Don’t take Americans for granted

GREG Barns seems to have forgotten how all this started.

China’s illegal takeover and weaponisation of the South China Sea made enemies of Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia.

Blood has been spilt. Thirty per cent of world trade passes through this waterway, and our friends and allies, the United States, Britain and Japan, are concerned enough, and brave enough, to challenge Chinese hegemony in the area on an ongoing basis.

And then, Australia, rather than kowtowing to the mighty – as was expected of such a pipsqueak nation – had the audacity to suggest (very reasonably) that an inquiry into the source of Covid might be a good idea, it having already killed hundreds of thousands of people. Australia is now beneath China’s contempt and being severely punished for its temerity.

The Australian reported: “China weaponises the law”: our Rule of Law concerning navigation, sanctions, patents, intellectual property and many other aspects of international law, are under attack and to be superseded by Chinese courts and Chinese laws.

In October, 2011, the Global Times, the CPP’s mouthpiece, editorialised the disputes over the South China Sea under the banner, “Don’t take peaceful approach for granted”. Referencing incidents involving the Philippines and South Korea, it stated: “If these countries don’t want to change their ways with China, they will need to prepare for the sounds of cannons.”

Mr Barns enjoys slinging words around, including characterising the United States as our “Bullying masters”.

Australia has lived and prospered under the Pax Americana for several decades now, and it hasn’t been all that bad.

A Pax Sinica will take Mr Barns’ heart and eat it.

Tony Hagar Sandy Bay

PM MISSES THE MARK

TWENTY years ago with an election looming, PM John Howard aided by Immigration Minister Ruddock, decided to crank up the “Fear Factor” for we, the people, with the infamous “Children Overboard” scandal and then attempting to justify why we needed to invade Iraq.

Today, Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Peter Dutton appear keen to repeat the exercise.

Mr Morrison, desperate to display the qualities of leadership that have thus far been absent during his term as PM, has again, sadly missed the mark.

Billions of dollars for submarines, increasing US presence in Australia, failing international diplomacy, while we again cling to the shirt tails of the US despite what past history has reflected.

Credit must be given to Mr Morrison however, as the AUKUS announcement has become a major distraction for this underperforming government.

The Coalition under Scott Morrison’s leadership has demonstrated repeated failures of good governance, lurching from one issue to another.

While the PM no doubt sees the AUKUS pact as defending democracy, one might question whether he is making Australia less, not more, secure.

But how disappointing that our Prime Minister does not display the same exuberance for tackling the real enemy of Australia, that being climate change.

Stephen Bailey

Dodges Ferry

POLLIES’ ABSENCE NOTED

WHERE were the politicians at the Cygnet meeting?

The rousing and revelatory Town Hall meeting in Cygnet on Saturday was boycotted by all invited state ministers, state parliament representatives and even local councillors, despite personal invitations being sent to all.

The only exceptions were Greens representatives, of course!

Tasmanians care very deeply about honesty and our beautiful heritage. It seems those missing may not care about either of these. Shame on them.

The 400 or more in the audience know you were missing and will remember come election time.

Alan Kemp Petcheys Bay

MORRISON OUT OF DEPTH

SCOTT Morrison seems intent on reminding us at every opportunity that he is Prime Minister – or is he really just whistling in the dark hoping he sounds convincing.

Certainly he holds the position but as for fulfilling the role of leader his efforts are too very often non-existent or in the wrong direction.

A real Prime Minister takes responsibility and maintains it among his Cabinet – another fail, he doesn’t insult friendly countries, he doesn’t shuffle off problems and then take credit when someone else solves them.

I dream of the day when we have a leader who does not have to boast he is the Prime Minister because we know.

Jim Heys South Hobart

CONSULTATION CONCERNS

AS a resident of Dynnyrne Rd, where properties are under threat of compulsory acquisition, I was alarmed to see TV ads promoting the Southern Outlet proposal as a project that State Growth is already committed to.

I have a signed letter from Minister Michael Ferguson assuring me not to be anxious as “no final decision will be made until consultation has been completed and all feedback considered”.

The consultation is currently in progress, will any feedback really be considered?

How about trialling the park and ride and the clearways before demolishing homes and spending millions on widening the Southern Outlet?

Ruth Hanlon Dynnyrne