Can Albo fix our 'messy' gas market?
Anthony Albanese has been doing the media rounds, spruiking his Government's cost of living measures as the new financial year begins — but can he really take claim for them all?
And as the ACCC warns of a gas shortfall, the Government has launched a review into the rules governing the gas industry and there's increasing speculation a gas reservation scheme could be on the table. So, will that help resolve the "hodge podge" regulation in the gas system?
Patricia Karvelas and Mel Clarke break it all down on Politics Now.
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Cycle of construction Dictatorial powers exercised by the state government on planning approvals, referred to as the 'Development Facilitation Program' reveal symptoms of the government's extreme budgetary stress from long-term structural deficits (' The suburbs set to be transformed by minister's sweeping powers ', 1/7). Planning, land development and construction translate into revenue from a range of land taxes and related revenue sources, designed to stimulate an economy that continues to perform sub-optimally. According to the 2025-26 state budget papers, revenue from land tax is forecast to be $6.4 billion in 2025-26, then grow by an average of 5.7 per cent a year over the forward estimates. This growth rate reflects expectations of high construction levels and property sales. Yet in a globalised economy, revenue from a cycle of construction, property sales and high migration levels does not take advantage of the globalised market place and is self limiting. Sectors such as technology innovation and commercialisation of inventions with international application deliver far greater opportunities for economic growth but do not appear on the horizon of a government that prefers repetition of a self-limiting economy with a focus on manual labour. Liz Burton, Camberwell Lack of openness When the federal IBAC was established in the early days of the first Albanese government it was a breath of fresh air after years of prevarication by the Morrison government. Unfortunately the lack of openness and transparency in its processes has been a great disappointment. The recent findings of corrupt behaviour by a senior public servant in appointing a close relative's friend to a high-profile job (' Senior public servant promoted sister's fiance, forged signature ', 1/7) without naming any of the parties involved is such an example. Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South Blinded to the costs VCAT's decision on an illuminated housing estate sign is to be applauded (' VCAT's dim view on lights at night ', 1/7) with more cases surely to emerge with the full-scale adoption of LED lights by councils. This trend disregards the effect of LED lights on health, not only of humans but also wildlife which rely on darkness to navigate via the night sky. This is not to say that lighting is not necessary at night. Other colours such as the yellow we used to have is preferable to the glare of bright white/blue light from LEDs which contain an imperceptible flicker effect. Much has already been noted scientifically about the effects of our overuse of digital devices upon sleep deprivation and its association with poor health. Now, with the proliferation of LED lights in homes, by retailers, car headlights, street lighting, AFL advertising around the ground and live performances, it is time for authorities to look beyond economics and look to the unintended consequences of new technologies before they are launched on the market. Many of us find oncoming headlights blinding nowadays, even when on low-beam. It would not surprise me if this led to an increase in certain car crashes. Anne Carroll, Brighton East An unhappy outcome The latest pay request by teachers (' State teachers seek 35% pay rise ', 1/7) will no doubt be followed by a strike and then a confusing pay scale update giving teachers a below inflation pay rise of about 2 per cent or 3 per cent as has generally been the pattern since 1982 when I started teaching. The only teaching number at risk of going above 35 per cent is the number of teachers that leave before five years in the classroom. Teaching has been, and can be again, a wonderful career but there is much to be done to return the average classroom to 25 happy, enthusiastic students with one teacher that walks in with a smile. Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill What's super for? Re: ' He proposed it 34 years ago. On Tuesday, Paul Keating's plan comes to fruition ' (The Age, 1/7), the government needs to define just what the purpose of superannuation legislation is. Is it to provide a taxpayer-subsidised investment scheme or inheritance scheme for the wealthy, or to lift ordinary people off the pension and provide them a reasonable income in retirement without recourse to the government pension. I believe it is, or should be, the latter. The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia recommendation for a comfortable life in retirement is around $52,000 for singles and $73,000 for couples with the super balance required for that level of income $595,000 for singles and $690,000 for couples. The current individual transfer cap for a tax-free retirement pension, at nearly $2 million (indexed) is very generous. With even conservative investment returns of 5 per cent this would provide an income of $100,000 per annum without diminishing the principal. This amount doubles for couples to $200,000 per annum. If the aim