Nuclear disaster
Thank you, Peter Garrett, for telling it like it is in his take-down of the Coalition’s ill-conceived, expensive and dangerous nuclear energy policy (“I’ve spent my life fighting nuclear: Here’s what Dutton isn’t telling you about his reactors” March 30). Peter Dutton and his cronies have been allowed to get away with their ridiculous nuclear thought bubble for too long. The Labor Party has been relatively weak in its criticism of what is essentially a “smoke and mirrors” idea to present an alternative to developing renewable energy and to appease the fossil fuel lobby in the bargain. The anti-nuclear energy message needs to be hammered out to all Australians before the election. It is simply a backward and disastrous way to go.
Robert Hickey, Green Point
Peter Garrett at a Nuclear Disarmament Party press conference in 1984.Credit: Ruth Maddison
Thank you so much, Peter Garrett, for your insightful article. You have most eloquently summed up my thoughts and fear of Australia going down the rabbit hole of nuclear power. As a kid, I witnessed the psychological stress of the Cold War when it was thought that our world could end any day, with Russia and America in full conflict. It’s why Australians turned its back on nuclear all those years ago. For those of my era that have read Peter’s article, please share it with your children and get them to share among their friends. I’ve yet to see a mushroom cloud of destruction coming from a solar panel or pumped hydro. Ray Gilmour, Blaxland
Peter Garrett’s article makes very convincing points. Another negative aspect of these proposed nuclear reactors is the amount of cooling water which is required for them to function. These hypothetical nuclear reactors would require at least twice as much water as the existing coal-fired power stations use, and yet we live on the driest inhabited continent. These reactors sound like another thought bubble from Mr Dutton.
Evan Bailey, Glebe
Now in my late 80s, it seems that I must again join demonstrations against proposal for nuclear energy in Australia. Still, the crucial question is: where in Australia will the nuclear waste be stored for hundreds of years? Like Peter Garrett, I thought that we had won this argument decades ago. Else Gelling, Merimbula
System failing vulnerable
It is terrifically sad and simply not good enough for a supposedly civilised society when the health system doesn’t work, particularly for our most vulnerable (“‘This should never have happened’: Why almost 100 admissions only made Bec sicker”, March 30). Fixing that should be a focus of the upcoming election. But we also have to remember the thousands who are working away within that system and doing their best for us all with not enough resources. My husband recently had to call an ambulance for me. I was in a lot of pain and confused. The ambos were unfailingly kind and professional, and I felt in very safe hands. The same with staff when I arrived at the busy and overstretched public hospital. Thank you all.
Mary Anne Kennan, Burwood
How incredibly sad to read the story of Bec Sewell and all the lives immeasurably changed by her death (“How many more parents must lose their children to a system that fails our most vulnerable?” March 30). However, it is more than sad to read the words at the foot of the article – “Lifeline 13 11 14”. Surely the media, with its influence on government, can do better than this. I have been a volunteer Lifeline telephone crisis supporter for several years and have lost count of the number of callers with mental health issues in the midst of a crisis. Two things stand out: first, the lack of prompt access to a psychologist or psychiatrist – some callers even say that their counsellor has advised them to call Lifeline in the event of an urgent event. Second, the very nature of the caller’s illness means that they cannot afford the out-of-pocket expenses incurred. There’s an election coming up. Make some noise.
Michael Richards, Castlecrag
Leaders lacking
Palme McGuiness takes a very critical view of the Albanese government while she looks at Peter Dutton with rose-coloured glasses (“Polls close but that’s not the point”, March 30). But she should scrutinise Dutton’s jingoism and nativism and lack of action on climate change action. She should also cast a critical eye on Queensland Premier David Crisafulli’s new stadium proposal with his destruction of beautiful Victoria Park.
Tony Simons, Balmain
If leadership means more broken promises and no policies, then Parnell Palme McGuinness has a weird take on “leadership” if she thinks Crisafulli and Dutton “look like genuine leaders”. Neil Kenzler, Haberfield
Not so impartial?
Jacqueline Maley describes Simon Jackman as a “political scientist and independent political consultant whose clients include Climate 200” (“Some men can’t hide their fear of teals and that’s their special sauce”, March 30). If your client is Climate 200, I don’t know how you can be described as independent.
Riley Brown, Bondi Beach
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