Libs need to follow McKenzie and take climate change more seriously
Flinders is now the Liberal Party’s only safe seat in Melbourne. Labor governs all mainland jurisdictions in Australia for the first time in 15 years, including federally.
ANU’s post-election analysis revealed that almost one in three voters chose minor parties or independent candidates in the election, the highest number in almost a century. This suggests that voters are becoming more interested in policies and people than parties.
The Liberal Party’s failure to engage constructively with climate change legislation in recent months is not winning hearts and minds, particularly with younger voters who are most concerned about the environment.
Surrounded by sea, the Flinders electorate is “one of the most vulnerable Victorian municipalities to the effects of rising sea levels” and residents face rising adaptation and insurance costs (“Facing up to climate change” The News 7/3/22).
[Flinders MP] Zoe McKenzie’s attendance at the international climate conference COP27 in November last year indicates her interest in climate change and her webpage regrets that climate change in Australia has “become political.”
Let’s hope McKenzie can influence the Liberal Party to take climate change more seriously and adopt a constructive and bipartisan approach. As McKenzie says, “We have so much of the world’s energy resources and the necessary critical minerals to develop and sustain the renewable energy sector and, increasingly, the technical know-how to develop and modify systems for greater climate resilience. The opportunity for Australia is huge.”
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
MP’s aim is off target
[Flinders MP] Zoe McKenzie has tried to hit Albo [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese] with both barrels, but her aim is way off (“Wedge politics ‘smashes hearts’ in Voice debate – Liberal MP” The News 11/4/23). She claims Albo has “smashed the hearts of many coalition parliamentarians”. And here I was thinking that coalition parliamentarians didn’t possess one.
She then goes on to quote words from a Murdoch journalist as if they are fact. I don’t recall if Paul Kelly has ever supported any Aboriginal advancement. I also noted that when asked if she would vote yes or no to the referendum she wouldn’t give an answer. Meanwhile, her boss [Liberal leader Peter Dutton] is in Alice Springs with his dog whistle scaring the bejeesus out of the local inhabitants by demanding the army be called in to quell a potential perceived black uprising.
We have [Nationals MP] Barnaby Joyce telling us that if the Voice gets up, the beloved lamb roast will cost $1000. For your god’s sake, get a grip.
On another note, Liberal MP for Nepean Sam Goth appears to be content to sit on his hands for four years. At a meeting recently with Vinnies Kitchen personnel, asked what he could do about a problem, he just said he’s not in government. Not, “I will speak with the responsible minister and see what can be done”. No, that would be possibly giving the state Labor government brownie points. Meanwhile, the school refurbishments instigated by [former Labor MP for Nepean] Chris Brayne and the state Labor government are continuing. Thank you Chris Brayne, [the Premier] Dan Andrews and Labor.
John Cain, McCrae
Inquiry needed
Every time I visit my children in Hobsons Bay I am astonished at how much their council achieves. Mature trees planted, new parks, new roundabouts, tasteful beachside shelters, bins everywhere, a new library with recording studio, free workshops on native gardening, outdoor fitness equipment – and never a large sign boasting of their accomplishments.
Here in Mornington Peninsula Shire, every small achievement seems to be celebrated with expensive signs and photographs of proud councillors. And, while the streets are full of potholes and homeless folk, our council agrees to pay $27,000 to light the national flag (“Lights on for flags at Dromana” The News 5/12/22).
Being an electrician has never looked so good. Roll on a performance inquiry (“Ratepayers want inquiry into shire” The News 11/4/23).
Paula Polson, Dromana
Non-representative
If two letters in last week’s editions of The News are anything to go by, we have a new form of democracy in our country.
Firstly, a failed Labor candidate wants elected [Liberal] Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie to “start acting as our representative“ and support Labor Party policy on the voice and not the Liberals policy (“Voice debated” Letters 11/4/23). Here’s a scoop: her side lost.
The people of Flinders voted for a Liberal member to go to Canberra and act as a representative of Liberal policy.
Second up was a serial writer taking a swipe at Ms McKenzie for being “one of several members who pushed past and hurt an attendant” (“Embarrassing exit” Letters 11/4/23). What he failed to tell us was that Ms McKenzie was on crutches with her foot in a moon boot and had very limited movement. But what he did say was telling: “We elect these people to represent us”. Problem is, when you write in every week, sometimes you can forget what you have written previously, but we all remember who he supported at the election and it wasn’t Ms Mc Kenzie, but a failed independent who only just beat the informal vote. So no, Ms Mc Kenzie will probably not vote the way he wants her to.
