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ENVIRONMENT
State and federal politicians will need more than hard hats to cope with the barrage of blows they’ll receive from coal and gas exporters aggrieved by the High Court’s decision that project approvals must take overseas emissions into account (“Cloud over coal exports”, 8/10). Governments will be lobbied long and hard to legislate planning changes that would allow the industry to avoid this obligation. They must resist this pressure with all their might. As columnist Nick O’Malley points out, “the cost and human toll of climate change is no longer a future fear, but an immediate fact confronting communities” (“Mining industry faces a legal reckoning”, 8/10). It’s time for governments to break free from their captivity to mining corporations and put the interests of people and the planet first. They’ve got the backing of the High Court and most voters. What more could they possibly want?
Tom Knowles, Parkville
Canary in the coal mine
Can we dare to hope Australia may have turned the corner, environmentally? If the High Court’s decision this week is the “canary in the coal mine” in the way emissions from exports from the Hunter Valley coal mines are treated, there may yet be hope for similarly realistic treatment of emissions from exported West Australian and Queensland gas projects. A small and belated but significant step in the right direction.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
Astonishing activism
The High Court’s decision on coal miners to account for emissions by its customers is truly astonishing. This is judicial activism at its zenith. Presumably, the same concept will apply to gas exports. And what are the implications for imports of petroleum-based products?
Did the court consider its impact on taxes, superannuation funds or job opportunities? Or did the court consider how coal customers will decide to seek alternative suppliers?
Just another example of how green culture is strangling Australia’s prosperity. Cutting our export income will only exacerbate the continuing fall in living standards. Urgent action is needed to reverse this absurd decision.
Martin Newington, Aspendale
Emissions affect us all
Anthropologist Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.” This has been proved to be true in the successful High Court challenge to coal miners in the Hunter Valley of NSW.
Anti-environmentalists complain of loss of money and unemployment in coal-mining areas, but we can overcome this with development of renewable energy and the resultant income and jobs. We are one world, and emissions affect us all.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
What were they thinking?
Absorbing the decision by the High Court to not approve a mine for “climate change considerations”, one is prompted to ask: “What were they thinking?” The buyers of our coal will find it elsewhere. Not a gram less will be burnt.
But a second question arises: Where does our income come from to pay the many social benefits enjoyed by some of the protesting fraternity which, when removed, may change their stance?
James Ischia, Hawthorn East
Good news for a change
Some good news for a change: the High Court’s decision on coal mining, forcing the planning authorities to consider the effect of the coal we export being burnt overseas.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East
Remember the children
It is rather disappointing that so many seem to think the profits of coal and gas companies are more important than the future of humankind. Apparently, none of them have children, grandchildren and other relatives.
Robert Yates, Rosanna
THE FORUM
Horrific situation
I can hardly bring myself to read articles about the botched execution of Christa Pike (“Inmate awake and speaking after botched execution”, 8/10). I am bewildered that someone can be imprisoned for 30 years for a crime committed at 18 years of age, survives an attempted execution and is hospitalised and everything is done to keep her alive. This, against background discussions about whether to have another go and learned deliberations about better ways to carry out executions moving forward.
I note that while Pike is hospitalised and in ICU, she is shackled. It beggars belief.
We have sickening and vivid descriptions of an inhumane situation, but no apparent moral, ethical or human rights discussions about capital punishment. This horrific situation doesn’t appear to have triggered public discourse, ethical scrutiny or demonstrations.
I wonder if the world is numbed by wars and mass killings, and the bungled execution of one person fails to draw attention or challenge the mindset of those involved.
Cathie Hutchinson, Mulgrave
Homogeneity imagined
Michael Myer is on the money (“Fear of foreigners should not pollute our politics”, 8/10).
The fabric of the foreigner is inextricably linked to Australian society. The blinkered black-and-white approach of One Nation harks back to a simpler time when there was this imagined homogeneity.
I was born in the ’50s from a Sicilian background – albeit my grandparents having arrived in 1920 – and keenly felt the resentment as a school child for being “different” and trying to “fit in”, which was a little difficult having olive skin and a monobrow! We grew up in the Bayside area which was quite Anglo and monocultural.
