"There was no lie," claims John Howard in respect of his assertions in 2003 about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. "There were errors in intelligence but there was no lie."
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Mr Howard seems to have forgotten that in a prepared ministerial statement to the House of Representatives on February 4, 2003, he flatly stated that "the Australian government knows that Iraq still has chemical and biological weapons". The key word here is "knows" – not "thinks", not "believes", not even "has reason to believe", but "knows".
Given that ordinary Australians had no access to the material underpinning this claim, they had every reason to expect that such an emphatic and unqualified statement would be made on the basis only of direct and irrefutable evidence. Since there were no chemical and biological weapons in Iraq, this was plainly not the case, and we now know, from a parliamentary committee report of December 2003, that the advice of the Office of National Assessments was cast in terms of likelihood, not certainty or knowledge.
Politicians who speak as Mr Howard did in February 2003 have only themselves to blame if they come to be seen as liars.
(Dr) William Maley, Reid
Crean anti-war
On ABC radio on Thursday, Julie Bishop told a lie more outrageous than any uttered in the 2016 election campaign (including "Mediscare"). Asked whether John Howard should apologise for the Iraq War, Ms Bishop argued that, "Well, that's a matter for John Howard. But the Australian government, both Labor and Liberal, the Australian government – the Australian Parliament would take responsibility. I recall very well at the time Kevin Rudd urging us to continue to support the United States. So it was a bipartisan position."
Simon Crean, not Kevin Rudd, was the Opposition Leader in 2003 when Iraq was invaded. He consistently spoke out against the invasion of Iraq without a resolution of the United Nations. Crean's speeches to the House of Representatives (February 5, 2003) and the National Press Club (March 20, 2003) make it clear the ALP's position was that "we should not be in" the Iraq War and that he considered that the Howard government was "acting illegally".
It is outrageous for Bishop to suggest that the decision for Australia to join in the Iraq War was bipartisan.
The ALP, led by Crean, steadfastly opposed the war. His position led to him being accused (wrongly) of being disloyal to our troops. The Chilcot report released this week vindicates the position of Crean and shows up the folly of the Howard government, of which Bishop was a member.
Mike Reddy, Curtin
In the light of the Chilcot inquiry in Britain, will John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull ever admit flawed judgments or outright lies in relation to Australia's contribution to the invasion of Iraq and the death and destruction since and the rise of IS and the developing anti-Muslim sentiment and dislocation of Australia's multicultral tolerance?
I don't think so – and as we see in the voter support for LNP governments, the electorate does not care or is ignorant of the greatest disaster in Australia's foreign policy.
Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor
Will there be a Chilcot style inquiry in Australia to expose the lies of our own leaders in 2003?
John Passant, Kambah
The arrogant responses of John Howard and Tony Blair to the Chilcot enquiry report indicate that they still don't understand the enormity of their culpability in supporting George Bush in his disastrous adventure in Iraq. "There was no lie. There were errors in intelligence, but there was no lie." says Howard.
Wrong. The evidence was accurate and clear (see 'David Kelly, weapons expert'. Wikipedia), and when Kelly's evidence was broadcast by the BBC, the politicians ignored the message but instead hounded the whistleblower. Within days he died. It was claimed that he had committed suicide; disputed by many (see Wikipedia), including those of us who knew him as a colleague. The message for Howard, Blair and all politicians (including Malcolm Turnbull of Godwin Grech fame) is, seek evidence at its source, beware mandarins bringing gifts.
Adrian Gibbs, Yarralumla
Cruelty to roos
The speed with which the ACT government has moved to ban greyhound racing, in part because of the cruelty involved, is fascinating. Does it occur to them that their kangaroo cull isn't exactly humane? If even one or two per cent of the 2500 roos culled yearly are not killed instantly, and have to be put out of their misery the next morning, why they are complaining about cruelty to greyhounds?
Shane Rattenbury, that hero of the green movement, cares more about greyhounds than he does about kangaroos.
Stan Marks, Hawker
Wise Sophocles
It occurs to me that some of the political commentators passing judgment on Malcolm Turnbull's performance in the recent federal election have been channelling the 5th century Greek tragedian Sophocles, in his play Antigone.
"You cannot learn of any man the soul, the mind, and the intent until he shows his practice of the government and law. For I believe that who controls the state and does not hold to the best plans of all, but locks his tongue up through some kind of fear, that he is worst of all who are or were." (ll.175-181)
Lew Rushbrook, Weston
Recalling Menzies
Those leading the feeding frenzy on Malcolm Turnbull are too young to recall a very similar election event in 1961.
Prime Minister Bob Menzies suffered a swing against him following a credit squeeze. The election was decided when Jim Killen narrowly held the seat of Moreton with the benefit of Communist Party preferences.
After describing Killen as "magnificent", the old deceiver went on to govern comfortably with a majority of one for the next two years.
