Melburnian1
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2013
- Posts
- 25,318
No doubt in his time entrepreneur Richard Branson has created thousands of jobs, with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Blue/Australia and other ventures.
He deserves to be complimented for that, even if to many he comes across as extremely materialistic and very much the shallow show pony.
However his latest comments suggesting Australia ought 'stop selling coal to (mainland) China' are ludicrous and ill-informed.
In calendar 2018, Australia's top export was coal, totalling US$47 billion.
These exports have not only supported thousands of jobs - think of those employed at the Port of Newcastle, similar jobs in Queensland, Aurizon and Pacific National coal trains in both states, the suppliers of machinery from whom the coal miners buy, the schoolteachers employed to teach miners' children, small retail businesses, supermarket employees...a long list - but residents of every state in Australia also benefit from this economic activity, even though that might not be obvious to Tasweigans or trendy inner city Melburnians.
Just as importantly, coal powers hundreds if not more power stations in Asia and elsewhere, and not just 'mainland China.'
It provides affordable energy to millions of villagers along with urban residents.
If anyone doubts how 24 hour electricity has made a huge beneficial difference to individuals' lives in so many Asian countries, talk to residents as I occasionally have.
Mr Branson also risks being labelled a hypocrite who flies round the world emitting huge amounts of carbon emissions (and who wants to start some cruise line) while mouthing off about so-called 'climate change' (the latter on which, as 'The Australian' pointed out today, the jury is still out.')
I don't care if he flies in a private jet, or first class on SQ, as long as he doesn't emit words that are the opposite of his actions.
Mr Branson, before you speak publicly, please consider that thousands of Australians and millions of overseas residents would be adversely affected if Australia's high quality coal was replaced by inferior quality Indonesian coal in feeding power stations.
Emissions would rise if this occurred, something Mr Branson doesn't appear to have thought about.
And by the way, as a minority shareholder how much effort does Mr Branson put into fixing the disastrous financial performance of Virgin Australia?
That ought be his priority.
He deserves to be complimented for that, even if to many he comes across as extremely materialistic and very much the shallow show pony.
However his latest comments suggesting Australia ought 'stop selling coal to (mainland) China' are ludicrous and ill-informed.
In calendar 2018, Australia's top export was coal, totalling US$47 billion.
These exports have not only supported thousands of jobs - think of those employed at the Port of Newcastle, similar jobs in Queensland, Aurizon and Pacific National coal trains in both states, the suppliers of machinery from whom the coal miners buy, the schoolteachers employed to teach miners' children, small retail businesses, supermarket employees...a long list - but residents of every state in Australia also benefit from this economic activity, even though that might not be obvious to Tasweigans or trendy inner city Melburnians.
Just as importantly, coal powers hundreds if not more power stations in Asia and elsewhere, and not just 'mainland China.'
It provides affordable energy to millions of villagers along with urban residents.
If anyone doubts how 24 hour electricity has made a huge beneficial difference to individuals' lives in so many Asian countries, talk to residents as I occasionally have.
Mr Branson also risks being labelled a hypocrite who flies round the world emitting huge amounts of carbon emissions (and who wants to start some cruise line) while mouthing off about so-called 'climate change' (the latter on which, as 'The Australian' pointed out today, the jury is still out.')
I don't care if he flies in a private jet, or first class on SQ, as long as he doesn't emit words that are the opposite of his actions.
Mr Branson, before you speak publicly, please consider that thousands of Australians and millions of overseas residents would be adversely affected if Australia's high quality coal was replaced by inferior quality Indonesian coal in feeding power stations.
Emissions would rise if this occurred, something Mr Branson doesn't appear to have thought about.
And by the way, as a minority shareholder how much effort does Mr Branson put into fixing the disastrous financial performance of Virgin Australia?
That ought be his priority.
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