Your views: on reopening, ICAC changes and more
Today, readers comment on unlocking international borders, parliament’s legal move on ICAC and coalition climate angst.
Commenting on the story: Australia could reopen ‘well before’ end of year: PM
Please let overseas Australians know if compulsory hotel quarantine will also be lifted as flights resume.
I long to see family, but not at the cost in time, money and, frankly, danger from contaminated indoor air in a hotel. – Janet Oliver
Commenting on the story: ‘Infected by apprehended bias’: Ex-ICAC’s swipe at MP
It puzzles me why the legislation making changes to ICAC was approved in parliament prior to the handing down of findings from the Select Committee on ICAC.
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I would have thought the findings would have influenced the reforms. There appears to be a number of problems with ICAC processes being revealed in this committee that have resulted in harm, particularly from the many unsuccessful ICAC prosecutions.
However, rather than examining how to remedy these processes to minimise harm the government has chosen to remove the right for ICAC to undertake such investigations altogether. This doesn’t resolve the problem.
The government had the opportunity to fix ICAC so as to have a more effective anti-corruption body, but instead they have just reduced its reach. – Jo-Anne Seater
I have to back Mr Lander on this case. I would not trust Mr “foot-in-the-door” Pangallo and think Parliament has struck at the very foundation of our democracy when they passed that legislation without debate and in record time. – Fred Driver
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If there needs to be a change, it’s the ridiculous situation of members of the Legislative Council being elected for eight years. Victoria has an Upper House as well, but members face the electorate every four years. – Bill Hecker
Commenting on the story: Protect jobs or no climate agreement: deputy PM
Protect jobs or no net zero target says Barnaby Joyce. Yet, the existing net zero targets of key trading nations already affect jobs dependent on extraction and export of fossil fuels. As to South Australian and many other regions, the Nationals’ participation in derailment of any attempt at forward looking energy and climate policy has been a factor that’s slowed down deployment of renewables and is a handbrake on job creation.
If the Nationals are now split over a distant and hypothetical carbon emissions target, perhaps that’s the price you pay for peddling a myth that it is fine to do nothing indefinitely, a policy of denial that’s exposed Australians to greater climate risk, disproportionately affecting farmers who the Nationals supposedly represent.
To be taken seriously on this issue, both the Coalition and Federal Labor must adopt a more ambitious 2030 target, plus a real plan for emissions reduction. A 2050 zero target by itself is not enough and promotes further delay. – Jim Allen
Commenting on the story: Nationals MP steps back over ‘extreme right-wing’ of party
Darren Chester is one of a small cohort of politicians who genuinely work to serve the community to a high moral standard.
The Nationals are losing their way under Barnaby Joyce, who forgets he is part of the government and should contribute accordingly. Sitting back waiting for ‘a plan’ from the Libs while letting troublesome party members make irresponsible and often incorrect statements does not show a skerrick of leadership.
It is good to see Darren Chester calling this out for what it is – comedy hour. – Keith Gillard
