I will buy local
I join the chorus of correspondents who are exasperated that Woolworths and SPC are abandoning Australian peaches and pears in favor of cheaper imported fruit (Letters, 8/6) and “Local growers devastated as Woolworths switches to Chinese and southern fruit -African”, 7/ 6). Once again, Australian farmers are out of luck. And so is the environment, since greenhouse gas emissions created by the transport of canned fruit from abroad accumulate. The only winner is Woolworths who have found another way to profit during a cost of living crisis. I too will support our farmers by buying local.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Climate change factor
Not only are we exporting Australian jobs overseas by importing canned fruit that should be grown and preserved here, we are contributing to climate change. The fossil fuels used to transport canned fruit in Australia are much higher than those used to transport fruit and cans locally. Food miles are important.
Louise Kloot, Doncaster
Read the fine print
Last week, disdaining imported dried fruit as pellets from duopoly homegrown brands (“Growers out on a limb after local fruit canned”, 7/6), I chose a familiar local brand of sultanas. But the subpar flavor and texture from the first bite prompted a closer examination of the packaging. Beyond the tagline with “From our growers to you…since 1926” and a Sunraysia company address, in the lower corner in tiny print is “Packaged in Australia with imported ingredients.”
Rod Duncan, Brunswick East
Lessons with cash
How will small children learn the value of money when, instead, they see it disappear drop by drop from their parent's wallet, or from their own pocket, all they see is a touch and, as if by magic, the goods are yours?
There are so many lessons learned in receiving, counting and saving pocket money and when it comes to spending, you can only buy what you can afford.
Jan Weston, Prahran
Not everything is beneficial
Many Australians believe that cash handling is free for businesses and therefore there are no surcharges for customers. Those familiar with businesses large and small know that it's expensive, inconvenient, and exposes them to security risks and fraud. These hidden costs are borne by all customers.
We leave it up to individual businesses to decide whether it's worth offering this payment option to their customers.
Gregory Hill, Brunswick
The great madness
The Grand Prix Corporation takes over the Albert Park reservation for a four-day car race that the government claims is an economic success. The auditor general, independent economists, some journalists and community groups suggest otherwise. Eliminating this economic, environmental, social and political madness can reduce the shortfall by at least $100 million.
Geoff Gowers, Merricks North
Proud hurkle-durkler
Your correspondent (Letters, 6/6) has labeled herself a Sesquipedian librocubicularista, one who likes to read books in bed. So am I, and I'm an avid hurkle-durkler: one who stays in bed beyond a reasonable time to get up.
Linda Fisher, Malvern East
Reduce emissions, now
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres suggests 'godfathers of climate chaos' must stop 'shameless greenwashing' ('UN wants to ban tobacco-style fossil fuel ads' , 7/6). I tend to agree.
Of course, Energy Producers Australia, which represents the oil and gas industry, says “fossil fuels would be needed during the transition to net zero emissions by 2050”. The fact is that we have alternatives and obviously we need to reduce emissions as soon as possible given the acceleration of climate change we are experiencing.
When will we have a federal government with the fortitude to act on the collective wisdom of the United Nations? One that will stop fueling the fossil fuel industry which is clearly still making a mess at the expense of humanity and Australia.
Tom Hunt, Oak Flats, NSW
Rishi in a hurry
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must have confused D-Day with Dunkirk when he returned to England during the commemorations.
Mark Miller, Richmond
The old guard
Old Lefties are happiest when Labor is in opposition (″Cost of moving away from Labor values″, comment, 6/6).
Arthur Pritchard, Ascot Vale
