As high commissioner, I can say the Queen did not intervene in Dismissal

Paul Kelly (“Palace letters settle this debate — Kerr acted alone”, 11/11) is correct in his incisive analysis of the recently released letters exchanged between Sir John Kerr and the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Martin Charteris. The letters offer no evidence that the Queen authorised or encouraged in any way, directly or indirectly, the dismissal of the Whitlam government. The dismissal was orchestrated by Kerr.

Malcolm Turnbull displays poor judgment and poor understanding of the Queen in his suggestion that the private secretary’s letters on her behalf can be read as encouraging Whitlam’ s dismissal. Turnbull would also know that the Queen was scrupulous to take no part whatsoever in the republic referendum in 1999.

As high commissioner in London at the time I had occasion to witness her refusal to give support to any protagonists. This is reflected in the statement she issued at Windsor Castle on November 6, 1999. In it she said, “The future of the monarchy in Australia is an issue for the Australian people and them alone to decide, by democratic and constitutional means.” She also said, “My family and I would, of course, have retained our deep affection for Australia and Australians everywhere, whatever the outcome.”

Philip Flood, former Australian high commissioner to the UK and secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs

Unhinged

Malcolm Turnbull’s hysterical and abusive outburst at The Australian’s Paul Kelly on ABC’s Q&A this week bordered on the unhinged. Turnbull was venomous in his attack on Kelly for not giving up his employment in the “evil empire of Rupert Murdoch”. It was a disgrace that a journalist of Kelly’s reputation had to endure the personal abuse directed at him, which was driven by Turnbull’s pathological hatred of Murdoch. The Australian, without doubt, ranks with the best newspapers in the world — it provides column space for a broad range of commentary and its news coverage is without peer. Australians should be thankful they have a daily newspaper of such quality in these times of declining media standards. Turnbull could do with a cold shower and a bit of mature reflection, sans a mirror.

Paul Clancy, Tanunda SA

Malcolm Turnbull is a willing participant in ABC groupthink so his contribution on Monday night’s Four Corners and Q&A was no surprise. In this instance, it seems he’s on a crusade against former political colleagues and the Murdoch press for their failure to acknowledge his brilliant career. His twin claims on Q&A that Donald Trump is a narcissist and not a real conservative are easily made of Turnbull himself, but the attack on Paul Kelly and his organisation deserves the prize for lack of insight. News Corp exists as a bulwark against inner-city, woke-inspired journalism, yet still has a place for Phillip Adams, Troy Bramston and Peter Van Onselen. The real shame is that contrarian commentary has been purged at our public broadcaster.

Kim Keogh, East Fremantle, WA

Puritan Turnbull

Having spent many years as a staffer to a federal minister and before and after as a member of the press gallery in Canberra, I was sickened by the Puritanism strongly embedded in Malcolm Turnbull’s belated conversion to Catholicism. This he amply demonstrated when PM in the case of Barnaby Joyce. How ridiculous, dictatorial and disloyal for a PM to rebuke publicly his deputy PM from another party for his private behaviour.

When I was a staffer, it was an unstated press gallery rule that private lives are not reported. How self-righteous are Turnbull to impose and Louise Milligan to report retrospectively alleged breaches of the “no bonking” commandment on those people working at the centre of Australian political life, and indeed on anyone.

Peter Kelly, Phillip Bay, NSW