THE FORUM
Net zero not ‘woke’
″My electricity bill is more important than your children’s future″ is the underlying premise of the Liberal and National parties’ environment policy.
Net zero is not some woke ideological concept; it is shorthand for the state of the environment where the emission of greenhouse gases is in balance with the mechanisms which absorb them.
As long as we stay on the wrong side of net zero, the relentless increase of average global temperature will continue. The Paris agreement of 2015 commits signatory nations to take measures to limit average temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.
Achieving net zero by 2050 or sooner is the only strategy which is consistent with the Paris agreement. To abandon a commitment to achieving net zero is to abandon any aspiration for a livable world for future generations.
Keith Heale, Glen Iris
Lucky enough country
We are indeed a lucky country. Important as targets like net zero are, the fact remains we’re far too small to make measurable differences. This gives us time to thoroughly test bright ideas, like renewables, before claiming ownership and thereby going broke should they fail.
In the meantime, we should go with the flow – neither in front nor behind other major economies. And certainly not aiming for the stars and bragging about energy superpowers.
Gordon Thurlow, Mooloolah Valley, Qld
Howard’s legacy
Several recent letters have included data showing Scandinavian countries have higher taxes than Australia while having happier people. The comparison was also true decades ago, but the disparity has worsened over time, particularly since around the turn of the millennium, mostly because of housing, which in Australia has become a severe crisis.
Why? Because the Howard government used the enormous wealth from the mining boom to halve the capital gains tax and allowed negative gearing to be advantaged.
The mining industry successfully campaigned against an extra mining tax and beneficiaries of the two taxation changes have succeeded in scaring off changes to the point where the current government, even with a massive majority, does not dare to reverse those changes in taxation law.
Poor Australia, held to ransom by industry lobbies and those lucky enough to own more property.
David Lamb, Kew East
Race to bottom
Sussan Ley is seeking advice from John Howard to counter Pauline Hanson’s improving polls. If she plans to join the race to the bottom in exploiting anxiety about immigration, she is going to the right person.
Howard’s reaction to Hanson’s 1996 angry, divisive rant to parliament was a catalyst for the rise of populist right politics in Australia. Rather than condemn her maiden speech as an unacceptable rejection of traditional Australian values, he tried to ignore her, while courting her voters.
If Ley is committed to the values that created our successful, multi-cultural society, she will seek more suitable mentors.
Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
Reduce tax concessions
Sean Kelly explores the options for Anthony Albanese going forward (″You thought climate was a Coalition problem, but Albanese may rue his enemy’s low ebb″, 17/11). Like many who Sean quotes from within the party, I think his government needs to be much bolder in reforms. The number of problems needing attention is huge. These include government schooling, universities, many health issues, housing, infrastructure, and more. The elephant in the room is tax and revenue.
We are one of the lowest taxing countries in the OECD. We give huge tax concessions to all sorts of major holders of the nation’s wealth. Some major mining companies are paying little or no tax (and get millions in taxpayer subsidies).
We give about $40 billion a year in income tax concessions to the top 10 per cent of income earners according to the Tax Expenditures and Insights Statement (February, 2023). This is clearly unsustainable. Labor needs to take much stronger action to reform taxation and raise revenue.
Tim Mahar, Fitzroy North
World gone mad
I shake my head in disbelief on reading violent youth offenders flown to the Gold Coast on taxpayer-funded holiday (″Teen crims go to Gold Coast on NDIS″, 18/11). Now, I know the world has gone mad.
Whoever gave approval for this holiday should be disciplined or fired. This is outrageous, and a waste of our taxes.
Christine Hammett, Richmond
Intervention best
With all the recent news about being tough on crime and trying to punish our way out of the current youth crime problem, it is refreshing to read Angus Delaney’s article about the role of early intervention and the proposal by Jacinta Allan to bring Scotland’s highly successful violence reduction model to Victoria (″This idea reversed Scotland’s rising youth crime rate. Jacinta Allan wants to bring it to Victoria″, 18/11).
The evidence is that locking
up offenders only serves to
harden them and lead many into lives of crime, whereas intervention programs, particularly combined with mentoring by others with lived experience leads to positive outcomes for the young offenders, and therefore society at large.
