Credit: Illustration: Alan Moir
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PLANNING
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, has released details of 25 more activity centres to add to the 25 plus ten already announced (“Allan targets inner city to open streets up to density”, 28/2). There seems to be a more nuanced approach, in that there has been a “scaling down (of) height limits for neighbouring streets around some of the already announced activity centres”.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny is quoted as saying height limits will be tailored to particular neighbourhoods, and she will work with councils. Planning permits will be available much more quickly.
We should be lauding the state government for having some housing vision. After all, we lambast other leaders who do not. We should not allow politicians, such as the Liberal State Member for Brighton, James Newbury, to create division and fear at protests against the government’s plans. This encourages advantaged citizens to focus on their own interests, when we should be considering housing needs for younger people and first home buyers.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
Time to escape to the country
If the SRL project is the premier’s Achilles heel, then forcing metropolitan councils to find space to increase density living around transport hubs may well be the final straw for her leadership and the ALP’s chances of re- election (″Allan targets inner city to open streets up to density″, 28/2).
Melbourne cannot accommodate such a massive injection of new housing. It will only degrade the city’s liveability and turn its current congestion into a stranglehold. Overcrowded cities are more prone to crime, drugs, graffiti and social dysfunction. They deliver diminishing returns in terms of social habitability.
Why no consideration has been given to building more housing in our regional cities is incomprehensible. Perhaps it’s a reflection of Labor’s attitude that there are no votes in the bush. Yet, more housing in these centres has much to recommend it. It would provide permanent economic stimulus to the regions. More land would obviate the need for cramped, high-density living and give kids a backyard. Rural lifestyles are likely to be healthier and happier for families.
Martin Newington, Aspendale
Moscow on the Yarra
The Joseph Road precinct development in Footscray is one of the worst in this city in recent times (Opinion, 28/2). It makes old Soviet-style urban renewal look sensitive and imaginative. When under construction, a friend said it was sad Melbourne was turning into Sao Paolo. At least that city has intensity and urban life.
Planners often talk of the benefits of density in promoting community, activity and sustainability. The Joseph Road precinct development is certainly dense, but has none of those qualities. The high-rise towers are mostly black glass, so thermal performance is poor. The buildings are built to the edge of a very busy and hostile road. It is unpleasant, dusty, noisy and hot.
If we get our urban growth and density wrong, we will be stuck with the consequences forever. We need to do much better than this or the “most liveable city” will soon be a fading memory.
Peter Hogg, North Melbourne
THE FORUM
Art hides in shadows
Now that artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino have announced their intention to find an alternative venue for their project at the Venice Biennale (“We Remain Committed”, 26/2) it prompts the question, what, if anything, will be in the Australian Pavilion?
The eloquent solution is to leave it dark. Lumbering in gloom, it will be a profound metaphor for where the arts currently stand in Australia. Overshadowed and darkened by times in which bureaucrats jump at shadows, politicians flinch at confections and everyone feels under immense pressure from players who work in the dark corners of influence.
The pavilion should be a requiem for all the world to see.
Juliana Engberg, curator, Carlton
Ugly salmon war
The Tasmanian salmon industry is definitely, as Caitlin Fitzsimmons describes it, “a big stink”, (“Thousands of dead fish, a $37m federal promise and an animal close to extinction”, 26/2).
Three companies, all owned by multinational corporations – Tassal, Huon and Petuna – are profiting from Tasmania’s pristine image, all the while polluting Tasmania’s inshore waters and driving the endangered Maugean skate towards extinction.
The restaurants at Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) refuse to serve farmed Tasmanian salmon. Melburnians can also help reduce the harmful impact of the Tasmanian salmon industry by avoiding purchasing this controversial food.
Susan Hoult, Hobart, Tas
People before minerals
Australia will become a second-rate country if we have to rely on our minerals for revenue. We have to invest in our people and our natural advantages such as abundant sunshine, wind and natural beauty.
Our future prosperity will rely on our ability to work smarter and innovate, particularly in medicine and alternative energy. To achieve this, governments need to invest in a quality, rigorous broad education for all. It will be money well-spent and return a ten-fold dividend in years to come.
Paul Chivers, Box Hill North
Nuclear security risk
Former defence force chief, Chris Barrie and military experts rightly warn of nuclear reactors as potential dirty bombs (28/2). The recent breach of Chernobyl’s radiation shield is one example.
Reliance on a few nuclear power stations for most of our energy generation and distribution also makes us more vulnerable to hostile actions by sovereign powers and terrorists. Russia’s speedy and brutal capture and irresponsible maintenance and military use of Europe’s largest nuclear facility at Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, is instructive.
Rather than centralised power production, our national security would be enhanced by developing a distributed network based on renewable energy production and storage. We will be safer because the sun and the wind cannot be turned off by hostile forces.
Neil Champion, Moonee Ponds
Backflips abound
Your article ″Lib’s climate denial earns teals $1m war chest″, (28/2) highlights that the Liberals’ climate policy is a train wreck with conflicting statements and backflips abounding.
Despite the focus shifting to cost of living pressures, it is clear that climate policy will still play a major role in deciding the outcome of the next federal election as evidenced by the successful fundraising cited in your article.
Both major parties will lose support if they do not present a consistent and strong response to climate change and either party could end up having to work as a minority with the support of teals or Greens.
