Students should get a 'fail' if absent too much
So schools may get a Navigator program to combat absenteeism. Sounds good, but here's a novel idea:
Simply inform students/parents if students are absent more than x days per year without adequate reason, they automatically earn a FAIL in all subjects and will be required to repeat that year.
By the way, "adequate reason" does NOT include taking part in any "protest" rally no matter how important their parents/teachers believe it may be. Inclusion in such events should be in the student's own time, not time effectively funded by you, the taxpayer.
Brook Acklom, Castlemaine
Vote to save the climate
The Coalition is in denial on climate. Greens have climate clarity. Labor has progressed to climate confusion ie. more renewables plus more fossil fuels. Why does Labor lack the vision and leadership to declare climate emergency and announce the 'no brainer' climate policy? ie. a "just transition" policy for fossil fuel industry workers overseen by a "Fossil Fuel Industry Transition Authority".
The transition is a "job rich" project to set up the infrastructure of the renewable economy.
The reason may be Labor does not have the gall to stand up to the QLD branch of the CFMEU who believe in coal and the Adani mine. Short term votes not long term jobs.
Labor is also promising $1.5 billion for gas fracking in the NT. The reason? Because they receive 'top end of town' fossil fuel industry donations?
Currently our kids' futures are held to ransom by this failure to abandon fossil fuels before it's too late.
- Bernard Tonkin
All economic development is benchmarked against a safe climate/environment. This means exporting renewable energy, not being a major coal exporter, which means we pollute way beyond our "official" Australian emissions.
Currently our kids' futures are held to ransom by this failure to abandon fossil fuels before it's too late. Science says we have this coming decade only.
Half the Great Barrier Reef is bleached, unprecendented fires, floods and drought are decimating our water and food support ecosystems. Farmers against climate change, emergency workers and kids are speaking out.
The UK parliament just declared a climate emergency. Is Labor waiting for predicted mass starvation to occur before standing up to vested interests? Is Labor's vision for Australia to remain the "dealer:" for the world's fossil fuel addiction? Please act, "vote climate" and support our kids now.
Bernard Tonkin, Castlemaine
Read more: Have a say on weather, climate change
Big decisions to be made
Please! The last thing this country needs at the moment is another decade of fragmented and indecisive leadership.
Let's not fall prey to preference whisperers yet again and install narrow single-issue characters in either House.
Big decisions have to be made. We have a critical road ahead of us and we don't need roadblocks or even speedhumps.
John Morton, Bendigo
