On Lee Rhiannon

Dion Giles writes: Re. “What happens if the Greens expel Lee Rhiannon?” (Tuesday)

There’s a lesson in the fate of the Democrats. In betraying their party’s members and voters to pass Howard’s regressive GST their party room pollies shot the party in the foot with a bazooka, leaving hem legless ever since.

On Channel 31

Laurie Patton, CEO of Internet Australia, writes: Re.”Killing Channel 31 is stupid and myopic, just like this government” (Tuesday) The most disappointing side to the loss of community television is that, of all people, it was SBS managing director Michael Ebeid who could have provided the lifeline. For years SBS sat on unused digital channels but refused to make them available. Where else more appropriate for community television than on the Special Broadcasting Service? Eventually, but reluctantly to begin with, SBS took over National Indigenous Television (NITV). They could have made room for CTV too.

And as Guy Rundle notes, “Governments that genuinely valued innovation, experiment and creativity would not only guarantee a place for something like Channel 31, they would extend its remit”. It’s not too late for a last minute rescue Senator Fifield, but it’s ridiculous to think CTV can survive as an online only service.