Enough shrugging: party donation rorts must end
February 2, 2021 12.05am
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A report reveals vested interests keep donating millions of dollars to political parties to play their political games (“Secretive donors give $1 billion to political parties”, February 1).
The federal disclosure scheme is not working. We have become a nation of shruggers. Politicians shrug off this and their lack of integrity and accountability. Voters shrug this off as they know that is just what politicians do. Enough of shrugging. We want changes to this system and perhaps action on the problems of climate change will happen.
Bea Hodgson, Gerringong
Emission impossible unless political climate changes
January 29, 2021 â 12.05am
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Most thinking people could not fail to be alarmed by John Hewsonâs article about Australiaâs emissions targetsâ catastrophe. Scott Morrison is captive to both his backbench and the fossil fuel lobby he will continue to do nothing to address the issue (âEmissions verdict is catastrophicâ, January 28). To make matters worse, although the government is very vulnerable on its lack of a climate change policy, Anthony Albanese is ineffective in highlighting this failing and its consequences. Perhaps the only thing that will force our recalcitrant politicians to act is the likelihood of a carbon border tax being introduced by the EU and the inevitability that the USA will follow suit.
Residents on Sydney's lower north shore say their concerns about the new Western Harbour Tunnel's high-impact construction and smoke stacks have been all but ignored by the NSW Government.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the tunnel, which will run three lanes of traffic in each direction, would cut travel times between North Sydney and Olympic Park by up to 20 minutes.
“This city-shaping piece of infrastructure will deliver a vital boost to the NSW economy, with the tunnel and freeway upgrade, along with Beaches Link, expected to support around 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs,” Mr Constance said.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes said any trees removed need to be replaced at a ratio of two-to-one.
“Community feedback on the project has been valuable in helping understand and deliver positive changes to the design and plan, and we will continue to work closely with local communities as the project gets underway,” Mr Stokes said.
Another two cases are in residents on the Central Coast, bringing the total number of cases outside the northern beaches to 45.
On Tuesday morning, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant announced another three cases were detected in people living outside the northern beaches: a case in Sydney s inner west, another in Wollongong and a third in Sydney s northern area . All are under urgent investigation.
Woollahra local government area has eight residents with COVID-19: four in Paddington, two within the Woollahra postcode, one in Rose Bay and another in Edgecliff/Point Piper.
The western Sydney postcode of Doonside has four cases, and Hornsby, Balmain, Cammeray and Liverpool/Casula have three cases each.