ON the question of whether the Labor Party's stance on climate change is keeping the party out of office ('Find balance or face forever in opposition', Opinion 3/9) of course it probably is, but not for the reasons Mr Fitzgibbon, pictured, asserts.
If the ALP demonstrated leadership on climate action by developing a bold and progressive policy pathway toward net zero emissions, they might cadge a win. It seems to me that Mr Fitzgibbon's motivation matches his coal miner constituency quite well; both want to keep their jobs. It makes perfect sense for them, but not the planet.
Self-interest will always win the day in this common-purpose-scenario. Perhaps the only impediment for Mr Fitzgibbon is his party, but I fear the ALP's lack of climate action policy is an issue for us all.
His idea of splitting the ALP into a factional Coalition might never eventuate, but I can't imagine a personal exit will reward him either. In my opinion the fact a right-wing extremist party almost took a safe ALP seat in a decidedly amateurish campaign ('Hunter puts One Nation on the map', Newcastle Herald 20/5/19), speaks volumes about the lack of leadership in the region. What a shame our leaders aren't focused on future economic growth opportunities in the Hunter, rather than clinging to a dying industry that employs so many and offers so little. Real leadership would engage the electorate in their own future, with a positive "take them along with you" agenda to elevate the region and bring it into the new paradigm of climate consciousness and economic longevity. So much opportunity overlooked to serve short-term personal and political goals. Shame, indeed.
Kylie Stibbard, Kotara South
Blown budgets are not good either
PREVIOUSLY, former Liberal Defence Minister Senator David Johnston said he wouldn't trust the government's own shipbuilding firm, Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) to "build a canoe". Now, NSW State Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian commented that Australians were not good at building trains ('Trains no good': Premier', Herald 28/8).
This comes from someone who to my recollection has never bought in any project that she has overseen from the time she was treasurer under Mike Baird until now, to budget. Most, if not all, have been cost blowouts. I'm thinking of WestConnex and Sydney's new light rail line to the eastern suburbs, the Southwest Metro, Sydney football stadium and more. Labor called the cost of the stadium "extravagant" and alleged Ms Berejiklian lied to taxpayers.
Let's also not forget that when Gladys Berejiklian was treasurer, the government racked up multi-million dollar consultant bills. This is taxpayer money that would have been better spent elsewhere. Ms Berejiklian, I don't think that you are in any position to denigrate our workforce.
Dennis Petrovic, Rutherford
Aunty has looked after us well
THE ABC has been the source of unbiased news and information for all my life and my families' before that. Its independence was guaranteed by government funding. Sometimes governments of both persuasions were uncomfortable with the ABC's coverage, but we felt that the ABC was our voice. It was democracy at its best. There was no bias generated by private enterprise chasing power and wealth.
We were city people but had close contacts with friends in the bush. Regional ABC provided them with local news, information about new farming practices and provided a sense of connection for children on remote properties. When bush-fires and floods and pandemics threatened Australian communities the ABC sent their journalists to the center of the disaster to gather information, to provide accurate and timely information. The ABC saved lives. When the power goes off and the internet fails, a battery-powered radio provides information.
I believe all of these valuable resources are being whittled away by the funding cuts of the present Coalition government. Once gone, who will replace them and provide the flexibility that has directed resources to where they are needed most in times of trouble? I implore the current government to reconsider the funding cuts that are destroying our ABC and to recognise its enormous value to us all.
Peter Lipscomb, Maryville
Common wealth is the objective
IN 1909 the Commonwealth Age Pension began, funded by a percentage tax on income and collected by the states, which had taxing powers, so that all retirees would receive the same retirement income. The fund saw astronomical growth and at first was in a separate purpose fund. Years later it was merged into the consolidated revenue of the federal government. Thus, the problems began.
It was claimed in the 1980s that we could not afford the pension for much longer, so a new plan was put together. Keating's plan was that employers would contribute a portion of wages for each worker into a superannuation account. It sounds good, but it fails for low income earners.
