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STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION
Utilities, too important to be in private hands
Congratulations to the Andrews government for proposing the rebirth of the State Electricity Commission (The Age, 21/10). Public ownership of public utilities is critical to a progressive and inclusive society. The SEC worked collaboratively with the CSIRO to run a leading research facility in Melbourne which folded under the “reign of terror” by the Kennett government in the 1990s. I seem to recall that the CSIRO’s funding was also attacked by the Abbott government some years later.
Funny that the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works was rebranded Melbourne Water but has been maintained as a public asset. It is too important to risk failure in private hands, as are all public utilities. A neo-liberal dogma that “private is good and public is not” drifts through the air like the stench that it is. If private investors can profit from our utilities, these profits should be returning to the public purse. However, let us not lose sight of the function of public utilities – service and prosperity to all Victorians.
Stuart James, Leneva
How much compensation will taxpayers fork out?
Bringing back the SEC from the dead might seem a good idea – and certainly it is a union pleaser. But how much compensation to the private generators who bought the bits will be footed by Victorian taxpayers? These, and other consequential costs, must be made clear by the Andrews government before the state election. It might be more cost effective to just let the fossil-fuel generators die a natural death instead of trying to put the genie back in the bottle.
Caroline Leslie, Hawthorn
The unions’ campaign has been proved correct
The Labor government under Joan Kirner “corporatised” the State Electricity Commission. The subsequent Coalition government, under Jeff Kennett, fully privatised Victoria’s electricity industry, both in generation and distribution.
At the time, the union movement campaigned strongly against both these political decisions. It argued that market forces would put profits before cheaper electricity bills, never mind the predicted thousands of job losses and undermining of the historical role the SEC played in underpinning the creation of the state’s apprenticeship base. It is tempting to say “we told you so”.
Brian Boyd, Carlton (former official, Victorian Trades Hall Council, 1988-2014)
Confidence and security in our shared ownership
We owned the SEC before it was privatised, just as we owned the Gas and Fuel Corporation before it suffered the same fate. Privatising these public services was supposed to make them cheaper, and give us choice. However, companies given the monopoly of these services do not think of service first. Their priority is profit for their shareholders, as it must be.
De-privatising these services is welcome. Apart from financial and local expertise considerations, public ownership is something that binds us together. Once again, we will be united in our ownership, all in the same boat. We will be able to compare experiences and commiserate with each other when there are general problems. As we do when there are floods and fires.
I have no interest in spending time on comparing electricity companies’ prices. I want the lights to come on when I flick the switch. We had confidence in the SEC and it gave us security. Let’s get it back.
Elizabeth Sprigg, Glen Iris
Is there any chance the new SEC will re-employ me?
I am so happy that Dan Andrews plans to buy back what was once the wonderful SEC. I worked for it in the 1950s, and was told I had to resign when I announced my upcoming marriage. Government entities did not employ married women then. I would like to ask for my job back, but at 83 I am not so sure that will happen.
Carol Reed, Newport
THE FORUM
High cost of new SEC
The Andrews government plans to resurrect the long dead State Electricity Commission and have it invest $1 billion in renewables. All this will do is discourage private investment because of a government player making it an unlevel and unpredictable playing field, and add to costs.
If 59,000 jobs are to be created, it is hard to see any cost decrease here. I do not think the old SEC was noted for its efficiency. And it will add financial risk to Victoria.
The biggest obstacle to transition to renewables has been governments – both state and federal – and the absence of clear rules of the game. This policy to resurrect the SEC seems to have been a lightbulb moment. It needs to be switched off.
William Frilay, Doreen
Problem with ambition
One has to feel a modicum of pity for the poor, beleaguered Liz Truss. Her ambition far outstripped her ability, before she even had time to grow into the job.
Beverley Campbell, Castlemaine
How worse can it get?
If the college prank turned riot that is British politics gets any worse, I would not blame the Scots if they dug a channel in front of Hadrian’s Wall and quietly drifted off into the North Sea while nobody was looking.
Peter Bear, Mitcham
The more things change…
My father, a GP, worked for the Commonwealth in 1980, investigating doctors who were scamming Medibank (the original version of Medicare).
