Credit: Illustration: Alan Moir
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DUTTON’S NUCLEAR SELL
The fact that the costing for the Opposition’s nuclear plans was undertaken for free raises many questions. Was it free because Frontier Economics supports the Coalition? If so, it is hardly independent. Did they do it on the cheap because they weren’t being paid? There is a solid rule for consumers that “you get what you pay for”. Should that apply here? Finally, if they are not getting paid now for considerable work, is there an expectation of future benefit? Dutton needs to answer these questions if he expects us to believe Frontier Economics is right and CSIRO is wrong.
Denny Meadows, Hawthorn
Dutton’s power punt
Now that Peter Dutton has finally shown his hand on his power punt, he’s reinforced the fact that his nuclear energy policies are a cynical distraction. His seven nuclear power stations may be operational in 15 years, but it’s the next decade that’s critically important for the quality of the survival of mother earth and humanity, especially as coal-fired power stations are rapidly closing down. Both CSIRO and AEMO’s modelling clearly demonstrate that Dutton’s costings are heroically optimistic.
Kevin Burke, Sandringham
Smoke and mirrors
Peter Dutton is a prestadigitator, a master of illusion. He diverts our concentration from what is real, to what is illusion and sleight of hand. While doing all he can to divide our nation on racial, religious or any other grounds, he then goes, look over there at those flags. Look over at that paddock, in 30 years there might be a nuclear solution to our energy needs. All smoke, no mirrors, no policy, no timeline, and no costing.
Mick Hussey Beaconsfield
Regional suffers brunt of climate change
David Littleproud claims that the Coalition’s nuclear plan is good for regional Australia. Let me remind him that it’s regional Australia bearing the brunt of climate change. That’s where the droughts, flood and bushfires impact most. That’s where species extinction is escalating - not out to sea around wind farms. And what a bizarre claim that regional Australia is ‘littered’ with solar and wind farms.
Even if the costs and timescales were believable, this is reckless policy. Or not a policy at all but a racket for protecting the fossil fuel industry against future liveability for all Australians, especially those in regional areas.
Jenny Herbert, Metung
You can’t stop progress
When announcing his nuclear power plan, Peter Dutton got one thing right. He said that we must decarbonise. Yes, he did say we ‘must’. And right there beside him was David Littleproud nodding his head in complete agreement.
This is more than just another example of the Coalition telling Australians what to do. Liberals and the Nationals together have finally admitted that Australia has to give up on coal (even if China keeps on buying it). Adani, Clive Palmer, Gina Hancock, Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce should take note that not even they can stop progress.
Grant Agnew, Coopers Plains, Qld
Energy no-brainer
Nuclear energy creates radioactive waste that has to be stored for hundreds of thousands of years. There is the risk that that waste could be released in that time.
The use of renewable energy along with batteries and hydropower can provide reliable energy, according to the international think-tank Beyond Zero Emissions, which has demonstrated this with detailed research statistics.
Economist Ross Garnaut says Australia could become a superpower by developing renewable energy as we have an abundance of sun and wind and water. And CSIRO also advocates renewable energy.
Surely, it is a no-brainer to develop safe renewable energy? Nuclear energy is dangerous as well as too slow to develop to help ensure a safe climate future.
Marguerite Marshall, Eltham
THE FORUM
Nuclear kitchen
I applaud the Victorian state government for planning to replace gas appliances in homes with electric ones. It is a much safer option than nuclear stove tops and heating.
Sarah Brennan, Hawthorn
WA gas project
A 50-year green light for Woodside’s massive fossil gas project in Western Australia was not on my Christmas list (“Woodside gets approval for 50-year extension”, 13/12). It’s unlikely it was on the wish list of traditional owners or any of the 1200 species unique to the nearby Scott Reef either.
Earlier this year, the Western Australian Environment Protection Agency deemed that Woodside’s Browse gas project poses unacceptable risks. What’s changed? And why are our environment laws still so weak that this sort of climate-wrecking project is plausible at all? It’s appalling. Labor’s New Year’s resolution should be nationwide environmental law reform.
Karen Lamb, Geelong
Echo chamber
Criticism of Albanese over lack of action on important issues such as gambling reform and the recent folding on the environment is valid. However, ignoring the many achievements of the government is lazy journalism and shows Australia’s political media echo chamber at its worst.
Paula O’Brien, St Kilda
ATAR and beyond
Many students in Victoria have now received their ATAR and they might not be happy with it. But, as an ex-university lecturer and current professional engineer and part-time high school tutor, I can assure such students that after the first week of uni or work, your ATAR will not matter. I have never asked anyone about their ATAR when employing people.
If you can’t get into the course you want, then just get into a course. Once you’re in the system, you can move around with greater ease. I know people who have gone from engineering to medicine, from science to engineering, and engineering to teaching. You can still reach your goals – you just need to keep working at it and talk to the people running the course you want to do.
Your ability to learn, study and pass assessment is still developing. You can likely do better in the future. In short, you can still do what you want to do – even if others have made you feel you can’t.
Clint Steele, Hawthorn
Artistic freedom
Re ″Artistic freedom must be protected and not silenced″, (Opinion, 11/12). As a student returning to music studies next year, I am increasingly concerned with the politicisation of “all art” – even if such politicisation is not intended by the creative.
