Energy, transport and getting the mix right
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Making public transport free is sure to be popular, especially over the school holidays. Let’s hope the government’s transport planners realise that simply increasing demand will also need to be met with appropriately increased supply (more frequent services), without overloading the rather fragile train and tram networks. Otherwise there could be many unhappy stranded commuters: a well-meant cure that would be worse than the disease.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
We need to secure sustainable chains
Columnist Rebecca Huntley’s comments that fossil fuels “tie economies to volatile global markets” is well made and underscores our need to press on with electrifying everything (“The accidental fossil fuels killer”, 1/4). I am wondering, however, if the same comment in fact describes our capacity to achieve renewable-energy independence.
While we have sun, wind and many of the minerals we need to support electrification, we need to be talking much more about where the weak links in securing reliable energy flows lie and how we’ll address that. I’m not an economist, but it seems that if an unstable world highlights anything for economies, it’s the pressing need to secure sustainable supply chains for our energy future.
Karen Campbell, Geelong
Learning from our mistakes is vital
Thank you to Rebecca Huntley for so clearly articulating that renewable energy now offers the most stable and secure pathway forward. The volatility of fossil fuels like oil and gas has become impossible to ignore, and Australians are increasingly on board with the shift towards cheaper renewable energy and electrification.
Around 70 per cent of us already agree that we should be leaning into renewables, and interest in electric vehicles has surged (″Electric vehicles increase productivity, save lives″, 1/4). We missed the chance to accelerate a clean energy future during the COVID-19 pause. Let’s not make the same mistake twice.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Public transport system needs simplifying
The confusing public-transport fee system is a barrier to usage, especially for intermittent users, tourists, and potential new users. It is difficult too for people many kilometres away from the closest myki-card purchase point who, on finding themselves unexpectedly in need of public transport, face the ridiculous Catch-22 situation of needing to find some way to get to a Myki purchase point before travelling. No wonder people opt for an Uber and go straight to their destination instead. Anything optional that incites a groan from users loses users, and the fledgling ticketless system is long overdue. And, while payment in advance on a myki card may be great for regular users, casual users and visitors should be able to hop on and pay on board, and they should not have to pay upfront for something they may never use again, or at least not before they lose the card and need to buy a new one.
It may be this complicated system helped erode public transport usage, and then COVID made it worse. As for the fee-free period, it could be hoped it might encourage some to sample public transport; they are more likely to do so with the myki obstacle temporarily removed, and they may also want to do so to in some small way contribute to easing the fuel crisis.
Emma Borghesi, Rye
This month may prove a turning point
One of the best things I’ve seen on public transport in recent months was a tradie sitting on his toolbox and trolley on the 86 tram. He told me it was easier and cheaper to use public transport than to try parking near his building site. Public transport may not work for all of us all of the time but with free transport in April it might be the time to try weaning ourselves from our car dependency.
Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North
THE FORUM
Repeal Israeli law
Once again, Israel has thumbed its nose at international law, by enacting yet another law that discriminates against the people it occupies. (“Discriminatory by design: Israel passes law to hang Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks”, 31/3). Israel continually approves new illegal settlements in the West Bank, also forbidden by international law and settlers routinely attack Palestinians living there.
Even if a Palestinian is killed, the settlers act with impunity, protected by the IDF and suffer no punishment. Yet Palestinians rising up against an occupying power will face the death penalty. The decision of the court need not be unanimous for the sentence to be carried out.
Civil society and the international legal community must act to ensure this law is repealed and deliver some small measure of justice to Palestinians.
Lorel Thomas, Blackburn South
Let us have our choice
The appalling take-up rate of VAD in Victoria speaks of the roadblocks to success (“Walk in my shoes for a bit: Cyril’s fight to die”, 31/3).
Is it feasible that someone in extreme pain must wait so long to fulfil the requirements?
A straw poll among my 80+ friends suggests we would welcome instead “euthanasia on demand” – even without terminal disease or ongoing pain. For many, there comes a time when they lack the capacity to do the things that make life interesting.
