rich. The magnificent Laborials would be sure to win gold.
Dr Colin Hughes
Glen Forrest, WA
Truth overboard
The prime minister has now been comprehensively exposed on the children overboard myth. Mike Scrafton, former senior adviser to Peter Reith, has stated that, very early on (around mid-October 2001), the government was aware there were question marks about the allegation. Furthermore, on November 7, 2001, Scrafton informed Howard that no-one in the defence department with whom he (Scrafton) had discussed the matter still believed children were thrown overboard.
The PM was duty-bound to promptly question defence officers and tell Australia the truth. Instead, on November 8, Howard declared, "Well, in my mind there is no uncertainty". The next day (election eve) he even dogmatically insisted "it was not incorrect advice".
Howard knew there were grave doubts. Yet he cared so little about the truth that he simply stuck by the politically expedient — but false — story. Ordinary employees have been sacked for less. But will the PM resign, or even genuinely apologise and guarantee future truthfulness? Will ice sheets appear in hell?
Brent Howard
Rydalmere, NSW
Trust in leadership
When it comes to trust in leadership no organisation and no country can survive without it. We expect our political leaders to behave ethically, which is one major trait on which trust is built, probably the most important. Good ethics can be fostered through all forms of teaching which clearly distinguish right from wrong but also by constructing systems and structures which maximise the opportunity to behave ethically and minimise unethical behaviour. This applies to corporations as well as to many public institutions, e.g., the police, the civil service and the political system. It would seem that the latter is in great need of restructuring in Australia.
Klaas Woldring
Pearl Beach, NSW
Iraq I
It's as simple as this, Rikki (re "Support the Iraqi resistance?", GLW #593): Our government has troops occupying another country. It's our job, as the Australian left, to do what we can to end this occupation — unconditionally. The Iraqi people — not us — will decide the rest.
Owen Richards
Parramatta, NSW
Iraq II
The Iraqi national conference is a US stooge. The delegates were handpicked by Iyad Allawi's government, which in turn was appointed by the US. There is nothing democratic about it. The Conference delegates are collaborators and therefore high priority targets for the Iraqi resistance.
Moqtada al Sadr's militia is continuing to battle the occupying forces in Najaf. The media is giving this battle extensive coverage, but the resistance is now operating across Iraq in almost every major city. Even if Sadr is taken out, another will simply take his place.
The US and its allies in Iraq are so bogged down they don't know which way to turn. Bush, Blair and Howard are trying to be upbeat about the situation, but its clear they have no plan. Recently in question time, Howard responded by selectively listing all the supposed progress being made in Iraq. He conveniently forgot to mention the dozens of Iraqis being killed each week; the oil infrastructure going up in flames; the billions being spent on trying to contain the resistance; and the total lack of security for the average Iraqi.
We shouldn't be surprised. Howard likes to selectively mislead the Australian people. Look at the reasons he gave for invading Iraq and his lies about the children overboard affair.
Adam Bonner From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, August 25, 2004.
Meroo Meadow, NSW [Abridged]
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