Government must back Assange

KYLIE Moore-Gilbert said in her recent interview on ABC Life Matters that she was shocked to find the Australian government was generally unwilling to intervene when its citizens were being tortured or arbitrarily detained abroad.

She also said the idea that Julian Assange committed “espionage” was ridiculous.

The Australian government can and should intervene in the political persecution and psychological torture of Julian Assange, it is only the will to do so they lack.

Like with David Hicks, Peter Greste and Kylie Moore-Gilbert, it falls on us, the Australian people, to insist they do the right thing. Carrie-ann Smith

Kingston Beach

POLITICS V SPORT

AFL ultimatum – no stadium, no Tasmanian AFL side.

Tasmania’s retort – no Tasmanian side, no North Melbourne or Hawthorn Football Club junket.

Jeff Kennett, Hawthorn club’s president, is of the opinion that the Tasmanian government should double the amount of Tasmanian people’s money towards an emerging state team – thanks Mr Kennett for your loyal support?

Presently, there seem to be two games at play – one political and one of a sporting nature? Kenneth Gregson

Swansea

INQUIRY OVERDUE

THE grants given to associates of Liberal Party MPs once again calls into question the secrecy surrounding such largesse.

The secret EOI process especially – where applications are virtually approved before the public has any inkling of them, many of which involve exploitation of precious wilderness areas for the profit of private developers.

An inquiry into what has been going on is long overdue – but by an independent body, preferably from the mainland.

Yvonne Stark Battery Point

LESSON LEARNED

THE joy of the return of the family to Biloela is a reminder of the delight in Launceston when in 2002 we brought Afghan Hazara family home from their reassignment to detention in Woomera.

Some of us in community learnt deeply about reciprocated love, from proud and humble people from a distant culture.

Others did not, leaving another 20 tough-handed years for another such home coming.

Helen Tate Launceston

AGAINST UNI MOVE

THE divisive proposal by UTAS to totally relocate its Sandy Bay campus capacities to the Hobart CBD is being strongly opposed by many

past and present UTAS academic staff, students, alumni, Hobart CBD businesses, HC councillors, politicians, and community groups; to mention but a few.

The move is seen by so many as totally unnecessary, purely an opportunistic “money grab” and the destruction of an amazing learning and cultural site.

Logistical issues concerning traffic etc are being ignored, staff are not being listened to and community responses not considered.

UTAS’s recent article that it is increasing opportunities for the community to engage with it is purely to hear about the move

occurring. It is not about listening to and responding to the community’s demand to stop the move.

Even while UTAS claims it is open to community engagement it is not stopping the “frantic” push into the city, this shows a complete lack of faith and no goodwill.

Due to the large community “push back”, the university obviously does not have the social licence to do this.

To many, the problem is about administrators totally running a tertiary institution.

Universities used to be, and should still be, more than a dollar earner.

They should primarily be about offering the best learning, research, teaching and student engagement opportunities to all students.

This is a social justice issue. To regain this in Tasmania several things need to occur.

Firstly, academic staff need to retake control of the university; administrators should only be there to enable funding and compliance arrangements for the learning, research, teaching and student engagement opportunities determined by the academics.

Secondly, to facilitate this the chancellor needs to implement the necessary adjustments.

Thirdly, as a key player, the Premier needs to ensure that the community, who has elected his government and who he serves, has their demand to leave the Sandy Bay campus intact, with its 2021 teaching capacities in place, respected.

It is time to retake the university for the Tasmanian community and to allow it to undertake the real functions of a university.

Dallas Williams

West Hobart

THEY DESERVE TO STAY

JUST try extracting the Biloela family out of Biloela now (“We’re going to need a bigger dentist” is the phrase that comes to mind).

Thank goodness the current government is working towards their permanent residence here.

They’ve been through enough and deserve to live in a community that wants and loves them very much.

Michael McCall Primrose Sands