The message is clear for both parties – ignore climate change at your peril.
Graeme Lechte, Pascoe Vale
Quantum dangers
Your article ″Quantum leap for powerful computing″, (20/2) announces the earlier than predicted arrival of quantum computers with the usual positive spin that it will be great for making breakthroughs in health. This is probably true, but it’s misleading. AI was also announced foregrounding the same positive health benefits. Other social outcomes are just as predictable, but much more unfortunate.
It will be very expensive, so initially will be owned only by institutions and extremely wealthy people. It will, in very short time, be harnessed to AI, making smarter-than-human bots and devices that can fool us and manage our emotional and political sentiments much sooner than we think. Just imagine Elon Musk with that sort of power.
We have already proven inadequate at regulating possible digital harms before they do real damage.
Let’s, at the very least, ensure scientists, governments, and private producers, owners and users are required by law to exercise a legal duty of care in designing and operating these and other powerful digital tools. Better yet, they should also be licensed.
Pre-emptive general legal constraints that contain digitally enabled power should be enacted as soon as possible. Let’s see if we can finally be smarter than the machines we invent.
Julia Thornton, Surrey Hills
Trade blocks
Recent reports on the Chinese warships in the Tasman, along with the business article “Trump could make waves for China”, (26/2) raises questions about Australia’s trade.
China’s navy is increasing in size and reach and its ship building is dominating the world market. How would Australia, with our reliance on trade by sea, cope with a blockade? We have virtually no merchant marine and a navy that won’t have new submarines until the 2030s. Our fuel stockpile is in the US, and as the COVID-19 pandemic showed, we have difficulty in supplying ourselves with many essentials.
The Australian navy needs to be in position to be able to keep trade lanes open, we can’t rely on the US.
David Robertson, Wheatsheaf
All views, please
Comedy has always walked a fine line, often offending someone along the way. Marty Sheargold is a comedian – his humour may not be for everyone, but it resonates with many, including me.
Comparing the Matildas to year 10 girls may not have been in the best taste, but was it really offensive? His comment about self-mutilation, on the other hand, did warrant an apology, and he gave one. However, he sought a laugh; the public sought a hanging, the punishment, uglier than the crime.
What offends me is the increasing lack of diversity in voices allowed in our community. From Facebook mobs to talkback radio and breakfast television, there seems a growing intolerance for perspectives that don’t align with the loudest voices. True inclusivity should mean allowing room for all viewpoints – even those we don’t personally enjoy.
Sue Birch, Sunbury
I really like Ray
I hope Marty Sheargold doesn’t get cancelled because I really want another season of Fisk.
Ray Gruber, Sheargold’s character, is rendered particularly likeable by his unwavering, uncritical admiration and support of his sister, Ros, even during her more extravagant flights of fancy. Ray’s choice to scale back his own work so his romantic partner can thrive also affirms women.
As for Sheargold’s own comments about the Matildas and endometriosis, it’s possible to argue they were not intended to be taken seriously, and thus people should not take offence. But, perhaps this is lazy comedy and the days of finding a bit of genial stirring at the expense of women funny are over.
Wendy Steel, Vermont South
Kind taxi drivers
I was saddened to read the recent stories of dishonest taxi drivers. Last year, I experienced great kindness from two taxi drivers – one in Melbourne and one in Brisbane, after the meter was turned off. The Qantas wheelchair service failed me twice, and both drivers did their best to help.
I also remember the concern of another driver on an early morning trip to a Melbourne hospital when he discovered I was going in for an operation and unaccompanied. Of course, I have had the occasional bad experience, but these are not the ones I remember.
Elizabeth Carvosso, Albert Park
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
AUKUS and Trump
When Donald Trump asked what AUKUS meant, he was quite correct. Many Australians have been asking themselves the same question.
Richard Opat, Elsternwick
What’s AUKUS, Donald? That’s the Aukward feeling the world is experiencing right now.
Steve Haylock, Mount Waverley
Is AUKUS now more a CARCASS?
Bryan Fraser, St Kilda West
Just when we were all despairing with Elon Musk, we cop the Tate bros, who make Musk and Trump look like philosophers.
Julie Conquest, Brighton
China warships
Chinese naval vessels seem to be doing a lap of the Australian continent. Rumour has it, they may attempt a tumble turn near Cape York.
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick
Not sure why they are bothering sailing around Australia. They could have just tied up in their port in Darwin.
Arthur Pritchard, Ascot Vale
I bought this car before the Chinese navy conducted live fire drills in the Tasman Sea.
David Francis, Camberwell
It’s quite funny to hear so many proponents of the nuclear power energy ″solution″ pronounce it as ″nucular″. Look it up. It means nut-shaped. How appropriate.
Barry Greer, Balnarring
Furthermore
Peter Dutton proposes cutting 36,000 public service jobs. How many of those would be at the ABC?
Rod Eldridge, Derrinallum
Marty Sheargold’s comments were on the nose, but his fellow jocks laughing along was not exactly a good look either.
Marie Nash, Balwyn
Marty Sheargold’s comments do not in any way represent the majority of males’ thoughts about women’s sports.
Scott Bellinger, Karingal
Marty Sheargold just learnt a very valuable lesson. He is not Kyle Sandilands.
Denis Evans, Coburg
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