'Disingenuous' reasons
The Victorian government's economic rationale for lifting its moratorium on onshore gas extraction is disingenuous, and it raises serious doubts about the Victorian government's commitment to addressing climate change and the setting of meaningful greenhouse emissions reduction targets
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The Victorian government's claim that onshore gas extraction would result in significant job creation is fanciful. Historically, the number of Victorian jobs in oil and gas extraction has been very low. 2016 Census data show that the total number of jobs in oil and gas extraction combined was 1773, or only 0.06% of the Victorian workforce. In the south-west of Victoria, the number of jobs was only 74.
Moreover, the Victorian Gas Program Progress Report No 4, which the Victorian government relies upon, supports the view that job numbers in gas extraction will likely remain low, even if the exploration and extraction proceed. The report's most optimistic scenario is the creation of a mere 242 jobs across Victoria.
Victorian government claims, that onshore gas extraction would 'boost energy supply' and secure 'local gas supply for Victorians', are seriously misleading. The report estimates that conventional onshore gas extraction may yield between 128 and 830 petajoules of energy in total. Yet, in 2018, Victorian consumption of gas was 220 petajoules. Even under the most optimistic extraction scenario considered by the report, it would only supply Victoria's total needs for around three years at best. According to the report, onshore extraction would only meet between 9 per cent and 14.8 per cent of Victoria's gas demand for a relatively short period.
It is perhaps not surprising that the Victorian government's official announcement on the lifting of the onshore gas moratorium does not mention any potential lowering of gas prices. This is because the Gas Program Progress Report does not expect onshore extraction to relieve gas prices. The report states: "...no material impact is expected on Victorian gas prices regardless of the time frame or level of development".
Exaggerated claims by the Victorian government about the potential supply of onshore gas in Victoria mean that its claims about it making a significant contribution as a 'transitional' fuel are equally spurious.
Over the past two decades, the Australian economy has begun to shift away from reliance upon coal for energy generation needs. During this time, a greater reliance has been made upon gas and renewables. By 2018, renewables accounted for nearly the same share of national electricity generation needs as gas.
As the threats from climate change and fossil fuel derived greenhouse gases become ever more evident, the challenge for genuinely progressive governments is to ensure a more rapid shift to renewable capacity, and away from fossil fuels altogether, including gas.
Victorians look for and deserve more honesty from government on crucial matters that impact directly on their collective response to the threat of climate change.
Robyn Healy, Woodford
Regional areas 'best'
The article by Jamieson Murphy earlier this week about some of the nation's biggest companies joining forces to transform regional Australia was music to my ears and I hope that post COVID-19 the state and federal governments are more than open to the idea. I moved to south-west Victoria from Northern Tasmania last year after 40-odd years having been brought up in Perth and gone to university in Sydney. Regional Australia has it all over the crowded, expensive, over-rated capitals. The younger generations, having travelled, have now returned home and brought back a more cosmopolitan lifestyle and skill set that more than competes with inner city areas while still enjoying the quieter pace of life. Launceston and noprth-east Tasmania, where I lived, had the fastest housing price increases in the country in recent years. Not that it is a good thing generally for new housing entrants but it is an indicator that people are voting with their feet, their families and their wallets. Lonnie has its own airport and university campus and a lot more besides. Warrnambool and surrounds is smaller but comparable. Governments need to focus on key regional infrastructure. Fast rail and education would be two that will attract people, highways too I suppose and the people will deal with the details. More medium density housing options to enliven CBD's and suburban hubs too. No need to replicate the self strangling monocultural sprawl of the capitals.
Mike Seward, Port Fairy
No dogs in sanctuary
During the pandemic we are urged to express goodwill toward our fellow, and follow government guidelines; this should really extend to every season. At present exercising is fundamental, we are fortunate in Warrnambool to have plenty of space to do this. Walking in the Merri Marine Sanctuary is a luxury; marine in name though is an anomaly implying tides mark the Sanctuary's boundary. When in fact from the breakwater's eastern boundary markers, the Sanctuary runs along Viaduct Road to Edwards Bridge and includes the Merri River and South Warrnambool Wetlands riparian zones, and up McDonald Street to Thunder Point carpark where the sanctuary's western markers are located.
By protecting flora, fauna and marine life it is expected the sanctuary would flourish as a biodiverse safe sustainable ecosystem. This benefits fish stocks and our penguin population, ocean and wetland birds (36 species by Parks Victoria Southern Australian Coastal Birds poster). Biodiversity protection benefits ecosystems, enlivens native flora benefiting seed and honey eaters, shelter for skinks, lizards, snakes, echidna (regularly sighted in the sanctuary), and a swamp wallaby colony from which nutrient run-off benefits the Marine ecosystem. But dogs are daily encountered on the sanctuary's walking tracks, on the fossil dunes and loose in the river's estuary, disturbing the landscape, birds, native fauna, and leaving their excrement, an unsightly unhealthy negligence; a dog and its residual smell is a threat to wildlife. There are plenty of designated dog walking places in Warrnambool; the Merri Marine Sanctuary is not one of them; adequate signs indicate this. If you pay council rates (including pet licences) you enter a moral contract with your fellow, conditions apply. Do the right thing. And, 'pick it up'.
Mike Kibblewhite, Warrnambool
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