Ability to publish: China is undermining our freedom of speech

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Ability to publish: China is undermining our freedom of speech

China is undermining our freedom of speech

Your front page story, "Silenced", on the canning of academic Clive Hamilton's book on Chinese influence in Australia (The Age 13/11), is deeply disturbing. That a publisher caves in for fear of legal action from China is itself another example of how the authoritarian power is using Australia's rule of law to undermine freedom of speech Down Under.

The Tiananmen massacre that drove Chinese students to stay in the West is omitted from Chinese textbooks. The Chinese Museum in Tiananmen Square ignores the event, together with Deng Xiaoping's two proteges who led the way to China's economic transformation: the relative liberal Hu Yaobang whose death led to the demonstrations, and Zhao Ziyang who opposed harsh reprisals against the demonstrators. Although it was "guaranteed" 50 years of autonomy after its 1997 return to China, Hong Kong has just revised its history syllabus to exclude the 1989 massacre.

Illustration: Michael Leunig.

Illustration: Michael Leunig.

With Chinese donations pouring into Australian political parties and with once-independent universities now reliant on "yuan fuel", and Confucius and other such institutes, perhaps the Kangaroo is already hopping to the Dragon's scales.

Helene Chung, former ABC China correspondent, Melbourne

Show courage and publish Hamilton's book

If it is true that Allen & Unwin has ditched the book Silent Invasion: How China is Turning Australia into a Puppet State by Clive Hamilton, then this would seem to prove precisely the point the book is trying to make: namely that fear of the Chinese Communist Party has already defeated freedom of speech in Australia. To Allen & Unwin we say: Go ahead and have the guts to publish. We can guarantee excellent sales as a reward for your investment. Otherwise, give it to someone else.

Stuart Robson, Glen Waverley

Let the people join together and publish

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Guerilla gardening has been around for many years and, according to The Age (13/11), we even have guerilla foodies these days. Allen & Unwin has refused to publish Clive Hamilton's book Silent Invasion: How China is Turning Australia into a Puppet State because it is fearful of Chinese legal reprisal. Professor Hamilton's work is well known and lauded by many Australians who support academic freedom and appreciate comprehensively researched, impartial contributions to public debate. If a hundred thousand or so Australians who value knowledge and deplore restrictions on its dissemination, by our government or that of any other country, were prepared to contribute, we could finance the publication of his very timely book. Crowd funding is commonplace. It is high time we had guerilla publishing.

Helen Moss, Croydon

China's dangerous influence in Australia

Allen & Unwin is selling our most prized values down the river. We cannot let this insidious behaviour by China gain a foothold in our (so far) free society. We should boycott this company until it acknowledges that only a free press allows us to enjoy the freedoms which make our great society so enriching.

Henry Diner, South Caulfield

Fighting the good fight for democracy

Professor Clive Hamilton, at least put your book online so that every Australian who believes in democracy and freedom of speech can buy it and read it. We are commemorating more than 100 years of Australians fighting and dying for these values. We have never shirked the fight against aggression, and we cannot now.

Tricia Gurry, Malvern

THE FORUM

Time to call out Duterte

I thought it was just a touch of food poisoning, but it seems it makes me sick to see Malcolm Turnbull snuggling up to Donald Trump and, in turn, both cosying up to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (The Age, 14/11). It is no surprise that these "leaders" are not publicly calling out bully boy Duterte as his government mercilessly continues to murder thousands of citizens in his war on drugs. Another blown opportunity, Mr Turnbull.

Sydney Shadid, Hampton

He 'did a Turnbull'

In the future, there will be a new catchphrase – "doing a Turnbull" – when people will involuntarily cringe and let out a small groan, the very thing that the Prime Minister wants to avoid. "Doing a Turnbull": when someone misrepresents their role or hand balls the decision-making elsewhere or states they have to act on "the experts' advice" or kicks the task down the road.

