Dutton's decision to overrule Campbell sets a poor precedent

The award would not have been given if the CDF at the time had known of the events revealed in the Brereton Report. Letting the citation stand means in future units could commit war crimes and still receive a citation as long as they cover up any crimes until the award is granted.

This is not the open and accountable ADF that the nation wants.

Most people welcome the stripping of medals and records from athletic or swimming relay teams where only one member has taken illegal drugs. It is tough on the team members who have performed honourably but there is really no choice.

Overriding the judgment of the CDF is also a disturbing precedent. Campbell was no doubt aware that his decision would not be popular in many quarters but he took it nonetheless. The decision indicated his determination to implement Brereton's recommendations rapidly and rigorously.

Dutton's application of the "pub test" has shown popularity and political pressure can influence getting justice done over Afghanistan. This will be a long, complex and painful challenge and involve several ministers; not only the Minister for Defence but also, for example, the Attorney-General in approving prosecutions for war crimes and the Foreign Minister in dealing with the government and citizens of Afghanistan.

Future chiefs of the Defence Force and those involved in war crimes investigations and prosecutions must now be prepared for political interventions at every point.

The approach of Anzac Day prompts reflection and remembrance of those who served, who were wounded and who died in defence of Australia, our values and our freedom.

While our traditional response "Lest we forget" to the reading of the Ode of Remembrance remains appropriate, I wonder if we can't do better than that to properly acknowledge the debt we so clearly owe to those who served.

Perhaps, in addition to our pledge never to forget their service to the nation, we might also reflect, if not say, "May we be worthy of their sacrifice".

For once I find myself agreeing with what Peter Dutton has to say ("Dutton moves to stake out his turf as Defence Minister", canberratimes.com.au, April 20).

The meritorious unit citation is awarded to a unit for sustained outstanding service in warlike operations. It would be grossly unfair to deprive recipients, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice, of their citations because of the alleged misdeeds of a few within the Special Operations Task Group.

I believe General Angus Campbell overreacted and erred in this instance by advocating the unit should be stripped of the citation. It was highly disrespectful to many soldiers and their families.

The long overdue withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan will bring many benefits.

Not least of these will be the denial of photo opportunities to pontificating politicians who would otherwise outfit themselves in helmets and body armour, drape themselves in the Australian flag, and smile broadly for the camera.

The Prime Minister, at the beginning of his speeches, continues to bracket together acknowledging traditional Indigenous owners and military veterans. This is disrespectful to the Indigenous people who deserve unique recognition and acknowledgement.

I have noted that there have been comments to this effect from Aboriginal people, but the Prime Minister seems to be deaf to their response.

Like Anne Prendergast (Letters, April 19) I'm also a member of the Canberra Liberals, however our views on voluntary assisted dying for the terminally ill do not align.

I applaud Elizabeth Lee's decision to call on the federal government to revoke the Andrews Bill so the ACT and Northern Territory can have the same right to examine the issue as the states.

In 1954 the Liberal Party's founder Sir Robert Menzies laid out a set of values for the party that included the individual's right to make their own choices and take responsibility for them. That remains one of the fundamental pillars of the party's stated values through to today.

Anne's fear that within 10 years a couple of atheist doctors or politicians could convert voluntary assisted dying into compulsory euthanasia is fanciful unless she's forecasting the complete collapse of our democracy and the rise of an oppressive totalitarian regime.

Her letter also expresses the view that only God has the right to choose when people die. Nowhere in Menzies' belief statement, or in more recently updated versions, does the Liberal Party stand for imposing a particular religious view upon the country, but rather holds freedom of worship to be of great value.

If voluntary assisted dying eventually becomes law in the ACT I will support her right not to make that choice, but I'm opposed to her desire to prevent other people from choosing differently.

Steve Pratt (Letters, April 20) does his cause no good with his use of the word "woke" in an abusive manner just like it is used by our Deputy PM Michael McCormack.

