Heed advice to help create better future

SOME take advice from economists with a degree of scepticism.

Many more would probably take medical advice from an economist with even greater scepticism. I, for one, would give little credence to economist Carey Ramm’s “wake-up” call to doctors (“COVID-19 end game”, TB, 16/5).

What I might be more interested in is what Carey thinks would be the best way to stimulate economic recovery POST-COVID.

Personally, I am persuaded by economist Professor Ross Garnaut, who argues that this is the perfect opportunity to transition away from the fossil fuel dominated, environmentally and socially damaging economic model pushed by our current Federal Government.

Now is the time to focus on economically, environmentally and socially sustainable development.

Prof Garnaut’s is not a voice in the wilderness. His views are widely and increasingly shared.

The Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative as well as global voices from business, civil society and finance have begun calling for a recovery that responds to two critical crises: the social and economic upheaval of this COVID-19 pandemic as well as the accelerating impacts of climate change.

The Federal Government appears to have handled the pandemic well. They heeded the advice of the medical experts. Let’s hope that they can now heed the economic, environmental and social experts and steer Australia out of the crisis to a better future for all.

WENDY TUBMAN,

Nelly Bay.