Coalition MPs are right to take stand against misinformation bill

Coalition MPs are right to take stand against misinformation bill

The article by Rhiannon Down and Sarah Ison (“Coalition to resist Labor’s ‘Ministry of Truth’ ”, 11/7) highlights the worrisome road we are being taken by proposed legislation that reeks of big government and is rightly described as having Orwellian Ministry of Truth overtones. It’s true that the advent of social media has taken the soapbox to a new and often dangerous level, but controls must be measured and arbitrators free of political interference. The Coalition is right to stand up to what the government is proposing and in doing so provide sensible, workable and fair amendments that address the those aspects of social media that create a danger or harm to society, while retaining our right to cast opinions, be critical and enjoy the freedom of soapbox spruiking, albeit through a different medium.

Ian Murray, Cremorne Point, NSW

The government’s planned misinformation bill seems like something straight out of former communist East Germany. They should think again.

Rod Matthews, Fairfield, Vic

Manchester clash

Peter Lalor speculates about Australia’s line-up for the forthcoming Test in Manchester (“Australian changes afoot to right the ship”, 11/7) Surely, David Warner’s time is up. His failure on four UK tours suggests he is all at sea in the conditions. Further, Stuart Broad’s 44 wickets in Tests at Old Trafford demonstrates it is a happy hunting ground for Warner’s nemesis. Marnus Labuschagne should move up to open with Usman Khawaja. Steve Smith would bat at three (the best players in the team, Don Bradman, Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, all filled that pivotal spot), Travis Head at four followed by Cam Green, Mitch Marsh and Alex Carey.

With Marsh and Green able to bowl “seam up” Australia can afford to retain specialist spinner Todd Murphy. Josh Hazlewood should return to support Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. The series is perfectly poised; this line-up gives Australia its best chance to retain the urn.

Kim Keogh, East Fremantle, WA

Faith counts

Thank you, Julian Leeser, for your recent article (“Labor’s ideological war on faith threat to dignity, morality”, 8-9/7). Sadly, your concerns are right and very alarming. It is not the church that is attacked, it is the morality of human beings, the dignity of our lives. In a country where money is the most important commodity, it is so easy to lose sight of what really matters in life. I just spent five days in Hobart. I was surprised how many churches there are, and how beautiful and how well preserved they are. As an emigrant, brought up in a religious country, I just cannot comprehend what took place here in Australia within the last 100 years that led to a situation in which faith and religion are not only ignored in daily life, but they are openly attacked by political life?

Rudolf Steiner wisely said, for a healthy social life we must have a clear division between the economic, cultural and political spheres. Here there is not only no division; in Australia the political sphere attacks the cultural one (to which religion belongs). Why? What are politicians afraid of?

Agnieszka Swiatlowska, Sunshine Coast, Qld

Nuclear nonsense?

Geoff Bowden “believes” in nuclear power (Letters, 11/7). But science is not about belief, it’s about facts, data and research. Does Bowden believe he is more qualified than Alan Finkel, Australia’s chief scientist from 2016-2020, to assess the viability of nuclear for Australia, or small modular reactors?

Fiona Colin, Malvern East, Vic

Recalling ATSIC

I might have believed Judith Brett’s statement that ATSIC was “not given the chance to learn and reform” (Yes case can’t be silenced by ‘selective history’ ”, 10/7). But it would have been more convincing if she had not mentioned in the preceding paragraph that ATSIC was formed in 1990 and not abolished until 2004. She needs to explain why 14 years was not enough of a chance to show some indication of reasonable and improving performance.

David Dowd, Valley View, SA

Citizenship test

I am less concerned than Greg Sheridan with the obviously skewed history in the Department of Home Affairs booklet for prospective citizens (“Don’t let facts get in the way of citizenship”, 11/7). Most migrants will have done some homework before selecting Australia as their new home and will be smart enough to realise modern Australia didn’t just happen. The infrastructure, schools, hospitals and more owe much to the efforts and knowledge of generations of Australians. Most migrants will learn enough from the booklet to pass the test and then join the rest of us in the real world.

Doug Hurst, Chapman, ACT