The super variant of bracket creep

Join the only race that matters: to net zero

It is concerning that 72 per cent of your readers do not believe that the world will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (“Solar still the most popular energy source but wind resistance climbs”) . If this reflects the global attitude, then what hope do we have?

Moving into 2024, I hope we can shift our perspectives and see the opportunities a low-emissions future presents. China, the EU and the US are in a three-way race to decarbonise. Markets are moving. At a personal, business and industry level, all Australians can be part of an economy-wide change toward a healthier, more sustainable and prosperous future that embraces both nature-based and technological solutions. There’s only one race that matters now, and that’s the race to net zero.

Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Offshore wind must be part of the mix

It’s true that public support for offshore wind is trending down, but it’s still way above that for coal and nuclear. It’s also above that for gas. There are 20 coal-fired power stations in Australia; 14 of them are slated to close by 2035.

We can’t waste any more time fighting the so-called “climate wars”. The economics are now clear: wind and solar, firmed by battery and hydro storage, are the cheapest and cleanest options to replace these ageing power stations. Offshore wind will have to be a part of that mix. Anything else is unrealistic.

Ken Enderby, Concord, NSW

NT chief minister sets an example

Unlike many politicians who make excuses in such circumstances, the departing chief minister accepted responsibility for her oversight (“NT chief minister resigns after shares scandal”).

Describing the non-disclosure as a “scandal” is somewhat OTT, but the episode is a timely reminder for all in public office to exercise due diligence and a high degree of care to ensure stocks do not imprison them to the backbench.

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW

Rex isn’t exactly ‘foreign-owned’

The credibility of the article “The crunch question is whether Qantas too big a national icon to fail” took a huge dive when I came to this quote: “Rex and Bonza (themselves both foreign-owned) ...” That is simply not correct. Rex has many Australian shareholders. The top 20 shareholders list, which contains the Singapore interests, owns just 52 per cent of Rex.

Peter Colwell, Dubbo, NSW

No Turkish delight for inept ministers

I applaud calls for greater transparency and ministerial accountability regarding approvals for airline capacity into Australia (“More questions, no answers, about Turkish flights take-off”). More to the point is a need for better ministers. Inept ministerial performance in key areas is damaging Labor’s chances of re-election. Even the PM himself is doing his best to ensure the Albanese government will be a oncer.

Bob Muirhead, Port Melbourne, Vic

Delayed dividends need watchdogs’ attention

In the early 1970s, when I used to go for surprise cash inspections to banks in India, I used to hear that large amounts of cash would disappear in the morning and return the same evening – with the co-operation of the cashier. Cash generated cash in six hours in India in those days; maybe it still does.

This week I received my dividend from Westpac after 5pm, when I couldn’t use it for buying on the ASX.

Same thing used to happen at Bendigo Bank – but after my complaints, now I receive their dividend before noon.

It’s possible the banks are using the idle cash from dividends payable up to 5pm in their treasury operations. If so, the watchdogs must stop it and instruct listed companies and banks to pay dividends before noon, as Bendigo Bank now does.

Nookayyasetty Grandhi, Hornsby, NSW

Antisemitism a national disgrace

For two millennia, Jewish people have been discriminated against or cruelly persecuted in Europe and in the Middle East. The overt antisemitism in Australia today should be a source of national embarrassment and shame.

Dennis Walker, North Melbourne, Vic

Champion digger Gina Rinehart

I was almost moved to tears by your three-day laudation of Gina Rinehart – this monumental mining champion who has almost literally carried the fortunes of Australia on her back since taking over her father’s business back in the 1970s. How could we have possibly underestimated the impact of this quintessential Aussie digger?

And then I read her speech, “What we can all learn from Blind Freddie”. Absolutely riveting, it must surely go down as your most eloquent and educational article of the year. You have ever so dextrously taken us mere mortals into the stratospheric heights which only the most worthy of businessfolk can dream of residing.

It’s a pity that Tony Abbott is no longer PM. Mrs Rinehart’s heroic business deeds scream out for damehood.

Ralph McHenry, Brighton East, Vic

Can everyone please stop ‘reaching out’?

I would like to nominate the dreaded “reaching out” for the Most Irritating Term of 2023. My wife recently received an email from a bank which contained no fewer than three “reaching outs”. She reached out to them and requested it not be used in future correspondence – but, sadly, no one reached out in response.

David Adams, Toowoomba, Qld