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ENERGY
With oil tankers stranded within the Persian Gulf and solely 28 days of petrol readily available, Australia’s power vulnerability is unattainable to disregard (Letters, “Oil shock, photo voltaic response”, 4/3).
Strengthening our power safety means accelerating electrification, and that requires stronger coverage help. Tax incentives have already tripled EV gross sales in simply three years, although the advantages have principally flowed to increased earnings consumers (“EV tax break beneath the microscope”, 4/3).
Even so, the speedy uptake has proven us that EVs are dependable, clear and much cheaper to run than petrol automobiles. EV costs are falling sharply, however widespread adoption nonetheless relies on focused incentives—particularly for households least in a position to afford a brand new automobile.
Norway exhibits what’s attainable: with complete incentives, 97 per cent of recent automobiles offered there are electrical, making them the plain alternative for customers.
Australia can obtain related momentum with the correct coverage levers.
It’s time for the Albanese authorities to urgently broaden EV incentives and supercharge Australia’s shift to cleaner, safer transport.
Jeremy Cailes, Curlewis
Part out fossil gasoline miner tax credit
As your correspondent suggests (4/3), gasoline value spikes and the safety dangers of our dependence on petrol and diesel make the case for electrical autos (EVs) unmistakable.
EV help is central to easing family prices, bettering public well being and decreasing our publicity to international power shocks.
Fairly than scrapping EV tax breaks, the Albanese authorities may look as a substitute on the $10.8 billion in annual gasoline tax credit paid to miners — a subsidy that entrenches the fossil gasoline dependence we urgently must section out. Ending fossil gasoline subsidies is the sort of finances saving that might really drive us ahead.
Sarah Brennan, Hawthorn
Dependence on unreliable oil should finish
With Trump’s new battle within the petrostates threatening oil provides and Putin’s ″blood oil″ theoretically proscribed, now’s the time for our authorities to do every part it will possibly to encourage the acquisition of electrical autos – automobiles, vans, buses and vans.
It could be short-sighted and counterproductive within the excessive for tax breaks or different incentives encouraging the uptake of electrical autos to be scaled again or eradicated .
Our lamentable dependence upon tenuous provides of imported oil should finish.
Given Australia’s nearly limitless renewable power potential, power independence is ours for the taking, if solely our legislators would cease wanting within the rear-view mirror.
Helen Moss, Croydon
Think about price of residing, local weather, well being advantages
If the Albanese authorities is seeking to tidy up the Could finances, moderately than ceasing help for electrical autos, it may achieve loads of income by correctly taxing the fuel business.
The Australian Council of Commerce Unions has proposed a 25 per cent tax on all LNG exports, which might elevate round $17 billion a yr.
At current, the federal government collects extra from the beer excise than from the petroleum useful resource hire tax — an absurd imbalance. Think about the price of residing, local weather and well being advantages we may take pleasure in by investing all these fuel billions in clear know-how.
Larni Dibben, Glen Iris
Enhance incentives for EV consumers
Threats to our oil imports make the transition to EVs much more pressing. Incentives needs to be elevated, not decreased.
Greg Curtin, Nunawading
THE FORUM
Cease fence sitting
There isn’t a greater Massive High than the White Home. There isn’t a greater ring grasp than POTUS. There are not any greater clowns than all of the sycophants who worship at his ft. There isn’t a circus or distraction greater than a battle.
And but, we’re not suckers. We all know who he’s: a venal, narcissistic bully.
Prime Minister Albanese, please take notice. We aren’t suckers. No matter you do, please don’t sit on the fence on this one.
Tony Newport, Hillwood, Tas
Behind Trump’s curtains
″Take a look at my stunning gold curtains″ and ″Oh, what an exquisite ballroom it’s going to be″, mentioned Donald Trump to a White Home press pack. No point out of the harmless civilians dying on account of his unlawful battle, with barely a point out of the six American troopers killed.
Phrases simply fail me, that the person who ran on an America First agenda, to not contain america in endlessly international wars, has simply taken the nation to a different Center Jap battle, one among which, the Iraqi battle, lasted eight years.
Jessie Mackenzie, Brunswick
An imminent assault
Geoffrey Robertson (“Iran’s regime is vile, however what Trump and Netanyahu have finished is a battle crime”, 4/3) makes a really fascinating level: those that invade a rustic “bear accountability for all of the dying and dismemberment that battle inevitably entails, for civilians in addition to troopers”. This implies Hamas was chargeable for all of the dying and dismemberment ensuing from the battle it began with its October 7, 2023, invasion and slaughter in Israel.
