LETTERS

Illustration: Cathy Wilcox

Shirtfronted Part 3 reminded me how atrocious the 2014 budget was ("Joe's economy", December 2).  When even Eric Abetz and Kevin Andrews objected to the harshness of the measure to make unemployed people under the age of 30 wait six months for unemployment benefits you would have thought Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey would have taken some notice. It appears they relied on their focus group research, which surely couldn't be wrong.  However, one would imagine even the focus group wouldn't have expected such a fiscal onslaught.

Paul Townsend Narara

As I read the accusations levelled at Peta Credlin and Joe Hockey and of Tony Abbott's loyalty to both as part of the reason for the downfall of his government there seems to be one very important ingredient missing – the inequity and unfairness of the policies they championed. Irrespective of how well the Medicare copayment, health and education cuts to the states, six month qualifying periods for the dole, broken promises over Gonski, changes to pensions and cuts to the ABC were sold, it was their ideologically driven unfairness that damaged the government and still poses a threat to Malcolm Turnbull.

 John Bailey   Canterbury 

Advertisement

The US must be so pleased to know it is likely to get a failed treasurer, much unloved in his own party, as the next Australian ambassador. Unlike the Darwin Ports decision which the US was apparently unaware of, the Hockey appointment has been in the air for some time. Washington must be overjoyed with the care we take with this important post. Working mothers on maternity leave who were accused of double dipping will be less amused.

Alan Johnson Seaforth 

It is no secret that there is a conga line of politicians of all persuasions lining up to raise the GST ("Hockey's secret GST plans", December 2). They put their hands in our pocket, give a milkshake and hamburger tax cut, and then tell us how innovative they are. What is surprising is that people continually fall for it.

Greg Loder Springwood 

In a similar way to Kevin Rudd before him, Tony Abbott is showing why he is not fit to be the leader of this nation. His sniping from the sidelines about some from his ministerial team ("False, false, false – Abbott lets rip at Bishop", December 2), and his barely disguised efforts at destabilising the current Liberal leadership, demonstrate clearly that his interest lies in personal power rather that the good of the country or the stability of the government.

Phyllis Vespucci Reservoir (Vic)

Can't wait for Abbott the Musical.

Maureen Moss Beecroft

Why are we still talking about Abbott? Haven't we all been punished enough?

David Dudley Galston

Et tu, Julie? Our poor ex-minister for women has not had it easy the last few months. What with Peta Credlin bossing him about and Julie Bishop no longer laughing at his jokes, Tony Abbott must be glad he didn't appoint more women to the spheres of influence. Had he done so he might not have lasted so long.

Nola Tucker  Kiama

Is there an emoji for backstabbing?

Peter Miniutti Ashbury

Hear, hear, Garth Clark (Letters, December 2) the Liberals must remember the real reason Rudd/Gillard/Rudd et al lost the election: the public was fed up with the internal squabbling and wanted a mob who would do the job they were paid for – govern the country.  

However, the media is not helping at all.  Why do you think anyone gives a fig who said what to whom? The main thing is that there is now a government with enormous public support and we have a chance at some stability in government for the first time in nearly a decade.  Surely there is something more useful for Peter Hartcher to turn his considerable talent to than stirring up divisions in this government. 

Margaret Love Wahroonga

Abbott, Abetz, Andrews, Bernardi, et al, can you please just go away? The white-anting isn't working.

Ann Babington  Northbridge

One of Tony Abbott's many problems as prime minister was that he was in political climate change denial. His colleagues got hot under the collar, support for his leadership dried up and in the end he got fried.

Glen op den Brouw Liverpool

Delay is not the enemy in reaching emissions targets

There is much talk about the world's emission reduction targets for 2030 being announced in Paris and much of it seems to misunderstand the dynamics of savvy technology investment over that time frame ("Malcolm Turnbull's UNSW solar promotion 'absolutely great', say academics", December 2). The most profound misunderstanding is that delay is the enemy rather than our friend.

The most cost-effective global strategy to achieve the best bang for our renewable energy buck and achieve the strongest emission reduction targets is to invest very heavily in research and development for the next 10 years and then build most of our new clean capacity in the last five years up to 2030 with the dramatically improved and cheaper products that the intensive research and development will generate.

Our Prime Minister clearly understands this and is playing the long, smart game, focusing squarely on research and development, resisting the pressure to make more heroic but ultimately extremely expensive and frankly unwise large-scale investments too soon.

With this approach, the same global spend on renewables will buy us far more gigawatts by the same end date, giving us a far larger percentage of our global energy from renewable sources, while giving dirty energy time to wind down without massive widespread capital destruction.

We need a clear, intelligent transition plan for the next 15 years, bold targets and great ambition but only fools rush in.

Simeon Glasson Elizabeth Bay 

Pill testing puts tester in the firing line

Lately there have been calls for pill testing at outdoor music events so that patrons can be sure their drugs are not contaminated ("Security staff gagged over death", December 2). Unfortunately, this is a naive and unrealistic wish.

In order to identify components of pills one needs mass spectrometry. The operator would need to have a high level of expertise in operating the instrument and have the skills to positively identify all components in the drug sample. Who would pay for this service and who would give the all-clear for the analysis? What are the consequences if a person later dies following testing? Is the analyst culpable?