His final sentence is quite simply ridiculous. Without investigative journalism, not least by the ABC, we would never have become aware of the crimes that were very likely committed by some Australian special forces personnel in Afghanistan of which many of us are rightly ashamed.

As a veteran myself I suggest the Defence and veteran communities are awaiting the outcome of more specific and detailed investigations into the behaviour of those covered in the Brereton Report with interest.

I was shocked the new Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews, said releasing the Biloela family from detention would be problematic due to the message it would send to people smugglers.

How could anyone decide to use a people smuggler to bring them to Australia on the basis of one family being released from three years of inhumane treatment?

The harm done to children in detention is well documented; Australia should be ashamed of its treatment of this family.

The claim that detention of asylum seekers is saving lives at sea is a spurious argument.

Many more people have almost certainly died than have been "saved". They may have died in any of the following ways: drowning in a boat turned back from Australian waters; trying to get to a different country (eg across the Mediterranean or in a truck); or being killed in their country of origin, having been unable to leave.

And don't forget the refugees who have died from preventable causes in Australian detention facilities.

As Professor William Maley wrote in 2013: "The real message of the ... Australian approach is a simple one: 'Go and die somewhere else'."

I had hoped that as a minister new to this portfolio Ms Andrews would have a more humane approach to refugees and would look closely at the current policy to determine whether it is in fact "saving lives".

The Biloela family and all Medevac Refugees should be released from detention.

The ACT government's decision to stop all vehicles from the new developments on Northbourne Ave between Macarthur Ave/Wakefield and Anthill St (Dickson and Lyneham) from entering or exiting Northbourne will result in thousands of people driving through residential back streets such as Dooring and De Burgh.

The impact is enormous. The Pavilion Hotel site application failed because the traffic impact on the Wakefield and Dooring intersection was over capacity.

The current development application in Lyneham has over 800 units, plus more to come adding to the multiple new units all mainly pushing onto the Wattle St and Macarthur Ave intersection, and onto the already chocked Macarthur and Northbourne intersection.

The planning authority has for now ruled all residential car parking on De Burgh St be banned to assist the impact. The existing Northbourne Ave entries and exits have operated very well with minimum impact, including on bikes and pedestrians.

I wish I had a job where I got a generous bonus or an expensive gift for doing what I was paid to do.

When you have people who are suffering and wish to put an end to it could Anne Prendergast (Letters, April 19) please advise how they may contact her God to get his permission to put an end to the suffering?

With little more than glib "word salad" one liners masquerading as policy, is this PM our worst since Federation?

Keith Hill (Letters, April 21), the American people didn't choose to go to war in Afghanistan. I believe the arms manufacturers, who profited from the war, persuaded the US government to go.

I think we need a royal commission into the effectiveness of royal commissions.

The birth (and rapid demise) of the European Super League was so ill conceived and poorly executed it makes you wonder if the Morrison government was involved.

I have just woken from a (mercifully) short nightmare in which Scott Morrison raved about a fire hose hub, a vaccination hub, a hydrogen hub and a hot air hub.

What concerns me Athol Morris (Letters, April 17) is not the Iran nuclear deal. It is the hundreds of nuclear weapons targeted at Tehran. This is Israel's avowed "Samson Option" policy of nuclear destruction.

Working from home dress standards eh? I always wondered why it was called the Department of Home Affairs.

Over many years the Queen's workwear wardrobe included numerous sleeveless gowns and day dresses. Just as well she never had to work for Home Affairs ("Home Affairs loses battle on casual dress", canberratimes.com.au, April 22).

I read The Canberra Times daily. I love sports of all kinds. This is what I have seen the past five days, which represents the usual pattern of reporting. Photos of male faces in sport: 131. Photos of female faces in sport: 10. What should I think? You tell me.

Alex Wallensky (Letters, April 22) bets Albo and Labor would have done no better than the Morrison government in dealing with Australia's problems. To paraphrase a former Labor leader: a drover's dog would have done better than the current LNP mob.

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