Gurner must remember the human cost of jobs

Perhaps the delivery was not politically correct, but unfortunately the truth hurts. (“Gurner ‘sorry’ for worker slur but he has his backers”, September 15).

Michael Burd, Toorak, Vic

Qantas treating Perth like foreign base

Your article regarding the access of foreign aircraft into Australia is interesting in that it highlights for Perth people the one-rule-fits-all doesn’t work in Australia.

From Perth’s point of view, Qantas is “Sydney’s” airline internationally.

Yes, Qantas flies to London and seasonally to Rome [from Perth non-stop only because the aircraft cannot reach there from Sydney]. No doubt in 2025 when the A350s arrive these flights will disappear. So other than the daily flight to Singapore that is it.

Perth is crying out for more connections to Europe to bring down prices but because Qatar wants to double east coast flights against the national interest, it seems, Perth misses out.

I recently flew from Istanbul to Bali via Singapore as the flight straight home to Perth was about $800 more expensive. I was on those flights because there were zero Qantas classic rewards flights available at any time

If Qantas wants to be the “national” airline start treating Perth properly, grow up and stop the nonsense with refusing to move terminals.

J B Lord, Dudley Park, WA

Fair referendum or political bunfight?

Revelations that Coalition MPs in support of the No campaign have greatly outspent others on social media advertising, raises a disturbing question.

Is this campaign more about re-booting political fortunes than anything else?

The extreme negativity and misinformation has the hallmarks of a whatever-it-takes election contest, not the Constitution’s founders’ notion of putting an issue to the people to decide, or healthy debate, a concept which is being systematically and cynically undermined.

With the benefit of hindsight perhaps truth in advertising legislation needed to come first, to give informed debate on the referendum, and democracy, a fighting chance.

Jim Allen, Panorama, SA

Promising signs on fossil-fuel front

These are hope-filled, uplifting words from eminently sensible Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (“We’re nearing fossil fuel peak at last and can see what lies beyond,” September 14).

According to the agency, the three fossil fuels of coal, oil and gas will peak by 2030, a “historic turning point” for the world. China especially is speeding with renewables and nuclear power.

However, Birol points out that globally we are still not strong or fast enough on the pathway for achieving the 1.5 degree C. goal.

He also warns that heatwaves and droughts may lead to temporary reversions to gas and coal. I reckon we should feel cheered and feel confident enough now to try even harder with the huge energy-climate transition.

Barbara Fraser, Burwood , Vic

Stamp duty change not the answer

Brendan Coates from the Grattan Institute proposes that the solution to encourage Baby Boomers to move out of their mini mansions is to abolish stamp duty.

Has he considered that the $42,000-plus (often tax free) yearly incentive payment paid to pensioner couples to stay put in their oversized homes might actually be a greater contributory factor?

This incentive payment otherwise known as the age pension costs the budget 2.4 per cent in GDP per year.

Not everyone wants to move from their home as they age, so instead of relying on the taxes of asset-poor tax payers to subsidise this choice, could we offer loans with deferred payment schemes instead?

Sam Smith, Summer Hill, NSW

Auckland not the correct template

As soon as I hear suggestions, especially from property developers, that we should copy another city, I smell a rat.

I worked in Auckland from 2002 to 2007 and was appalled to see the kind of skinny high-rise buildings that were being thrown up on tiny CBD plots with no base open space.

It was clear to me then that Auckland had no planning controls worth copying and was in danger of turning itself into Wan Chai in Hong Kong. Let’s build Australian cities in our own unique Australian way.

Peter Thornton, Killara, NSW

Santos needs to be realistic on gas decline

Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher is right to be extremely worried about the future of gas as demonstrated by his desperate attempt (“Abated gas must be part of the mix,” September 13) to garner support for an industry with an increasingly finite future.

The world will continue to drive away from all fossil fuels driven by the problematic and near-prohibitively expensive capture and storage of CO2, the abatement Gallagher relies so heavily on.

Just like farmers who are moving towards green ammonia for their fertiliser production, other industries such as the textile industry, pharmaceuticals and building industry products will steadily develop fossil-free production options as the real cost and true realities of CCS bite.

Most global energy companies have realised this and have active diversification programs in place to shift their business focus towards sustainable options.

Sadly Santos, like its competitor Woodside, continues down a short-term profit-making path and ignores the imperative to change direction. Shareholder value will more likely be maintained if company structures and policies are seen to be globally sustainable.

Robert Brown, Camberwell, Vic