The Government is consulting on the flag, the defence white paper, and climate change. The flag issue seems to be an attempt to distract us from something. The public has sent a clear message on the importance of this topic by ignoring public meetings.

On the defence white paper, there has been a whole raft of well-advertised consultation events, each hosted by a local MP.

On climate change, there was little advertising of public meetings, a poorly written discussion document, and government MPs were nowhere to be seen. There was no meeting in Tauranga, home of the associate Minister of Climate Change.

Thank goodness for social media. Despite almost no notice of meetings, the public turned out in huge numbers. A clear message was sent that climate change is a critical issue. Demands for strong leadership by government were forcefully put. Apparently a new flag and defence policy review are far more important issues than the greatest environmental challenge of our time.

In reality, climate change is the greatest threat to our security in the 21st century. It is not mentioned in the defence white paper.

Ian G McLean, Tauranga City.