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Your views: on the desal deal and land tax

Today, readers comment on the finances of cranking up Adelaide’s desalination plant, and the land tax saga.

Nov 18, 2019, updated Nov 18, 2019
Photo: supplied

Photo: supplied

Commenting on the opinion piece: Up the creek: why the SA desalination deal makes no sense

While I commend the thoughtful investigative journalism this article brings, I would like to bring to attention a fact seemingly not quite grasped by the creators of the desal “deal”, nor the commentators that report on it.

Yes the running cost is high, but that is because of the retail ‘flat rate’ type of electricity costs.

If the government and administrators of the desal could purchase electricity off the wholesale market by obtaining their own retail licence or partnering with one that would pass on the highly variable market rate, then the plant could run only when the cost is below a particular price.

This could save over 50%.

Not only that, but it would have ‘green’ implications too because typically when the price is low, it is because large amounts of wind and solar are feeding into the grid.

It’s a win-win, and its not rocket science.

All it takes is a bit of insight and determination from decision makers and influencers. Ben Stephens

Commenting on the story: No land tax vote as budget windfall dwindles

Clearly this land tax bill will have so much tape holding it together that this Treasurer should take himself and his advisors to the nearest checkpoint and remove himself from government.

He’s playing with people’s livelihoods and thinks a quick fix will solve everyone’s problems.

Investment has stopped and the state has lagged through it.

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Not what I voted for.Harry Milochis

There will never be fairness, transparency or equity in the assessment of land tax until:

1. All land is taxed

2. Land values are not used to assess land tax

3. Land tax is assessed on a proportion of the council rates paid on each property. – David Singer

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