The towering implications of proposed Melbourne development
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very high inference
Lendlease’s proposal to build a tower next to the Young and Jackson pub almost twice the height of the city’s 40-metre height limit has consequences for the entire retail hub (″Residents left powerless when city asks developer minister to approve tower despite height limit″, 26/6). Height control runs throughout the centre’s retail core and was introduced expressly in 1982 to prevent shopping streets from becoming sunless canyons dwarfed by office towers. We all took advantage of this foresight and enjoyed the sun and clear weather as we wandered from store to store. The approval of this project would undoubtedly be the beginning of the end of such beneficial control that has been exercised for over forty years.
Ian Wight, Chairman, Royal Historical Society of Victoria Heritage Committee, Richmond
Artificial intelligence strategy required
Columnist Waleed Aly (Commentary, 6/26) highlighted the growing resistance to the uncontrolled expansion of AI data centers in many US states. Australia should heed these warnings before repeating the same mistakes. I welcome the parliamentary inquiry into AI data centres. This comes at a critical time when governments are weighing the benefits of AI against its impacts on energy, water, housing and local communities. I call on Parliament to impose a temporary moratorium on new hyperscale AI data center approvals until a binding national framework is in place. Rather than putting further pressure on public resources or expanding reliance on coal and gas, new utilities should be needed to finance the renewable energy, storage, transmission and water infrastructure they require.
Governments should also adopt nationally consistent standards for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water use and emissions, while ensuring that state planning protects housing, biodiversity and meaningful social consultation. The world’s richest technology companies can pay their share of infrastructure costs and taxes. Australia needs a national AI strategy that will put communities, climate and future generations ahead of an uncontrolled data center boom.
Patricia Jessen, Elwood
Not so fast in the hubs
Thanks to Waleed Aly for his insightful article on the increasingly unpopular AI data centers in the United States and lessons to consider.
Aly notes that “Gallup polling shows that more than 70 percent of Americans oppose having a data center in their area.”
As these massive, windowless data center structures mushroom across the country with inconvenient haste and minimal community involvement, Australians are quickly catching up. This raises the question: Is Australia being used as a convenient dumping ground for data centers that American communities don’t want?
And more worryingly, the closing date for submissions to a key Senate committee inquiry into “AI and data centers” has been extended from June 26 to September 1.
Can the Albanian government please reassure Australians that no AI data center proposals will be approved until Australians know the findings of this investigation?
Rob Firth, Red Hill, ACT
grandmother’s wisdom
My grandmother would punish us for our stupid, stubborn, and self-defeating decisions with the phrase “you cut off your nose to spite your face.” Now what would that say about Australia’s current voting intentions?
Richard Jamonts, Williamstown
Welcome to the new party
Even if there is no teal independent position in my own electorate, I would welcome the chance to vote for the Strong Community Australia party (CSA) in the Senate (″Who will come for the two teal parties?″, 27/6).
Current Independent Senator David Pocock has been influential on “progressive” issues, including negotiating changes to government legislation. He represents the ACT. A CSA representative like him from every state and territory would be a realistic target in the 2028 elections.
Votes can be expected from disgruntled Liberal supporters. The party led by Angus Taylor moved to the right. Reducing net zero and supporting coal are not welcomed by many people. Most people who support Labor or the LNP will give their preference to the CSA. Six teal independents beat incumbent Liberals at first try in 2022. The new party could achieve similar success in the Senate.
John Hughes, Mentone
New definitions
While there has been much confusion lately about the meaning of multiculturalism and monoculturalism, I offer some useful definitions:
Moanoculturalism: The resentment and grievance politics of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party and its disdain for non-English speaking immigrants and First Nations peoples.
Mean culturalism: Opposition to social welfare for disadvantaged refugees, indigenous people, the unemployed, and other marginalized people.
Mineoculturalism: pandering to the mining ambitions of mega-rich Gina Rinehart, environmental and cultural vandalism, climate change denialism, and libertarianism.
Harry Zable, Campbells Creek
a good result
It is interesting that your correspondent complains that they have sold two investment properties due to changes in Victorian land tax (Letters, 27/6).
While this has seen both properties exit the rental market, the better outcome is that these two properties are now occupied by owners who no longer have to rent. It’s an excellent result of tax changes at both the state and federal level to enable more people to become homeowners.
Denise Stevens, St Kilda
blame the americans
Your correspondent (Letters, 24/6) issued a call to arms for all pedants. It is here that the worst damage to the English language has been done by Americans due to the pervasive nature of their culture, facilitated by the proliferation of social media, especially among young people. Americans love to add unnecessary words, skipping necessary words, for example “my bad”, what is my bad? They use the wrong words in common expressions, such as bored instead of bored. At least some Americans claim that the language they speak is American, not English. I agree, sometimes ignorance has a pleasant outcome. Apparently some Americans are surprised that we speak English in Australia, or American as they hear it.
Alister McKenzie, Lake Wendouree
This fragile world
All life exists and thrives because the natural world is interconnected. If we continue to clear forests and sever these close ties, there will be no life left on Earth.
Steven Katsineris, Hurstbridge
What a deal
Donald Trump boasts that after eliminating Venezuela’s leadership, the United States earned 28 times the cost of military operations by selling Venezuelan oil alone. So technically he launched a coup and then plundered another country’s natural resources.
Greg Tuck, Warragul
liberal perceptions
Does the Victorian Liberal Party really want to govern?
Malcolm I. Fraser, Oakleigh South
Thanks, nice AI
I’m an old lady and I’m starting to think the AI is a real person. Very polite and knowledgeable. I’m thinking of bringing him a casserole.
Pamela Hadji, Highett