Peter Brown, Kawarren

Addicted to tweeting

I see that Twitter has doubled its character limit from 140 to 280 (Comment, 13/11). Is that to accommodate US President Donald Trump's never-ending spiel?

Cath Dyson, Mount Eliza

People, trees and heat

An interesting juxtaposition: an advertisement from Dick Smith, pleading for his population argument to get fair coverage from the ABC, and an article on tree loss due to climate change (The Age, 14/11). The world's population has increased more than four-fold since the end of World War I. More than four times the trees felled, fish harvested and land cleared; more than four times the pollution; and, common to both Dick's plea and the article, well over four times the amount of pavements and roads. The net effect is the ground temperature in our cities is rising. It does not matter how much water you pump to the street trees' roots, it is the heat that is killing them.

Chris Waters, Ormond

There's life after VCE

I loved the article by Biffy James on getting low year12 scores and university and career paths (Comment, 14/11). I failed years 10 and 12 (and had to repeat both) before barely scraping enough marks to get into a low-entry university course. As a mature-age student, and working full-time, I eventually completed a diploma, a degree, two graduate diplomas and a masters course. Yes, completing year 12 is important, but it is not the end of the world if you do not. Keep trying and do not give up.

John Circosta, Brighton East

More discrimination

Today we will find out the result of the $122million postal survey on the right of the LGBT community to be recognised and to marry. Rather than supporting a conscience vote in Parliament, the naysayers in the Coalition's right-wing have put the cost of the survey onto taxpayers.

Now, even in the event of a strong "yes" vote, Coalition wreckers Dean Smith and James Paterson have drawn up rival bills to derail and further discriminate against same-sex marriage. They want to give the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker and others the right to say no. I am sure that in the past, these people have not given a second thought to serving people in same-sex relationships. Why plant seeds of doubt now?

Martin Rose, East St Kilda

Independence for all

In response to "We really can stop the violence and suffering" (Editorial, 13/11), may I offer the following? Violent people are unhappy people and the strains and financial stress of family life must be dealt with through practical means rather than Bertrand Russell's passion for "the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind". If we truly love each other, then we do not pity them or be condescendingly paternalistic. Rather, we give everyone financial independence through a social credit system and encouragement to quit an unhappy situation.

June Ryan, East Geelong

Care for the elderly

The argument put by former Supreme Court judge Betty King (The Age, 13/11) is wrong on two counts. First there is overwhelming evidence that euthanasia laws do not reduce suicide in older people. Secondly the case she quotes, a lady with dementia, would be excluded by the current legislation before the upper house. In fact, if the former judge is concerned about older people, she should oppose the legislation at least until the 25per cent who die with no access to palliative care can get it and residential aged care is improved so that older people do not see suicide as a better option.

Associate Professor Mark Yates, geriatrician, Deakin University

Two concepts at odds

Over recent weeks, many correspondents have trumpeted the need to amend section 44 of the constitution so that individuals with dual citizenship can be elected to federal Parliament. Some have suggested that it is a good time to hold a referendum on Australia becoming a republic.

The two concepts are at odds. A referendum to change the constitution to become a republic would include the removal of a foreigner as our head of state. To do this, but then at the same time, or at any time, amend the constitution to allow part-foreigners (dual citizens) to sit in Parliament does not make sense.

Our elected members of Parliament must not have, or even be seen to have, loyalties other than 100per cent to Australia. So a republic, absolutely. Changes to section 44, absolutely not.

John Winzer, Doncaster East

Call for external audit

So the major parties expect us to trust them to self-report their citizenship status? If their MPs lied at the time of their election, why would they change when they are only obligated to self-report? It is beyond a joke and an insult to the Australian people. An external, immediate audit is the only way to get the truth.

Thomas O'Brien, Benalla

Our MPs' real test

I do not mind if our MPs are also citizens of other countries. However, if the parliamentarians cannot pass the test on their level of compassion, or do not have a commitment to make our world more sustainable, then they do not belong in my government. It is as simple as that.

