Peter Dutton’s nuclear fairy story (“Dutton’s nuclear model panned”, October 29) is once again torn to shreds with the news that Ontario’s power bills are only cheaper than ours because they are subsidised to the tune of $7.3billion a year from general tax revenue. The nuclear plants were massively overrun in both cost and construction time and left a $21 billion debt to be paid off by taxpayers, a recurrent theme with all nuclear plant constructions. Dutton’s cost claims must, therefore, either be sloppy research or deliberate lies. There are still no state or territory premiers or opposition leaders who want nuclear plants in their states, and no small modular reactors are yet being produced or sold anywhere (another key part of Dutton’s plan). For a party devoid of other policies, the Liberals’ one unique policy appears to be pure fantasy. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
Peter Dutton behaves like a stubborn teenager when he insists nuclear energy is the way for us. As many parents know, we often say to our children, “Just because your friend is doing it doesn’t mean you have to.” Energy for Australia must suit our country, not other countries. Our country is lucky to have an abundance of sunshine to make power. Singapore is happy to use this power from us. Ontario subsidises its power from nuclear. Renewable energy is right for Australia cost-wise and time-wise. The wise agree. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong
Credit: Matt Golding
If the Ontario experience is any guide, cheaper power from Dutton’s nuclear fantasy would mean that the government subsidy I’d need on my electricity bill would look like my account number. Adrian Connelly, Springwood
Professor Mark Winfield’s insights regarding the Ontario nuclear model based on heavily backed government subsidies show that Peter Dutton does not properly explain how households in Ontario are paying lower bills than us. Peng Ee, Castle Cove
Dutton has been caught out again on false claims about nuclear power. He doesn’t seem to realise that you have to do your homework to develop valid policies. While Labor is producing properly researched policies, Dutton relies on concepts of a plan.v Graham Lum, North Rocks
Energy beat-up
Space did not permit your correspondent (Letters, October 29) to offer a lengthy essay in lieu of his summary of the Albanese beat-up in the face of a well-reasoned backdrop of Coalition incompetence. Notwithstanding, I’d like to expand the topic. The time for sensible planning and transition for climate-energy policy was 17 years ago when the major parties were moving towards a unity ticket. The Coalition deniers sank this, the Greens added lead weights, the ALP lost its mojo. A decade of cynical obfuscation followed. Albanese has now been expected to magically transition the nation in two years when mining accounts for 10 per cent of GDP and some $70 billion in government (aka taxpayer) revenue. He has been well and truly wedged by Coalition inaction. Dutton’s nuclear utterings are shown to be cunningly misleading, but there’s no beat-up, just “reporting the facts”, so he gets off lightly. Conservative ideology has squeezed the life out of many of society’s essential needs, $70billion is a big number, it has buying power in so many ways. So who really deserves the beat-up? Brian Jones, Leura
For the first time, I have seen the word “progressive” used as a “bad thing” in your correspondent’s letter, castigating us chardonnay (actually, pinot noir) swilling inner-city socialists. However, we do not “look down” on our rural and outer-suburban colleagues but rather are bemused by their tendency to ignore strong scientific research backed by the evidence of actual global climate change and continue to vote against their own and their descendants’ interests. Robert Hosking, Paddington
Zero-sum game
Is this the fate of Sydney building?Credit: Netflix
As well as government infrastructure projects exacerbating new housing costs (“Building sector faces ‘zombie apocalypse’” , October 29), the re-gentrification that is happening in our suburb (Ryde and probably others) is also adding to the problem. Many existing houses are being demolished and rebuilt. While that is happening, previous occupants are living elsewhere, increasing housing demand. The existing house is sent to landfill. The new house consumes resources and skilled labour, increasing costs. This all results in a net zero increase in housing. Richard Volzke, North Ryde
Greed must not win
All three options to build 23,300 new dwellings in Ku-ring-gai create only losers (“Ku-ring-gai decides on high-rise future”, October 29). This council is home to three critically endangered plant communities clinging to existence. Sydney Blue Gum High Forest and Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest, of which about 1-2 per cent remains, are located in the development area. Environmental legislation seems unable to protect our natural heritage from human greed and government demands. We need to pivot our economy to a circular one with a stable or shrinking population to save our children’s future. Please. Anne Matheson, Gordon
ACCC blind spot
The ACCC’s refusal to provide the names of banks over scams has nothing to do with voluntary disclosure (Letters, October 29). It is all about the contract terms between bank and customer. The ACCC is a consumer law watchdog, ready to pounce on bad behaviour, but doesn’t want to interfere when it is about this holy grail relationship. So watch your pennies and read your paperwork. Michael Blissenden, Dural
Pupil-free is no solution
Teachers have been given three extra pupil-free days each year (“More pupil-free days and better pay for teachers”, October 29). According to Prue Car, it’s to “remove as much workload as we can from teachers”. But have they actually removed any of the bureaucratic nonsense that’s really the problem? Have they become willing to take the workload off teachers and maximise economies of scale by centralising wherever possible in head office? Have they provided extra support in schools? No, in each case. Their solution to educational woes is to do nothing that’s practical or constructive, but instead to take learning time away from kids while giving parents more headaches about what to do with their kids when they’re not at school. They pay teachers whether the kids are at school or not, so this costs the department nothing. It’s starting to look like that classic Yes, Minister! where the new hospital could run more efficiently without patients. It seems NSW schools will be much more efficient without kids. Peter Outhwaite, Hawks Nest
It may be fair enough for teachers to get more pupil-free days, but why do school zone restrictions apply on those days? Surely, the system could easily be changed to exclude those days. Dennis Fardy, Warriewood
Election divide
Wasn’t one Battle of the Sexes enough?Credit: AP
