The Folly Of Defending The Indefensible
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday April 13, 2006
Suppose you manage an important team at work. If one day you were called into the boss's office because your team was accused of illegal business practices, and you were accused of failing to prevent it and being in dereliction of duty, and you were asked about the truth of the accusation, and you believed you and your team were innocent of the charge, would you answer: "No, sir, that did not happen" or would you say, "I can't recall"?
G. Wayne Meaney Kirribilli Last year Brendan Nelson, the then federal minister for education, issued all schools with wall posters listing nine values which he insisted must underpin the education of all young Australians. They included ethical behaviour, honesty, respect, integrity and responsibility. Obviously the values do not apply to federal ministers and the AWB. The Prime Minister can accuse public schools of being "value free" while his Government pays scant attention to the values listed on its own poster. The hypocrisy is both breathtaking and appalling. Judy King Eastwood Dilettante, deceiver or just plain dill? Alexander Downer's evidence is an example of how arrogant and dismissive the Howard Government has been in response to many concerns about probity and transparency. This episode is a repeat of the "children overboard" fraud.That many voters in the Australian electorate could not care less is a telling comment on immaturity and self-centredness. Michael Wright Northbridge Every democratic country deserves the leaders that it elects. Eric Gibson Armidale Deep Throat, where are you? Cynthia Harris South Yarra (Vic) Mark Vaile and Downer both say they can't be expected to remember every conversation or piece of correspondence that crosses their desks. How about if it relates to millions of dollars of bribes paid to a regime which we were about to go to war against? Or is this too mundane? Philip Niddrie Kotara Honestly, why bother? We know, sadly, the "Fiddlers Three" will lie to the soundtrack of a chorus of ineffective handwringing from a few earnest columnists and the articulate Kevin Rudd. Then they'll slip back into their Commonwealth cars, run the gamut of media microphones and the caravan will move on. Greg Hunt Leura Bastards, they're all bastards. But we keep voting for them. What does that say about Australia? Peter Roberts Greenacre I suppose it would be sedition to say treason. I hope voters have a better memory. Bastards! Rob Byrne Glenbrook I notice a surprising absence of correspondents defending the government ministers. Could there actually be no defence for their memory loss and inaction? Ray Farley Leura Picture the scene: I am speaking to parents at a parent-teacher evening. How is Susie going? I don't recall. Does Robert do his homework? I can't remember. Does Caroline find the lessons interesting? I do not know, I have been busy with the school musical. How long would it be before the principal suggested I seek alternative employment? Ken Webb Epping Alexander Downer "can't recall" how many times? And he has the gall to defend the professionalism of his department. He failed at his job, through negligence at the very least. Alexander Downer and our "esteemed" Prime Minister must resign. They are a disgrace to Australia. At best they are forgetful and incompetent; at worst they are blatant liars and schemers. Watergate began because of lies, didn't it? Resign, Alexander, resign. Australia has no faith in your smooth double-talk. Ugh! H. Thomas Elizabeth Bay I think John Grundy (Letters, April 12) hit the nail on the head: nobody actually cares about the Cole inquiry. After all, it's only investigating the culpability of a government in facilitating the illegal transfer of money to a foreign power which could then have used the money to buy weapons to use on our own troops. It's not like they're talking about something really important, like a cut to the top tax rate or how Gilchrist is back to form.Paul Gittings Russell Lea Mick Jagger, whose memory can churn out the Stones' back catalogue from 40 years ago, might be a useful example to witnesses at the AWB inquiry.David Atkinson Beecroft
© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald