I am just listening to the tone of voice of Malcolm Turnbull on Lateline. Its a pity that the government has chosen a merchant banker as their Minister for Environment and Water as he clearly hasn't a clue about the problems of managing the Australian landscape sustainably for agriculture, urban landscapes or have any familiarity with options for rehabilitating mining landscapes.

i am also very bitter that K Rudd has muzzled Peter Garrett. K Rudd is a howard clone.

I absolutely agree, and share your disgust billie.

“…however I think the moment the average person is asked to choose between that concern and creature comforts…”

TRTL, the key is in the delivery of the message, so that sustainability is not presented as a choice between continued comforts and future protection, but rather; future protection in order to retain those comforts.

This is not hard when we look at the discomforts now being exerted by the water crisis, or the state of the Murray/Darling or salinity in the wheatbelt, etc, which are due to chronic antisustainable practices.

I firmly believe that if the message is presented properly, then the support base for a major political refocus onto sustainability will be there.

“People will only jump on this bandwagon if it doesn't cost them anything…”

I think that the average person is willing to give a little, if the urgency of the situation is driven home to them. But sure, the less they have to give the better, or perhaps the less directly they have to give up some comforts or some part of their income, the better. It’s a hell of a balancing act to get the right amount of support without overstepping the mark and incurring the wrath of the community for trying to make them pay too much, or without being seen to not be doing enough to address a dire situation.

“…in order to reach sustainability, you need to change the economy to drive public opinion…”

We need to work on all fronts at the same time. An improving economic system will inspire public opinion, and vice versa. It is not a matter of public opinion driving the whole show.

“…the crucial matter is making sustainability profitable.”

The crucial matter is to emphasise the urgency of developing a genuine sustainability paradigm and that things won’t be profitable for the country and hence for the vast majority of its citizens for very much longer if we don’t. The message CAN easily be presented in terms of profits, creature comforts and other things that affect people in the short term.

Too often we see these 'city based elites' excluding the farmer as they believe they are smarter, more knowledgable and of greater morality than the Australian farmer. In reality, no Australian works closer to harsh Australian environment than the farmer which should entitle them to a couple chairs atleast on these chat fests.

However, as these elites also encourage farming to move offshore to nations where there are no or very limited controls such as China and South East Asian nation's, the destruction of the world's is not at Australia's feet but at that of Asia. This is why the Kyoto Agreement is a sham.

One only has to see how that Australian producers must reach high standards yet foods imported do not, putting the local farmer's and those along line at risk.