Taxing gas exports a no-brainer for the nation
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.
By expertly leading the rallying call for a 25 per cent tax on gas exports, Ross Gittins is officially back (“Easy way to fill budget black hole”, 15/4). As Gittins suggests, raising revenue Australians deserve from the extraction of our own resources – and helping to pay for the damage that fossil gas is contributing to through climate change – is a complete no-brainer. Countries like Norway and Qatar have been taxing their gas industries properly for decades, and even the UK has had an Energy Profits Levy since 2022. As Gittins notes, if the Albanese government fails to implement this widely supported and fair proposal, it will be “keeping big foreign-owned businesses happy ahead of the national interest”. Australians deserve better than that.
Larni Dibben, Glen Iris
Australia should look to Norway’s example
Australians are constantly told there is no money for tax relief, debt reduction or easing cost-of-living pressure. Yet multinational gas companies continue extracting billions of dollars’ worth of publicly owned resources while returning far too little to the country that owns them. This should not be accepted as normal. Nor is it a choice between giving our resources away and scaring off investment. Norway has shown that a resource-rich nation can attract investment while still insisting on a fair public return. Companies will accept firm rules when they are clear, stable and consistently applied.
Australia should follow Norway’s example. Our leaders should provide long-term certainty for investors, but in return require a genuine export royalty, or equivalent resource tax, that cannot be easily avoided. That is not anti-business. It is simply the price of access to resources that belong to the Australian people.
It is time our leaders treated the nation’s resources with the same scrutiny they apply to the tax affairs of everyday citizens.
Graeme Devey, Hampton
Albanese must play the long game
Ross Gittins reminds us that politically the 25 per cent tax on gas exports is low-hanging fruit that could be “plucked at no cost to voters and little, if any, threat to the gas industry”. Much of our security depends on reducing our dependence on oil and gas and this seems like a smart place to invest the $17 billion a year arising from this tax. The ground is prepared. EVs are mainstreaming, electric trucks are fast and efficient, and one of Australia’s largest exporters will go all-electric by 2028 (“Fortescue to fast-track switch from diesel to electric”, 11/4). This tax represents an opportunity for Albanese to play the long game; to reflect voter sentiment, to push back on big business and most importantly to invest in a safer climate for all. There’s an opportunity here to reap well from what we sow. If not now, when?
Karen Campbell, Geelong
War presents opportunity for climate action
Business columnist Stephen Bartholomeusz (Comment, 15/4) views the negative impacts of the Middle East war mainly from a short-term economic perspective. From an existentialist viewpoint (surviving climate change) much of the damage to the production and distribution of 30 per cent of the world’s oil and gas can be considered as a positive. That is, if it acts as a catalyst for people and states to accelerate the move to renewable electricity generation and use of electric transport. Continuing the use of harmful oil and gas is on track to cause a catastrophic situation – more far reaching than the current war scenario.
Tom Maher, Aspendale
Migration growth essential to economic health
Post-WWII migration was essential in boosting Australia’s workforce and thus contributed significantly to the economic growth and the standard of living we enjoy today. Now, with an ageing population and declining birth rate, migration is again essential for Australia’s economic wellbeing.
Phil Alexander, Eltham
THE FORUM
Victory, and danger
The High Court decision on donations was a big victory for independent political candidates. They have used the court to expose how Victoria’s donation laws were unfairly advantaging the major parties (“Campaign finance laws struck out”, 16/4). Trouble is, with all laws struck out, we now have a donations free-for-all. Given that the deep pockets of Gina Rinehart are supporting One Nation, this could have disastrous and unfair consequences. What’s wrong with a cap on donations that is the same for every candidate, no matter their party or affiliations?
Sarah Brennan, Hawthorn
Voters’ rights . . .
It is important to have a level financial playing field between the major parties, independents and new parties. Financial transparency is also important. Voters have a right to know in real time who donates to election campaigns, and why they donate.