He found doctors who billed for consultations and/or procedures that had not taken place or were for much shorter duration than claimed. He found doctors who wandered through aged care facilities, saying a brief hello to the residents, then charging for long consultations. He was stunned to discover some doctors charged for patients who were deceased.
My father was accused of disloyalty and betrayal by some of his medical colleagues. He even received death threats. Dad left this job and returned to general practice. He was a dedicated doctor and although his trust and respect for his profession were eroded, he still believed the majority of doctors were honest.
However, his experiences left him very cynical about the ethics of some doctors and he would be disappointed but not surprised to know that nothing has changed since then.
Sophie Cuttriss, Inverloch
Horse racing and cruelty
It is not a good look for Lexus to be serving foie gras burgers at racing events (The Age, 22/10). The brutal force feeding of ducks to produce fatty livers for this so-called “luxury” is banned in Australia and many other countries on cruelty grounds.
Despite knowing that geese suffer, countries like Australia still allow foie gras to be imported from countries which still make it. It seems horses are not the only animals to suffer at the hands of the racing fraternity.
Jan Kendall, Mount Martha
Making a strong stand
So some Australian cricketers want to boycott Alinta Energy because it is in the business of energy which naturally entails carbon emissions. That, I trust, will be accompanied by cricketers refusing to fly anywhere because planes emit vast amounts of greenhouse gases. They probably need to show that they live carbon-neutral lives at home too.
And they should be driving electric vehicles that are also demonstrably 100per cent carbon offset. I would hate it to be suggested that they are more about tokenism than reality.
Douglas Potter, Surrey Hills
Garden shows us the way
The Bendigo Botanic Gardens have taken on the challenge of designing and planting a garden for a climate that is “more extreme in all areas” (Life, 21/10).
Plants from Australia and other comparable climates have been tested and, unsurprisingly, not all of them survived. But the result is a stunning garden with plants labelled and breathtakingly beautiful to boot.
We can learn a lot from the investment in this bold and necessary experiment. Like gardeners, policy makers must put long-term planning ahead of short-term gains as climate change threatens our whole world. Thank you, Bendigo Botanic Gardens, for showing us the way.
Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale
A dangerous surface
The various celebrities who wrote in praise of Federation Square (Spectrum, 22/10) have obviously not tried to navigate its surface with an elderly or disabled person. Getting a walking frame across the cobbled surface, even if some of them are decorated with dinky little pictures of wheelchairs, is enough of a nightmare to keep mobility-impaired people away.
Juliet Flesch, Kew
Letting all ages work
The $350,000 household income ceiling for parenting payments and the $530,000 household income ceiling for child care subsidies are basically designed to increase female participation in the workforce. These income limits are very generous considering they are taxpayer funded.
Yet the same generous income limits do not apply to older people who wish to re-enter the workforce and earn income to supplement their aged pension.
Currently the income limit is a meagre $11,000 a year. Surely in order to increase older people’s participation, this limit should be increased considerably. As a bonus, any increase in the limit does not require extra taxpayer funds. The amount paid in the aged pension would remain the same. Let’s make workforce participation easier for all the population, not just a select group.
Ian Bennett, Jan Juc
If it’s good for the MPs…
The proposed stage 3 tax cuts will give federal politicians a $9000 net, annual salary increase. Can I also have an annual $9000 increase in my aged pension, please.
Russell Castley, Creswick
A true master at work
My parents were friends with Ambrose Griffin, who used to go on painting trips with artist Fred Williams (Spectrum, 22/10) in the bush, often around Jamieson, Victoria. Ambrose commented once, that, whereas he would be painting a tree, Fred would be painting what was behind the tree and which couldn’t be seen.
Sally Dean, Koriella
Keep it truly Australian
Indeed why is it necessary at all to have a person’s portrait, of foreign royalty or otherwise, on our currency (Letters, 22/10)? Depictions of native animals and plants, natural and cultural significant features such as Uluru, structures like the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge all transcend personality and would be more representative of our Australian identity.