It would be so comforting to make our own choice.
Wendy Baker, Lilydale
Weekly to the rescue
Fear not Anzac biscuit lovers – there’s an excellent recipe in the Women’s Weekly “Best Biscuits” book (″Anzac Biscuits recipe left out of Stephanie Alexander’s latest edition of her kitchen bible″, 1/4).
I use the Women’s Weekly recipe with a little less sugar and a little more golden syrup. But even better in the WW book is the recipe for Honey Oat bars, the grandkids’ favourite.
This time, I’m generous with the honey.
Rick Whitelaw, Anglesea
Achieving martyrdom
The reported posting (″Dezi Freeman’s short stay at remote property betrayed by inner circle″, 1/4) of online tributes to Dezi Freeman calling on people to “name the million dollar dog” who turned him in, and calling the tip-off a “crime … worse than any other that was allegedly committed” may herald that among the “sovereign citizen” cohort, Freeman is on the way to being made a martyr for their cause.
Deborah Morrison, Malvern East
Easter’s deeper meaning
The rapid approach of Easter brings times of family celebrations and plenty of chocolate. However the true meaning of Easter is infinitely deeper to those whose lives have been transformed by the amazing grace of God. On Good Friday we remember the awesome sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary where he willingly laid down his life for all people. All hope seemed lost at the brutal Roman crucifixion before sorrow was replaced by joy unspeakable. On Sunday morning Christ’s triumphant resurrection transformed the world as we know it. Today the risen saviour continues to transform people’s lives, bringing love, joy and peace to all whose hearts are open.
Peter Curtis, Werribee South
Distant perspective
As the Artemis rocket prepares to launch, I find myself wondering what the four astronauts will think as they look back upon Earth. Like the pioneers of the 1960s, they will witness a planet without visible borders – a calm, unified world set against the vastness of space.
From such a perspective, the conflicts and divisions that dominate life on Earth must appear strangely insignificant. Early astronauts often spoke of this realisation that humanity is bound together far more deeply than it is divided. Yet despite that enduring insight, we continue to struggle to live in harmony.
Perhaps this mission will offer more than scientific progress. It may once again remind us of a simple but powerful truth: that we share one planet, one future, and a common responsibility to each other.
It is a perspective we should not need distance to appreciate.
Darren Grindrod, Glenroy
Cruelty to birds
Your correspondent (Letters, 1/4) laments a proposed windfarm that may kill birds near international Ramsar sanctuaries, and questions the claim that this is “sustainable”.
Déjà vu jumped off the page for me. The Allan government permits recreational shooting of native waterbirds at several Ramsar sanctuaries, claiming this is “sustainable”. Does it take a windfarm to alert us to the cruelty and contradiction in killing vulnerable species in their places of refuge?
Joan Reilly, Surrey Hills
The AUKUS unknown
Columnist Jennifer Parker (31/3) tells us that ″AUKUS matters″ because Australia ″needs to protect seaboard supplies″ and that there is ″no credible alternative in our maritime domain″.
If that is the case, I have to wonder what Australia does in the very long lead time before the submarines actually are delivered. Do we just hope that we don’t need such protection?
We don’t even know if the AUKUS will actually ever happen. And while Parker tells us that the US and UK are ″working through constraints to their industry bases″, we do know that the cancelled French contract would have delivered and would have adequately protected our maritime domain. Whether AUKUS ever does is a complete unknown.
David Fry, Moonee Ponds
Suboptimal argument
Jennifer Parker attempts but fails to provide clothes for the naked emperor that is AUKUS.
Parker is correct in saying that it will be difficult to protect our seaborne supply lines in a crisis, but in suggesting that the AUKUS nuclear subs will do this defies our current real-world lessons.
If nuclear attack submarines were effective in keeping constrained sea lanes open, then they would have been used to do that in the Strait of Hormuz. Very large nuclear attack subs might provide a handy mobile HQ, but they don’t appear to have had much efficacy in dealing with robot boats the size of a generous weekend tinny.
