Letters: Rishi Sunak could capitalise on Labour’s misguided moves in Europe
Telegraph
23-09-20 00:01
Conservative voters are calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to make adjustments to the government's policies, including net-zero targets and inheritance tax, in order to retain the party's core vote at the next general election. They argue that the government should abandon "woke fanatic" policies and reduce corporation tax in order to appeal to Conservative voters. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has been criticised for suggesting that the UK should become an associate member of the European Union. Critics argue that the EU has no intention of offering a beneficial deal to the UK and that Starmer's proposal would only benefit the bloc, not the UK. They also argue that the EU has a much bigger problem with illegal immigration than the UK, so it makes no sense for the UK to join in with the EU's problems.
Most extraordinary health crisis being answered with most routine politics
The Sydney Morning Herald
23-09-21 09:30
The Australian government's review into its response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been criticized as shallow, brief, and controlled by the Prime Minister. The review will not be allowed to examine decisions made unilaterally by state governments, despite the significant impact those decisions had on people's lives. Critics argue that a royal commission with the power to compel evidence from politicians and officials is necessary to properly investigate the crisis and determine whether lives could have been saved and money better spent. The review is seen as an exercise in political management, rather than a genuine inquiry.
Most extraordinary health crisis being answered with most routine politics
The Sydney Morning Herald
23-09-21 09:30
The Australian government's review into its response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been criticized as shallow, brief, and controlled by the Prime Minister. The review will not be allowed to examine decisions made unilaterally by state governments, despite the significant impact those decisions had on people's lives. Critics argue that a royal commission with the power to compel evidence from politicians and officials is necessary to properly investigate the crisis and determine whether lives could have been saved and money better spent. The review is seen as an exercise in political management, rather than a genuine inquiry.
New apartments are abundant across Melbourne. Pity they don’t fix our housing crisis
The Sydney Morning Herald
23-09-21 09:00
The Victorian government's plan to demolish 44 public housing towers and replace them with a mixture of social and market housing has been criticised for its lack of affordable housing provision. Of the proposed 30,000 new dwellings, only 11,000 will be available to public housing tenants. Critics argue that the government should require developers to provide high-quality, affordable housing with better environmental and social standards. The government has been urged to follow the California model, which mandates a 25% target for affordable housing.
Flux in China’s top ranks could be a moment of acute geopolitical risk
Telegraph
23-09-21 09:00
China is experiencing unusual political and economic volatility, which is challenging President Xi Jinping's plans to re-frame the global system, according to an op-ed in The Telegraph by Raffaello Pantucci, a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. Political signs of flux include the sudden disappearance from public view of President Xi's hand-picked foreign minister Qin Gang, and the replacement of the commander and political commissar of the elite People's Liberation Army "Rocket Force". In addition, defence minister Li Fangshu has disappeared, while Xi's anti-corruption campaign, which has investigated and incarcerated many party members, shows no sign of ending. The Chinese economy has faltered badly over the past year, with Beijing's economic travails beginning over a decade ago, Pantucci said. China's economy is systematically flawed and faces years of awkward adjustment, with some analysts diagnosing the country with "Japanification". China's international relations have not been one-way traffic, with resistance encountered in its Belt and Road projects and among several international debtor nations for its opaque lending practices.
The Voice to Parliament will not be “a layer of (government) bureaucracy”. It will consist of community representatives elected by First Nations peoples from all over Australia. They will not be government appointees. The Voice will make representations to parliament on draft legislation that will affect the lives of First Nations peoples and it will work with government to ensure effective implementation of that legislation at the coalface. This process has every chance “to improve the lives of a group of people that Australians know deserve better”. David Hind, Neutral Bay
Ticked off
It is reported today that the Federal Court has dismissed Senator Babet’s application for orders that, in the coming referendum, ticks and crosses either both be counted (as approval and non-approval, respectively) or both not be counted (“”, September 21). Voters are supposed to write either Yes or No on their ballot papers. When I vote I intend to write “Y NO X” as my answer to the referendum question. I suspect the ballot paper will, in actuality, be treated as informal because of its multiple votes and that I shall not be considered to have voted. If so, I shall have been unlawfully disenfranchised as will be all those voters who intentionally vote with just a cross. What a seriously dumb lot those who rule our lives are. Ross Drynan, Lindfield
Must do better
How can a person speak such rubbish (“”, September 21)? It is claimed that “mixed-race children” were taken from their family for their own protection. The lived experience of thousands of Indigenous people tells a different story of separation and mistreatment. We are living in a post-truth world, where alternative facts and fake news compete with peer-reviewed research. Are we not better than this? Chris Moe, Bensville
Democrats think Trump is the opponent they want. They’re wrong, again
Telegraph
23-09-21 15:14
Joe Biden may be benefiting from promoting Donald Trump as the standard-bearer for the Republican Party. By highlighting Trump's positions on issues like abortion, Biden is able to rally support from his own base and strengthen his own candidacy. This strategy has been successful for Democrats in the past, as they have used negative partisanship to boost vulnerable Republican candidates and ultimately defeat them in general elections. However, the article warns that this is a high-stakes gamble, as Trump's surprise win in 2016 caused near-existential despair among Democrats.
