Trail of bulldozers testifies to ‘nature negative’ policies

Leftist Labor MPs are now demanding “nature positive” laws within 12 months to reduce emissions (“Size of ALP lean to Left is 70 by ’35”, 7/5).

How inspiring – from the same crowd that would cheerfully oversee the destruction of thousands of gum trees to make way for green energy projects in Kosciuszko National Park.

Apparently, “nature positive” means bulldozing native habitats so long as the bulldozers are solar-powered.

Try explaining that to the possums and koalas now homeless thanks to this brave new green vision. Nature positive? More like nature negative.

Tim Abrams, Beecroft, NSW

Memo to the Liberal Party: you did not lose the election because of nuclear energy policies. You lost the election because you did not present the case for nuclear, with renewables and gas, being the cheapest and most reliable form of energy for our future.

You need to start now and present this case for nuclear energy: costings, locations and engineering and technological information at every opportunity for the next election and the election after that. No time to waste.

Susan O’Keefe, Rose Bay, NSW

Dropping its nuclear energy policy will make the Liberal Party unelectable for a generation.

In an astonishing poorly managed “anything you can do I can do better” campaign, the prospect of a sensible and stable new direction in energy was the only feature that appealed to the broader electorate. Labor’s relentless attacks on the policy attest to its importance and the danger it represented to its own campaign.

Barry Noonan, Balwyn North, Vic

Talent in short supply

Our political system (notably the current Liberal Party) suffers from a dearth of ministerial talent. Running a large government department such as health or education is an enormous responsibility requiring the best minds in the country. But there is little incentive for potential chief executives to choose government as a career option. Being a chief executive of a private enterprise provides better salaries, and more attractive working conditions.

There is now minimal incentive for an outstanding talent to join a party that “may” gain power and “may” offer a ministerial position in six years.

Singapore pays ministerial salaries equivalent to those of chief executives. It has attracted and retained the top-level talent in the country. Singapore has had only four prime ministers in 60 years since independence.

Top-quality decisions made by top-quality personnel have raised a country with minimal resources, small area and a tiny population to become one of the leaders of the world in GDP per capita income.

Robin Clarke, Ballajura, WA

Diversify markets

I strongly support and agree with your editorial (“Diversification of markets must be Labor’s main goal”, 7/5). I was fortunate to have enjoyed 40 years in senior roles in international marketing with a number of private sector companies in Australia as well as being a senior trade com­missioner with Austrade in Thailand, Canada and New Zealand, and as minister commercial at the Australian high commission in London.

The government can set the framework but it is the responsibility of successful companies to focus on diversification of their markets.

My experience was that many companies took the shortsighted decision to sell where they achieved the highest price and thereby often left themselves open to unforeseen changes, such as happened when China recently closed its doors to a number of key Australian products.

Long-term investment in building and maintaining overseas markets should be corporate policy overseen by knowledgeable marketing staff prepared to travel and learn about each market’s specific requirements.

The government should show leadership with trade agreements but it is the Australian companies that must take action to ensure they are searching out and maintaining new markets.

Peter Lorschy, Killara, NSW

What Israel must do

Your editorial rightly points out that Israel has no choice but to abandon its “whack-a-mole” strategy and escalate its war against Hamas through reoccupation of Gaza (“The reality of conquer and hold”, 7/5).

The involvement of tens of thousands of reservists will hopefully bring about the surrender of the terrorist group and return of remaining hostages. However, those condemning Israel should realise that dragging reservists away from their jobs is not something Israel does lightly as it is a massive drain on the Israeli economy. It is indeed time for the moderate Arab countries in the region to abandon their apathy and pressure Hamas to cease operations so the death and devastation in Gaza can stop.

John Kempler, Rose Bay, NSW