Much of what we have heard has played on the credulity of Australians and at every turn avoided the scepticism and honesty that our country’s well-being hinges on.
Isolated pockets of the needed ingredients no doubt exist, but it is not evident among those who will probably be in charge of our affairs after Saturday.
Little has been said about climate change, although Liberal leader Tony Abbott recently described it as “crap” (maybe the polls have softened his view) and the present Prime Minster, Julia Gillard, will refer it to a group of ordinary Australians to consider the matter – sorry Julia we can’t afford even more procrastination.
Oil scarcity, an undoubted reality that will be upon us in the next decade or two, hasn’t yet even rated a mention.
Peak oil, as it is colloquially known, will be, according to the president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Prof Ian Lowe (above), a more significant problem than climate change and although it has the potential to ease global heating, it will, in doing that, desecrate our world.
Social problems that will arise from oil scarcity and climate change are presently beyond our understanding and are of such magnitude that either our politicians either aren’t aware of the difficulties, or if they are, refuse to talk about them for fear of “scaring the horses”.
Present conversations about Australia’s future appear irrelevant considering our low-energy future in which the world we know and understand will be replaced by something that escapes our comprehension.
The Greens, as evidenced by their name, have some understanding of what is ahead, but as yet I have not heard comment from anyone that suggests they sense what is ahead and within that what we should do and how we should behave to ensure Australia has resilience equal to the certain difficulties ahead.
Vote we must, but then those we elect need time to think, plan and act strategically to counter global heating and, more importantly, prepare Australia for oil scarcity.
