Letters
Letters to
the editor
Painful truth
The claim that the “original purpose” of the freedom of information system is “exposing corruption or maladministration” (Jason Koutsoukis,“Inside Albanese’s FOI reforms: ‘He hates transparency’ ”, October 11-17) is a self-serving untruth that should not go unchallenged. The principle of freedom of information is that, in a democratic society, all information held by the government is public property, and that the government has the burden of proving that any given piece of information ought not to be public. Of course governments do not like this. They are not meant to.
– Keith Bolland, O’Connor, ACT
National disgrace
Mike Seccombe (“Project runaway”, October 11-17) highlights the government’s reckless approvals of coal and gas projects without mentioning subsidies or donations between the players. And why accord these projects the dignity of calling them “stranded assets” when they go belly up with no kitty to clean them up? Call them for what they become – “stranded liabilities”. The 80,000 unremediated mines across the country are nothing short of a national disgrace sanctioned by successive governments.
– Jon Percival, Taringa, Qld
Green vehicle
Wayne Swan is justifiably proud of Australia’s superannuation system (“Our savings, our democracy”, October 11-17). As a retiree, I challenge Wayne and other high-level actors in the industry to provide a more proactive investment vehicle to move Australia to the forefront of the fight against climate change. Like many retirees, I have a big chunk of my retirement funds in super. But I am very frustrated that I have little ability to ensure the funds are directed to green companies and away from fossil fuel-related companies. Many funds proved some kind of “ethical” investment stream, but often this still includes fossil fuel-related investment. I think an investment stream oriented to fighting climate change can tap into this and go a long way towards moving Australia to the forefront of manufacturing a green future while also meeting our climate targets.
– Peter Walsh, Slacks Creek, Qld
Shameful treatment
It is enraging to read of the continuing suffering and brutalisation of those who seek asylum on our shores (Sarah Price, “It destroys them”, October 11-17). When Savana (not her real name) speaks of her suffering and of her “shame”, we as a nation need to be full of shame that she and her family remain without support, whether that support lies in education for her children, health for them as a family or in settlement for them all. The Asylum Seekers Centre strives to continue its good work, but its scope can only be limited by the lack of funding. We will remain diminished as a nation until we develop our compassionate heart in response to the suffering of others. Have we lost the imagination to wonder that this could be us?
– Christine Kerr, Marrickville, NSW
Technological creep
Stan Grant discusses some of the dangers and disadvantages of AI (“The brain in a box”, October 11-17). My concern is that the digital technology that has been foisted on us over the past 20-odd years has arrived without any debate by citizens or governments about the potential that these innovations might be detrimental to individuals and societies. The market has priority over democracy. In a free market anything goes and we have to live with it whether we like it or not.
– Colin MacKenzie, Trevallyn, Tas
Licorice allsports
I just love, first the anticipation, then the actual reading of Martin McKenzie-Murray’s sports articles in The Saturday Paper. It’s the licorice allsorts nature of the sports topics he covers that, for me, keeps the anticipation high. None of dross that inhabits current sports journalism. And Martin has me scurrying off to research the books and authors that he refers to in his articles. Sportswriting at its best.
– Chris Stevens, North Perth, WA
Letters are welcome: [email protected]
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Letters may be edited for length and content, and may be published in print and online. Letters should not exceed 150 words.
This article was first published in the print edition of The Saturday Paper on October 18, 2025.
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