Furthermore, there are more than 400 known synthetic cannabis and amphetamine substances; these are in addition to the well-established drugs. No laboratory has the facility to test for all of them.

Many years ago, a 15-year-old school girl died after taking ecstasy. This was not contaminated with other substances, yet a death occurred.

Field testing of drugs is not achievable, it is unaffordable and transfers responsibility from the user to the analyst.

Dr John Lewis Honorary Associate, UTS, Visiting Fellow, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW

Deakin University senior lecturer Matthew Dunn says drug users aren't stupid. That has to be the greatest oxymoron of the 21st century.

Riley Brown Bondi Beach

False economy

The addition of ethanol to our petrol is, on the surface, an attractive choice to reduce the use of imported oil ("Warning of 8¢ hike in petrol under new laws", December 2). But knowing I will need approximately 10 per cent more of this E10 fuel to go the same distance as the garden variety unleaded fuel makes it less attractive from an economic point of view and of hardly any benefit from an environmental point of view.

The real winners in this situation are the manufacturers of ethanol. Why do we need regulation to support this industry? If it is good enough it will prevail. I would like to choose whether to use its additive or not. I'm not convinced. And why should I be forced to be?

Matthew Burke Dee Why

Where's the fairness?

The Herald neatly describes the Turnbull governments' ability to rob Peter to pay Paul ("Agencies slam aid repackaging", December 2). Robbing the already $13 billion-diminished aid budget to pay the most vulnerable nations in our region experiencing impacts of climate change will leave insufficient money to give a fair share to alleviating the misery of the 800 million people living in extreme poverty today. Due to such deprivation, 16,000 children die each day from diseases like diarrhoea and measles and 57 million children have no access to schools.

A wealthy country like Australia doesn't need to lower itself to such devious tactics. Where's the governments' sense of a fair go?

Sue Packham Woolamai

Rebadging a billion dollars in foreign aid funds as a climate change contribution – mean and tricky. Some things never change.

Rob Bower Peregian Beach

Taxpayers lose again

So the federal government is freezing the level of funding to private colleges in order to overhaul the scandal-plagued vocational training sector ("VET loans on ice to target rogue colleges", December 2). What have the people of NSW gained from the dismantling of TAFE and the privatisation of vocational training? Nothing, in fact, they are worse off.

The state government is better off, it has cut its education costs and responsibilities and has increased revenues in one-off sales of prime, former TAFE sites. Developers are better off as they scoop up this land for redevelopment. But in a year when banks, car companies and vocational educational colleges, have shown us that relying on the private sector to act with integrity and deliver quality products is, at best, naive, and with $1.76 billion spent on VET FEE-HELP loans last year, the losers are Australia's taxpayers and those who want to get vocational training to improve their employment opportunities.

Julian Hare Penshurst

Electricity station, oil tanks won't be missed

Please can we be clear where the Sydney Modern is being located (Letters, December 2). Not one blade of grass in The Domain or Botanic Gardens will be touched. It will be located on the eastern side of Art Gallery Road. It will sit with a very low profile going down to Lincoln Crescent where very upmarket apartments are situated opposite the wharf. It will also hide the ugly electricity station and the disused oil storage tanks. Yes, it will have some views, but not as good as the current Art Gallery of NSW. The foyer and the rear of the gallery have better views than the Sydney Modern will have.

Anthony Pittorino Darlinghurst

Michael Brand and the Art Gallery of NSW got it all wrong. First they should have proposed putting the extension of the AGNSW out into the harbour and then waited for outspoken yacht owners to jump up and down. After that they could have easily taken public space away from the city and even increased the height restrictions. Well, it worked on the other side of the CBD.

Todd Hillsley Homebush

Stake claim before mining companies move in

In an attempt to save ourselves from the menace of coal mining, might I suggest that we all now register a mining exploration lease over our own properties ("Decision in favour of bore drilling 'appalling'", December 2)? Government members in this country ought to hang their heads in shame.

Rose Cunningham Yarravel

Messenger still cops it 

Thanks to Eric Abetz for reminding us that we now have a new prime minister but still the same Coalition in power looking to shoot the messenger ("Eric Abetz​ has his Austin Powers moment grilling the ABC's Mark Scott", smh.com.au, December 1).

Graeme Finn St Peters

Leadership cycle 

For Malcolm Turnbull's long honeymoon is this the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning ("Atrocious judgment': Labor homes in on Malcolm Turnbull over Mal Brough", smh.com.au, December 2).

Thos Puckett​ Ashgrove 

Time for regrets 

A cautionary and instructive tale of post in haste, repent at leisure ("Hotel fires staffer who posted offensive comment", December 2).

Steve Ngeow​ Chatswood 

It's all in the spin 

It seems Garth Clarke (Letters, December 2) is mistaken.  The ALP may be "faction ridden" but the Coalition is a "broad church".

Anthony Rassias​ Glebe

Testing times 

John de Bres​ (Letters, December 2), if we have NAPLAN​ for aspiring teachers we may not need the same for school pupils.

Anne Ramsay Kiama