The divide between young men and women in their voting intentions in America is a symptom of something deeper (“It’s the ultimate battle of the sexes”, October 29). If the values and aspirations of both sexes are so different, what does that mean for America’s future? Will it follow China, where many men will never find a partner (although that’s more about the one-child policy)? Will women never have a family because of a lack of potential partners who fit their view of the world? How do businesses cope with gender-based opposing perspectives? It may be only an election to America, but it shines a light on what could destroy the nation over coming decades. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea
Few consequences for entitled
The article on St Paul’s College at Sydney University (“Uni students expelled over bullying”, October 29) flowed seamlessly from the article about the Ivy. Too much money and power, too great a sense of entitlement and too few consequences. Despite statements denying reportedly bad, and often illegal, behaviour is not part of the culture of such institutions, with the right connections and deep pockets a blind eye will be turned. Lyn Savage, Coogee
St Paul’s College is Australia’s oldest residential university college.Credit: Janie Barrett
If this is what St Paul’s students do to their friends, why would any woman choose to study there? Jo Rainbow, Orange
It’s well past time we stopped describing the alleged behaviour of men such as the Merivale managers as a “boys club” (‴It’s one step away from being a brothel‴, October 29). If it’s true, they are misogynistic criminals. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown
Shades of Greens
I’m a Greens voter, but far from what you’d call “rusted on”, so I hope this euphemistic commitment to self-reflection translates into a deep, honest and critical examination by the Greens of their recent strategy and tactics (“Greens urged to reflect on poor showing”, October 29). As an environmentalist, I’m all for comprehensive, strong and immediate emission reduction measures, including an end to new coal and gas. I’m also involved in advocacy for more affordable housing but the Greens’ refusal to compromise and their obstructive approach are not helpful. There is a role for constructive negotiation and compromise in the democratic process. Most often, progress depends on it. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills
In the deep end
While I feel for North Sydney in trying to resolve the cost blowouts in rebuilding its pool (“Drowning in bills: Council may hike rates to pay for pool debacle”, October 29), I would not take kindly to a “rate hike” to cover the costs. The whole project was, from the start, a financial disaster. More to the point, North Sydney pool is visited by many more people than just the residents. Why should residents carry the can when many others will get the benefit? This pool is a tourist destination. Surely, the state government needs to lend a hand, given the pool’s prominence on Sydney Harbour. Stuart Laurence, Cammeray
North Sydney Olympic Pool in its heyday.
I have been a North Sydney Council ratepayer since 1979. My pool membership card still has unused passes since it closed in early 2021. I can confidently say, on behalf of others in the same boat, that we are not amused by this talk of rate hikes to fund the cost of the pool’s rebuild. Edward Loong, Milsons Point
As the cost blowout for the North Sydney pool rebuild heads towards $100 million, there is at least the consolation for ratepayers of one major cost saving: it can be filled for many years to come with their tears. Paul McShane, Burradoo
Make maths count
I agree there is a crisis in maths education (Letters, October 29). These days when I make any purchase in cash I receive my cash back as a fistful of coin and notes with a smile and a thank you. My change is never counted back to me in coin then notes, as I was taught to do. Not only do primary school students need to recall times tables, they also need to learn how to count out money when serving customers. Peter Nelson, Moss Vale
Is this all we’ll have left soon?Credit: Natalie Boog
Engineers and scientists this week warned of the national implications of the shortage of qualified maths and science teachers. Mention also must be made of the two-decade crisis in computing education. This is particularly apparent in the more demanding HSC subject, which focuses on programming, Software Design and Development. In 2004 5 per cent of the HSC candidature took this subject. This year it was 2 per cent. Students vote with their feet when they see the low percentage of HSC band 6 results for the subject and realise they will have a teacher with little experience knowing less than they do. David Grover, Chatswood
The solution to all that has gone wrong in education being attributed to the lack of learning times tables – after 37 years working in primary schools I’ve lost count, pun intended, of this solution to a perceived problem. David Woodward, Lakelands
Bondi breached
I understand your correspondent’s despair (Letters, October 29) about traffic congestion in and around Bondi Beach. Of course, traffic congestion is a nightmare. The locals fought against one proposed rail line; the fantasy that you can will the problem away. Bondi Beach needs non-road transit, to increase the housing density in this understandably popular location and to take steps to strongly encourage mass transit use. Bondi Beach can be better in so many ways. Chris Downs, Stanwell Park
I would have thought the chief executive of Urban Taskforce should be able to offer a more sophisticated response to concerns about development in Bondi Beach than the knee-jerk cliche of “no more than retrograded NIMBYism”. If that’s the extent of his “stakeholder engagement”, the community of Bondi Beach should feel concerned. Peter Campbell, Potts Point
Post with the most
Vale, Spit Junction Post OfficeCredit: Fairfax Media
Last month as a local council candidate, while working at the pre-poll centre in Campsie, one of the top four issues raised to me was about the closure of the post office in that suburb (“My beloved post office has closed, and I’ve gone postal”, October 29). They were a mixture of migrants and local working-class Australians who used the post office often and were annoyed they now had to travel far to another. What might seem like a non-issue to others could influence some to vote differently at the federal election. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
Value of tax
It’s more than just deductions for R&D (“Treasurer to target gambling tax breaks”, October 29). It comes down to whether tax deductions of any kind should be allowed for any company that isn’t providing a substantial service to its customers. David Rush, Lawson
- To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
- The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.