Sarah Russell, Mt Martha
. . . And their distrust
The High Court decision striking out aspects of Victoria’s electoral laws so far as they relate to election funding is a win for democracy (″Campaign finance laws struck out″, 16/4). As Ron Merkel, SC, said so eloquently and accurately when referring to the arrangements given exclusively to the Labor , Liberal and National parties, ″the preferential arrangements were an abuse of incumbency and the nominated entity exemption was solely enacted for the benefit of the three legacy partners″. His words further confirm the reason for the deep distrust voters have for the major political parties.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
Alternative Goethe
In his column “What’s old can be new again in politics. Just ask Allan″ (16/4), Chip Le Grand refers to a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Everything has been thought of before but the problem is to think of it again.“
But I’d like to suggest a more apt von Goethe quote for this long-standing state government: “We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden.“
Sally Davis, Malvern East
Private sector perils
Introducing private sector investment in defence spending may prolong conflicts or favour them over diplomatic solutions in the drive to maximise profits (″Defence gets $53b boost over 10 years″, 16/4).
Peter Baddeley, Portland
Divided values
I’m struggling to make sense of Angus Taylor’s recent comments on migration, particularly the idea that newcomers should “embrace our way of life”.
It sounds straightforward, but the more you look at it, the less clear it becomes. We’re told this includes values like a “fair go”, yet it also seems entirely inconsistent with his party opposing the Voice Referendum. There’s an emphasis on equal rights for men and women, but no support for measures like gender quotas within his own party.
So what exactly counts as “our way of life”? And who gets to define it?
The bigger question, though, is how this idea is applied. If embracing these values is expected of migrants, what about the Australians who clearly reject them?
There are people in this country who are openly racist, openly hostile to the LGBTQI community, or aligned with sovereign citizen beliefs. Their views don’t exactly reflect the inclusive, egalitarian values being described, yet they remain part of the national community.
So is the expectation that these standards only apply to some people and not others? Are certain views tolerated when they come from citizens, but treated as disqualifying when they come from migrants?
Linelle Gibson, Williamstown
Passing the test
As an immigrant to this country, I think I can contribute to the Australian values debate. Here is my modest proposal. As a new immigrant, you will: be examined on English proficiency based on the books Let Stalk Strine and Aussie Talk; choose a footy team (AFL or NRL) and learn how to barrack; eat a meat pie with tomato sauce at least twice a week; learn the proper meaning of “fair go”; adopt the “no worries doctrine” as a national motto; learn to wear thongs properly at all seasons. Other values are negotiable.
Jerry Koliha, South Melbourne
An apt argument
With regard to recent letters about inapt language.Why do governments prefer outcomes to results, conversations rather than discussions and conclusions instead of decisions? Is it because an outcome is harder to measure than a result, a conversation is more nebulous than a discussion and a conclusion easier to come to than actually making a decision?
Paul Mann, Dingley Village
Wrong priorities
So we’re spending tens of billions dollars more, 3 per cent of GDP on weaponry, but what of preventing conflicts in the first place?
Foreign aid is demonstrably much more important for national security and can save countless lives, yet it remains hovering below 0.2 per cent of GDP.
Where is our fiscal responsibility,common sense and moral compass?
Christine Morris, Wyndham Vale
Concentration of jobs
The expansion of ministerial portfolios in Premier Jacinta Allan’s reshuffled cabinet raises an obvious question: how many jobs can one minister realistically do well?
Being attorney-general is a full-time responsibility. So is planning. So is finance. Yet we now have ministers expected to carry several of these roles at once. One wonders whether this reflects an abundance of talent or a shortage of it.
With a large parliamentary majority, one might expect a broader distribution of responsibility. Instead, key portfolios appear to be concentrated in relatively few hands, narrowing scrutiny and suggesting limited confidence in the broader ministry to carry major responsibilities.
Suzette Miller, Ashburton
Penalties not the answer
Enough is enough. Yes, youth crime is at an all-time high so why do our politicians keep pushing harsher penalties, ignoring the numerous studies that conclude that the best way to protect the community is to invest in measures such as enhanced early intervention and resources to rehabilitate young offenders and steer at-risk children away from a life of crime, protecting the community in the long term.
