On Aug. 8, a group of 43 former top Australian officials -- department heads in foreign affairs and defense, military chiefs, ambassadors -- published an open letter calling for "truth in government." This was without precedent in Australia, although it follows earlier British and American examples. It reflects the lifelong commitment to the security and welfare of Australia by some of the nation's most distinguished public servants and their anguish at some recent trends.
In responding to the criticism, the government needs to be careful. Elections in Spain and Britain have already documented widespread and intense anger by people who perceive that they have been misled by their own government.
It is much better to make a counter-case that either justifies a given decision or explains it, in hindsight, as an error but one made in good faith. Denigrating the age or imputing bad faith to the critics -- as has been done by back-bench lawmakers of the governing party -- almost certainly will prove counterproductive.