On the marriage equality postal survey high court challenge

Cara Macnish writes: Re. “Razer: we need sound arguments, not ‘respectful debate’ (whatever the shit that is)” (Thursday)

While footage of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, grinning with satisfaction at the High Court result during Question Time, was repeated on the late news, the LifeLine crisis line was jammed. After ten minutes on hold, the recorded message assured callers waiting in the queue that there was someone at the other end, and they did care.

That is fortunate, because for those targeted by the so-called debate, the mechanisms of government and law have now demonstrated beyond doubt, that they don’t. 

The damage of asking all Australians to take sides for or against their LGBTI neighbours, in an unprecedented ‘vote’ that is not considered appropriate for any other group, far outweighs the outcome. ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, Australia has already lost.

Les Heimann writes: Re. “On what legal basis did the High Court approve a statistically meaningless opinion poll?” (Thursday)

So the vote was 7 to nothing. Reasons why? Don’t know yet. The High court has rejected the argument put to it that the use of the Finance Ministers slush fund for an ABS poll on same sex marriage was not constitutional? Did they? If they did they have set a precedent whereby a government can provide a Minister, not $200 million for necessary and unforeseen circumstances,  but $2 billion for just about anything without going to parliament.

That is the situation now facing us because purely on the facts there was absolutely nothing urgent, unforeseen or necessary in a non- binding ABS poll. However, to be fair, I hope the High Court’s reasons would be that the applicants had no standing before the Court. Don’t see how they could reason that if they actually heard the case.

Just think about a budget brought before parliament with a massive slush fund, one big enough to allow the government of the day to do anything really. What would happen – the Opposition would not allow supply – and that would only work if the government didn’t have the numbers. What a merry mess.  

Cara Macnish writes: Re. “Razer: we need sound arguments, not ‘respectful debate’ (whatever the shit that is)” (Thursday)

While footage of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, grinning with satisfaction at the High Court result during Question Time, was repeated on the late news, the LifeLine crisis line was jammed. After ten minutes on hold, the recorded message assured callers waiting in the queue that there was someone at the other end, and they did care.

That is fortunate, because for those targeted by the so-called debate, the mechanisms of government and law have now demonstrated beyond doubt, that they don’t. 

The damage of asking all Australians to take sides for or against their LGBTI neighbours, in an unprecedented ‘vote’ that is not considered appropriate for any other group, far outweighs the outcome. ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, Australia has already lost.

On Dick Smith

Harry Wallace writes: Re. “Dick Smith is an exemplary candidate for Arsehat of the Year“

David Salter in today’s article has either ignored facts or mis-construed them. I founded the AusBuy campaign which Dick Smith later got involved with. This campaign never asked Australians to not buy goods or services which were not made or provided from Australian owned companies. My manufacturing business, as with 99% of others, would have closed down overnight without some foreign inputs. What I, and Dick, asked is that where there is a choice, the Australian owned company should be given preference. Dick’s initial concern was cigarette companies promoting their products to young people and then via AusBuy discovering that Vegemite was owned by Philip Morris, so buying this icon supported cigarettes.

Yes, Dick sold imported electronic goods because there were no Australian manufacturers – just as today anyone who sells cars sells imported product.

I take issue with David Salter’s statements about Sanitarium being USA owned. This is equivalent to saying that Queen Elizabeth owns the Anglican Church of Australia! The Sanitarium business years ago was unsuccessfully challenged by Kellogg’s, the USA owned competitor, in the courts trying to get its status as a charity removed. Thousands of people in Sydney’s northern suburbs, including me, are most grateful for the quality, ethos and ambience of “The San” hospital in Wahroonga (the largest non-government hospital in NSW) and although some people obviously don’t like businesses which devote their profits to charitable work within their community, I much admire it.

I was a major supplier to the Australian printing industry when Dick started the Australian Geographic magazine. He wanted quality, initially going overseas for it but then having it done locally when the standard here rose to be equivalent – most patriotic and helpful to our industry.

If David Salter has a problem with Dick and another million Australians flying for fun or holidays because of the impact on the environment then he is on a different wavelength to me.

And Dick has been generous to many people and causes without fanfare!