SUPER PROFITS TAX
Dear editor,
The CFMEU will soon be launching and ad campaign urging the Albanese government to institute a super profits tax to pay for 750,000 new social and affordable homes. This is perhaps the most exciting and enthralling bit of public advocacy in decades. The new head of the CFMEU is an erudite and socially conscious man who has the best interests of Australians at heart. The opponents of such a measure will be thick and thin.
Please allow yourself to feel the future! A future where Australia is not blighted by increasing homelessness. An Australia that not only talks of egalitarianism, but WALKS IT. Make no mistake, the corporations that would be taxed can afford it. Around 90% of Australia’s corporations will not be affected by this. This is a policy that will breathe new life into this potentially and actually wonderful country.
Dylan White,
Coolum Beach.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Dear editor,
World- wide extreme temperatures= fire storms; torrential rains, severe cyclones = floods/landslides; droughts, failed crops= famine/deaths; warming oceans= fish/reef kills; melting ice/glaciers = rising sea levels. A Climate war on our home, Planet Earth? Just asking for a friend.
Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
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PUBLIC TRANSPORT COSTS
Dear editor,
Queensland seniors and those on concession cards, namely pensioners, pay half price (and 30% less off-peak) on our public transport system, in SEQ in particular.
Those living in the Brisbane metropolitan area enjoy free off-peak travel between 8.30am and 3.30pm and after 7pm. Noosa Council has free bus travel in the Noosa Council Shire. The point is, that with regular increased public transport travel prices, those who do pay, wear the burden for subsidising fare evasion. Translink raise their rates annually.
If you compare the generosity of other states, namely South Australia, which offers those on welfare or Seniors free 24/7 travel on all public transport; NSW which charges only a maximum of $2.50 travel anywhere in the state all day with no limits for off-peak only and no time restraints. Western Australia has free off-peak for concession card holders, including those on the dole, or sickness benefits, and Victoria has free off-peak for concession card holders on their transport system.
Our State Government Transport Minister should be advised, that those who can least afford to travel, namely concession card holders, seniors, those on the dole or on sickness benefits, be given either free off-peak or free 24/7 public transport in line with other states.
With the State Government’s fiscal focus on Cross-River Rail and the 2032 Olympics, it is obvious there is no concession for the disadvantaged and elderly at all. The disadvantaged and the elderly, struggle in an environment of high inflation and the prohibitive cost of living, not assisted by our Labor Government, State or Federal.
E. Rowe,
Marcoola.
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YAROOMBA DEVELOPMENT
Dear editor,
To Development Watch, I don’t see how the twin seven storeys of the proposed Westin Hotel would be an eye sore. I understand the plan is to keep the tree line of the site which would surely hide the building.
You should be watching the road passing the area and not looking over trees.
This is nothing like the ugly buildings you see going down the hill approaching Coolum itself.
The development means jobs to build the Hotel, restaurants, bars, units, and parklands etc. Also, there is the opportunity of future work for our current young locals.
I suggest you stop lining the pockets of the solicitors and let the development go ahead.
Peter Coster,
Mt Coolum.
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Y’BAR COURT DETAILS
Dear editor,
I would like to respond to the article on the Yaroomba Beach development proposal by Sekisui House in conjunction with the Sunshine Coast Council.
I often wonder how much councils (and court judges) are influenced by large corporations in deciding to approve construction of a multi-storey hotel, service apartments and a coastal village, against the well-established Town Plan, which is in place for very reasons such as this. Town Plans are in place to prevent the high-density establishments from disintegrating the community feel of the residential suburbs of the Sunshine Coast, impacting negatively on the natural habitat in the area and overwhelming the suburb’s infrastructure.
It has always been presumptuous of Sekisui House to buy the 18ha site with the view of then gunning for a 10-storey development when there was a local building limit of two storeys. So, in 2018, they decided to resubmit their building application with plans to build up to seven storeys. How magnanimous of Sekisui House!
Whilst the finer details on the legal deliberations are obscured from general knowledge, there seems to be a rather strong discord between community expectations and what the council, which presumes to represent the residents, suggests the community wants for the site. It seems to a lay person such as myself, who cares for the local community that Sekisui House is running over council town plans. Employment opportunities and the provision of an events venue are not trump cards to override the Town Plan, as there are many ways to achieve the proposed benefits without such a huge dichotomy of building standards within the town.
Sekisui House should rather consider building their classy hotel and function centre within the limitations of the established Town Plan. You cannot tell me this is not possible?
Ashraf Saleh,
Yaroomba.
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APPROVE YAROOMBA
Dear editor,
The good people of Yaroomba should have backed the Sekisui project in its latest form instead of moaning over one building going to seven floors and wasting all that money on court cases. Of course, the lawyers will applaud another appeal; that’s how they make money.
However, the building regulations are changing. The government is seeking higher density and wait for it, lifting the height restrictions to eight levels!
Let’s hope, Sekisui is sticking to the current and approved plans without adding another floor on top. Let them just start building and have a superb development up and ready well in time for the Olympics. The accommodation and the jobs for the area will be welcome!
J Konrad,
Peregian Beach.
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WHY I AM VOTING YES
Dear editor,
I believe that the Uluru statement from the heart –has made it clear, it has been made from a place of love, generosity, and faith. The indigenous people of Australia have offered their hand with respect and love; and reached out to all Australians to ‘stand together’ in the belief that we can make it better’.
I can no longer accept the chasm between those of us who are socially advantaged with the harrowing plight of many first nation’s people. This wholesale inequity in almost every social measurement including such critical areas as health – where the life expectancy and preventable diseases are at third world levels and where rising suicide rates of young indigenous people are so distressing and shameful. Such awful statistics would not be tolerated if these were the children of white families in the wealthy suburbs of any Australian city.
We were always seen as a ‘fair go’ country, Australians have always ‘shown up’ for those who face struggle. We have been invited to walk with our indigenous brothers and sisters on a journey that will bring their voice and wisdom to the table through inclusion in the Australian Constitution and a voice to parliament. Such an advisory body can only bring benefits, not only for the indigenous community, but for all Australians.
We have a unique opportunity to stand together to become our best selves, let’s grasp history’s page; I am saying YES! at the Voice Referendum later this year – there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Let’s make history together.
Dr Christine Murphy,
Yaroomba Beach.
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NUCLEAR ENERGY
Dear editor,
Once again, the Dutton LNP Opposition beats the pro-nuclear drum as it attempts to shift the blame for the cost-of-living and energy crisis from their shoulders.
For over nine years, the coalition government failed to implement a viable energy policy. If nuclear energy is the answer, why didn’t the LNP go down that path when in power?
Mr. Dutton fails to mention that small modular reactors are not yet available commercially and unlikely to be for many, many years.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen said “…Even the World Nuclear Industry status report tells us that nuclear costs rose 36 per cent between 2009 and 2021 while solar costs fell 90 per cent and wind by 72 per cent.
Nuclear is slow to build, and as it cannot be easily turned on or off, it is effectively useless for peaking and firming…”
Therefore, nuclear power is not a solution to our energy and cost-of-living problems, it would only exacerbate them should we go down that very expensive path.
As UN Secretary General Guterres pointed out, we are facing the dire consequences of climate change NOW. Declaring July as the hottest month on record, he said, “The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.”
As a nation, or indeed globally, we do not have the luxury of time before we seriously reduce our carbon emissions. Nuclear power is not the solution.
Robyn Deane,
Bli Bli.