No-one wants an electric car. Labour couldn’t care less
Telegraph
23-09-21 13:44
Labour has been caught off-guard by the UK government's decision to water down some Net Zero targets. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars will be pushed back from 2030 to 2035, and the ban on the sale of new oil boilers from 2026 to 2035. Labour has responded with uncertainty, suggesting that the party is no longer sure about the public's enthusiasm for a green economy. However, the party has confirmed that if it forms a government, it will reinstate the 2030 deadline for the ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
The Climate Change Committee’s extremism is hiding in plain sight
The Telegraph Opinion
23-09-21 13:23
Critics of UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak's relaxation of proposed bans on petrol cars and gas boilers have been vocal, particularly the Climate Change Committee (CCC). The CCC claims Sunak's announcement "is likely to take the UK further away from being able to meet its legal commitments." The CCC has been criticised for its impractical targets and deadlines for achieving net zero emissions. Sunak's recent actions have been seen as a challenge to the CCC's extremist and anti-democratic edicts, but the battle is far from over as the CCC remains a powerful quango with influence over climate change policy.
Europe is on the verge of surrendering Ukraine to Putin
Telegraph
23-09-21 13:17
Poland has announced that it will no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine, instead focusing on arming itself with more modern weapons. This decision is unlikely to change the situation in Ukraine in the short term, but it does indicate a shift in Poland's stance towards the conflict. The country has already given much of its military equipment to Ukraine, but it is running out of materiel to send. This decision may be linked to the ongoing dispute over the sale of cheap Ukrainian grain within the EU, but it also reflects Poland's need to beef up its own defences.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to bring immense economic and social benefits and can "turbocharge productivity," according to Dr. Andrew Leigh, Australia's competition minister. However, Leigh also warns that there are challenges that could limit competition in the development of AI systems. These challenges include the high cost of chips needed to build and train AI systems, the dominance of chipmaker Nvidia in the AI chips market, the need for high-quality and up-to-date data for training AI models, the network effects that favor the early entrants and allow them to become dominant, the scarcity of talent with AI development skills, and the possibility of AI systems becoming "natural monopolies" that undermine competition. Leigh argues that competition laws may need to be updated to address the challenges posed by AI and ensure that customers get a good deal and profit rates are not excessive. If not properly regulated, AI could lead to a concentration of power in the hands of a few foreign tech companies.
A startling number is about to trigger a toxic debate about big Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald
23-09-21 19:00
Australia is facing a record level of net migration, with 454,400 migrants entering the country in the last year, after deducting the number of departures. This has led to concerns that Australia has "opened the floodgates" to migrants. The government is set to release a migration strategy to overhaul the country's visa system and bring net overseas migration down from this high level. The government's objective is to attract skilled workers to the country while reducing overall migration numbers.
The Giants are an invisible powerhouse, but they’re here to stay
The Sydney Morning Herald
23-09-21 19:00
Despite their success on the field, the Greater Western Sydney Giants are struggling to gain a following in their home city. The team has made the finals six times in the past eight seasons and has never lost a match in the first week. However, their viewership numbers in Sydney remain low. For example, only 93,000 viewers in Sydney watched their recent match against Port Adelaide. The Giants' membership figure of 33,000 is impressive, but their lack of TV viewership is a concern. Despite their success, the Giants are struggling to gain recognition and support in Sydney, and they are widely dismissed outside of the city.
The UK government needs to reform the civil service in order to implement its policies effectively, argues Matt Ridley in The Telegraph. The current system, dating back to the Victorian era, is ill-suited to the demands of a modern government and has tied ministers' hands by making policies legally binding and outsourcing enforcement to quangos. Ridley suggests introducing a Government Modernisation Bill to put top civil servants on fixed contracts, allow ministers to make appointments from outside the civil service, and give ministers control over budgetary priorities.
