Slippery catch

www.gippslandtimes.com.au

Innovative thinking is extinct

THE reasons for the demise of dinosaurs and woolly mammoths has been subject to considerable doubt for a long time, although many interesting theories have been put forward by researchers. If in the far distant future, long after the demise of the human race, whatever intelligent beings that may succeed us will have no problem at all in determining the reason for the demise of humans — the results of mining and using coal in huge quantities, as a means of producing energy, will be ever so evident.

Brian Measday,

South Australia Federal government’s advertising misses the mark

I HAVE been amazed at the federal government advertising campaign on free to air TV lately. The ads suggest that the federal government is spending big on renewable energy, showing flashy grabs of solar farms, soil carbon projects, hydrogen projects and seaweed for cattle. In fact, most of this investment is by forward looking private investors like Twiggy Forrest, often in spite of government policies. Unsurprisingly the ads show no wind farms as the Federal Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, has been a fierce anti wind farm campaigner since before he entered parliament. Probably because they are so effective at under-cutting the price of production of coal fired and gas power stations. Need we mention our coal hugging PM. Let’s not forget how much our Liberal National Party government has tried to stifle investment in renewable energy since they came to power in 2013. The following is a list of some of their ant-renewable actions in the last nine years:  Getting rid of the ETS (carbon tax). Reducing the renewable energy target (RET) by a third for 2020 and scrapping a RET for 2030.  Defunding the Climate Council. Stopping the Clean Energy Finance Corporation from investing in wind and solar.  Diverting some of the CEFC funds to gas and Carbon Capture and Storage projects.  Blocking NAIF funding for a Queensland wind farm while giving millions to frack the Beetaloo Basin.  Employing a bunch of gas company mates to develop a COVID Recovery Plan. Surprise, Surprise. They recommended a “gas led recovery”.  Building a totally unneeded diesel and gas power station at Kurri Kurri. Developing a “Planphlet” for Net Zero by 2050 for the COP26 climate conference, 40 per cent of which is just fantasy. The truth is that the positive “Can Do Capitalism” by private investors should ensure that Australia does not need to burn coal or much gas for electricity by 2030. But this will be impossible if we stick with the policies of the Morrison government. The coming election will be an opportunity for citizens to see through the blatant political spin of this untruthful ad campaign and vote for candidates who support a real transition to reduce Australia’s emissions by more than 45 per cent and secure a future for their children and the environment.

Trevor Hoare,

Mirboo

It is disappointing to note how little interest the federal and state governments have in developing legislation to ensure protection of Strzelecki koalas writes Olga van Cauwenberghe. Photo: File

Future of Strzelecki koalas should be a priority for government

IT is disappointing to note how little interest the federal and state governments have in developing legislation to ensure protection of our Strzelecki koalas. Their population is threateningly low: some 1500-2000 or so. These koalas are only found in Gippsland, and are a different koala population from the rest of the koalas we see elsewhere in Victoria and South Australia. To be more specific: Our Strzelecki koalas significantly differ in terms of their greater genetic diversity. They carry the original genetic pool as they are direct descendants from the original koalas. This uniqueness seems to allow these koalas to adapt more easily to environment changes and be less prone to diseases. It is even said they carry the key to understanding our koala species survival in Australia. The rest of the koalas we see in Victoria, outside Gippsland, are translocated koalas; that is these koalas are descendants from small groups of koalas that were sent to French Island and Phillip Island many years ago. Hence their genetic diversity is low and it is well documented the diseases and difficulties they have living in their environment. Due to this uniqueness, the SA government, with Victorian state government approval, transported some of our Strzelecki male koalas to SA in a breeding project last year, with the aim of ensuring the survival of SA koala species. One only has to browse the internet to find other organisations also have an interest in acquiring Strzelecki koalas for their breeding programs. Yet the federal and Victorian state governments are not enshrining the significance of the Strzelecki koalas in any legislation to ensure their long-term protection and survival in their diminishing natural habitat! Why?

Olga van Cauwenberghe,

Jeeralang Junction Shock, horror, the TAC ad a trojan horse

THE Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in Victoria is running a shock/ horror motorcycle protective clothing campaign. Blood and guts road safety ads have been tried before with marginal success. They shock for a bit then the novelty wears off and the only people still watching are surviving victims and loved ones. They recoil from their TVs remembering the awful experience. The TAC hired St Kilda Road agency Clemenger BBDO to make the TV AD. They are expensive. The TAC campaign may be a prelude to more mandatory clothing laws. TAC is a government insurance company. It covers road registered vehicles with compulsory third party insurance. The TAC has a monopoly on a compulsory product. It does not need to self-promote to maintain cash flow. Plus, it has serious income from investments. The Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia (MRAA) strongly supports promoting safety clothing for riders. The MRAA strongly opposes making more motorcycle and scooter safety clothing mandatory. Mandatory safety gear means less choice and higher prices hurting low income riders most. Approved motorcycle helmets are mandatory. Compliance among legitimate road riders is effectively 100 per cent. High visibility vests for learner riders have been mandatory in Victoria since 2014. VicRoads added the hi viz vest law to the graded licence system (GLS). VicRoad's own road safety committee did not support it. The MRAA opposed it. No before-and-after research has been done. In 2019, a fine of $165 and the loss of a licence demerit point was introduced for vest offences. In 2021, the fine was increased to $182. Learner riders are least likely to afford fines. There is no evidence to show hi viz vests reduced learner rider crashes. There are more cost effective ways of spending our premiums. Offering discounts on compulsory third party (CTP) premiums after buying safety clothing that meets an NCAP standard is one. TAC is a sponsor of the NCAP system.

Damien Codognotto OAM

Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia spokesperson Aged care workers deserve a fair go on wage front

I WONDER how many aged care workers there are just in the distribution area of this newspaper? Hundreds? Thousands? This essential work is sometimes not easy but often very rewarding. The pandemic has helped to highlight just how stressed the whole Aged Care sector is whether in Home Care or in a facility. The government must recognise the valuable work done. Don’t just throw a couple of one off payments at staff. This may be very nice in the short term but does not fix the long term problem of retaining and fairly remunerating staff. Show that the work is really valued and pay a fair wage.

Jennifer Wrigley,

Stratford

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