Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding
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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
We must own and control all our essential services
The energy crisis appears to be the result of allowing foreign, “cash grab” companies to buy our essential services. It would be normal business practice for senior staff at these companies to be on a bonus based on the amount of Australian dollars they can pump back to the parent company each year.
This is likely, as not enough appears to be spent on routine maintenance and replacement of worn-out or outdated equipment which results in breakdowns and machines being offline. Recently it was reported that Loy Yang was 50per cent off line.
The electricity distribution systems would appear to have a similar problem which causes breakdowns and bushfires – e.g. the recent fire at a power substation in NSW.
We must have complete ownership and control of all our essential services, including oil and gas, and apply world’s best practice management to ensure we have a reliable service and can quickly introduce the changes necessary to meet the sustainability targets.
Hugh Aldersey, Ferntree Gully
Desperately trying to be an energy ’good guy’
I installed solar panels and a battery even before the subsidies came in, so I should be regarded as one of the good guys. Four years back I even upgraded my ducted heater to a six-star gas heater, back when gas was considered favourably.
But now I am told to change it to green electric, at a time when nearly 70per cent of Victoria’s electricity is still supplied through brown coal because otherwise I will become one of the villains. Keeping on the good side is a difficult task.
Jan Newmarch, Oakleigh
Woodsmoke, bad for environment and our health
Incinerators have been banned and cigarette smoking is restricted. Now it is time to take on the scourge of woodsmoke from wood fires and fire pits, which are bad for the environment and cause health effects including mortality. Modern reverse-cycle heating units are far more environmentally friendly.
Anne Kennedy, Surrey Hills
Follow other countries and levy taxes on resources
Re “Billionaire-backed Sun Cable’s clean energy project gets another tick” (The Age, 24/6). Australians must not be short-changed again when imposing taxation on renewable energy. Both major parties have a poor record of extracting appropriate taxation for resources, making Australia a rent seeker’s paradise.
Our trillion-dollar budget deficit is hard to imagine if Australia, decades earlier, had levied taxes as successfully as other countries have on their resources. Unless taxation is debated now, at the outset, a continuation of current or similar concessions will see all Australians dudded yet again.
Peter Thomas, Pascoe Vale
Coalition must listen to voters on climate change
Sussan Ley says: “If people saw us one minute in government prosecuting the policy we took to the election, and then a month later saying that’s not our policy, they would think – what do they stand for?” She needs to realise voters wanted change at the May election and for the Coalition to take much stronger action on climate change.
Sharon Allan, Castlemaine
THE FORUM
Selling of monopolies
The State Electricity Commission (Letters, 24/6) also had a very advanced, for its time, solar PV section.
Jeff Kennett shut it down before flogging off our electricity supply system because it might have provided genuine competition against the monopoly of the coal generators, at a time when coal had to be seen as the only possible long-term source of electricity in Victoria. Monopolies are so much easier to sell.
Helen Moss, Croydon
A job very well done
Thank you, James Merlino. I am sorry that being a good MP has meant intrusions into your family life, and that this has led to your decision to step down.
You have been a thoughtful and practical education minister who has wisely led the Victorian system through difficult times.
And as acting premier, you did a calm and professional job at short notice. We need more politicians like you.
Gaell Hildebrand, retired principal, Cohuna
Please explain, Mr Guy
Four ministers have announced their retirements. Opposition leader Matthew Guy says losing that amount of experience requires a change of government. What? Replace the the Labor government with a divided mob of less experience? Guy’s logic is mindless.
Ray Frost, Jan Juc
Little experience needed
Replacing James Merlino after his work as deputy premier will not be easy. They are little shoes to fill.
Douglas Potter, Surrey Hills
When part-time is best
Like Erin O’Dwyer (Comment, 22/6), I too accepted a great part-time position above a “dream full-time role” in the interests of my family and our personal circumstances.
Our children benefited from having me around while they were growing up and my husband and I viewed our different working arrangements as very important in raising them. And doing that well.
Our children see us both gainfully employed in roles that are joyful, meaningful and purposeful.
So instead of potentially experiencing “burnout”, working part-time affords me a diverse week which is split between family, interests and work. For me, the best part has been raising the next generation.
Fran Jackson, Surrey Hills
The market we want
Two comments by Queen Victoria Market chief executive Stan Liacos (Comment, 23/6) made me realise the renovations are unlikely to be a success. The first was reference to the “Food Hall” and the second to “the shopper and visitor experience”.
I could attend the food hall at Highpoint or Chadstone shopping centres. Why would I especially go to the food hall at the Queen Vic Market?
I go there because shopping is much better than a supermarket. I do not go there for a “visitor experience”, whatever that means.
The best markets do not group together similar stalls, which means you can discover something new as you turn a corner or go down a different aisle. When you are tired or hungry, coffee and snacks should be available wherever you are in the market.
Michael D’Aloia, Coburg
End offshore detention
Refugees on Nauru have issued a plea for help, saying they are days away from running out of food (The Age, 24/6). COVID-19 cases have risen from 337 on Sunday to 861 on Thursday. This latest disgraceful treatment of refugees is testament to the urgent need to end offshore processing. Profiteering by companies, with a very dubious record of caring for refugees, also needs to be arrested by the federal government.
