I am among the first to say that ex-politicians should stay that way and keep quiet. There are sometimes exceptions for past politicians who actually achieved something during their time in office, and who no longer have to tow a party line. Two such are one-time Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the National Party, John Alexander, and capable Treasurer, Peter Costello.

In a recent chat, they came up with the suggestion that ‘Obfuscation over objectives of energy policy has broken the trust in politics’. That governments have not been prepared to spell out the intended consequences of their policies. The the garbled messages put out over the last decade have produced a breakdown of trust in the system and, in particular, trust in parliament and politicians.

Too many of our politicians have refused to front the people who are going to be affected by their policy.

The government has hidden the fact that it has deliberately adopted a policy that has put up electricity prices to consumers.

The government has deliberately decided to make coal-power uncompetitive by subsidising wind and solar generators. Consumers are paying for it.

The government has tried to tell people that they can have it all - reduce emissions, power will become cheaper, there will be no job losses.

Government didn’t have the guts to say that, if you want to “save the planet” it is going to cost you a lot.

If the government thinks that reducing emissions is more important than the loss of traditional jobs - jobs that older people in them will never replace, they should have told those who were to lose their jobs.

They knew that closing coal-powered generators (Hazelwood for starters) would throw people out of work, but they acted surprised by the result, and said that they didn't mean that to happen.

Hi Ttbn,

John Anderson :)

And yes, in his case, you're right !

Cheers,

Joe

ttbn,
I couldn't disagree more!
It's a free country, so there's really no reason why ex politicians should shut up.
However, if they speak out, they do so at their own risk. I used to think Peter Costello was a capable treasurer, but after seeing what he subsequently said on Lateline, I now think he was a lucky idiot who fluked it!

Obfuscation over energy policy is indeed a problem, and may well have reduced trust in politics, but lies that appeal to simplicity are equally destructive.

Subsidies for renewables led to a small increase in electricity prices. But the main factor in the huge increase in electricity prices was the huge increase in gas prices as we started exporting gas from eastern Australia. And when Hazelwood closed (for safety reasons, not environmental reasons) it increased our electricity system's dependence on gas, pushing up prices further.

Fortunately:
• the renewables are now reducing our dependence on gas, and so resulting in lower electricity prices.
• International gas prices seem to have peaked.

You shouldn't need politicians to tell you that when a power station closes down, the people working in it will lose their jobs. But you should know that in the short term (because a greater proportion of the costs are up front) there are more jobs in renewables.

Likewise, when a coal mine closes down, of course those who work there will lose their jobs. But there's no shortage of mining jobs around.

The loss of trust in our political system would
do great damage. Look at what's happening in
the United States. The erosion of trust in
its democratic political institutions which the
current President is doing is dangerous. It is
playing into the hands of authoritarian forces.
We don't want that to happen here.

Without trust we have diminished capacity to meet
long-term challenges. Weakening political trust erodes
authority and civil engagement, reduces support for
evidence-based public policies and promotes risk aversion
in government.

As stated earlier it also creates the space for the rise
of authoritarian forces. Of course the trust divide between
citizens and government is no easy task. And so far we've
been very lucky in this country - our government is doing
a good job and dealing with the issues rather well. It has
been effective in the way it's handled the pandemic. The
way it has stood up to China and much more.

We, unlike the US have really got little to complain about.

Joe,

You like John Anderson or what he says?

Aidan,

Of course you disagree. If I told you that it was Monday today, you would disagree.

World- wide, renewables are supplying a measly 3% of energy after a considerable time of hearing how RET is booming. Where are all the jobs from renewables? They haven't gone to the 35 plus year-olds. The people losing their jobs in power generation, heavy industry and factories will never work again. All that sort of work has gone to countries building coal plants like there is no tomorrow.

But, anyone who calls Peter Costello an idiot is not going to impress anyone. He didn't have the sort of personality people warm to, but he was no idiot.

I can't copy videos, but for most people (not Aidan) type in YouTube search 'Why wind and solar power won't work'. All the RET nonsense is a lie.

Ttbn,

They work all right, but their manufacture (and maintenance) creates almost as much CO2 as they will save over their working lifetime. But presumably, technology will improve their viability.

As it will improve the viability of fossil fuels :). And make nuclear power safer and more viable too.

Joe