Working and living in Brunswick from the early ’80s, where diversity was the norm, with multiple cuisines, cultures and languages, felt like coming home. Our “difference” was what joined us together. Our children did not have the same issues I was exposed to, and accepted their heritage.
When times get difficult, disgruntled individuals point the finger, but there are always three fingers pointing back.
Peter Russo, West Brunswick
Coalition’s true colours?
Beyond the details of the immigration policy announced by the Coalition, the rhetoric used by Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan is concerning. Phrases included “we need to take back our country”, “we will regain control of our borders”, “threatening our way of life” and “salaries undermined by a cheap foreign labour force”.
While deciding on the right level and type of immigration for Australia is challenging, the language used only serves to promote fear and division in our community. Is the Coalition revealing its true colours or are they simply trying to out-Pauline Pauline Hanson?
Brendan O’Hanlon, West Brunswick
Breathing space
Reducing a net immigration rate to 100,000 is certainly not unprecedented (“Opposition reveals plans for huge migration cut”, 6/10). Apart from a brief spike in the 1960s, net overseas migration has been consistently well above 100,000 only since 2000.
Historically, our numbers were much lower. In the 1950s, average net overseas migration hovered between 90,000 and 100,000 a year. It sat between 100,000 and 125,000 in the 1960s, dropped to 70,000-90,000 in the 1970s, averaged 75,000-110,000 in the 1980s, and fell to 50,000-80,000 in the 1990s.
We were arguably better off economically before 2000 than we are today — a time when most average families could comfortably afford to buy a home on a single income. Returning to these historical averages might give our housing market and infrastructure the breathing space they desperately need.
Jennie Epstein, Little River
Making sense
Understandably, Chip Le Grand dismisses much of One Nation’s election offerings with “doesn’t raise these promises above the status of wistful aspiration” (“Victoria, let’s get ready to rumble”, 8/10). Except these are “wistful aspirations” to which everyday people can relate. They will be overjoyed to hear Pauline Hanson release about $50 billion with the cancellation of the Suburban Rail Loop for schools, hospitals and emergency services. And can’t wait for planning matters returning to local residents and their councils.
James Richardson, Langwarrin
American alarm bells
I was alarmed by Opposition Leader Jess Wilson’s call to “Americanise” our public health system (“Public patients in private hospitals”, 4/10). Private ownership of public health, communications and banks have proven to be a policy rabbit hole, prioritising profit over service.
As we own the NBN, so we should own Telstra, the Commonwealth Bank and Medibank Insurance to once again hold free enterprise to a basic standard. Essential services should be state owned to avoid the mishmash that free enterprise inflicts on Americans.
If the gold standard of free enterprise cannot perform as required, evidenced by US war veterans living among the homeless, why should we join them and scrape along the bottom of civilised behaviour?
To paraphrase John Howard over gun ownership, we should not follow the American model. Don’t let the LNP and One Nation Trump Australia!
Derek R. Costello, Belmont
Greens plan derivative
The Greens’ supermarket policy is comparing apples to oranges (“Greens kick off campaign with public supermarket plan”, 8/10).
In New York City, the five not-for-profit supermarkets to be rolled out next year will be, in effect, social welfare centres. Up to 350,000 New Yorkers are homeless.
Our everyday shopping fortunately still exists in far better circumstances, and the Greens plans are negatively derivative.
The other Greens expectation is to build 424 supermarkets across Australia. This will occur at a time when Labor’s 1.2million new homes target is falling short as apprenticeship training is, yet again, losing the trainees. Who will build what in these coming years?
Des Files, Brunswick
Take responsibility
Your correspondent (Letters, 8/10) raises the fact that the United States has done more damage in response to the 9/11 attack than Israel has incurred in its response to the Hamas attack on its citizens. It is always easy to say “look over there, they are worse than we are” to justify your own actions. You also need to take responsibility for your own actions.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
Turning a blind eye
Matthew Knott describes life for Palestinians in the lead-up to October 7, 2023, as “difficult and demoralising” (“Why October 7 changed everything”, 7/10). While that’s true, these words are suggestive of hardship that may ensue when misfortune strikes anybody’s life.
