Credit:Illustration: Jim Pavlidis
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CLIMATE CHANGE
The government must fact reality and act now
I do not condone vandalism of public buildings, such as that which occurred during the climate protests (The Age, 11/8). However, I understand the frustration and desperation of people who care deeply for the environment and fear the consequences of global warming. The Prime Minister is failing in his duty of care to the Australian people, and the people of the world, by refusing to increase targets for emission reductions and to take the now persistent warning signs seriously.
What will it take for the government to take decisive action? The Prime Minister’s deflection of responsibility by saying we should be more concerned about China’s record on the environment is childlike and irrelevant to our climate response. It would be laughable, if it were not so worrying.
Clare Canty, Shepparton
Protecting the environment will bring new jobs
Barnaby Joyce’s concerns about the supposed cost of action on climate change is misplaced. He should be more concerned about the cost of inaction, not only in terms of its impact on farm and other rural incomes, but also in lost opportunities which will come as new technologies to reduce carbon emissions are developed.
He suffers not only from a lack of understanding of the science and its implications, but also a lack of imagination about how Australia could lead the world in developing these new technologies and the associated jobs – including for his rural constituents – which would come with it.
Gary Heard, Jan Juc
Imagine if Australia had a different type of leader
How good would it be to have a prime minister who understood that because we can do more to reduce emissions, we must. How good not to feel deeply ashamed of Scott Morrison when he suggests that further emissions reduction is the task of developing economies and says he will not commit to a legislated zero emissions target. How good, even, to think his position scarcely believable – but no. How dire and threatening the reality.
Hilary Lovibond, St Leonards
How to let your house burn down for dummies
The Morrison household’s fire prevention and inaction plan. Ignore any noise the smoke alarms make. Ensure the gas is switched on. Keep cans of petrol and oil in the garage. As the fire takes hold, blame the neighbours. (A standard solution for all emergencies.) Avoid using water to put out the flames as it will add costs to the water bill. Recall the motto “Hose handling isn’t for me” and sing Keep the Home Fires Burning.
Tom Maher, Aspendale
Oh dear, if only Joyce had the power to act
One has to feel for Barnaby Joyce. As he says, he understands the challenges and problems of climate change, baldly stated in the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) report, but it, “doesn’t tell you how you are going to get there or what you’ve got to do”. If only he were part of a body that could call upon expert opinion and formulate a plan. Something like the Australian government, perhaps. Oh, hang on …
Mick Cahill, Fitzroy North
Ensuring that our youth have a safe future
Eva Rodgers (Opinion 12/8), when it is safe to do so and you next organise a School Strike 4 Climate, I and other parents and grandparents will not lecture you for wagging school. So many of us will be there with you, pleading with the government to act on climate change to ensure that your generation has a future that is not terrifyingly compromised by a burning and flooding planet.
Gail Mayes, Moonee Ponds
Sorry, it’s ‘zero stars’ from me for this restaurant
Given Barnaby Joyce’s response to the IPPC report, I feel that he and Scott Morrison are running a restaurant with no menu. You are welcome to make a booking but you will have to wait for a miraculous, new technology before you get fed. I think the customers will soon stop coming.
Don Moran, Highett
THE FORUM
Our money, our choice
Despite repeated warnings, our government continues to obfuscate over climate change. But companies have a choice of what they do. And our money in superannuation, managed funds and direct shares is invested in companies – we the people can take matters into our own hands.
We can each make choices in our investments, and companies that undertake climate-wrecking activities (in particular coal mining, coal transport, gas drilling, oil and gas pipelines, and the banks and insurers that support these) can be avoided.
Companies with strong environmental credentials are making competitive financial returns and doing their part to support a liveable future for all of us. Divest from climate wreckers.
Peter Moore, Clifton Hill
Where money should go
The most serious and imminent threat to Australia is climate change and the associated environmental, economic and social costs. If we are serious about defending our people and resources, some of the vast amount of money spent on military hardware, training and personnel could be transferred to innovative research programs, technology and activities to reduce our carbon emissions, develop sustainable practices and improve environmental leadership.