The idea that the delivery of the AUKUS subs is on track isn’t credible. The US isn’t producing enough subs for its own navy and is not permitted to send them to Australia unless it does.
Max Sargent, Thornbury
Party incompetency
The Victorian Liberal Party has a duty under the Westminster system to be an effective opposition to an incompetent debt-ridden government. Its preselection debacle at the weekend demonstrates, yet again, that it is even more incompetent – so we must look outside the two main parties.
Preferably to community independents selected by their constituents based on their personal integrity, life experience beyond politics and commitment to public service – rather than dubious, short-lived candidates.
Caroline Leslie, Hawthorn
Labor slow to react
A correspondent (Letters, 1/4) has found fault with Andrew Hastie for an alleged lack of policy detail in remarks he has made this past weekend.
The Albanese government has also exhibited a lack of policy detail over the fuel crisis that has occurred as a result of the US and Israel’s military action against Iran. The issue of energy security was identified last year by S&P Global as one of six major geopolitical risks. The willingness of Donald Trump to launch military action also became clear in early January when the US military captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
It beggars belief that the Albanese government needed all of March to develop a policy response to a known and critical risk. Some people might say they should have begun work last year on the contingency of this current crisis.
Alun Breward, Malvern East
Band together for answer
I need the collective wisdom of Age readers to answer an ethical question that has been worrying me for some time.
It is, what should I do with all the rubber bands, these tears from someone else’s rainforest, that arrive each morning with my daily newspaper?
Someone must be able to re-use them, but I am at a loss to know who.
Garry Dalrymple, Earlwood, NSW
Hope for change
Hopefully, the state government’s decision to make public transport free during April will incentivise regular vehicle commuters to try using public transport, resulting in behavioural change that reduces car reliance.
Mark Hulls, Sandringham
Mobile overkill
It’s all fine and well to simplistically blanket ban the use of mobile phones in Victorian schools but until a computer is provided to every student, this is complete overkill (″Tighter rules on devices″, 1/4). When I taught VCE Visual Communication Design in a state school, there were only 12 computers for a class of 26. Students often used tablets and phones to research, design and print their work. It helped me cope and it most certainly helped them. Has anyone actually consulted those who will feel the repercussions of this decision and has the lack of resources been addressed?
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson
Let’s hear it for Raf
I don’t listen to vile and tacky radio shows. I like Raf.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
AND ANOTHER THING
Liberals
The Victorian state Liberal Party is the antithesis of the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Phil Alexander, Eltham
If the Victorian Liberal Party is not capable of properly selecting its candidates for the forthcoming state election what hope does it have in running the state properly?
Randall Bradshaw, Fitzroy
Moira Deeming preselection – acceptable … non acceptable … acceptable again?
Les Aisen, Elsternwick
The Liberal Party have failed to do their due diligence for the Western Metropolitan electorate. Another bonus for the ALP.
Mary Wise, Ringwood
Trump
Donald Trump is a bit like the Melbourne weather. What he says in the morning can change by the afternoon and change again by the evening.
Ron Mather, Melbourne
“Who will rid us of this turbulent president?” (Apologies to King Henry II.)
Richard Cooke, Warrnambool
According to Donald Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, people like Iran’s leaders who tell lies are no longer on planet Earth. By this measure, her boss is in serious trouble.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
“Go get your own oil” Aah Donald Trump is a joker, had me fooled on April the first.
Bryan Fraser, St Kilda West
Donald Trump spits the dummy. So there!
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
Furthermore
$70 million for the one month of free public transport and $102 million for four days free use of Albert Park for car racing.
Geoff Gowers, Merricks North
Your correspondent (Letters, 1/4) advocates getting rid of the ABC as news can be provided by other media source. Imagine, the main source of all news being delivered via the Murdoch press. No thanks.
Paul Jurkovsky, Ferntree Gully
