Climate change attitudes
This week CSIRO released the results of a five-year study into Australian attitudes to climate change and adaptation.
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Almost 17,500 people were surveyed about their views on climate change.
The majority of Australians (78 per cent) accept the climate is changing, regardless of their age, gender or level of education.
More than half the people surveyed had suffered injury, loss or damage as a result of extreme weather events, including extreme high temperatures (61 per cent), heatwaves (61 per cent) and drought (57 per cent).
The majority of people also think these extreme weather events will increase in intensity and frequency in the future.
Australia has all it needs to be a global leader on climate change. We are a wealthy country with some of the world’s best potential for renewable energy.
There is still time to shift Australia’s focus away from its fossil fuel past and to begin building the sustainable, equitable economy of the future.
We should be guided by the legacy we wish to leave for Australia and the world and supporting poorer countries to meet the challenges of climate change.
Dörte Planert, Tathra, South Coast coordinator for 1Millionwomen.com.au
Rewrite Constitution
The group I represent advocates the replacement of Australia's costly Federation, by abolishing the states and strengthening local government.
Most Australians favour this.
That requires considerable constitutional change.
Similarly, creating a Republic may not be achieved by even a substantial majority.
How can it be that an intelligent and educated nation allows itself to be constrained by such an archaic and frozen Constitution? Why is this not debated all over the nation?
It seems this blocking set of rules cannot even be discussed.
It was actually meant to be a flexible democratic Constitution but it became a huge roadblock.
This Constitution has to be rewritten!
A sovereign nation doesn't want its future stuffed up by something that can surely be changed.
Is it the political establishment that benefits from this gross governance stagnation?
Australia needs to urgently talk about this and tackle and resolve the conundrum.
More piecemeal tinkering with the federation and the Constitution is getting Australia absolutely nowhere.
Klaas Woldring, Beyond Federation, Pearl Beach
Asbestos awareness month
When I became Australia’s first Asbestos Awareness Ambassador I pledged my full support to this vital campaign to increase awareness of how dangerous asbestos can be to homeowners, tradespeople and families when renovating, maintaining or demolishing homes or other structures.
Asbestos can be found in brick, weatherboard, clad and fibro homes behind wall and floor tiles, under floor coverings including carpets and, in walls, ceilings, roofs, gutters and even dog kennels. It could be anywhere.
Sadly, current research tells us that people are unknowingly exposing themselves and their families to dangerous asbestos fibres during home renovations, with TV renovating programs fuelling the popularity of DIY.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that usually develops between 20-50 years after inhaling asbestos fibres.
There is no cure and the average survival time after diagnosis is only 10-12 months – hard-hitting statistics none of us can ignore.
One in every three homes built or renovated before 1987 will contain asbestos products.
All Australians need to “Get to know asbestos this November” and visit www.asbestosawareness.com.au to learn the dangers of asbestos and how to manage it safely - because it’s not worth the risk.