On Lauren Southern
Susie O’Brien (CP, 11/7) quick to gloat that the left had further suppressed free speech by refusing Lauren Southern a visa, is wrong again, as usual. Lauren now has her visa. As a journalist Susie should be outraged by any attempt to ban anyone’s right to free speech because her job depends on it. Higgs, Tolga People who use the term “free speech” to defend the likes of Lauren Southern coming to Australia don’t realise there is no such thing as free speech and really never has been. It is not enshrined in our Constitution and defamation laws and various vilification provisions are a check and/or balance against you saying just anything. Atticus, Cairns Susie O’Brien’s outrageous column says everything about the hypocritical, continuously offended left and their onesided view of social issues. It’s all fine as long as you agree with them. If you have a different opinion like Lauren Southern, then not only are you not allowed to say it, you’re not even allowed into the country. And it’s branded hate speech for good measure. This country is heading down a very dangerous road. Wake up people! The Cane Cutter, Edmonton. So Susie O’Brien has a problem with Lauren Southern but was there a problem with Kathy Griffin coming to Australia after holding up a severed head of Donald Trump or Cat Stevens coming and singing after he called for the beheading of Salman Rushdie? Such left hypocrisy. Shane, Kanimbla