Latest news with #Victorians
The Age
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Albanese is in China and Morrison is in his head
A city in decay My partner and I recently travelled by train from Geelong to Melbourne to enjoy a lunch at Southbank with family. As we walked down Spencer Street to Flinders Street we commented on the state of the footpaths, buildings, overflowing rubbish bins and general filth. More was to come. Alighting from the tram at Flinders Street station we were disgusted with the exterior condition of the station, the footpath and a toilet facility that was flooded and filthy. More was to come. After our lunch, we opted to walk along the Yarra and onto Southern Cross station. Empty wine bottles, discarded clothing, and general rubbish lined the walkway. On a trip to India, we were astounded at the amount of discarded rubbish we observed – Melbourne's CBD appears to running a close second. Perhaps we need Donald to ″make Melbourne Great again″. Heather Rees, Geelong Youth vote Changing the voting age so younger members of the population can vote is such a good idea. Let's follow Britain's excellent example, but make it optional for 16 and 17-year-olds whilst maintaining compulsory voting for everyone aged 18 and over. Denying the vote to enthusiastic young people who follow current affairs and politics and have opinions is wrong when apathetic older people who may have little interest are required to vote. Compulsory voting is what makes our democracy, so let's open it up to eager younger people on an optional basis. Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights The way it was Regarding your correspondent's suggestion that we need a government-owned bank (Letters, 17/7). We had one. It was called the State Savings Bank. My account began at age six when the nice bank people visited schools and we lined up proudly with our coins and bank books to make our deposits. When I married 20 years later and went in with name change details, the teller said I needed my husband's written permission to have the account. Outraged, I changed banks and became active in the fight for women's rights. Jane Ross, San Remo Victoria's unknown costs Everyday Victorians know that we have to budget carefully to cover our food, clothing and other necessities. Yet, as The Age editorial (16/7) stated, the state government is 'pouring every available dollar of capital expenditure into the Suburban Rail Loop″, even while we feel the cutbacks in health, education and other essential services. At the same time, secrecy surrounds the planning, funding and lack of development of urgently needed projects. The SRL bores ahead while there are still no Doncaster, airport or Melton rail lines; and now we suddenly hear of the Outer Melbourne Ring Road, which is needed to take thousands of trucks off the local roads. It is our taxpayer money which is needed for these projects, and as The Age said earlier in the year, secrecy around planning is 'eroding the public's right to know and the fabric of our democracy'. So, what are our government's plans and how do we, the taxpayers, find that money? Elizabeth Meredith, Surrey Hills Animal cruelty Re the ducks of Banyule Creek swimming in a blue soup (″ Workers clean up Banyule Creek after chemical from North East Link works turns it bright blue ″, 17/7), and the alleged poisoning of hundreds of corellas in Springvale South. This suffering is not what most people want to see happen to our native birdlife. We must do better. Debbie Lustig, Elsternwick Changing gears Your correspondent (Letters, 'Slap happy feet', 18/7) correctly points out the safety aspect on choosing one foot for the brake and the other for the accelerator. As a confirmed manual driver, I use the left foot for the clutch and right foot for brake or accelerator. If I were to press the accelerator accidentally instead of the brake, the most likely consequence would be that the car would stall rather than be involved in a collision. So my manual gear stick is both a safety feature and an anti-theft device. Rod Watson, East Brighton Left or right Your correspondent (18/7) suggests the left foot for the brake, and says it is an old maxim. Any suggestion to improve road safety should be considered, but is it an old maxim? My recollection of driver training in the 1970s was that it was left foot for the clutch and right foot for the brake and accelerator. The NRMA website unambiguously recommends the right foot for braking and accelerating. Stephen Minns, South Yarra Take it from Jodie I understand our PM wanting to imitate Gough Whitlam on his Great Wall walk (albeit in an unflattering figure-hugging polo shirt), but why on earth was he advertising Hawthorn FC and iiNet on the obligatory panda sanctuary tour? He needs fashion tips from stylish Jodie. Caroline Leslie, Hawthorn Fashion statements Fashion editor Damien Woolnough's scrutiny of Jodie Haydon's clothing (″ Perfect $599 fashion diplomacy from Jodie Haydon ″, 17/7) perpetuates the inherent sexism surrounding women in the public eye. Though favourably examined, the absence of any mention of who dressed the prime minister suggests Haydon's role is one of an accessory and not a human being. Anders Ross, Heidelberg AND ANOTHER THING Politics It would appear the Coalition hasn't learnt anything. All it does is find fault with everything Labor does, instead of working together in this time of world chaos to make Australia an example to the world. Perry Becker, Bairnsdale Albanese may be ″following in his footsteps″, but there's no way he could fill Whitlam's boots. Bryan Lewis, St Helena Furthermore It's time for an investigation into the use of chemicals in our environment. The creek in Rosanna turning bright blue must be a wake-up call for all. Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East Paul O'Halloran's ″ ' My job is to root out dodgy workers. These are the warning signs to look for in childcare ‴, (17/7) is an essential piece in the puzzle of providing safe, high-quality childcare. Trevor Kerr, Blackburn A few letters to the editor recently have extolled the virtues of national service, all written with the enthusiasm and fervour only the (seemingly) ineligible possess. Angus McLeod, Cremorne If businesses really think that it costs them less to accept cash than cards, why not offer a discount for paying cash instead of imposing a surcharge for cards? James Proctor, Maiden Gully With the latest employment figures published, maybe the RBA could convene a special meeting prior to August to reconsider its July rate decision. Arthur Pritchard, Ascot Vale Driving positions Perhaps your correspondent (Letters, 'Slap happy feet', 18/7) can explain which foot is on the clutch pedal if my left foot is on the brake pedal as I try to change down gears in my car? Maybe that is why it is an untaught maxim. Joanne Wilson, South Melbourne When I learnt to drive a manual car I used my left foot for the clutch while my right alternated between brake and accelerator. When I graduated to an automatic car my right foot continued to perform the same actions; my left sits idly on the little footrest thoughtfully provided for the purpose. David Johnston, Healesville
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Humor: We, the local Historical Preservation Society, will destroy you if you touch that window
Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Spratt. We're glad you've purchased the home on Sycamore Way, and we're sure you'll love living in this historic district. We understand that you'd like to update the windows on your home. That is not an unusual request around these parts! Our neighborhood spans several blocks, and each house is a testament to how much we, the members of the Historical Preservation Society, do all that's in our power to preserve the area at the expense of you, the homeowners. That is why your application to replace your windows has been denied. Yes, I understood the reasons why you think you should be able to change the windows in the home you bought. Those 19th-century windows don't properly seal. Not to mention, the single-pane glass panels are extremely energy inefficient. All of this is true. You know what else is true? The fact is that if you try to change any part of that home without our approval, you'll regret the day you moved to this charming part of town. To clarify, we are not approving your request to update the windows in your home. Think of the drafts as free air conditioning. We wish we could do more, but if we let you have the double-paned windows, where does it end? Tomorrow, you'll want solar reflective roofing. After that, we'll get a request for a door that fits properly in its frame. Before you know it, you'll assume you can go ahead and update those incredibly perilous servant quarter stairs. Why? Because "your children aren't safe?" Please, if a scullery maid could shuffle up and down those steps while carrying buckets of coal, so can your six-year-old OK, according to one of our members, many maids met their demise on those stairs. I guess your child should avoid that area until they're old enough to be careful. Think how disrespectful it would be to the memory of all those maids to change the stairs now! It's almost as if you didn't care about the authentic tragedies that give a house like yours a real backstory, which makes for great resale value. Also, as we couldn't help but notice during our thrice-daily surveillance of the area, you had an outdoor fan delivered. Those Victorians didn't have electric fans on their porches, so why is it you think you get one? This isn't the Gilded Age; you can't just put a little money down and do anything you want like they could. You have their house but none of their class. They'd never even dream of tainting the neighborhood aesthetic with tacky fans. Homeowner's rights? You realize you bought a house in the historical district, right? Did you think you'd just put a down payment on a $650,000 Victorian and then get to make it into the home of your dreams? I'm sorry, if you wanted to own a home that you could renovate without interference, you should have gotten one of those new builds. You didn't want that, though. You wanted a house with character. A house with memories. A house that you know will stay standing after a storm. We all know that shoddy craftsmanship and investment companies cutting corners mean that most of those new homes fall apart in the first few years. Your home has stood for 100 years and will likely last another century. And for that next century, we'll be here. To make sure you, your children, and your children's children don't make one adjustment that we deem historically inaccurate. Because if any of you do touch those windows or anything else, you're (and please pardon the wordplay here) history.