Michael Free, Mount Martha
Need MP’s view
Peter Dutton’s opposition to the Voice is no surprise. His attitude is there for all to see dating back and beyond before his “African gangs” slur at Victoria. His cabinet solidarity, Canberra Voice, academics and racism can be taken with a grain of salt.
On the other hand, a vote for the Voice would have given [Prime Minister] Anthony Albanese a clear run at the next election, perhaps?
We here in the Flinders electorate are interested in how our representative Zoe McKenzie sees the situation. We can assume her cabinet solidarity, but it would surely help if we heard more from the lady on this important matter.
Cliff Ellen, Rye
Labor’s let down
The Labor government has let us down big time on emissions reductions. Anyone who has followed the carbon credit debacle would know it is a rort. So much so that the corporate mafia has entered the fray.
This scheme is good for the brokers and resellers lining their pockets with gold. It is another goose that has laid a golden egg for the corporate mafia and has dubious rules as to what a carbon credit is.
It allows polluters to increase emissions so long as they purchase dodgy carbon credits. Many stem from Indonesia, and that should be a worry in itself.
The program could work for all if the government was the only buyer and seller and bought at [a certain price] and sold for 15 times higher. This would actually incentivise the actual reduction of emissions.
Current purchase price for polluters is $40 for a metric tonne of pollution, what a bargain. Think what the profit per unit would do for the budget.
Irrelevant COALition would be on the carbon tax bandwagon even though having no problem with corporate mafia raking it in and lining their pockets.
It would not be a carbon tax; it would be a carbon reduction incentive.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Need Voice details
To all those looking on with glee at Julian Leeser resigning from the Opposition Liberal front bench over the Liberal Party’s position on the Voice – can you imagine if he was in the Labor Party and publicly opposed party policy? He would have been expelled from the Labor Party.
At least the Liberal Party allows people to vote according to their conscience without ending their political career in the party. The Labor Party affords people no such freedom – it’s either vote with the party line or you’re out.
The Albanese Labor government has been so sneaky and underhanded with the way in which it is trying to bring in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. It won’t even tell the Australian people the wording of the legislation to bring in the Voice until after the referendum.
It is asking us to vote for something without even knowing what powers it is going to have.
This is dangerous territory, and something that needs to be opposed until we have all the information at hand.
If you don’t understand it – don’t vote for it. Vote No.
Matt Eggleston, West Perth WA
Question the Voice
If you were to receive an SMS today promising the world but making threats if you dare to question it or worse, unsubscribe, you would almost certainly suspect a scam. This however seems to be precisely the approach the Albanese government is using to sell “the Voice.”
To paraphrase the spiel: “I have a lovely present for you that will make you feel wonderful. I won’t tell you what is in it but look how lovely it looks in its gorgeous wrapping and giant bow … (disclaimer: you can’t return it if it doesn’t suit). If you dare to ask me what is in it I shall yell at you and scream what a horrible person you are for not trusting me and that this clearly means that you must hate everyone and wish ill on the elves that thought up the idea.”
I believe Mr Albanese is being less than honest with us at a time when we need absolute honesty. Questioning “the Voice” does not mean that someone is against the advancement of Indigenous causes, rather simply seeking a way to do what is in the best interests of all Australians. Don’t be taken in by the “vibe”, or fear to ask questions, do your due diligence.
John Matthews, Heathmont
Earth Day Saturday
Earth Day, Saturday 22 April, is devoted to our unique planet. For more than 50 years, people of the world have been coming together on this day to celebrate nature, draw attention to environmental decline, and promote conservation and sustainability.
Incredibly, one billion people from 190 countries take actions like planting trees, reducing plastic waste, making sustainable fashion choices, and advocating for the environment.
This year, the Earth Day theme is “invest in our planet”. Inspiring events and activity toolkits can be found at earthday.org
Earth Day should be a catalyst for communities to work together to make lasting changes that will lead to a sustainable future. As Desmond Tutu suggested, “do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world”.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Letters – 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number – can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
First published in the Mornington News – 18 April 2023