In relation to the present battle, Iran, primarily by its proxies, has been killing Israelis and Individuals for the reason that early Nineteen Eighties. So Iran actually began this battle, too.
As for there being no imminent menace justifying the US and Israeli motion, Israel has defined that, as a part of this ongoing battle, Iran was within the technique of constructing impregnable bunkers for its ballistic missiles and nuclear program, so it needed to act instantly for self-preservation, whereas the US cites intelligence of a direct assault.
Alan Shroot, Forrest, ACT
Geopolitical euphemism
Let me get this proper. If I feel somebody may harm or kill me, despite the fact that they’re weaker and a long way away, am I justified in attacking and killing them, and plenty of harmless folks round them, whereas aided by one other stronger particular person? Geopolitics, it’s referred to as, however there are numerous different much less euphemistic phrases.
Rosalind McIntosh, Camberwell
Nature of the beast
Whereas regime change will hopefully enhance the lives of the Iranian folks, historical past reminds us that earlier than lengthy, those that have had their energy clipped will reassert themselves – normally by the use of a coup d’etat.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard loved their energy and brutal intimidation of the inhabitants, so they are going to be in search of any alternative to re-establish themselves over a perceived weaker liberal regime. Normally through a army ″strongman″ sensing a chance to muster his supporters to undermine and take management of the federal government.
So as soon as once more, the inhabitants will come beneath authoritarian subjugation.
Robert Scheffer, Bayswater North
No free flights
I hope all these Australians who went to work in a tax-free zone will not be in search of us taxpayers to fly them again house to security.
In the event that they pay for the price, truthful sufficient, however no free rides for freeloaders, please.
Anders McDonald, Warburton
Ship within the drones
Fifth day into the US/Israel assaults on Iran and its retaliations towards many neighbouring nations, and nonetheless not a phrase about how efficient multibillion-dollar submarines have been. Loads of drones, plane and missiles. What on earth is Australia losing its cash on?
David Parker, Geelong West
Racketeering legal guidelines wanted
Within the Nineteen Eighties, two royal commissions (Costigan and Stewart) advisable US-style racketeering legal guidelines for Australia to bust organised crime syndicates. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act was pivotal in smashing mafia syndicates.
The legal guidelines made prosecutions simpler by creating offences for patterns of behaviour by organisations moderately than counting on prison legislation to pin particular offences on particular person offenders.
Patterns of behaviour are outlined as two violations of a number of legal guidelines together with extortion, embezzlement of union funds, fraud, interference with witnesses and receiving proceeds of crime.
In final yr’s election marketing campaign, Peter Dutton promised to introduce such legal guidelines to fight the CFMEU. A minimum of, he obtained one thing proper.
Michael Smith, Ivanhoe
Billing gymnastics
Below the obligatory Higher Payments Guideline, electrical energy retailers are required to advise their clients when a greater plan is offered.
There are two methods that is abused by the retailer: Firstly, for these with rooftop photo voltaic, after the December billing interval clients are suggested they need to change to a plan with a better feed-in tariff and better utilization tariff.
Throughout that billing interval, this may occasionally have been cheaper however for the remainder of the yr, that plan would price the shopper considerably extra, as solar energy progressively decreases by the winter months.
Secondly, my retailer suggested me that when the utilization tariff for my plan was rising, they mechanically utilized the elevated fee to my payments. Nevertheless, they didn’t advise when a decreased tariff fee later turned obtainable.
They justified this by saying it was “a distinct model” of my present plan, however as a result of they didn’t change the identify of that plan, they didn’t should advise me that this cheaper fee was obtainable.
Till this shameless loophole is banned, you’d higher ring your retailer usually to verify if a less expensive fee is offered for| your plan.
Merryn Boan, Brighton
Your name is unimportant to us
I feel it’s about time that firms got here clear and admit that once they say on each name that “wait instances are longer than anticipated on account of a bigger than regular variety of calls”, they actually imply “we’ve reduce telephone employees to extend administration bonuses”, or worse nonetheless, “we actually don’t need to take care of you, so go use our chatbot which works about one day out of 20 if you’re fortunate”.
