[LINK] The Government's Climate Change plan

[Roger Clarke]

> On 27/10/2021 11:30 pm, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
>> The plan, Australia’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan
>> A whole-of-economy Plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 

On 29/10/21 8:58 am, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
> My letter in the SMH today:    ...
> The common factor? Governments that don't understand how to solve
> problems with technology.

Hardly any of the Clth public service has any experience in or affinity
to operational matters.  When a Green Loans program kills people, and
NDIS costs much more and achieves less (because of layers of bureaucracy
designed to buck-pass the blame), it comes as no surprise.

What's much scarier is the denudation of operational competence at State
levels.  Despite all the nonsense about States being an unnecessary
level of government, this is where actual stuff happens.

Many State departments used to be populated by (stuffy, over-managed,
over-audited and under-worked, but at least moderately competent)
employees.  That's been dissipated, privatised, contracted-out, and
de-regulated, so quality and reliability continues to plummet.


Another article in the same paper reported on a flotilla of
no-longer-used TAFE premises being quietly sold off.  Some courses *do*
lend themselves to primarily remote learning.  (There are loads of
fill-in-the-paperwork 'qualifications', and a Cert I in handling
weedicides is in the useful-to-have-flicked-through category).

But the trades?  And especially the high-tech trades and diplomas
involving expensive kit and (hopefully) skilled technical teachers?
Remote, and virtually hands-on??  Haptics isn't at that level, and may
never catch up with the sci-fi and marketers' visions.


Good letter, by the way Bernard, and ABC News carried something on
similar lines from an overseas commentator.

_______________


On 29/10/21 8:58 am, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
> My letter in the SMH today:
> 
> "The government’s proposal to address climate change is long on
> technology but short on the availability of scientists and engineers.
> Where are all these highly skilled professionals going to come from to
> do the hard work of innovation, development, implementation and training
> of the workforce who will maintain this new, beaut technology?
> Immigration? It’s more likely that the ones we have got will up and move
> somewhere with a more realistic and urgent approach."
> 
> It turns out the government is incapable of doing its own modelling and
> had to hire McKinsey.
> 
> Govt paid McKinsey $6m for net-zero modelling work
> 
> https://www.innovationaus.com/govt-paid-mckinsey-6m-for-net-zero-modelling-work/
> 
> 
> The idea of the government getting independent and fearless advice from
> a politicised public service that has to hire commercial operators like
> management consultants to do work it should be able to do itself is
> ridiculous.
> 
> And they ever even asked Treasury for their advice.
> 
> And have you seen the debacles in NSW with its Sydney Ferries that can't
> operate at night, had asbestos in them, that they would not be able to
> pass under two bridges on the Parramatta River if commuters were seated
> on the top deck and the vessel stalled in emergency braking conditions?
> 
> And Sydney’s Inner West light rail service which has been suspended for
> several days amid safety concerns after cracks were discovered in some
> trams.
> 
> And the NSW government buying overseas intercity trains that wouldn’t
> fit through the tunnels in the Blue Mountains, necessitating the
> widening of tunnels and re-contouring of station platforms.
> 
> Not to mention the fiascos with submarines and other Navy vessels.
> 
> The common factor? Governments that don't understand how to solve
> problems with technology.
> 


-- 
Roger Clarke                            mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
T: +61 2 6288 6916   http://www.xamax.com.au  http://www.rogerclarke.com

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law            University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University