David Brophy, Beaumaris
Watch sport, must bet
The letter (“Stop Gambling Ads”, 18/11) from 15 year old Charlie regarding the unnecessary gambling ads encouraging all who watch sports to partake in (odds provided, with ‘helpful’ tutorials on how to bet online) sums up my thoughts exactly.
Gambling is addictive, expensive and often leads to disaster for many punters. Advertising it as a part of sport, linking the two in effect, is harmful in that it can become a conditioned response: Watch sport, must bet.
If a teen can spot the danger, surely decision makers who promote TV ads pushing gambling need to re-think. How about just banning the ads, full stop?
Joyce Butcher, Williamstown
Future addiction
If an astute 15 year old (Letters, 18/11) can articulate the detrimental effects of TV gambling ads that he is continually exposed to, then the government needs to stop the companies/organisations from showing these ads during prime time sporting programs which are purposely set up to capture and exploit the young.
These impressionable 14 plus year olds are our future gambling addicts. Who pays attention to the slogan “You win some, you lose more”?
Liz Gray, Brighton
Remember Ukraine
The brutal war and terrorism in Ukraine continues, yet there is very little coverage in mainstream media. Every day, civilian Ukrainians face missile strikes, loss of loved ones and blackouts. Innocent civilian are being targeted – some nights with up to 480 drones and missiles in one night, not knowing if they or their loved ones will survive the night.
It has been reported that up to 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted and taken to Russia – parents desperate to get them back. These stories rarely reach the headlines anymore.
We cannot allow this brutal war to become ″yesterday’s news″. A nation is still fighting for its freedom, democracy, and its very existence. Silence only helps the aggressor.
Luba Pryslak, Drumcondra
Branded loyalty
I am sure I am not the only reader shocked by the story of pre-teens and young teens addicted to buying makeup designed for women (″Mecca’s Beauty Loop loyalty program child’s play to join″, 17/11).
That little girls give gift cards for cosmetics to their friends for birthdays is bad enough, but this loyalty scheme urges them to spend larger amounts of money to reach the tiers for the boxes of giveaways that their friends have.
Nothing is more beautiful than the skin of a young girl, so please let’s stop this nonsense and teach our girls that they are being conned.
Megan Peniston-Bird, Kew
In praise of print
Repetition of forecasts of the death of print media due to the instant nature of electronic media ignores an important asset. Print media still has the ability to attract and hold readership with lengthy, considered articles such as The Age has been regularly featuring: the ongoing examination of Federation, discussion of Nauru and the disgraceful lack of tenders, and the continued lack of transparency in government services are topics that electronic media lacks the time, depth and perhaps interest due to the 24-hour news cycle.
They shine an important light on the health of our democracy. It’s why I continue to buy and read print media.
Carmel Boyle, Alfredton
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
Liberal Party
Jess Wilson. Another female called in to clean up the mess.
Joan Segrave, Healesville
The headlines and photo say it all: ″Wilson takes on Battin for leadership of state Liberals″ and “Bin down too long” as downcast Opposition Leader Sussan Ley walks past a rubbish bin (18/11). Talk about batten down Liberal hatches.
Kevin Burke, Sandringham
“Ley seeks out Howard for help” (18/11). He is surely the last person she needs to talk to.
Dan Drummond, Leongatha
Climate
Carmen Lawrence’s article (“Every coal and gas approval tarnishes Labor on climate”, 18/11) which discussed coal and gas approvals under Labor deserves to be on the front page. We are all being held to ransom by the fossil fuel lobby and gutless politicians.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
Carmen Lawrence has again spoken for many heavy-hearted former Labor supporters. Thank you, Carmen, for representing us, when our elected MPs seem unable to.
Lesley Walker, Northcote
Furthermore
Your correspondent’s excellent letter (18/11) regarding her SRL catchphrase as “unaffordable, unsustainable, unnecessary says it all. Why is the federal government allocating more taxpayer money towards this?
Christine Baker, Rosanna
US law mandates that any working cellular phone, with or without a SIM card, must be able to call 911. In England, the emergency call functionality is built into the phone itself. What is Australia doing?
Barbara Lynch, South Yarra
President Trump. We know you can sign your name. Please stop showing us that you can, and prove to the world that you can act as a thoughtful and sensible world leader.
Meg Paul, Camberwell
China’s security deals in the Pacific are like the fox guarding the henhouse.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn
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