Jennie Epstein, Little River
The savings are there
Hey Barnaby Joyce, you are right. The climate crisis will cost the Australian taxpayer, just like the COVID-19 crisis has. But here is a way you can find the money. Cancel the massive donations to your coal and mining buddies. Get big business to pay its fair share of tax. Stop the Coalition’s election rorts. And get off your backside and do some work. Maybe even come up with a plan.
David Mandara, Hepburn Springs
Mr Joyce, you’re in charge
We are all coming to terms with Barnaby Joyce as our default prime minister, but it seems that he is having some difficulty with this. Will someone tap him on the shoulder and tell him that he is part of setting the government’s “menu” in regard to addressing climate change?
Juliette Borenstein, North Fitzroy
Pain of our rural areas
What Barnaby Joyce either does not understand or fails to acknowledge is that regional Australia is already paying the price for climate change, in fire and flood. A dollar cost might involve less heartbreak, death and destruction for this generation and those to come.
Anne Rutland, Brunswick West
Parties must be open
I agree with Barnaby Joyce. It is one thing to set a target of net zero by 2050 or earlier. But unless we know what path to follow and how much it will cost – so we can prepare to fund it – we will never get there. We should all join with him and insist the government and the opposition show us their plans.
Michael Angwin, Surrey Hills
The debits and credits
Barnaby Joyce wants the costing of getting to zero emissions by 2050 to be done. Okay, but also do the costing of not getting to zero emissions – floods, fire, drought etc – just for starters. Not to mention trying to exist on a planet that is becoming unliveable.
Georgina Simmons, Mornington
Why we must all pay
The Prime Minister says he will not ask farmers to pay the costs of decarbonisation. I know, why don’t we ask the fossil fuel producers then? Better still, why don’t we all pay, through taxation and behavioural changes. After all, we are all in this together and anyone who thinks otherwise is dreaming.
Molly Hanrahan, Maldon
An unfair imposition
The Australian Energy Market Commission has ruled that energy networks can charge solar households a sun tax for sharing their clean energy – “Solar export charging plan to begin operating in 2025” (The Age, 12/8). This is daylight robbery. I already pay 3.7cents a kilowatt hour extra to buy green energy from my supplier.
Graeme Walters, Mount Waverley
Overlooked languages
I am astounded that the census is compulsory but can only be completed in English. With such disregard for all of our communities, non-compliance is assured.
Catherine Greenop, Colac
Stamping out racism
Why does North Melbourne chief executive Ben Amarfio need to call on the AFL to “go harder” on racism in football (Sport, 12/8)?
Yes, it is up to everyone – fans, players and officials – to call it out. However, the AFL must be more assertive and proactive. One step would be to replicate the English Premier League’s “No Room for Racism” initiative. The motto adorns the jerseys of players, who take a solemn knee in solidarity before kick-off. It is a poignant and consistent message to all.
Additionally, the AFL needs to launch a media campaign with targeted messaging and anti-racism signage at stadiums. Reactive reprimanding, while necessary, has a limited impact. Proactive education and awareness are the most effective weapon against this ignorant scourge.
Sam Bentley, South Yarra
Too much like hard work
Thanks for the cleaning tips – “How to ease grit of pandemic” (Life, 12/8) – but I am not sure what planet Sue Williams lives on. Who, in a locked-down world of work, home schooling and trying to get a break, has time for this full-time regime? This kind of expectation will just add to stress levels (mainly women’s).
Shelley Penn, Williamstown
Towards some normality
So the other premiers are decrying Gladys Berejiklian’s “unilateral” moves to deviate from the “crush and kill” approach to managing the pandemic (The Age, 12/8).
The irony of this is breathtaking, coming from leaders who have shut their states’ borders frequently over the past 18months. At least the NSW premier is looking to the future and developing a plan beyond virus elimination and lockdowns. It will be a plan born out of necessity, but will no doubt set up NSW to start living a relatively normal life with COVID.
Rick Dixon, Mount Eliza
Words make a difference
It is interesting to note that the “jab” has been redefined as a “medical procedure” by those who are opposed to mandatory vaccinations.
Brian Benger, Fairfield
Ban the dangerous ads
Nine Entertainment Co’s publication of front-page ads from the United Australia Party in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Australian Financial Review contributes to the spread of Clive Palmer’s harmful misinformation about the pandemic and is in breach of good corporate citizenship. There is no question freedoms of political communication and media are fundamental tenets of our democracy. But such freedoms come with responsibility.