Whilst I neither support nor oppose Jayson Gillham’s stated position with regard to the killing of Palestinian journalists, what does concern me is the opposition he has encountered with regard to his own right to free speech which, I believe, has been expressed entirely within the bounds of reason. It bothers me that, as an aspiring creative, there is the potential for any creative work that I may be involved with in the future to be thus “hijacked” and used as a weapon by vociferous voices which do not support the original intention of my work.
I do hope that this will not prove to be the case.
Glenn Horne, Timboon
Israel criticism
I agree with your correspondent (Letters, 13/12), criticism of Israel is not a criticism of Jewish people. Just as criticism of our climate change, social housing and education policies are not a criticism of Australians.
What is abhorrent, is that politicians like Peter Dutton, Matt Canavan and now Josh Frydenberg, are using the arson attack on the synagogue for political mileage. This stance is calculated and deliberately divisive. Far more divisive than standing in front of any flag.
Craig Jory, Albury, NSW
Keep it personal
Re “Wong hits back at Netanyahu, links Israel to China, Russia”, 11/12. It’s amazing how stating the obvious in supporting the basic principle of one law for all, still attracts condemnation from those who only believe their group is always right. If we stopped talking about groups (Jewish, Palestinian, Russian, etc) and started talking about acts perpetrated by particular individuals, it would move us closer to a rational discussion based on fact. And maybe, it would stop individuals from attacking groups here for something that some individuals did a thousand miles away.
Philip James, Hampton East
Irredentist example
In the context of the Moira Deeming defamation case, Tony Wright, (″Note to Pesutto: Don’t mention the war″ 13/12), refers to ‘Godwin’s Law’, a meme addressing the overuse of analogies to the Nazi era as a means of winning arguments. As Wright implies, trite and politically convenient comparisons with reference to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis undermine in practice parallels made between the historic Third Reich and modern events.
This is a pity as the current Ukraine conflict offers a crucial opportunity to make instructive comparisons between the modus operandi of Putin and Hitler, for example.
The Russian leader’s stalking game in relation to the resolve of NATO nations to remain on course directly parallels Hitler’s 1938 annexing vulnerable provinces using spurious irredentist historical claims, and now presents an existential threat to Ukraine.
The historic outcome then resulting in the full absorption of the Czech nation into the Reich more than resonates now as US president-elect Trump seems about, in his dealings with Putin, to emulate the manner in which the British PM Neville Chamberlain was beguiled by Hitler nearly 90 years ago. Considered analogies with Nazism still have a role.
Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza
RBA’s stance out of kilter
Can anyone give a logical and or ethical answer as to why the Reserve Bank of Australia will not approve a lower interest rate unless more people are unemployed?
Wages having been stagnant for so long, and only just catching up with inflation, cannot remain the reason.
Do lower interest rates depend on more misery by increasing the number of unemployed who are further punished by having to live below the poverty level? What sort of society do we really want?
Wendy Logan, Croydon North
Childcare subsidies
I object to subsidising childcare for families who earn over $500,000 per year. I am all for more relief for families who need it, but surely we need a cut-off point that is lower than $530,000.
Spend the savings on something useful, and get a grip Labor. Bernadette Liston, Altona North
What about the women?
While the National Rugby League deal might be a win for men in Papua New Guinea, where do women of PNG figure in this deal?
Surely equality demands the women of PNG receive their fair share of Australian taxpayers’ money?
Melanie Carter, Largs Bay, SA
Colonial relics
During his time as a political leader (1834-41), Lord Melbourne repressed agrarian and industrial workers and supported punitive laws, including transportation to Australia.
Perhaps the name of our city should be changed.
Joe Wilder, Caulfield North
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Nuclear costs
How to avoid policy scrutiny. Release the policy on a Friday, after Parliament has closed for the year, less than two weeks from Christmas, or all three, as the LNP has done with its muddled nuclear energy policy.
Robert Stephenson, St Kilda East
Frontier Economics, eh? Does that mean it’s a policy from the Wild West?
Mike Smith, Croydon
Dutton’s nuclear policy has more holes than a vintage slice of Swiss cheese.
Thos Puckett, Ashgrove
Dutton needs to direct his energies into the nuclear family, instead.
Steve Barrett, Glenbrook
Person of the year
Donald Trump Time magazine person of the year? There are so many others worthy of this title.
Now I know the world has gone mad.
Christine Hammett, Richmond.
Donald Trump has been named as the Time magazine’s person of the year. This probably reflects some of the magazine’s previous efforts such as Adolf Hitler in 1938 and Vladimir Putin in 2007.
Alan Inchley, Frankston,
Trump is perfect. He is the Dorian Gray portrait of the men who continue to steer the course for the human race.
Cherryl Barassi, St Kilda
The list of craziness is too long and life is too short to bother arguing the totally inappropriate choice made by the team at Time magazine. Trump? Seriously? Someone’s been spiking the coffee over there.
Owen Wells, Mont Albert North
Furthermore
Memo to all News Corp employees: Rupert’s in town, look busy.
Paul Custance, Highett
The contributor in listing Albanese’s positives (Letters, 13/12), fails to mention the prime minister’s ‘own goal’ – his ineffective leadership of the referendum, and his disservice to the memory of Peta Murphy.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
This is the age where drivers arrive at petrol stations at the same speed as if they are landing a fighter jet on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Matthew Hamilton, Kew
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