AU Financial Review
4 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Pressure grows on Allan government over coal plant closure
The mining union is piling pressure on the Allan government to explain how it will guarantee energy security for Victorians after the huge Yallourn coal power station closes as delays to transmission and offshore wind projects raise fresh doubts about renewable replacements. The slow development of gas options to replace declining output from the Bass Strait fields has added to anxiety among industry and labour unions about secure power when EnergyAustralia closes the 1480-megawatt Yallourn generator in mid-2028.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Rule costing Aussies $110m a week
Australian workers are losing $110m a week in unpaid superannuation. Super Members Council (SMC) analysis of 2022-2023 tax data shows 3.3 million Australian workers lost collectively $5.7bn in superannuation payments. This is based on the average worker losing $1730 in superannuation a year. Australians living in the ACT or the Northern Territory had the highest average underpayment, while more than one million people in NSW lost $1760 a week, 848,000 Victorians lost about $1670 and 377,450 people living in Western Australia lost $1790. The SMC said unpaid super could cost the average worker more than $30,000 from their final retirement nest egg. Employees are losing $110m a week in unpaid super. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia When not intentional, superannuation underpayment can occur due to the timing of payments. While wages and salaries are paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly, businesses only need to pay the superannuation guarantee quarterly. Under new laws coming in July 1 2026, superannuation payday reforms will require employers to pay superannuation, salaries and wages at the same time. These reforms have been three years in the making after the federal government first announced the changes back on May 2, 2023. Aussies could be $30,000 worse off in retirement. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia SMC deputy chief executive Georgia Brumby said Australians would pay the price for any further delays. 'Each week these laws are delayed, Australians are made $110m poorer in retirement, which means less money to pay the bills after a lifetime of hard work,' Ms Brumby said. 'The sooner this legislation is introduced and passed, the more time and certainty it will give businesses and the super payment system to prepare so all workers can get paid their super on time and in full. 'Payday super will not only stamp out unpaid super, it'll put nearly $8000 more in the average Australian's pocket at retirement thanks to more frequent payments and the power of compounding.'
The Age
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Deafening silence is government's shameful habit when it comes to taxpayers' money
The state government has a problem. It does not know how or when to speak to people. It seems unable, either through incompetence, ignorance, arrogance or just plain lack of will, to communicate to Victorians about things that will profoundly affect them. Memo premier and ministers, photo ops in high vis at construction sites don't cut it. The latest example of Victorians being left in the dark is the Outer Metropolitan Ring. The Age revealed this week that the OMR, one of the largest transport projects in the state's history, is slowly grinding its way into reality. The plan is for a 100-kilometre rail and road corridor to be carved out in Melbourne's outer north and west. A public acquisition overlay was placed on the corridor 15 years ago. Some might argue this was later than it should have been, but still this was an act of thinking about the future. The state has spent $350 million compensating landowners along the route for taking their property. This is a logical progression from the land reservation if the government plans to proceed with the project. But does it? We know that in 2021-22, the state and federal governments jointly put together $20 million in a preliminary business case. We don't know what it found. A freedom-of-information request by The Age was rejected on the grounds of cabinet confidentiality. This is unacceptable. We can accept confidentiality is necessary on matters such as security. The Outer Metropolitan Ring is a transport project. Victorians should know what is being discussed concerning their money, especially as now at least $350 million has been spent. Acting Premier Jaclyn Symes said this week that the project was 'not a proposal that we're actively considering' but 'preserving land for a future decision is an appropriate course of action'. This walks past The Age 's revelation that the government's own planners warned that the first component of the OMR was needed by 2031 to help address stifling congestion and the growing population in Melbourne's north and west. Then there is the associated freight rail line. This is a crucial part of the project, giving freight trains exclusive use of a 73-kilometre link from Werribee to Beveridge, thus removing them from the suburban rail network.
