It is disingenuous for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be telling Pacific leaders that “we cannot afford to let 1.5 degrees just slip from our grasp” (“Fire, cyclones, extreme heat: Albanese’s hellish summer forecast”, October 6).
asserted
degrees → tell → grasp
This bold statement does not fit with his government’s poor climate record, which includes approval of the 45-year extension for the NW Shelf gas project, approvals for 37 new coal and gas projects and rejection of a “climate trigger” in environmental legislation, all since taking office just four years ago.
asserted
which → fit → office
It would be far more honest for the PM to admit to our Pacific neighbours that, in addition to the large number of greenhouse-gas generating fossil fuel projects already approved, coal mines and gas fields have somehow found a new lease of life with the arrival of energy-hungry AI data centres, with some 160 already operational in Australia and some 200 proposed.
asserted
mines → admit → Australia
It’s clear that with weak commitment to climate from Washington to Canberra, the villagers in Nepal, the Pacific Islands and other climate hotspots, are in for a dangerous future that they don’t deserve.
asserted
they → ’ → that
Rob Firth, Red Hill
It is a sad reality that economics almost always trumps the environment when it comes to political decision-making.
asserted
it → trump → making
Hence the reason why the federal government and its state counterparts continue to approve new fossil fuel projects, even though those projects are fuelling global warming.
asserted
projects → continue → warming
In the end, economics will see the demise of those very same projects as renewables increasingly outdo coal, gas and oil in terms of cost and performance.
asserted
renewables → see → cost
Will this happen quickly enough to save the planet for future generations?
asserted
this → happen → generations
I would rather act now rather than wait to find out.
asserted
I → act → ?
Ken Enderby, Concord
I had to do a double take when I read that the prime minister has spoken of Australia’s hellish summer forecast warning that the coming dire conditions are a result of global emissions.
asserted
conditions → have → emissions
A major 19-year extension for the Hunter Valley operations has been approved and according to the Climate Council the Government has approved 37 fossil fuel projects since coming to power in May 2022.
uncertain
Government → approve → May
Stopping addiction to coal fuels is surely one step in the right direction but it seems the world needs coal more than it needs action to prevent the onset of its negative effects.
asserted
it → stop → effects
Vicky Marquis, North Sydney
Taylor looked like a leader
As usual, the economists disagree with each other over immigration and its effect on the economy (Migration battle is looming for Taylor, October 7).
asserted
battle → look → Taylor
The thing that impressed me the most about the policy release was the leadership displayed by Angus Taylor, his communication skills and authenticity.
asserted
that → impress → Taylor
There is more business experience on the Coalition side than on the government side, but Labor has a better political machine.
asserted
Labor → be → machine
It is pleasing this time to see shadow ministers with considerable experience, such as Simon Kennedy and Andrew Hastie, speaking out to support their leader, who was also supported ably by Matt Canavan, the Nationals leader.
asserted
who → see → Canavan
This bodes well for the future of conservative parties in Australia.
asserted
This → bode → Australia
Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh
The commentary regarding the migration policies of both the Coalition and One Nation revolves around the manipulation of numbers without any serious discussion regarding the practicality of what is proposed.
asserted
what → regard → practicality
Are we to get an ICE type agency here to remove people who do not go voluntarily?
asserted
who → get → people
In such circumstances, it was wise of Tony Burke to delay the government’s policy announcement until he was satisfied that any changes made would not damage the economy or upset international partners with whom we have existing agreements.
asserted
we → delay → agreements
As an example, we would be in breach of an existing agreement with India, entered into by the previous Coalition government, regarding international students.
asserted
we → exist → students
All agree that some downward adjustment in migration numbers is needed but the changes have to be both sensible and practical.
asserted
changes → agree → numbers
This requires serious analytical work and not just political posturing.
asserted
This → require → work
John Jones, Armidale
Angus must have stayed up all night thinking of this policy to win an election for the advancement of Australia.
asserted
Angus → stay → Australia
If the economy was a body, migrants are the muscles that do the lifting.
asserted
that → do → lifting
Wherever I go, it’s the new Australians doing 90 per cent of the physical work that needs to be done.
asserted
that → go → work
I would prefer my tax dollars spent on what Australia needs for the future betterment of this land for all Australians.
asserted
Australia → prefer → Australians
Although Labor has unfortunately fallen into the same anti-immigration quagmire, the right wing or more appropriately wrong wing LNP and the redhead’s No Notion seem to have missed a crucial point.
asserted
LNP → fall → point
Even Peter Costello realised that the population needed to grow – 25 years ago.
asserted
population → realise → ?
And with the birth rate going down with interest, there’s only one solution.
asserted
rate → go → interest
Not to mention that under our obligations to the UN Convention on Refugees and basic human rights, it is our fundamental duty to accept people from wherever – especially if we’ve been part of invading their countries.
asserted
we → mention → countries
Tony Doyle, Fairy Meadow
It’s the stupid economy
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Ross Gittins is sort of on the right path, suggesting an alternative to interest rates as the tool solely used to fight inflation (“Trying to tame inflation with higher interest rates is dumb and unfair”, October 7).
asserted
Trying → suggest → rates
It is a blunt tool, but it is the only one the RBA has.
asserted
RBA → have → ?
As Gittins points out, governments used to play a role through taxation policy.
asserted
governments → point → policy
I’d suggest government is quite happy for the focus to have shifted to the RBA as it relieves them of this responsibility.
asserted
it → suggest → responsibility
No longer do they have to keep their house in order.
asserted
they → have → order
Rather, as the last two decades have shown, they are happy to spend dollars they either have or borrowed to curry favour with electorate, who must bear some responsibility as the mantra “the government should do something” has become embedded.
asserted
government → show → something
Balanced budgets, lower borrowings and productivity improvements will ensure the RBA is less called on to inflict pain through interest rate policy.
asserted
RBA → ensure → policy
If the past 20 years is any indication, the pain is not going to ease any time soon.
asserted
pain → go → ?
…and 56 more, not listed.
The Aporia
