Elliott fuels COVID safety confusion, complacency

Companies all the time declare they can’t afford a rise in wages. They will, in fact, pay excessive government salaries and pay administrators a considerable wage for attending as much as 30 conferences a yr plus bonuses. They will pay all different bills related to operating a enterprise. However wages? No. After all, some small companies can wrestle to satisfy all commitments, however which may imply they’re merely unprofitable and want reform. It’s lengthy overdue for Australians to contemplate what’s one of the simplest ways to run our economic system. The discount in crimson tape pursued by the Liberals has resulted in frauds and enterprise failures. We have to intention for safe full-time jobs primarily based on a minimal wage to assist an inexpensive lifestyle. After all, companies pays above that minimal. Previously, companies have falsely claimed an award prevents this. Clearly, in some industries, there’s a want for transitory staff (agriculture). Such staff nonetheless have to be paid that minimal for the interval they’re employed. The following improve in wages would movement via the economic system, offering progress for all. Barry O’Connell, Outdated Toongabbie

Giving a tax reduce to high-income staff is a price to the funds. Spending a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} on sporting arenas is a price to the funds. Making childcare reasonably priced, healthcare extra accessible and paying nurses and academics first rate wages should not prices: they’re investments. John Bailey, Canterbury

Transparency is sweet governance

Secrecy is the enemy of fine 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 saved. The federal authorities has a protracted “to do” checklist, 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 applicable 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 an excellent begin when he reversed his determination on releasing the small print of conferences between himself and state leaders, however we have now to hope he is not going to proceed down the Scott Morrison path of secrecy. For good motive, the US Supreme Court docket 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 retailers’,” 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 Highway buses serving Sydney’s north-western suburbs. Will we nonetheless need to take a bus all the best way 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 recently 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 individuals can do to fill within the time. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Energy to not be wasted

David Pocock is right 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 funds, can be troublesome sufficient to realize.
Given their energy within the Senate, essentially the most potent coverage Pocock and the Greens may implement can be to power Labor to cancel the stage three tax cuts. This could unlock many tens of billions for inexperienced initiatives corresponding to photo voltaic collectors on each roof, batteries, subsidies for EVs, an enormous funding in charging amenities and tax breaks for brand new inexperienced industries. There may be an previous saying in politics: there isn’t a level having political energy until you utilize it. Geoff Harding, Chatswood

The actual check for the Labor authorities begins this week when David Pocock throws down the gauntlet within the Senate. On the one hand, drought, fireplace and flood havoc remains to be enjoying out within the northern summer time, and the UN secretary-general is telling us that the world is sleepwalking to catastrophe. The scientific consensus is that we have now to cease all new fossil gas initiatives to have an inexpensive probability for a livable future. Alternatively, 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 power sources due to Vladimir Putin’s malevolence. Financing Labor’s spending program depends upon income from fossil gas exports. The problems is probably not clear-cut, nevertheless it is unnecessary 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 crucial

Many individuals appear to neglect that unions are a collective of staff and that they could be a highly effective voice for change (″⁣Unions once more play a central position in corridors of energy″⁣, September 5).
Rail staff, nurses and academics 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 hearken to the folks and act on their behalf. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Ross Gittens appears just a little 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 huge enterprise. Inside their boundaries, the general public expects each events to supply a easy industrial ambiance. Invoice McMahon, Lennox Head

Rock’s gender challenge

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’m wondering how we may have anticipated something totally different when one of the vital well-known traces of one of the vital well-known songs by one of the vital well-known teams tells us that enjoying a guitar in a band will get you “cash for nothing, and your chicks totally free”. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth

Stacks of concepts

The one artwork appropriate for the Rozelle stacks can be a Jeffrey Good 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 model and permit the vanes to disperse the poisonous fumes. Helen Howes, Collaroy

A speedy 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 sooner. 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 common NSW pokie participant misplaced over $4500 in a yr (“NSW pokies loss means above different states”, September 5). I’m glad to be beneath common. Adrian Connelly, Springwood

The $11.4 billion misplaced on poker machines in a single yr 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 issues and construct a greater product. My private opinion: the 2 merchandise are unbelievable automobiles; they’re nimble, versatile and defend the occupants.″⁣

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