Release of Assange calls for change of whistleblower laws

Common sense has called time on the Julian Assange affair (“Home free”, June 27), yet in many ways the jury in WikiLeaks v the world is still out. The interminable arguments for and against will endure: freedom of speech v national security, individual rights v the common good, truth v justice. At least it has all served the useful purpose of shaking some dusty ideas out of their comfort zone and holding them up to the light. We’ll never know where a “real” jury might have landed, but we can look forward to years of fascinating hypotheticals. Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale (Vic)

My elation and relief at the release of Assange were quickly displaced by rage at the injustice heaped upon this man. Where does one start? Attacking a publisher. Pursuing false accusations of rape. Extraterritoriality of the US, with obsequious Australia playing along. Solitary confinement for more than five years, to what end? It is time to take real action to protect journalists and whistleblowers. To paraphrase Plato, to simply appear just is the worst type of justice. John Richards, Turramurra

I’ll tell you what isn’t appropriate, Simon Birmingham (“Opposition blasts government for picking up the phone to Assange”, smh.com.au, June 27). Your party pushing a nuclear future with no economic benefit or scientific backing. Playing endless and dangerous games with my grandchildren’s future with your lack of support for real action on climate change and environmental degradation. That’s not appropriate.

Nor was it appropriate to play division politics with the Voice. Or to not speak up or fight for our universities when they were delivered a series of blows, including not having JobKeeper extended to the sector during COVID. Or having your leader head off to Hawaii during the worst fires ever seen. Acting with heart and integrity is always appropriate. In fact, it’s the only way forward. Francesca Stahlut, Armidale

Thank you, Julian Assange, for exposing the lies and deception of our Western warmongering governments. The open abuse of power by the US and other Western governments is seldom challenged successfully, and only then at great personal cost by those courageous enough to try. History will judge you more kindly than those that sought to hide the truth from us through lies and deception. In a post-truth world, we need WikiLeaks more than ever. I hope you make a speedy recovery. You deserve the deep respect of every Australian. Ralph Hahnheuser, Noosa Heads

Might we have observed a touch of prime ministerial hypocrisy? Anthony Albanese worked so hard (justifiably so) towards freeing Assange. Yet concurrently he is a partner to the charging and imprisonment of courageous Australian whistleblowers, by Australian courts, for disclosures in the public interest of grave governmental injustices. Harold Kerr, Millers Point

Well done to all those who helped Assange, a whistleblower. Before the ink dries, perhaps the government should look at its own record on the treatment of whistleblowers. Tom Meakin, Port Macquarie

Having known Assange as a primary schoolchild, I would like to wish him a very happy birthday and welcome him home. God bless you and your beautiful family. Diana Aveley, Sawtell

Nuclear line brings investment uncertainty

The attendees at Citi’s energy transition investment conference will be a savvy lot, representing billions of dollars of investors’ funds (“Coalition moves to calm investors spooked by nuclear pitch”, June 27). Peter Dutton and the Coalition are showing complete naivety and lack of commercial sense by thinking that saying renewables will be part of the opposition’s energy plan but refusing to provide proportions, costings, policy or a business case, will give comfort to the conference members. Investors require certainty and Dutton’s recent words on nuclear energy will have only induced jitters among investors. Apart from the breathtaking dearth of detail, those words have already caused unrest among governments and investors globally. Christine Northam, Cronulla

I am puzzled why the media, politicians and other punters grab an idea like “nuclear power” at the cost end – “how much does it cost?” – as if the matter is already non-controversial and it’s only a question of money (Letters, June 27). Why don’t we start at the beginning? What would going nuclear mean for all of us and the environment? Can we afford, as the driest continent, to divert 35-65 million litres of water per day (13-24 billion litres per year) for running a single nuclear facility, let alone seven? What happens to contaminated water? Even if just a small percentage gets dumped at 5000 metres underground, is it perhaps too risky for our precious underground water? Is nobody concerned about hazardous (radioactive) waste-product storage? Where do we “dump” it? There is already the shame of Maralinga. Aping European practice doesn’t work. Australia is, after all, very different in geography and climate. Should we not ask such questions first and field the responses by the public instead of making nuclear appear like a viable option? Should we not be looking at risks to people, nature, animals and the continent first? Gisela Kaplan, Coffs Harbour

In the popular discussion around achieving net zero by 2050, meeting the 2-degree carbon budget has had little attention. Emissions are cumulative, like compound interest. By continuing high emissions for decades to come we add much more heating into the atmosphere, such that the 2050 target would need to move closer to achieve the same actual effect. It’s one more reason nuclear power makes no sense. Dick Clarke, Elanora Heights

Nuclear power. Sure, other nations are using it. But for Australia, it’s too late and too expensive.
And we still do not know how much it will really cost us. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

Beloved editor was the real deal

I am sad to read of the death of Judith Whelan (“Former editor Judith Whelan remembered as a trailblazer”, June 27). When I began my journey as a letter writer to the Herald in the late ’80s and started reading the newspaper seriously, her name was associated with several Fairfax publications. I never had the pleasure to meet her but knew instinctively she was the real deal, someone who edited and wrote with compassion, not for ambition but out of honesty and integrity. Work on the ABC followed with a slew of responsibilities. I hope all journalists and the public combine to push for an award to be named after her. She deserves it. Or, make that two. If anyone, she earned that honour. Vale, dear Judith Whelan, you will be missed. Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood

Brave stance

Kudos to Senator Fatima Payman for being the only government senator to vote in favour of recognising Palestinian statehood (“Senator suspended from caucus”, June 27). Her statement after the vote that “we cannot believe in two state solutions and only recognise one” affirms that the root cause of this conflict is in treating rights and freedoms with an aura of exclusivity. Both Israelis and Palestinians can achieve peace, but this requires co-operation from both sides where rights and freedoms and hopes and dreams are guaranteed to everyone. Naosheyrvaan Nasir, Quakers Hill

It is telling of the state of politics in Australia when the major political parties need to be shown by the few what morals, ethics and integrity look like. If the two big parties don’t lift their games, they are going to start looking like the Democrats and the Republicans, and Australian voters will be as mad as they are in the US. Peter Fane, Herston (QLD)

Victims of inflation

I obviously don’t understand the economics behind interest rates (“Inflation rise dashes hopes of rate relief”, June 27), but it seems to me they are whacking the wrong people. Inflation is going up because prices are rising, but who is putting the prices up? Certainly not the general public. There have been stories recently of big companies being threatened with hefty fines if they price gouge, but still prices rise and there is nothing consumers can do about it except cut back on essentials like food and power. It seems a classic case of victim blaming. Ron Wessel, Mount Saint Thomas

The inflation dilemma seems to be an ongoing condition, not only in Australia but apparently the whole world. Various factors contributing to inflation in Australia appear to be imported – petrol prices and immigrants to name two, the latter of whom are seeking accommodation, thus causing rents to rise. At the same time, we read that more and more mortgage holders are falling behind on their repayments.

It’s reported that the RBA is considering raising rates again. Doing this simply for the sake of it, thus creating further hardship for those households that are not the cause of the problem, is impossible to fathom. With the vast cohort of the Baby Boomers outside the interest rate regime and spending up freely, does the RBA not recognise that perhaps the long-standing inflation target of 2 to 3 per cent may never be achieved again? Stewart Copper, Maroubra

“It means inflation has lifted from 3.4 per cent in February to a staggering 4 per cent in May”. It also means that whatever the RBA is doing to fix the economy, the PM and his advisers are doing their best to please the constituencies and undo the Reserve’s efforts and hard work. Mokhles Sidden, South Strathfield

Too many laws

The call for uniform defamation laws (“Defamation law reforms help, but should be national”, June 27) highlights the need for a national charter of human rights to replace the mishmash of laws that bedevil our legal system. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

Rise of rudeness

Like Jo Stubbings, I too have witnessed the op shop hagglers (“Op shop hagglers may get more than they bargain for”, June 27). What I can’t understand is why bad behaviour is not called out. It’s not just the op shops, but everywhere. I find it unbelievable that we now have signs in schools, shops and public transport asking people to treat the staff with respect. Seriously! When did rude, selfish people gain so much power. It’s time for people around to speak up and support staff. Sometimes a community is needed to guide an adult, not just raise the children. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

Back to the future

The proposed 11km light rail along Parramatta Road is good news (“Revealed: Plans for new 11km light rail run along one of Sydney’s busiest roads”, June 27). However, as an oldie, I find it ironic that Sydney is putting in light rail, or trams as we call it, because in my day Sydney was covered in tram routes, making it easy to get around. For some reason, the government of the day decided that a network of buses was the way to go and set about ripping up the tram lines. Go figure. Arthur Hennessy, Gymea Bay

Double standards

As anyone who has been into a large pharmacy would know they are just big retailers selling beauty remedies and other unproven products (Letters, June 27). Their indignant claims that they are “health professionals” and don’t want to peddle vapes is laughable. Dennis Everingham, Moorland

Since when did pharmacies care about ethics and health? The checkouts are littered with lollies at child level containing bucket loads of sugar (a known health problem), cosmetics that contain toxic, carcinogenic chemicals and supplements that, if taken, go straight down the toilet. I have two adult children who have managed to kick the smoking habit via (illegal) vapes, hence I support the current Labor/Green compromise. Bruce Welch, Marrickville

I remember that

In my third year of teaching (Letters, June 27), Birrong Boys High had no television set for the staff to watch the moon landing in the Common Room. In our third year of marriage, my wife and I had just recently bought a “transportable” TV set. A rushed trip home to Belmore, a hasty set-up with the twin antenna and, voilà, we all sat entranced. Ah, nostalgia isn’t what it used to be! Bob Selinger, Eastwood

My wife and I had a two-teacher school in Bibbenluke at the time of the moon landing. Like your correspondent, we decided that rather than carrying our black-and-white television over to the school, it was better to bring the students to the residence to witness this amazing event. Unfortunately, the lack of action during an extended delay did not satisfy their desire for instant excitement. Most of them thought it was “boring”. Geoff Kervin, Shellharbour

I know where I was when JFK was assassinated, where I was (in a classroom at Tamworth High) when Armstrong walked on the moon and where I was when I heard Princess Diana had been killed in a car accident. And where I was when I heard Julian Assange had been released from Belmarsh Prison and was flying out of the UK. Places I will never forget. And a big welcome home Julian. Anne Finnane, Marlee

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