Robert Preston, McKinnon

The MPs we need

Why the pressure to change the constitution to allow dual citizens to be MPs? I would rather that the obsolete rules forcing teachers, nurses and other public servants to resign before nominating for Parliament were fixed. Their job insecurity means that resigning on the off-chance of winning an election is not a practical option. Also, they would be more trustworthy than the many lawyers and former staffers in our Parliament.

Dave Bath, Armadale

A shelved report, again

Surely it is time that the recommendations of the 1981 Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional & Legal Affairs were put into legislation. After all, it is only 36years of ignoring this report that addresses the very citizenship problems upon which our federal MPs are fixated.

The shelving of parliamentarian dual citizenship recommendations could almost start competing with the lack of action given to all the formal proposals. These include the Melbourne to Sydney fast train, four-year fixed federal terms, identity cards, and the other essential but ignored recommendations from countless committees that might get this languishing country back on track with good governance and strong decisions.

Margaret Gibson, Ferny Creek

What the site could be

The Peter MacCallum Hospital site is a unique and valuable public asset. On the north, it faces St Patrick's Cathedral; on the east, the Fitzroy Gardens; on the south, the magnificent 19th-century government offices and Treasury Gardens; on the west, the Old Treasury building, Tasma Terrace and the 1874 German Lutheran Church.

Instead of setting the site aside, perhaps initiating a public competition to design an iconic building, the State Government proposes to sell it off for private development: yet another high-rise apartment block. Why not an interactive science and technology museum, like Canberra's Questacon? A contemporary art gallery like Sydney and Adelaide? An applied arts and craft gallery like Adelaide's Jam Factory and Perth's King's Park Gallery/shop? Or an indigenous museum, honouring the history and culture of the First Peoples?

Jill Fenwick, East Melbourne

Coming clean on tax

There is talk in the media about the amazing Amazon arriving in Australia...and how marvellous that will be. Really? My question: will it pay a reasonable rate of Australian tax, as do other retailers such as Myer, David Jones, Wesfarmers, Woolworths and JB Hi-Fi? But I now chide myself: why am I being such a typically cynical Aussie? But it will be interesting to hear how much tax Amazon actually does pay.

David Wright, Albert Park

Monsters galore

After reading the latest from Canberra, I found the item about a newly discovered shark species with a snake head and 300 teeth (13/11) strangely comforting.

Peter Bear, Mitcham

AND ANOTHER THING

Same-sex marriage

A parliamentary debate on wedding cakes. But exactly what sort of cake and how many tiers?

Dorothy Opat, Elsternwick

What is it about cakes, James Paterson? John Hewson lost that argument and so will you.

Molly Hanrahan, Maldon

Paterson is backing an alternative same-sex marriage bill. Is he the same Paterson who tried to flog Blue Poles to fix the budget?

Mel Green, Glen Waverley

The anti-marriage equality lobby is squabbling over whether bakers can serve cupcakes to same-sex couples.

Adrian Cope, Gisborne

Politics

What are the odds of a lower house election next March? 90per cent? By April? 100per cent?

Dennis Richards, Cockatoo

Who am I? I live on my knees and am in search of a spine. My initials are empty. Answer: the gutless wonder from Point Piper.

Kevin Carlin, Albert Park

"Leading" One Nation: akin to herding cats.

Jacki Burgess, Port Melbourne

Malcolm must be so happy Donald is smiling at him. No one else is.

Cynthia Humphreys, Toorak

Trump objects to being called old but doesn't react to being called a lunatic.

Lynne Knight, Point Lonsdale

Soon there won't be enough eligible MPs to form a quorum.

Francis Bainbridge, Fitzroy North

One hopes Turnbull had a wash basin and towel handy after shaking Duterte's bloodstained hand.

John Quinn, Avoca

Furthermore

"Ferry McFerryface" for Sydney's new ferry? What a joke. Couldn't it be named Bryan?

Bruce Watson, Belgrave

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