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Your views: on religion and politics, timber shortage and BASS takeover

Today, readers comment on ex-Labor ministers resurrecting Family First, a building supply drought and Ticketek.

Jul 29, 2021, updated Jul 29, 2021
Former Labor Treasurer and Health Minister Jack Snelling, along with former Employment Minister Tom Kenyon, aims to restart Family First. Photo supplied

Former Labor Treasurer and Health Minister Jack Snelling, along with former Employment Minister Tom Kenyon, aims to restart Family First. Photo supplied

Commenting on the story: Ex-Labor ministers ditch party to defend ‘religious freedom’

Please list the attacks on Christianity. Just a couple will do. – John Harris

And they say religion plays no part in politics. Sounds like the fundamental religious beliefs of some are hammering away at SA’s governance right now. – Paul McKinnon

I bet the good citizens of SA just can’t wait for the Renaissance of the Family First party. 

I mean, what a smorgasbord of policy treats and other goodies these two former Labor luminaries may have on offer for us.

Perhaps some of this just for starters: policies that are anti-gay, anti-choice, policy that is anti anything that smacks of assisted dying and the rights of the terminally ill, policy that is anti-women and policies designed to stymie sex worker reform.

Something to look forward to. – Gilbert Aitken

Commenting on the story: ‘Not out of the woods yet’: warning from authorities as lockdown is lifted

Well done to all. – Peter Daw

Well said and done, Steven Marshall. – Karen Glew

Commenting on the story: Kangaroo Island has timber solution but can’t ship it off

I very much doubt the figures quoted by KIPT as to the volume and structural quality of the timber.

Regardless, there is not enough processing capacity to increase the amount of structural timber produced and this will only be addressed by building a couple of sawmills capable of meeting the current demand at a conservative cost of about $400 million.

Where were the MBA and the Government and others making a noise when the global financial crisis hit and the amount of imported structural timber came flooding into Australia, and we saw sawmills such as Lakeside (Mount Gambier), Dartmoor, Morwell and some others close down as the truss fabricators and builders gobbled up cheap imports?

The current State Government has no concept of the industry and the way it operates. Sawlogs are still being exported through Portland, Geelong and Port Adelaide. This current situation with a shortage of structural timber currently won’t be fixed by KIPT logs and will not be solved in the short term.

The building boom in North America has softened and prices have plummeted dramatically, so it won’t be long before the imported timber train makes its way back into Australia. – Brad Coates, District Secretary, Greater Green Triangle CFMMEU Manufacturing Division.

Commenting on the story: Timber shortage threatens to send builders to the wall

As an owner builder, I feel we have been hit the hardest. Owner builders were left out in the cold, not able to apply for the grant at all.

The main reason I decided to be an owner builder is my very limited budget. I already own the land and just wanted a modest basic home, built from timber; something I could do mostly myself and occasionally have a BBQ and rope in a few mates for the bigger jobs.

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Everything looked manageable with a materials cost of $30,000 to lockup, once there it would be completed room by room. So it came time to order the stumps, originally priced at $10 each. They arrived, after months waiting, at $15 each. I don’t have the spare cash to pay an extra 50 per cent over the whole build, so it’s another winter in the shed and see what happens after the industry collapses.

I said around the time of the applications opening that it going to be a big mess in 12 to 18 months, this is another scheme implemented in a rush without considering whether the associated industries could handle it. We are probably going to see otherwise reputable builders go to the wall and owners left with  unfinished or damaged homes.

You can’t leave essentially untreated pine house frames open to the weather for extended periods. Pine is kiln dried and termite treated, it doesn’t stop rotting or warp from water damage. Pine naturally grows with a twist and once dried and planed it is more or less stable, however leave it in the rain for a few months and it will soak up the water like a sponge and twist. In the past I have seen a 90° twist over a 4m length and no amount of nails will pull that back. – Darren Chapman

Whilst these shortages are real and they may have significant impacts on small businesses, this is also an opportunity. 

Building timber framed houses to a low 6 star energy rating, that are drafty and allow too much air flow, needs to stop. 

Moving to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) is a must for the building industry. This will ensure we have houses for the future, that are suitable for more extreme weather conditions, that are significantly more comfortable to live in, and that are significantly cheaper and less resource intensive to run. 

The basic standard for housing in Australia is appalling and needs a massive upgrade to a minimum 8 star energy rating. This has been proven to be able to be achieved with little to no additional building cost, and significant ongoing annual savings. – Tee Carter

Commenting on the story: ‘Not privatisation’: Ticketek to take over BASS box office

Perhaps the Adelaide Festival Centre should check Google reviews before jumping into bed with Ticketek.

I doubt any company has fared worse. If customer service is the benchmark they would have been out of business years ago. – Paul McCormack

BASS was Australia’s first computerised ticketing agency – there is an amazing story and history there to be explored. – Ian Scobie

BASS was my favourite booking service through its simplicity and excellent customer service. No stupid add-ons during the sale, like insurance that is effectively worthless, no name change fees, no per ticket booking fee (at last check), no 15 different offers like two for one pizzas that’s only valid before 5pm Tuesdays in months that have a J in it, or one week of a streaming service you already have or a $5 voucher for an online retailer you’ve never heard of that you must click through, just to get tickets to your favourite shows. – Samuel Wittwer

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