Elliott fuels COVID security confusion, complacency

Companies at all times declare they can’t afford a rise in wages. They will, after all, pay excessive government salaries and pay administrators a considerable wage for attending as much as 30 conferences a 12 months plus bonuses. They will pay all different bills related to operating a enterprise. However wages? No. In fact, some small companies can wrestle to fulfill all commitments, however which may imply they’re merely unprofitable and want reform. It’s lengthy overdue for Australians to contemplate what’s the easiest way to run our economic system. The discount in purple tape pursued by the Liberals has resulted in frauds and enterprise failures. We have to purpose for safe full-time jobs based mostly on a minimal wage to assist an inexpensive way of life. In fact, companies pays above that minimal. Up to now, companies have falsely claimed an award prevents this. Clearly, in some industries, there’s a want for transitory employees (agriculture). Such employees nonetheless have to be paid that minimal for the interval they’re employed. The next enhance in wages would move by the economic system, offering progress for all. Barry O’Connell, Outdated Toongabbie

Giving a tax lower to high-income employees is a price to the finances. Spending a whole bunch of tens of millions of {dollars} on sporting arenas is a price to the finances. Making childcare inexpensive, healthcare extra accessible and paying nurses and lecturers respectable wages usually are not prices: they’re investments. John Bailey, Canterbury

Transparency is nice governance

Secrecy is the enemy of excellent governance and subsequently the enemy of the individuals who elect governments (“Federal officers flouting FOI guidelines”, September 5). The failed Liberal authorities of the person of many secrets and techniques was capable of proceed for so long as it did due to the secrets and techniques it collectively stored. The federal authorities has an extended “to do” record, however reinstating FOI is an easy repair that should happen now. Geoff Nilon, Mascot

Because the federal authorities begins its three years in energy, it’s certainly acceptable that Geoffrey Watson and Max Douglass iterate how the earlier one was a travesty of open authorities and the way essential it’s for the brand new one to actively assist disclosure of government-held data.
Anthony Albanese didn’t get off to a great begin when he reversed his choice on releasing the small print of conferences between himself and state leaders, however we now have to hope he is not going to proceed down the Scott Morrison path of secrecy. For good motive, the US Supreme Courtroom recognised in 1936 that ″⁣knowledgeable public opinion is essentially the most potent of all restraints upon misgovernment″⁣. Peter Nash, Fairlight

Freedom From Data? Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

Tortuous transport

The premier’s plans for “shorter wait instances and faster journeys” in Sydney’s distant future ought to begin proper now at White Bay (“Trials to start on ‘one-stop outlets’,” September 5). The Bays Metro-West station is being constructed proper subsequent to the $16 billion motorway ramps, however there isn’t a signal of any plan for handy public transport transfers with the Victoria Street buses serving Sydney’s north-western suburbs. Will we nonetheless should take a bus all the way in which east to City Corridor simply to take a practice west in direction of Parramatta? Kevin Eadie, Drummoyne

“Practice stations shouldn’t simply be for trains,” says Rob Stokes. With so many commuters caught at railway stations currently as a result of trains have been delayed or cancelled, it’s considerate of the NSW authorities to provide you with a variety of issues that folks can do to fill within the time. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Energy to not be wasted

David Pocock is appropriate that the ALP greenhouse discount goal of 43 per cent is insufficient, however there isn’t a nation presently aiming to cut back emissions as quick because the science calls for (“ALP local weather invoice lacks credibility: Pocock”, September 5). The 43 per cent is however a begin and, contemplating Australia’s reliance on coal-fired energy, its mining of carbon-based fuels, our dependancy to motor automobiles and the parlous state of the finances, will probably be tough sufficient to attain.
Given their energy within the Senate, essentially the most potent coverage Pocock and the Greens may implement could be to pressure Labor to cancel the stage three tax cuts. This might liberate many tens of billions for inexperienced initiatives similar to photo voltaic collectors on each roof, batteries, subsidies for EVs, an enormous funding in charging services and tax breaks for brand new inexperienced industries. There’s an outdated saying in politics: there isn’t a level having political energy until you employ it. Geoff Harding, Chatswood

The true check for the Labor authorities begins this week when David Pocock throws down the gauntlet within the Senate. On the one hand, drought, hearth and flood havoc remains to be enjoying out within the northern summer season, and the UN secretary-general is telling us that the world is sleepwalking to catastrophe. The scientific consensus is that we now have to cease all new fossil gas initiatives to have an inexpensive probability for a livable future. However, there’s something to Albanese’s declare that stopping all our fossil gas exports would simply imply different nations sourcing the identical issues from elsewhere. Europe is crying out for vitality sources due to Vladimir Putin’s malevolence. Financing Labor’s spending program is dependent upon income from fossil gas exports. The problems might not be clear-cut, however it is mindless for surroundings ministers not having to contemplate local weather change when deciding on mining licenses. Flippant remarks from minister Madeleine King that “carbon dioxide isn’t a poisonous gasoline, it’s what you get in your soda water” doesn’t give confidence that she understands the problems. Gary Barnes, Mosman

Unions needed

Many individuals appear to overlook that unions are a collective of employees and that they could be a highly effective voice for change (″⁣Unions once more play a central function in corridors of energy″⁣, September 5).
Rail employees, nurses and lecturers are in a battle for fundamental pay rights and security considerations.
It’s important that unions not solely stay in roles of energy, but in addition that they develop and acquire momentum so governments and enterprise must take heed to the individuals and act on their behalf. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Ross Gittens appears somewhat cynical about Labor’s return to energy and its relationship with unions.
Labor has a particular relationship with unions, as does the Liberal Get together with large enterprise. Inside their boundaries, the general public expects each events to offer a easy industrial environment. Invoice McMahon, Lennox Head

Rock’s gender situation

Cat Woods’ article (“Rock music world nonetheless beholden to males who abuse fame”, September 5) once more exposes shameful therapy of ladies within the music business. I ponder how we may have anticipated something totally different when some of the well-known strains of some of the well-known songs by some of the well-known teams tells us that enjoying a guitar in a band will get you “cash for nothing, and your chicks at no cost”. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth

Stacks of concepts

The one artwork appropriate for the Rozelle stacks could be a Jeffrey Sensible portray (Letters, September 5). Alan Johnson, Seaforth

The Rozelle exhaust towers resemble windmills. So flip them into windmills, with the rotating caps and sails or vanes within the conventional fashion and permit the vanes to disperse the poisonous fumes. Helen Howes, Collaroy

A fast transition to zero-emissions automobiles will render stacks pointless. Zero emissions automobiles shouldn’t be paying for the air pollution from infernal combustion engines, and discounting tolls would drive them quicker. David Sargent, Seaton (SA)

Quick-range rocket

Like your fridge and TV, merchandise are not made to final (“Leak halts second moon rocket launch bid”, September 5). Mustafa Erem, Terrigal

Fortunately mediocre

I see the typical NSW pokie participant misplaced over $4500 in a 12 months (“NSW pokies loss means above different states”, September 5). I’m glad to be under common. Adrian Connelly, Springwood

The $11.4 billion misplaced on poker machines in a single 12 months is a tragic indictment of our society. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook

The digital view
On-line remark from one of many tales that attracted essentially the most reader suggestions yesterday on smh.com.au
Ukraine’s pitch to Australia: Use our military as your guinea pig
From Wayne from St Albans: ″⁣Go for it Australia, check them out, assist them, be taught from the failings and construct a greater product. My private opinion: the 2 merchandise are unbelievable automobiles; they’re nimble, versatile and shield the occupants.″⁣

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