is to move people off the government pension then the transfer cap is the maximum that any person or couple could possibly need for this purpose and super balances should not exceed this amount. Ken Weaver, East Brighton Israel's wins In the recent brief war between Israel and Iran, Israel, having recognised the existential threat posed to it by Iran's public race towards nuclear weapons and rapidly expanding ballistic missile arsenal, destroyed Iran's air defences and killed almost the entire upper echelon of Iran's military, IRGC and nuclear scientists, whose purpose is the total demise of Israel. It also destroyed Iran's air force, its defences against air attack, more than half of its missiles and missile launchers, elements of its nuclear weaponisation program, and many of the regime's institutions of oppression. Then the US inflicted major damage on the rest of Iran's nuclear weapons facilities, once Israel made Iran's skies safe for it. Israel intercepted at least 90 per cent of the hundreds of missiles and all but one of the roughly 1000 drones Iran fired at Israel. While Israel suffered some damage and deaths from Iran's attacks on civilians, it was far less than Israel had feared. So to suggest, as Amin Saikal does, (Opinion, 1/7) that the war demonstrated Israeli miscalculation and Iranian strength simply defies belief and ignores fact. Stephen Lazar, Elwood Trump's achievements Has there been a US president who has achieved what Donald Trump has achieved in just six months? He reduced the flow of illegal immigrants from thousands a day to a trickle. Eliminated billions of dollars of government rorts and waste. Despite the experts predicting that tariffs would create massive inflation and recession, the S&P 500 has just hit a record high and inflation has dropped to the lowest level since Trump was president previously. His work was vital in the peace deal between nuclear powers Pakistan and India, with Pakistan nominating him for a Nobel peace prize. His administration brokered peace between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo after a three-year war, and conflict that dates back 30 years. His administration negotiated the release of the last US hostage held by Hamas and facilitated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in coming days. He ordered the bombing of Iran's nuclear weapons sites, and Iran is set to resume peace talks. He convinced NATO to dramatically increase defence spending. But Trump's critics will no doubt find a way to criticise these achievements. Robert Box, Chelsea Crisis in Gaza In our lives we have seen few situations as awful as Gaza. Israel's blockade of adequate food, water and medical supplies for several months has led to infants and children becoming severely malnourished. Desperate people seeking limited food from the only provider, which is controlled by Israel, come under lethal fire. The images cause us to recoil in horror as we observe the suffering of the hungry and frightened children, and the anguish of their parents. No history, no previous grievous acts, justifies the continuation of this abhorrent war and blockade. Andrew & Marie Trembath, Blackburn In your hands Sorry, but there is only one reason parliament is dominated by one sector – we voted for them (' We are a diverse nation. Enough stale, pale males ', 1/7). There were plenty of very capable young women who stood in the last election but didn't get the votes. If you looked beyond the party and voted for the best candidate, our parliament would be very different and a lot more effective. Don't blame the pale, stale, male outcome, change the way you vote. Stuart Perry, Longford Quotas work Timor-Leste's 2006 electoral law mandates that political parties include at least one woman for every three of their candidates. Thus women hold 35.38 per cent of parliamentary seats, one of the highest percentages in the Asia-Pacific region. If this young democracy can make quotas work successfully, the Liberal Party can too. Elizabeth Douglas, Melbourne AND ANOTHER THING Trump So Trump is outraged over being called TACO (Trump always chickens out). Does that mean that he is a TAPAS (Trump a president above sanction)? Kevan Porter, Alphington Gender in politics I'm always amused when people oppose quotas on the grounds of 'merit.' If the incumbents are the best merit has to offer, then heaven help us all. Sally Gatenby, Richmond Sussan Ley's experience in aerial sheep mustering may help her keep Canberra's dinosaurs rounded up, and shuffling along. Barbara Chapman, South Yarra AFL What I find strange about the AFL footy is when the teams are not winning or doing well everyone blames the coach: 'Off with his head'. I thought there were others involved in the game? Nola Cormick, Albert Park Supporters should boycott all Saturday AFL games until the games are back on free to air. Peter Gustavsen, Brighton Loading Furthermore Congratulations to the ACT government for leading the way by being the first Australian jurisdiction to raise the age for criminal responsibility to 14 years. Now other states need to do the same and provide the extra funding to keep our children at home safe. Margaret Pekin, Thornbury Re: ' A thorny issue: How sea urchins could offer a perverse climate hope ' (29/7), I recently returned from Greece, with an expensive trip to the doctor to remove seven sea urchin spines from my wrist. As a regular bay open water swimmer, I encourage action to ensure they don't take over our beautiful environment. Kerry O'Shea, Hampton
