Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.
Monday April 7
The benefits of citizen science
“Each morning as I read The Conversation, I am challenged, surprised, filled with joy and sometimes saddened. I always feel informed. As someone who facilitates a citizen science program for a Friends of group, I could readily relate to two articles on citizen science this morning. The health benefits described in this article are often chatted about informally as our group members walk, observe and share information about what we’re seeing and hearing in the natural world. Inevitably, and without consciously trying, the demands of every-day life end up sitting on the back burner for a while while we enjoy being outdoors in the company of like-minded people. Is it any wonder that citizen science is finding a place in more and more people’s lives, and its value is being increasingly recognised? As your articles suggest, why then is so little attention directed to supporting it financially?”
Sue Tardif Olinda, VIC
Solar for apartment blocks
“Thank you for shining a light on a housing issue which does not get enough focus, the poor standards of apartment blocks. You are more likely to notice temperature changes in a smaller home, especially when poorly insulated (and most apartments are VERY poorly insulated) so access to solar power would make a huge financial difference. This issue also highlights the problems with the current management of apartment blocks. My experience is that the body corporates seem to either ignore owners or delegate to the committee which is made up of unqualified, busy and often self-serving owners.”
Jane David, Naarm VIC
Wednesday April 8
Too little, too late
“As a lifelong Labor voter, I am deeply disappointed by the government’s handling of the ongoing fuel crisis. I believe the government should have acted much sooner. The reluctance to implement fuel rationing is puzzling, given that such measures have been taken in the past with manageable outcomes. Proactive rationing would help prolong available supplies and provide some relief to those most affected. The current advice, which simply encourages people not to take more than they need, appears ineffective. Anxiety is widespread, and our heavy reliance on cars and trucks for daily transport is a significant issue – one that warrants its own separate discussion.”
Carol Benda
The illusion of change
“Reading of Prime Minister Albanese’s proposed reforms to gambling ads, I was struck by the similarities with his approach to the recent environment law reforms. In both cases, Albanese promised real change before ultimately giving in to industry pressure. In both cases, he preferred to create the illusion of change rather than following the advice of experts. The prime minister even uses the same language, justifying his inadequate reforms as a means to ‘getting the balance right’. In both cases, the outcome may, unfortunately, be the same: a loss of momentum, a feeling that the problem has been dealt with – and the very real proposition that Australians will wait many more years for change.”
Greg Taylor, Claremont WA
Safety vs sleep
“While I do recognise the enormous benefits suggested in your article about the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button audio, I have a serious request for some sort of updated technology which is quiet. I live in the suburbs only 40 metres from one. Has anyone considered the hot sleepless nights caused by the continuous beeping of the device which is rarely, if ever, used overnight? It’s noise pollution and a health hazard to those whose sleep and comfort are constantly disturbed by these devices.”
Denis Murdoch, Stafford Qld
Thursday April 9
The case against means testing
“Means testing is fundamentally flawed because it adds complexity, cost, and exclusion without delivering meaningful savings. The bureaucracy required to police eligibility often costs more than the assistance it withholds, while undermining the effectiveness of public services. Universal systems avoid these failures by treating essential services as social infrastructure rather than charity. Redistributing wealth is neither radical nor speculative. Taxing high-income earners and accumulated wealth—whether through capital gains, inheritance, or equity-based mechanisms—has been done repeatedly and successfully across advanced economies. The limiting factor is not technology or resources. We already produce more than enough to guarantee a dignified standard of living for all. What prevents this is intergenerational wealth inequality, which entrenches advantage and shapes policy to preserve existing concentrations of power. The sick should be healed, the hungry fed, the poor housed and all should receive a good education.”
Scott Draffin
Cheap, stable and clean
“Why is it that energy experts and economists rarely, if ever, mention the good effect renewables have on inflation. The cost of electricity from my rooftop solar is the same as it was when installed several years ago. The cost of recharging my EV is unchanged. Meanwhile oil, gas and coal have all risen in price. The value of stable prices and lower inflation — the opposite of the uncertainty we currently have over oil and gas that permeates the whole economy — cannot be over emphasised. Time to seize the moment, accelerate renewables and decarbonisation. Lower cost, lower inflation, zero emissions.”
Julian Lawrence, Karana Downs, Qld