Edward Combes, Wheelers Hill
Another football option
AFL clubs have been presented with three options next season in a bid to settle debate over the medical substitute (Sport, 23/10). It is a pity the AFL did not consider a fourth option – five players on the bench with each team nominating a sub at the start of each quarter.
If activated, the player subbed out is removed from the rest of the game. Otherwise, four players on the bench for each team with one in reserve in case of an injury. This would keep each side with 22 available players for the vast majority of games.
Gary Heard, Jan Juc
Bomber loyal to Bombers?
I see Kim Beazley is being tipped for a position on the Australian War Memorial’s council. Given his nickname, “Bomber Beazley”, wouldn’t it be more appropriate for him to be appointed to the Essendon Football Club’s board?
Monty Arnhold, Port Melbourne
Heed the warnings
Australia has been overwhelmed by both fires and floods. In August 2021, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its sixth assessment report. In more than 4000 pages, it detailed the crisis that humanity is facing.
Introducing the report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said it was “a code red for humanity”. I am not pessimistic about what humanity and Australians are capable of doing to change this, but it will mean shutting down the loud voices of commerce who want this world just for profit. In hope,
Melanie Lazarow, Brunswick
The battle to buy a home
Congratulations to your correspondent for not wanting to “squeeze a few extra dollars” from his tenants and for his recognition that “everyone needs a roof over their heads” (Letters, 22/10). However, without the pernicious encouragement of investment properties in the market, tenants might well be able to meet this need in their own right.
Peter Drum, Coburg
The power of China
Your correspondent says “there is scant evidence of Chinese plans to export its system of government” (Letters, 21/10). Tell this to the Tibetans and the people of Hong Kong. Also to the Uighurs within China. I know which system of government I prefer.
Gail Schmidt, Patterson Lakes
Ads, yes. Betting ad, no.
Netflix, Foxtel (of course) and now Binge offering a “tier” of their streaming services with advertisements. OK. I will accept that on one condition. No betting ads. Simple.
Robert Grubb, Surrey Hills
Why I say no to Lyon
Having been a member of St Kilda Football Club for 65 years, I have seen a number of very poor decisions. These are continuing at the moment with the crazy idea of reappointing Ross Lyon as coach. He got us into the grand finals yes, but blindsided the club in his negotiations with Fremantle while his management was negotiating with St Kilda. Is that the type of person you want at St Kilda? No.
Peter Gustavsen, Brighton
Please, say it ain’t so
There is talk that Donald Trump will seek the US presidency in 2024. Please, someone “tell him he’s dreaming”.
Nigel Beresford, Drouin
AND ANOTHER THING
Britain
Can I suggest the Conservative Party turn its attention to the obvious candidate: Arthur Daley.
John Margetts, Grovedale
At least Truss has ensured her place as a footnote in British history: the country’s briefest-serving PM.
Marcia Roche, Mill Park
The Tories have just discovered a new game – spin the bottle.
Ian Todd, Leongatha
Lettuce pray that a more suitable leader is appointed soon.
John Paine, Kew East
You don’t need to be a “rocket” scientist to make Truss lettuce puns.
Kerry Hourigan, Mount Waverley
Regarding what’s happening in not-so-Great Britain, perhaps we should consider what’s on our flag.
Michael Louey, Newcomb
Sport
Where do the Diamonds netball team think diamonds come from? Prospecting, mining? Maybe it’s time for a name change.
Geraldine O’Sullivan, Hawthorn
Memo to Netball Australia: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Greg Doueal, Croydon
Shameful treatment of AFL coaches: Rutten. Ratten. Rotten.
Julie Phillips, Daylesford
Furthermore
A BoM by any other name is still a BoM.
Joe Nieuwenhuizen, Somers
Let’s just call it the Met Office. You’re welcome. No need to pay me.
James Nixon, Albert Park
Medicare: For a man with a hammer, everything is a nail.
Jan Hasnie, Doncaster
The Andrews government will re-establish the SEC. Tick. Next: the State (Savings) Bank of Victoria.
Rod Watson, East Brighton
Potential for a hung parliament. It’s time for independent thinking.
Andrea Wittick, Mount Eliza
Has the premier called on the Red Shirt brigade to assist flood victims?
Graham Stevens, Murrumbeena
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