In the past month Clive Palmer has distributed harmful anti-vaccination materials across Australia which misrepresents the scientific advice of health experts at the Therapeutic Goods Administration, including in communities with large Indigenous populations at greater risk of the impacts of the virus.
We were pleased to see a number of newspapers call out this misinformation through their regular reporting. This stands in stark contrast to Nine Entertainment Co’s corporate decision to publish front page anti-lockdown ads from Clive Palmer in these same mastheads for profit. This kind of material contributes to harmful, anti-lockdown protests like those seen in Melbourne and Sydney which compromise the health and safety of us all.
We call on Nine Entertainment Co to acknowledge the harm done, live up to its civic duties as a national publisher and broadcaster in relation to the pandemic, and refuse to publish ads of this nature in the future.
Adam Bandt, Helen Haines, Rebekha Sharkie, Zali Steggall, Andrew Wilkie
Editor’s note
The Age does not accept anti-vaccination advertising or ads which promote misleading information about vaccination and could undermine public health messages.
Empowering women
I loved “Adore Beauty founder turns ‘defacto godmother’ for startup hopefuls” by Cara Waters (Business, 11/8). It is great to read any story that shows women as sufficiently empowered to take on responsibility for themselves and then reach out and help others. Kate Morris is a true role model for women.
There is too much blaming based on our identity or someone else, usually government, for our woes and that of our nation. Too many stories of women as victims and the demonisation of men. It is time to demonstrate and celebrate success and generosity in business, sport, charities, city and rural, communities and on the national stage. Less politics and more people power.
Cheryll Thelan, Sandringham
Protect the vulnerable
Re “High Court won’t hear case of Biloela child seeking visa” (Online, 12/8). What have we become when we think we need protection from a four-year-old? How heartless are we to detain people indefinitely (for eight years so far)? It is no wonder a government minister thinks we have no duty of care to protect children against the effects of climate change. By accepting these standards, we demean ourselves and become lesser people, not just in other people’s eyes but also in our own.
Helen Pereira, Heidelberg Heights
In praise of Leunig
Cheryl Day – “We don’t need this” (Letters 10/8) – describes Leunig as a “high-profile social commentator” and she expresses her disquiet over the content of some of his cartoons. My view is that Michael Leunig is a dazzlingly clever, world-class cartoonist and that we should just enjoy his comic, iconoclastic style. And not take the cartoons too seriously.
Dennis Walker, North Melbourne
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding
Environment
Australia’s “best retail politician” is looking like a wholesale idiot in regard to climate change.
Greg Cyster, Bairnsdale
Barnaby, leaders decide on targets and devise a plan to meet them. Otherwise they’re not leaders.
Lyn Shiells, Glen Iris
Barnaby Joyce, the gift to the Labor Party that just keeps giving.
Peter Cooke, Warrnambool
Joan Peverell (11/8), the only “existential threat” politicians understand is they they will be voted out of office.
Helen Moss, Croydon
So obviously this call for nuclear energy by Nationals senators (12/8) is accompanied by a detailed plan and costings?
Greg Abramovitch, Barwon Heads
Matt Canavan, we have a nuclear reactor: it’s called the sun.
Kevin Moloney, Williamstown
COVID
Graeme Lee (11/8), I’d like a TV that doesn’t show Michael O’Brien.
Richard Morris, Drouin
Gladys, it’s time to act quickly and decisively. You could start by handing in your resignation.
Scott McKenzie, Brunswick
Dear NSW, it is broke. Fix it.
Robyn Carey, Fitzroy North
I miss James Merlino.
Diana Foster, Surrey Hills
People who refuse to wear masks or get vaccinated are keeping the rest of us in lockdown. Cut it out.
Patricia Rivett, Ferntree Gully
Lockdowns and deaths would be greatly minimised if federal smirks and spin translated to extra vaccines and quarantine centres.
Ken Machin, Grovedale
Furthermore
Did Jason South use a Ouija board as well as a camera for his photo of the Premier (12/8)?
Isobel Bell, Ocean Grove
Home made (Life): so many great recipes over so many months. It’s the first page I turn to. Thank you.
Jan Sparke, Port Melbourne
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