Letters | TikTok law contradicts Blinken’s call for level playing field
- Readers discuss the US law targeting the social media platform, and the bipartisan silence in Australia on defence policy
What sort of level playing field is that? The double standards are glaring and rather tiring.
Francis Lo, North Point
Australia needs vigorous debate on defence policy
There are multiple meanings and functions of political silence but it is not uncommon to think of authoritarianism as ruling by silencing. Silencing policies are yet another element of control. Furthermore, silence can appear as an instrument of power or oppression.
In Australia, defence policy has been characterised by a bipartisan conspiracy of silence in which proper debate is minimised and thus Australia’s security is inevitably compromised. Breaking open and confronting silences not only needs courage, it also requires a willing audience. This is essential since it is in the national interest.
Dennis Rumley, emeritus professor, Curtin University, Australia