Windschuttle is still waiting for Manne to apologise

ANYONE reading a citation of my work by this serial misquoter should first check the original.

ROBERT Manne claims ("Cutting to the chase on criticisms of Bad News essay", 1-2/10) that my book on the history of the Tasmanian Aborigines describes them as "common criminals" (his quotation marks).

I have just done a computer search of its 472 pages and nowhere does that phrase appear.

This is a game in which Manne has form. When the third volume of my series on Aboriginal history appeared in 2009, he accused me of using "quasi-zoological" terminology such as "quadroons", "octoroons" and "cross-breeds" without inverted commas to distance myself from their "plainly racist" meaning.

Yet when I did a search of that volume's 656 pages, I could not find one example to support his assertion. I am still waiting for a public apology from Manne for this misrepresentation.

Anyone reading a citation of my work by this serial misquoter should first check the original.

Keith Windschuttle, Paddington, NSW

ROBERT Manne (Letters, 1-2/10) tells us not to challenge the science but rather debate the consequences of what climate scientists are telling us. My question for Manne is: given that the Gillard carbon tax is ostensibly there to reduce the impact of anthropogenic carbon emissions on global warming, what are the scientists telling us about how or if this will work?

If Manne or climate scientists are unable to answer this question in a direct and understandable way then the only conclusion I can draw is that it is nothing more than a wealth redistribution tax in disguise.

By the way, I have an honours degree in the earth sciences, I am not a denier and I do not believe, along with many of your "consensual core of climate scientists", that climate science is settled.

John Whiteing, Willoughby, NSW

ROBERT Manne has it wrong when he says that non-scientists can't sensibly debate climate science (Letters, 1-2/10). Mathematical models used by the IPCC and others attempt to convince us the sky is falling in. If Manne had any mathematical training he'd know that the mathematics used in the climate science models is the same as that used in other disciplines. It is not only scientists who understand this.

Manne seems to follow the line that one should accept the arguments put up by authority. Fortunately, many ordinary Australians are a lot smarter than that and have not fallen for the propaganda.

Greg Buchanan, Niagara Park, NSW