Virginia Schneiders, Mount Dandenong
US on travel blacklist?
The United States’ Supreme Court has ruled that adults can carry firearms, for “self defence”, outside their homes. When will our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issue a travel warning about visiting the US?
David Raymond, Doncaster East
Our right to these drugs
Re “Calls to widen COVID drug access (The Age, 24/6). It is appalling that antiviral medication – which can prevent COVID-19 from developing into severe disease if taken within five days of symptoms starting – is not being prescribed more widely, and now is stockpiled and in danger of expiring early next year. Surely allowing more people to access it could prevent so much serious illness and prevent so many deaths.
Annie Chisholm, Mount Eliza
Stop the wastage
Only 50,000 doses of antiviral drugs Lagevrio and Paxlovid have been given since March, despite there being 1.3 million doses in Australia. As a 61-year-old asthmatic with COVID-19, my only access to the Paxlovid was to pay $1000 for a private script. Easier access is required to prevent wastage.
Sean Geary, Southbank
Blithely moving on
Unvaccinated teachers will finally be allowed back into Victoria’s classrooms after controversial mask mandates are lifted, and an anonymous school principal says, “you have to be professional and you move on as though nothing happened” (The Age, 23/6). Well, there’s a great lesson to teach young people. Put your head in the sand and never re-visit your history, its mistakes, or its injustices.
Nick Stevens, Moyarra
Working for the Afghans
The situation in Afghanistan is sadly reminiscent of post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia, where the intervention by Vietnam, recently victorious over the West, prevented significant aid from getting in for over a decade, leaving many sick and dying from disease and hunger.
To abandon the Afghans simply because we, and the Americans, lost the war to the now-Taliban government is shameful, and only serves to further compound the intense suffering of the people.
A show of financial and logistical support in response to the recent earthquake is an opportunity to diplomatically engage the Taliban, show them who we really are, and work together for the sake of the people we supposedly were there to defend.
James O’Keefe, East Melbourne
“Idols” behaving badly
If we are going to start quoting Jesus (Letters, 24/6), I believe that after uttering those well-known words about casting the first stone, he told the woman who was about to be stoned, “Go in peace, but do not let this occur again”.
I have a feeling that this will not be the last instance of Collingwood player Jordan De Goey and other overpaid sportspeople, idolised by the media and the public, behaving badly.
John Howes, Rowville
Importance of outsiders
Far be it from me to argue with Jeff Kennett, but his statement that “it is wonderful when succession of an organisation can come from within” is at least open to debate (Sport, 24/6).
“Outsiders” can view things with a different perspective. They may feel all is well or think there could be improvements, and the Hawks’ position on the ladder is hardly something to celebrate, even though they are a young group, a much used reason for lack of success.
The term “new broom” springs to mind. My best wishes to Peter Nankivell, who will take over as Hawthorn’s president in December.
Peter Valder, Toorak
Another perspective
Re the Adam Bandt flag controversy: My father, a third generation Australian and practising Catholic, refused, at the age of nearly 80, ever to darken the doors of our church after the parish priest installed an Australian flag at the side of the altar. For him the union jack was emblematic of Irish oppression.
Patrice McCarthy, West Bendigo
One, two, three…
Do AFL umpires know how long 15-metres actually is? They need to be given lessons about measurements in their training because, currently, they have no idea and it is impacting on results.
Alan Muir, Mount Eliza
AND ANOTHER THING
Victoria
Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding
As Sheriff Dan hitches up the new Cobb & Co team for a training run, Matt attempts to herd his goats into the same paddock.
Greg Curtin, Blackburn South
Pakula’s last hurrah was to saddle Melbourne with the grand prix until 2035. Vroom, vroom, Mr Pakula, and goodbye.
Nola Cormick, Albert Park
I’m disappointed Merlino is retiring. He would have made a great premier.
Glenise Michaelson, Montmorency
The adage “jumping a sinking ship” (or a stinking ship), comes to mind.
Steve Barrett, Glenbrook
Unvaccinated teachers in the classroom? The hospital system is about to be overrun.
Loy Lichtman, Carnegie
Living in Melbourne is like barracking for Collingwood – everybody else hates us.
Sue Currie, Northcote
A barramundi main for $51 (24/6)? I’d better buy a fishing rod.
Jerome Otton, South Melbourne
AFL
I’m sick of reading about juvenile footballers misbehaving. We want news on important issues.
Lorraine Marshall, Benalla
Why persecute Jordan De Goey? You were young once.
Dan Drummond, Leongatha
De Goey shows disrespect to women. The AFL employs men to coach AFLW teams and pays women less. Where should the outrage be directed?
Nick Szwed, Bulleen
Furthermore
I hope that any personnel we send to Afghanistan, along with aid for earthquake victims, are all women.
Jo Kinnane, Highton
I really need to ″take a deep dive″ to ″unpack″ all this new terminology.
David Johnston, Healesville
Leigh Sales – still asking the hard questions (Green Guide, 23/6).
Don Hyatt, Dingley Village
A television network objects to “inaccurate and unfair” reporting about one of its own (24/6). Pot, kettle, black.
Wendy Knight, Little River
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