Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Making Labor great again

By Peter McCloy - posted Wednesday, 12 August 2015


In 1831 a young French nobleman, Alexis de Tocqueville visited America. He believed that democracy was the way of the future, and that America was the most advanced democratic society. He set out to experience developments at first hand. His book Democracy in America is a classic, regarded by many as the best book ever on both America and democracy.

Tocqueville had a traditional view of political parties, which he regarded as essentially evil. He thought that a new time required a new political science. He made a distinction between great parties and small parties. Great parties, he believed, overturn societies, tearing them apart; small parties agitate within and degrade society.

Great parties are primarily concerned with principle, they deal primarily with generalities, they are interested in ideas and have real convictions.

Advertisement

Small parties are interested in consequences, not principles; they are concerned with particulars, not generalities; they focus on people rather than ideas; they are more interested in victory than conviction. They use violent language, but they act timidly.

It is clear from recent political history in Australia that politics has been dominated by small parties. At the recent ALP National Conference Bill Shorten showed that he is determined to make Labor the great political party it used to be.

This is clearly illustrated by his vision of 50% renewable energy by 2030, surely an idea whose time has come. It’s a grand vision that demonstrates real conviction and has the potential to overturn our society.

It’s a vision that needs to be viewed on an international rather than a selfishly local scale. Australia contributes less than 2% of the world’s carbon pollution. Even eliminating it completely will make no difference to the fact of catastrophic global warming; that will be determined by other developed nations. But it will serve as an example to other major polluters that Australia is a nation of integrity, prepared to pay its share for the sake of the planet.

Some will doubt that Australia’s example will change the behaviour of the major polluting countries - China, America, India, Russia for example. But we’ve been world leaders before. For a few years after the Howard government signed the Kyoto agreement, Australia led the world in setting and achieving renewable energy targets. The Abbott government’s policy of turning back the boats is acknowledged world-wide as being effective and life-saving.

Our resolve will be tested. Tony Abbott’s policy of removing funding from the solar/wind power industries must be rejected. He did it to the automotive industry, now he’s doing it to renewable energy - a multi-billion dollar contributor to our economy. The decision to redirect funding to unproven technology at the expense of our developed and proven industries is putting at risk the potential $8.7 billion analysts predict the wind industry will contribute to the economy in the next five years.

Advertisement

Renewables will contribute massively to our economy and create thousands of jobs. But we need to be realistic, there will be inevitable changes that must be planned for.

Obviously the coal industry will be a major loser. In regions like the Hunter and Latrobe Valleys thousands will be unemployed and regional economies disrupted. While this will be more than balanced by the opportunities made possible by the renewable energy sector, massive retraining and probably relocation of the workforce will be needed to prevent the problems which were created in South Australia by the Abbott government’s abandonment of the automotive industry.

Fortunately, wind farms and solar farms are usually located in rural locations, and this may offer a partial solution. AGL operates the country’s biggest solar farm at Nyngan, which will benefit the local economy This is another reason to ensure that a proper level of funding is available to the companies that provide these services.

New pricing policies will be needed to ensure that Labor values of a fair go for all remove the inequities of the Abbott government’s mishandling of power subsidies that enrich the rich at the expense of the poor.

With the predicted explosion in rooftop solar panels and new technology batteries the situation will be exacerbated, as is being proven in America. As more users reduce their dependence the grid, the per unit cost of power increases for those still dependent on it. Those fortunate enough to benefit from the sale of the excess electricity they generate are dependent on the grid to sell their product. They cannot be expected to isolate themselves from the grid, which will provide backup for times of low solar input, periods that can extend for many days, especially in the southern part of Australia where most people live.

The need for backup to ensure continuity and reliability of supply means that existing generators need to be available and capable of fast reaction to vagaries of the weather. This is where the government needs to encourage research and development, which Australia could export to the world.

Meanwhile, existing pricing policies have to change to include a contribution to the growth and improvement of the infrastructure of the grid to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits. For example, why should someone who rents a property, whose landlord has no incentive to invest the capital required to generate power, be expected to subsidise their neighbours, who effectively trade in and profit from their panels?

Under the Abbott government power subsidies favour the big end of town and middle class property owners, they are effectively a regressive tax on the poor. There will be  loud protests from those who benefit, but Labor must stick to its guns.

It is interesting to ponder the new technologies that will inevitably arise in the next 15 years. Perhaps nuclear fusion will make the 50% target irrelevant, but this technology is politically unacceptable in Australia. It is to our great credit that we take a stand against the obvious dangers of the nuclear industry.

Similarly, we have taken a stand against fracking, a principled position rejected by America, the world’s second biggest polluter (after China). In 1990, coal generated 53% of US electricity and natural gas 10%. By 2012, coal had fallen to 38% and natural gas had grown to 30%. But at what cost to the environment? Fracking is not an acceptable option for Australia.

China has announced plans to shift to renewable energy, but fossil fuels will continue to provide most of their power. India, the third biggest polluter, has announced that it will not take any steps to reduce their emissions unless the other major nations reduce theirs. Clearly someone must show the way.

Australia can already hold its head high internationally, especially as we have some unique circumstances. Denmark boasts of generating 140% of their power requirements through wind farms, but Denmark has the most expensive power in Europe. When the wind doesn’t blow, or demand exceeds wind input it can buy power, usually nuclear or hydroelectric, from neighbouring countries, as can Germany. This option is not available to Australia - we must stand alone.

Hydro power is an option, both for power generation and storage, and perhaps deserves more research, despite the environmental impact of dams and reservoirs. The government will need to make some important decisions in balancing the competing demands of the Greens and industry.

A major problem will arise in the late 2020s when existing sources of renewable energy start to fail. Solar panels have a limited life. When I first installed panels in 1987, the expected life was ten years. The panels I recently installed have an expected life of 25 years, which is great. However, by 2030, an increasing number of panels will be failing, due simply to old age. With many household budgets depending on the savings, and the non-renewable sector having shrunk and increasingly dependent on their input, this is a factor I don’t think has been acknowledged. We can reasonably expect the government to include this in their planning.

Same thing applies to wind turbines - I suspect their life is considerably less than solar panels!

Claims that schemes such as the proposed ETS and replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy will increase electricity costs need to be acknowledged, although it seems clear that they are unfounded. However, this is not the main point. Some increases are more than justified by the contribution they will make to the safety of the planet. A great political party is concerned with principles, leaving complaints about consequences to those with a small party mentality.

I am reminded of the 1970s, when Gough Whitlam won an election based on the progressive ideals of a great political party, and transformed Australia. It’s time!

At the recent ALP conference, Bill Shorten demonstrated the same clarity of thinking and commitment to a meaningful vision of what this country can achieve, with the promise of changing Australia for years to come. It’s a vision that will allow Australia to resume its position as a world leader, and to once again hold our heads high, proud to be Australian.

That’s a worthy challenge to Tony Abbott: “Bring it on!”

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

8 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Peter McCloy is an author and speaker, now retired, who lives on five acres of rock in an ecologically sensible home in the bush. He is working on a 20,000-year plan to develop his property, and occasionally puts pen to paper, especially when sufficiently aroused by politicians. He is a foundation member of the Climate Sceptics. Politically, Peter is a Lennonist - like John, he believes that everything a politician touches turns to sh*t.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Peter McCloy

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Peter McCloy
Article Tools
Comment 8 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy