Waiting for UN censure

Eveline Goy writes: Re. “Brandis’ changing tune on national security reforms” (yesterday). It’s not just Brandis who cannot be trusted. It is this whole government, and the infection is now spreading to our Defence Forces, who are seen to collaborate in this assault against human rights of the oppressed Tamils.

In a democracy where accountability and transparency have disappeared, there is no room left for trust. Parliament as a whole is also tainted for complacently going along the charade, because the ALP started the draconian regime that criminalised asylum seekers. But of course the present government has taken the whole asylum seekers saga into much deeper waters.

Australians can wait with some trepidation for the time when the UN formally brings down sanctions against us for our contempt for international human rights laws and dismisses us from the respectable company we have kept until now. We will be left with the worst regimes, like Syria and Sri Lanka, that trample over the lives of legally, normally outraged citizens because their actions do not fit with their political goals and slogans.

I do expect a vote of no confidence against the Abbott government at some time, and maybe the new Senate can be of help in this direction. Bring it on!

The Oz helps its mate

Jim McAlpine writes: Re. “Books by politicians: how to avoid the bargain bin” (yesterday). I believe that the large sales of Howard’s book were boosted by The Australian buying copies for all its subscribers. Numbers would now be smaller.

Hating on Pamploma is bull

Peter Grigg writes: Re. “Enough with the running of the bulls” (yesterday). Lighten up, Geoffrey Heard. You may think the running of the bulls at Pamplona is stupid, but it is part of an age-old festival that provides a bit of fun to some. If we leave things up to curmudgeonly souls like you, insurance companies and bureaucracies such us ours, there will be no fun at all.