Your Views: Letters to the Editor
This week, InDaily readers have their say on the SA Liberals’ net-zero policy and missed water testing prior to SA’s algal bloom crisis.
Responding to SA Lib leader stands firm on net-zero target despite local party exodus
This isn’t about whether we’re for or against a net-zero target—it’s about how we actually get there. Both state and federal governments have failed miserably in this regard.
If we take a step back and look at when this all began, it dates back to the 1970s, when it was mostly scientists raising concerns. But it wasn’t until the 1990s that we really started to get serious about addressing the issue.
I honestly thought the transition would be much smoother. I imagined it would be almost as easy as switching from driving on the left side of the road to the right. It was clear it would be costly—perhaps even in the trillions—but I expected the renewable energy industry to make good use of the government subsidies, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for workers transitioning away from coal mining or coal-fired power plants.
The idea was for a seamless shift. It sounded promising, and for a time, I believed it was achievable.
Fast forward over 30 years, and what have we seen? The renewable energy sector has pocketed the funding while making only minimal progress, often taking a half-hearted approach to the entire process.
At this rate, nothing will happen unless we get widespread support from the population. This is no different from the Voice referendum—it was a noble idea, but without strong backing from the majority of the public, it was doomed to fail.
There’s only one way to get the public on board with renewables: we need to set electricity prices at 18–20 cents per kWh across all states until we reach net-zero. Until that happens, net-zero will end up just like the Voice referendum—a good idea that never had the support it needed.
So, let’s make it happen. – Eric Ozgo
You might like
Responding to Missed water testing and algal bloom ‘red tape’ under microscope
I thoroughly agree with you in respect to this matter.
We forwarded a detailed proposal to the SA Gov/EPA to establish a comprehensive program to provide a real-time pollution and algae contamination sample collection program of all SA’s coastal and Spencer and St Vincent’s waters using special missions amphibious aircraft. Based on collecting real-time water samples at 20 nanometre intervals for scientific analyses, the time required to collect samples from the SA/VIC border to the SA/WA borders and Gulf waters would be seven to eight days. The program could be operated on a fortnightly basis to determine real-time growth and measure the possible success of any control programs. Using other methods of collection, the time taken to provide the same data would be several months.
The SA gov has been considering this program for several weeks and has yet to make a decision to accept our offer to arrange a trial of this unique capability commencing in December this year. – Trevor Noblet
One job, and the EPA can’t perform. They took the money for doing the job, but didn’t do it. This is government incompetence in the highest order. – Brian O’Flaherty
Many thanks for this insightful article.
While I doubt the testing could have avoided the bloom, in the real world (i.e., not the public sector), people get fired for this lack of accountability.
To simply say we were short-staffed when you are only doing testing at one or two sites is a pathetic excuse and incompetence.
I am sure all those taxpayers who fund these government organisations, willing or not, via their tax dollars and who have had their livelihoods decimated by this bloom, are not simply going to say, “Oh, that makes sense!” – Craig (Surname withheld)
Responding to Compulsory voting rally call as SA local govt faces dismal turnouts
I wholeheartedly agree with Mayor Moira Jenkins’ suggestion to introduce compulsory voting in local government. As she mentions, councils are increasingly struggling to attract candidates. Nominations for councillor positions have dropped (1374 in 2018, 1256 in 2022). In 2022, nine councils had “failed” elections, with insufficient nominations being received, including two mayoral vacancies not attracting a single nomination. There needs to be an increased value proposition for people to stand for council, including improved remuneration and even gaining qualifications, as Mayor Jenkins mentions. Is it also time to look at the makeup of councils – why do so many need 11, 12, or 13 elected members?
In addition, true council boundary reform is another political hot potato that no government since the Brown/Olsen years in the 1990s has really tackled. I live in the Adelaide Hills Council, and am some 40 minutes’ drive from their “Principal Office”. Somewhat amazingly, I reside closer to the “Principal Offices” of six other local councils (Mid Murray, Gawler, Playford, Tea Tree Gully, Campbelltown and Mt Barker). – Joel Taggart
Stay informed, daily
Leave it as it is. Non-compulsory is the way to go. Those interested will vote. – Michael Pengilly
It is time to be rid of local councils. We have three tiers of government in a country with a population much less than the size of California. The cost to taxpayers is enormous and cannot be justified.
Our council has wasted money on too many fashionable issues and not spent nearly enough on what really needs to be done.
Yes, I did vote in the council elections. – Catriona Gunn
To increase professionalism within local government, I believe compulsory voting, a salary commensurate with the requirements of the role, full disclosure regarding poor behaviour, criminal record, political & business alignment, is the best way forward to fix what is seen to be a circus at times. – Aiden Leahy
Responding to No Joy, only Division: Just the stupidest stupid of all
Given all the failings of this Labor Government that are just ripe for the picking, if this is the best the Opposition can do, we’re doomed. Get rid of her now so there is time to present an alternative leader to the Australian people. – David Thomas
Responding to One Nation could overtake Coalition as opposition
Interesting analysis as always by Beaumont. Re what it means for the Liberal Party: I know we are all sick of politicians talking about themselves, and we want MPs to get on with the job, but the world is changing all around us, and our major parties were put together some time ago. So I think we should cut the Liberal Party some slack and let them have a meaningful debate about what it stands for. That said, I hope the political soul-searching avoids terms like ‘woke’, ‘culture wars’, etc. Even terms like ‘centrist’ and ‘mainstream’ have arguably become hollow and circular (eg, the party that wins an election is assumed to have struck this mythical ‘centre’). In short, if a political party is going to go through all the pain of undertaking a major reset, don’t base it on lazy ideas. Lazy concepts stop us from considering the more serious issues at play. – Eduardo de la Fuente
Responding to LIV Golf to take bigger swing as tournament expands
If one single tree is required to be felled in the park lands for this event to proceed, then we do not need the event.
We absolutely need to retain every existing tree … we do not need the golf sticks and this Saudi event. This is a shocker of a “Donald J. Trump type of event”.
The golf idea is anathema to the bird life of North Adelaide, the Adelaide CBD and Bowden/Brompton. – James W. Scammell
Responding to Tony Abbott wants us to be proud of men like him
He had a lend of us before, now he’s having another go. I don’t know why these dinosaurs keep deferring to the biggest one of all, John Howard.
My money is on his book making the remainder table pretty soon.
If the Liberal Party keeps going the way it currently is, it will be the biggest anachronism of all. – Allan Norris
Responding to ‘Kick in the guts’: Nurses and midwives march on SA parliament
Keep fighting, ladies!! – Rod Rawling
