THE COMMENTARIAT Fine words but Albanese still failing to face up to some hard truths – Caitlin Fitzsimmons (The Age/Sydney Morning Herald): “It is terrific to see a political leader embracing the idea that the shift to a low-carbon economy can create opportunities for our national prosperity. However, Albanese’s promise that coal mining has a bright future is disingenuous. Rather than placate coal miners and their communities with an unrealistic view of the future, it would be better to start planning “just transition”. Albanese didn’t mention the term but it is used by his colleagues in the union movement. It describes a gradual, planned approach to the closure of environmentally destructive industries and replacement by new industries in a way that ensures social and economic fairness. The phrase is used when talking about the shift away from the mining and burning of fossil fuels, though it also applies to industries such as old-growth logging.” Time for open minds and hearts on indigenous voice ($) – Jamie Walker (The Australian): “Having unwisely raised expectations that an indigenous voice to parliament could be embedded in the Constitution, Ken Wyatt was always going to struggle to keep this process on track. There was no way around the prime ministerial veto of constitutional recognition and Wyatt’s language reflects that political reality, for better or worse. The challenge for the indigenous leadership, and also for the Labor Party, is not to let a conception of the perfect become the enemy of the good. A legislated voice might not be what the framers of the Uluru Statement from the Heart envisaged in 2017, but it is still a meaningful advance, and to mire the discussion in further recrimination would squander an important opportunity to reconcile our national life.” Fresh food people? Let’s not bury our heads in the sand – Garry Linnell (The New Daily): “The Food contamination scandals and product recalls are a weekly event, making it easy to forget – or to choose to forget – those recent incidents of frozen berries contaminated with salmonella or hepatitis A. It’s little wonder so many consumers are confused by various product claims and prefer to shy away from wanting to know where their food really comes from. But pleading dumb innocence is no excuse. By willingly removing ourselves from the process, we give the giant food manufacturers and marketers more opportunities to boost profits by lowering product quality and fudging information about its true origins. At least I know where my fish comes from. And when it comes to our food chain, we all have a little blood on our hands.” | 