AFP Raids
THE Australian Federal Police raid on the senior press gallery reporter Annika Smethurst, together with the raid on the Sydney offices of the ABC, are a cause of great concern.
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My parents lived under the reign of Stalin and Hitler, where the apparatchiks of both regimes performed their roles of terrorising the population with ruthless efficiency. People lived under the shadow of the proverbial 3am knock on the door.
A free press underpins our democracy and our newly-elected government has the responsibility to ensure that Australian citizens live in a society that is democratic and where government agencies are accountable for their actions.
Raiding the ABC offices and journalists in the name of national security has no place in Australian society.
Ed Sianski, West Moonah.
The Shorten Factor
SOMEBODY should just sit down and explain to Bill Shorten that for some reason he turns people off.
I don't know why, maybe the union background.
While he is on Labor's frontbench, the coalition can look forward to several terms of government. He should just go quietly to the back bench and work hard for his electorate and let Anthony Albanese have a clear go.
Bill Shorten blamed everyone else but himself for losing the unloseable miracle election, but put simply he was out campaigned by Scott Morrison, who just oozed enthusiasm.
No political affiliation.
Malcolm Scott, Newstead.
Israel Folau
WHY is it that there are those who use the name of Lord Jesus Christ in vain (and as a profanity), which deeply offends and insults Christians, yet rugby player Israel Folau, as a Christian, makes a comment based on his beliefs is condemned and the outcry deafening?
How long does one turn the other cheek?
Robert Lee, Summerhill.
Doing a Good Job
THE leader of the State Opposition Labor Party Rebecca White has yet again tried to get a no-confidence motion against Liberal Health Minister Michael Ferguson and, yet again, failed.
You will soon be known as the failed no-confidence Queen of the Labor Party.
Share with us what it is you dislike about him. He's doing a good job so it can't be that.
David Parker, West Launceston.
Advance Australia Fair
HAVING just celebrated Reconciliation Week the new talk in the NRL is the Aboriginal players' boycott of the national anthem.
I would question the argument that the anthem doesn't represent the cultural view of some players. The first line of the anthem says, "Australians all let us rejoice". This line is entirely inclusive.
However, Will Chambers says change the anthem and everyone is happy. Everyone? I don't think so. I thought "acknowledgement of country" would help the reconciliation process, but maybe not.
I suggest the NRL explore a first verse to the anthem in an accepted Aboriginal dialect and televised coverage doesn't pan over the teams during the anthem.