It is recognised that sentencing alone cannot address the root causes of offending by young people. Children who start offending early are likely to have suffered trauma, abuse, neglect or family violence.
No doubt our politicians believe that espousing “tough on crime” rhetoric will enhance their election chances.
What they need to do is educate the public that the only way to solve this issue in the long term is to increase funding for early intervention and rehabilitation.
Valerie Evans, Cheltenham
Waiting for a plan
What’s the plan of state Opposition Leader Jess Wilson to help young people be less disenfranchised?
Bill Burns, Bendigo
Role reversal
Your correspondent (Letters, 16/4) asks, “Who needs Pauline Hanson when we have Angus Taylor?” Pauline Hanson is, in effect, asking, “Who needs Angus Taylor when you have Pauline Hanson?” and I think her take is more likely to prevail.
Helmut Simon, Thomson
Junior role beckons
By aping One Nation Angus Taylor’s Liberal Party represents poor value for voters. Clearly his tragic strategy for a return to government is as the junior partner in a Pauline Hanson-led coalition.
Peter Rushen, Carnegie
Where true wealth lies
While I too might dream on that my forebears had stumbled over rocks and realised their incredible significance (“Rinehart ordered to pay hundreds of millions to rival mining family”, 16/4), now that I’m older I realise that my true wealth is in my family and relationship to my children and grandchildren. That is true wealth and not to be squandered. So while I may dream on about the countless good works I could do with incredible wealth, nothing can replace the joy on a grandchild’s face, or the pride and happiness of their parents in their own children.
Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn
AFL, we have a problem
I always take note of the Age football tipsters. However, when we have a round where seven of nine games have a 16-0 prediction with the other two games 15-1 and 14-2, AFL, we have a problem.
Mark Hulls, Sandringham
Praise for the royals
It’s good to see Harry and Meghan enjoying themselves among us. They cop so much negativity, often little more than bias and jealousy. And I like Harry’s kicking style.
Kevin Burke, Sandringham
Failure in support
The failure of the Trump-Vance support for Viktor Orban to win in Hungary may discourage others from seeking that support.
John Walsh, Watsonia
Would value a definition
John Howard was forever saying saying ″Australian values″. I did not know then what he meant and still don’t. So it was with great pleasure in Thursday’s letters a plethora of letters asking the same question.
Anna Flanagan, Box Hill North
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
Any country unlucky enough to be sent back to the Stone Age will also have to put up with Angus Taylor and his policies.
Ken Machin, Grovedale
These days, any immigrant motivated by what Angus Taylor calls “noble intent” would surely set alarm bells ringing.
Bernd Rieve, Brighton
An excellent cartoon by Matt Golding (15/4) on Angus Taylor’s immigration policy; he might as well be using a fox whistle rather than a dog whistle as it has a higher pitch.
Will Quilty, Shepparton
The use of ″Liberal″ in the Liberal Party has become a misnomer. Should it be the Conservative Party?
Arthur Pritchard, Ascot Vale
Under Angus Taylor’s new criteria, the Snowy Mountains hydro scheme probably would never have been built.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
Trump
Your correspondent’s observation (Letters, 16/4) that Donald Trump would be better portrayed as Michelangelo’s David has conjured up an image I wish I could un-see.
Deborah Morrison, Malvern East
I’ll never be able to look at Michelangelo’s David in the same light again. Such an instantly, indelibly, horrible image. Best laugh for ages.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
Now I keep seeing images of Donald Trump on a wooden cross.
Geoff Allen, Parkdale
Not only should Donald Trump listen to Bob Dylan’s With God on Our Side, he should then listen to Dylan’s Masters of War.
Kerry Murphy, Warrnambool
Furthermore
I thought the Mt Macedon memorial was to celebrate the lives of the fallen (″War memorial trees to be bulldozed″, 16/4) and not bear witness to more felling, though this time of Snowgum saplings, all in the name of the view.
Kim Kaye, Surrey Hills
What’s happened to the April sun? No solar equals more grid usage.
Peter Walker, Black Rock