Examples, assuming no interest growth: A person on $40,000 a year for 40 years at 10 per cent contribution rate has deposited $4000 annually, producing $160,000 of accumulated savings. This gives them eight years' retirement at $20,000 a year in pension payable.
A person on $120,000 per annum for 40 years at a 10 per cent contribution rate has deposited $12,000 each year, producing $480,000 of accumulated savings for 24 years' retirement at $20,000 pension payable. People experiencing unemployment, especially women during childbearing years, will only dream of an annual wage of $40,000. This plan was drawn up by people with salaries over $140,000 and their supervisors were on salaries about $300,000. It's tremendous for them.
Two years ago, Mr Keating called for a retirement insurance scheme because people are living longer than the actuaries had anticipated. Mr Keating's scheme was never a Commonwealth scheme in my view because it never considers the common wealth of all Australians. Keating is a republican and his retirement scheme benefits the wealthy and disadvantages the poor. He preferred management via industry funds (essentially trade unions), flowing benefits to the ALP. I prefer a Commonwealth scheme so the wealth of our nation is shared by all retirees.
Milton Caine, Birmingham Gardens
Back behemoth paying its way
FACEBOOK refuses to pay for Australian news content that it has taken from commercially-run Australian media outlets that are struggling to pay Australian journalists, keeping Australian journalists and affiliated Australian jobs. How much money and how much profit is enough?
I think that we should follow in the footsteps of the famous 1966 Beatles-record burning protest and metaphorically burn the 17 million Facebook memberships that exist in this country. Every business and (ironically) media outlet that provides free advertising to Facebook through the promotion of it to further their own causes should immediately cease their association until this organisation examines its social conscience.
Tony Bennett, Broke
SHARE YOUR OPINION
Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name and suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words. Short Takes should be fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited and reproduced in any form.
SHORT TAKES
NOW we have two of the worst labor PMs of all time coming out of their millionaire homes to have a go at the government over future superannuation payments. What a joke. We, the Australian taxpayers, pay them over $300,000 a year plus other perks for having served a few years as PM. What hypocrites. All we need now is Julia Gillard, in my opinion the worst PM of all time, to join in the chorus.
Don Fraser, Belmont
JUDITH Wilson (Letters, 2/9) takes me to task by quoting me as agreeing with another councillor's statement with regard to Valentine Pool at Monday night's council meeting: 'Crs Langford and Cubis' comment that "other residents who don't use the pools will have to pay for the cost out of their rates". For the record I made no such statement. I supported the original recommendation adopted unanimously at the site inspection at the pool the previous week. That recommendation sought to explore how the hydrotherapy pool could be maintained and to explore other options with regard to the site. The amendment put forward at the meeting was, in my opinion, at odds with the recommendation from the site inspection and I felt honour bound to support the recommendation not the amendment. That's why I voted against it. I remain convinced of the importance of the original recommendation to explore how the hydrotherapy pool can be maintained.
Dr. Barney Langford, Lake Macquarie councillor
BRAD Hill, (Short Takes, 1/9), Australia has balanced COVID-19 threats better than the UK and US. Australia's 7 per cent economic contraction is much better than the 20 per cent plus in the other two. They will drag Australia down. Take a bow, Aussie governments, for ensuring our maximum all-around welfare in perilous times.
Graeme Tychsen, Rankin Park
IF or when the Orica stockpile blows up ('Mum's the word on Orica risk', Herald 21/8) then our local leaders'will go too and we won't have to suffer the misery of having to state "Gosh, we didn't foresee that". If it happens, Newcastle will suffer three times the explosive force of Beirut.
David Rose, Hamilton
ORICA'S stockpile of ammonium nitrate ('Mum's the word on Orica risk', Herald 21/8) is causing all sorts of angst among the people of Fern Bay. To get some objective perspective, I discussed the issue with a friend of mine who happens to be a very credible scientist. He said, and I quote, "I thought there wasn't as much as Lebanon and that it was pretty well monitored. If I am wrong, my considered opinion is to "hold onto your arse." I must say, that did not settle my nerves about it at all. If it comes down to the simple equation, 'One flash and you're ash' then I am all for moving the thing.