Chris Smith, Kingston
Private costs
I congratulate you for your editorial "Medicare must not be a sacred cow" (Times2, July 7, p2). I also refer to Ian De Landelles' opinion (Letters, July 7) that we should have an efficient universal health care system.
I agree with Ian. But to make it efficient we need to have an efficient child care system which should include dental care as well. Investment in children will be an investment for future years.
I would not go as far as Ian in advocating a hike in the Medicare levy. But I would urge the government to look at the fees private practitioners charge, some of which are exorbitant.
I know people who, after consulting private practitioners for knee surgery and being shocked by the all-up cost, opted to wait in the queue for a public hospital bed.
A reasonable private practitioner fee structure will ease the loads on public hospitals and help keep Medicare alive.
Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt
'Our Canberra' con
Andrew Barr's comment that it "was not right' that the Liberals be given a "free ride" by using the federal campaign to attack the ACT Labor government ("Another anti-Labor ad set to cost Canberra Liberals", July 7, p3) is itself a bit rich since he uses ACT taxpayers to pay for the various "Our Canberra" publications that are distributed to households across Canberra several times a year.
Any dispassionate reader would recognise "Our Canberra" for what it is – barely concealed advertising designed to have the ALP re-elected. Why isn't 'Our Canberra' covered by the cap on spending on parties spending?
I suspect because the government/ALP is making use of the exemption for electoral expenditure paid for by "the Territory" (see the definitions in section 14 of the ACT Electoral Act).
However that does not make "Our Canberra" an appropriate use of taxpayers' money.
B. Paine, president, VoteCanberra, Red Hill
More ACT seats
Bob Bennett (Letters, July 7) thinks that the ACT should be entitled to more House of Representatives seats than the Northern Territory because we have more than twice the number of voters. Basing our entitlement on voter numbers, rather than population, could be achieved without constitutional amendment, but it would be a departure from the system applying to the states.
Under section 24 of the Constitution, the number of seats to which a State (other than Tasmania) is entitled is dependant on the state's population, not its number of voters (Tasmania's over-representation is guaranteed by the Constitution).
Under the Electoral Act, the entitlements of the ACT and the NT are also based on population, not voter numbers. The ACT's population entitles it to just under 2.5 seats (rounded down to 2 seats), while the NT is entitled to just over 1.5 seats (rounded up to 2 seats).
Frank Marris, Forrest
Payroll tax
In 2014-15, individuals paid 41.1 per cent of total tax collected. Tax on enterprises (mostly company and superannuation tax) stood at 16.5 per cent and GST 12.7 per cent. A little further down the list sits payroll tax at 4.8 per cent.
Payroll tax, first introduced by the Commonwealth in 1941 to fund child endowment, was handed to the states in 1971 and is now levied at a rate of 4.75 per cent to 6.85 per cent on payrolls that exceed a tax-free threshold. Unlike company tax, payroll tax is levied regardless of whether an enterprise is profitable.
As Australia transitions from mining and manufacturing, the service industries will play an increasing role in job creation. It seems bizarre that we have a system that works against job creation by taxing employment.
If government wishes to pursue tax cuts for business it may get more support if the focus was on the abolition of payroll tax. The big stumbling block will be reaching agreement with states and territories on compensation.
Gordon Calcino, Lyons
TO THE POINT
ADVICE ON ADVISOR
I noted with interest during recent election coverage that ex-Speaker Peter Slipper's former staffer James Ashby is now Pauline Hanson's chief political advisor. My advice to Ms Hanson in the weeks and months ahead: keep your diary and mobile phone under lock and key.
Ross Pulbrook, Wyong, NSW
ELECTION EXHAUSTION
At the Jamison Centre this week there were placards promoting Vicki Dunne as a candidate for the ACT election in October and a supporter handing out leaflets. Please, Ms Dunne, give us a rest from electioneering, at least until this federal election is finalised.
Helen Thomas, Bruce
CLIMATE PREDICTIONS
In 2007 Professor Tim Flannery stated that our dams would never fill again. In 2013, ACT water predicted that it would take five years for the new Cotter Dam to fill. But, of course, we can believe the warmist predictions of climate 30 and 100 years into the future.
Brian Hatch, Berrima, NSW
HERE'S A JOB FOR ZED
Zed Seselja might be in line for a ministerial portfolio ("Coalition firms as election winner: Seselja may be promoted", July 7, p1). Given his great interest in the topic, it would only be appropriate to give him ministerial responsibility for the successful implementation of the same sex marriage plebiscite.
Gary Thompson, Canberra City
HOWARD'S STAIN OF BLOOD
John Howard, the "Man of Steel", is looking rather rusty after the findings of the British report into the Iraqi War. Or is the stain actually the blood of the 400,000 dead Iraqi civilians who are in their graves as a results of Howard's decision, made without our Parliament's approval?
John Davenport, Farrer
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