OH FOR A LEADER

THE modest article “$1.7m to fund Hawke’s Antarctic fellowship” (Mercury, October 4), announcing the Bob Hawke scholarship into Antarctic research, brought with it intense nostalgia for a time when our government was a world leader in caring for the planet. When told mining in Antarctica was a done deal, Hawke’s response was “bugger that”. Our PM, from a nation we are assured today is a bit player on the world stage, made sure the icy continent was not pillaged for short-term gain.

Contrast that with the present incumbent, cowering in Canberra, too afraid to attend the world climate summit .

Gillian Unicomb Sandford