Ukraine has won a massive naval victory without having a navy
Telegraph
23-09-21 18:23
Ukraine's coordinated multi-domain operations are having a significant impact on the Russian Navy's operations in the Black Sea. On 13 September, Russia's repair yard for the Black Sea Fleet, Sergo Ordzhonkidze, was hit by ten Storm Shadow cruise missiles, crippling the warship Minsk and the submarine Rostov-on-Don. The missiles were likely able to penetrate the defences due to the destruction of Russian S-400 air defence radars by Ukrainian special forces and Neptune missiles. The strategic significance of this attack lies in the removal of a landing craft/logistics vessel and a Kalibr-armed submarine from the Russian order of battle, as well as the inability to use the dry docks. Repairing the submarine may not be possible due to the extent of the damage, and if the Russians decide not to repair it, they will still need to retrieve it from the dock. The loss of the Minsk is less significant, although it points to mounting losses for the Russian Navy. The viability of Sevastopol as a naval base is also in question, and the ongoing attacks by Ukraine are hampering Russian logistics in the Black Sea. Overall, these attacks are having a significant morale effect on the Russian Navy.
Veteran journalist Gay Talese has published a second memoir, 'Bartleby and Me: Reflections of an Old Scrivener', featuring his encounter with Frank Sinatra in 1965. "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" documented the singer's refusal to be interviewed for Esquire magazine, but Talese's piece became one of the most celebrated magazine articles of the 20th century. The book also touches on the author's formative years at the New York Times and his subsequent career as a journalist, including the research for his book, 'Thy Neighbor's Wife' which featured Talese's time spent at a nudist colony.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to keep interest rates steady following a surprise fall in inflation. After 14 successive interest rate rises, this may indicate that the peak of the interest rate cycle has been reached. However, questions remain over the Bank's performance and its slow response to rising prices. The decision to appoint former US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke to oversee a review of the Bank's forecasting record is a step in the right direction, but there is also a need to address the issue of apparent groupthink within the Bank's senior leadership. The full implications of the Bank's decision-making may not have been felt yet, and a full accounting of its mistakes must be made to prevent them from being repeated.
Evening Update: Canada reduces diplomatic staff in India, citing threats to safety
The Globe and Mail
23-09-21 20:54
Canada is reducing staff levels at its diplomatic missions in India due to safety concerns for its employees amid high tensions between the two countries. The move follows allegations by India that New Delhi was behind the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Canada has not confirmed how many staff are being removed. In response, India has suspended all visa services for Canadian citizens, including e-visas and visas issued in third countries. Meanwhile, Russia has launched its biggest attack on Ukrainian cities in over a month, firing two barrages of cruise missiles at six locations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently on a visit to the US and Canada in a bid to bolster support. He is set to meet with US President Joe Biden, who is expected to announce a new military aid package for Ukraine. Zelensky is also due to visit Canada on 3 December. In other news, Alberta plans to leave the Canada Pension Plan after releasing a report claiming it is entitled to over half of the assets in the national scheme.
Politics Briefing: Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Greenbelt lands won’t be developed after all
The Globe and Mail
23-09-21 20:31
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reversed his decision to open parts of the Greenbelt to development, following widespread criticism and two ministerial resignations. Ford apologised for the mistake, stating: “Even if you do something for the right reasons, with the best of intentions, it can still be wrong.” The Greenbelt is an environmentally protected area of land in Ontario, and Ford’s decision to open up 3,000 hectares of it last year broke an earlier promise to leave the land untouched. Ford said he had acted after receiving feedback from members of his Progressive Conservative caucus.
Ford’s decision to open up the Greenbelt caused a political storm in Ontario, with two ministers resigning. The second, Kaleed Rasheed, resigned after his office admitted it had given incorrect information to the province’s Integrity Commissioner during the Greenbelt investigation. The commissioner has now stated that there are insufficient grounds to investigate whether Ford breached ethics rules during his daughter’s stag and doe party. Ford’s decision to open up the Greenbelt was criticised by environmentalists and his political opponents, who accused him of breaking a key campaign promise.
Sunak’s straight-talking battle against political ‘fairytales’ has only just begun
Telegraph
23-09-21 20:02
Rishi Sunak, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, is embarking on a mission of straight-talking and debunking the "fairy tales" and "fake promises" of politics. Having resigned his post due to his disillusionment with the lack of cost-benefit analysis and planning in government decision-making, Sunak is now challenging the consensus on issues such as net zero and welfare reform. He believes that being honest about the costs and consequences of policies is a necessary step towards restoring public trust and addressing the failures of the Conservative party. Sunak is willing to confront lobbyists and challenge fashionable ideas, and he believes that hard truths will resonate with voters. He plans to tackle issues such as the high costs of the HS2 project, the true extent of unemployment figures, welfare dysfunction, and the pressure on housing and immigration. While some hard truths may be difficult to address, Sunak is determined to present a realistic and honest approach to politics, setting himself apart from the cautious and unambitious strategy of Labour leader Keir Starmer.
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