Dutton may cling to the straw that Coorey has to offer, but the odds would still be stacked against him.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Frank Carroll, Moorooka, Qld
CEOs out of touch with the public mood
The whingeing by Kevin Gallagher, Meg O’Neill, Shell executives and others in the oil and gas industry
(“‘Draconian, reckless vandalism’: gas fights for its future”, December 17-18) highlights to me how out of touch these CEOs are with the mood of many Australians, including me who has worked in the oil and gas industry.
It is now filled with ridiculous levels of greed, completely out of kilter with ethical and fair commercial dealings.
If you look at Santos’ 2021 annual report, it highlights that in eastern Australia its cost of production is $2.30 to $2.40/GJ when converted from $US/BOE. Even if LNG adds $2.50/GJ in cost, charging upwards of $10/GJ is nothing less than extortion.
A price closer to $6 to $7/GJ allows a fair commercial return with reasonable pricing to many industrial businesses.
Timothy Luke, Cheltenham, SA
Bowen strikes again
Chris Bowen has struck a deal with the states and territories to place a cap on gas and coal prices, despite vociferous objections from the gas companies.
He’s the same bloke who, as shadow treasurer for Bill Shorten, stuffed up the tax policies, which was to a large degree the reason the Labor Party lost the 2019 election.
Will lightning strike twice and will this market interventionist policy do the same for Anthony Albanese?
Coke Tomyn, Camberwell, Vic
Polluters must pay
It’s not surprising that some of our biggest industrial polluters are being called to account by climate and community groups across Australia (“Dear Dirty Dozen” ad, December 17-18).
Companies such as Santos and Glencore have made record windfall profits in 2022, while paying minimal taxes over the past few years, according to recent transparency data from the ATO. Households have been under increasing financial pressure as energy prices skyrocket. Yet some companies are resistant to price caps that would help the consumer.
Besides, taxpayers are footing the bill for extreme weather events linked to emissions rises – caused by the very product these companies are selling.
The big polluters need to do their fair share to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Anne O’Hara, Wanniassa, ACT
Tired old paradigm
The opposition’s response to the energy price cap shows it has learnt nothing from its drubbing at the May election – it’s still stuck in the same old free market paradigm regardless of consequences.
Leadership in a democracy requires markets to be steered, not allowed to run amok at the expense of the electorate.
Robert Brown, Camberwell, Vic
Offsets aren’t enough
I support the community groups who highlight fossil fuel polluters and call upon the government to upgrade the safeguard mechanism (“Dear Dirty Dozen”, December 17-18). The safeguard mechanism is an emissions reductions policy that should ensure that big polluters make real emissions cuts without the unfettered use of “offsets”.
Over to you, Chris Bowen.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic
True spots v blind spots
It was amazing to read Thursday’s editorial (“Labor’s true spots are now on show”, December 15) and wonder whose true spots were showing, the ALP’s or the Financial Review’s. There was plenty of praise for capital risking exploration, but no mention of the other side of the macroeconomic equation: the battlers and the underpaid workforce.
Liberally laced with emotive words – “ram through”, “massive” and “blindsided” – your leader perceives an inordinate risk to exploration companies, whereas they are well aware that they are price takers and factor this in to all projects.
Is this all Labor’s “fault”? The energy industry was well aware of the emerging legislation and had months to react.
Do companies have to underpay their staff to survive? If so, their business model is flawed. There are ceaseless stories in the media about families struggling under the burden of interest rates and expensive energy. Are they to be ignored?
A.D. O’Mahony, Indooroopilly, Qld
A plea for diversity
Allow me, a regular reader of your journal, to offer some criticism. First, it is disappointing that you choose to publish a letters page only on an occasional basis.
Most of the letters published are high quality, thoughtful pieces that reflect the diversity and knowledge of your readership.
Secondly, there has been of late a creeping “Sky After Dark” element to The Australian Financial Review. Less balanced, and more shrill writing is being published more regularly.
Hence, I ask that you rethink your approach. Publish more from your readers, tone down the rhetoric, and strive for more thoughtful opinions.
John Balazs, Randwick, NSW
Grandfather puzzle
Wishing Andrew Thorburn the best for nabbing his sabbatical moment away from work and spotlight (“Thorburn, under fire, opts for a year off”, December 17-18). But could your reporters please clarify how one focuses on “becoming” a grandfather?
Anecdotally, this grandfather of three found the task to be totally beyond one’s control, having been outsourced to those one had fathered a while ago.
Ramani Venkatramani, Rhodes, NSW