Rather, Palestinian people have been subjected to systematic cruelty to which the world has turned a blind eye for decades.
Annabel Russell, Nindeni, Sri Lanka
System needs reset
The Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Progress Association has generally supported planning reforms introduced in recent years, which address the need to boost housing supply. However, the planning system has become too centralised with multiple pathways to the planning minister that sideline both councils and the public.
Ministerial decisions regularly approve developments which are not consistent with approved planning controls; for example, allowing building heights well above the prescribed limit.
Where councils provide input to proposals, it also seems such concerns are not treated seriously and a proper response provided. On the whole, transparency around ministerial decisions is lacking.
The adversarial relationship and muddied role between the state government and local councils is a constant drag on a planning system that needs a reset – to restore public confidence in good planning outcomes.
Yvonne Bowyer, secretary,
Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Progress Association
Protect architecture
I would like to second your correspondent’s opinion (Letters, 8/10) about protecting historic architecture. Architecture is not like other art forms such as music or literature, in which those who dislike a particular song or book can choose not to engage with it. Architecture is an art form which everybody is exposed to on a daily basis.
As such, we should expect that our city’s buildings are constructed in styles that appeal to most people. The public enjoy traditional architecture, and are generally sceptical of more modernist styles. Yet, property developers insist on building ugly behemoths which appeal to nobody, and make our city an aesthetically unpleasant place in which to live. We must defend our architectural heritage, and preserve the character of our communities.
Nikhil Dhanabal, Clyde North
Friendly, not dysfunctional
Melbourne (and I would include the rest of Victoria) has just been announced as the world’s friendliest city (and state). I notice Brisbane and Queensland did not make the grade. So much for Queenslander Pauline Hanson’s One Nation falsely trying to depict us as dysfunctional, violent and full of fear.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights
Local knowledge
While reading about the campaigns to increase tourist visitor experiences, I see one idea was to “live like a local” (“City fighting for its rightful place on the national tourism map”, 7/10). For nearly 30 years during my visits to Melbourne, mainly to attend the footy, I have on many occasions been approached for directions around the city. I have usually had the answers, so I do feel I qualify for that category. Thanks for making me feel that I fit right in.
Robert Browning, Taunton, England
AND ANOTHER THING …
Politics
Thanks for painting my many local potholes in different colours. So, can I now have them filled, please? I assume different colours do not mean different repair crews at different times.
Tony Danino, Wheelers Hill
What fun! The Electoral Commission will supply pencils at the poll but we can use our own pens, pastels and crayons to make our mark. I’m taking my 72 Derwent tin.
Margaret Skeen, Ocean Grove
Two articles (World, 8/10) should warn immigration officials to pay special attention to visa applicants from France and Spain. We don’t want foreign malcontents expressing views about our highly segregated, inequitable education system — or our housing crisis.
Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
America
Donald Trump has practically invited Iran to bomb San Diego. He obviously has no idea that it is home port to the US Pacific fleet. He is not capable being in charge of a convenience store, let alone the world’s most powerful military.
Matthew Hamilton, Kew
I’m so glad that I am not an American. A nation capable of trying to kill one of its own citizens and not managing to do it and reviving her to have another go is a nation that doesn’t understand the meaning of the word, “torture”.
Juliet Flesch, Kew
Furthermore
On behalf of all teenagers in Victoria in the 1970s, I would like to thank Paul, the Melburnian from the Seven Up TV series, for reminding us of the absurdity of the Lumber Jacket. What were we thinking?
Don Phillips, Fitzroy
Seven Up: The first reality-TV program. Very different to those of the past 20 years. I am grateful to the participants for their honest sharing. Life is a roller coaster for most of us.
Colin Pastakis, Pakenham
Finally
I enjoy reading Waleed Aly’s articles, and this week (7/10) was no exception with a word of 16 letters – curmudgeonliness. I suspect that I am a sufferer of it! Can he find a longer word for a future article?
Kevin Vidler, Mt Waverley
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