I wanted to name my superannuation firm this week, and checked its web site on Sunday night to see when it was open. It mentioned its hours had been 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, but additionally famous “our present wait time is longer than anticipated because of the excessive quantity of calls we’re experiencing”.
Unusual, given they had been really closed.
Neale Meagher, Malvern
Backyard present impact
By final week, seen harm from 2025’s Flower and Backyard Present in Carlton Gardens had nearly disappeared. This week, work started for the 2026 present. Quickly, fences might be erected to maintain the general public out of a public park. The harm from the present will then be repeated, and later “repaired” by labour from a agency who made the bottom bid.
This yr, the present options additional harm, with a “beautiful” mild present of examples for ″a lifetime of enjoyment”, presumably unaware of the immense quantity of harm from nocturnal mild air pollution. The brand new present additionally contains uplighting of bushes, regarded by specialists as essentially the most damaging factor we will do for wildlife.
Many cities stop nocturnal mild air pollution that causes accidents and dying for hundreds of thousands of birds, bats and bugs yearly, animals important for wholesome environments. They’ve parks tended by horticulturists, with a large number of flower gardens to feed pollinators, un-mowed grass areas for bugs, sheltered locations for nesting birds, minuscule inns for bees, pathways for hedgehogs. Melbourne may be taught from the quite a few ingenious methods different municipalities maintain a wholesome setting for the sake of wildlife. Presently, we’re doing the alternative.
David Hancocks, Carlton
Temper board for males
The article on influencers on the GP (″Influencers get reprieve for GP glamour on grid″, 4/3 ) introduces a brand new thought on acquiring funding ″a temper board of attire she wished″.
I’m now taking a look at establishing a temper board for beers I need to drink. I and a choose group of retired gents will make ourselves obtainable to check your product for analysis functions or you might ship them and we
will attend to the matter in a well timed method.
Cheers, most likely plenty of cheers.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Field Hill
Radio killed radio stars
Utilizing the Wildean analytical instrument, we will perceive Jackie O and Kyle’s radio strategy was that there’s just one factor on the planet worse than being talked about, and that isn’t being talked about.
Each had been within the gutter, nevertheless it turned out solely Jackie was wanting on the stars.
Nina Wellington Iser, Hawthorn
Hold it good
The dismal rankings of the Kyle and Jackie O present in Melbourne clearly illustrates the very totally different cultures between our states in media consumption.
Regardless of enormous commercials on buses and a really costly advertising and marketing marketing campaign, we like our media and leisure to be good and humorous however refined.
Could this be a wake-up name for different business networks that the boorish bully boy movie star is nicely and really over. Keep elegant, Melbourne.
Panagiota Frangopoulos, Malvern
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump world
What number of lives of harmless kids, men and women is a barrel of soiled oil value? Trump and Netanyahu will provide you with a discount. The headlines ought to have learn, “Trump prepares for one month of killing harmless Iranians”. That’s what ″battle″ is. I’ve been to battle and know.
Roy Olliff, Mont Albert North
Vladimir Putin should be very jealous of Netanyahu’s possession of Donald Trump.
Dale Crisp, Brighton
Is Putin’s optimism in taking Ukraine in every week or so in 2022 matched by Donald Trump’s timeline for his and Benjamin Netanyahu’s foray into Iran?
Helena Kilingerova, Vermont
With a inhabitants of greater than 90 million, lots of whom stay devoted to the beliefs of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, absolutely a civil battle will now be inevitable.
Meg McPherson, Brighton
Religions stem largely from our concern of dying, but they’ve led to
a lot killing.
Christine Weatherhead, Glen Waverley
When Trump mentioned, after the Iran assault, that this was a generational probability for the beset nation to overthrow its repressive authorities, he’s proper. The mid-term elections are shut. Heed his name, America.
Stuart McArthur, Carlton North
Trump and his Bible belt MAGA supporters clearly didn’t replicate on the admonition from the Sermon on the Mount: ″First take the plank out of your personal eye, then you will notice clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s″.
Patsy Sanaghan, North Geelong
Moreover
Liberal MP Jonno Duniam (4/3) could also be proper when he says that an ALP minister has higher issues to do than learn a Liberal Occasion election evaluation. Higher issues, possibly, however not practically as satisfying.
Geoff Schmidt, Richmond
As a lot as he tries to fake he’s a good bloke, Kyle Sandilands’ true nature retains effervescent as much as the floor.
Peter Venn, East Bentleigh
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