Coalition ‘me too’ policies will leave it longer in wilderness

Peta Credlin’s many warnings to Liberals to never be Labor-lite on any of their failing policies, especially Australia’s nemesis, net zero, continue to be ignored (“ ‘Me too’ on renewables won’t win elections”, 29/5).

The disastrous consequences for Liberals as well as the country haven’t yet landed, and will be beyond subsidies.

This is a long way from being over. Sussan Ley ominously announced war-torn Liberals want “to do their bit” on net zero, but not at any cost.

This safe doublespeak reveals the ongoing party split, forged by its “moderates” aligned to the renewables investment. Follow the money to get a grip on how net zero will keep the Coalition in opposition.

Net zero and the demonisation of fossil fuels are right now being abandoned by all comparable Western democracies without significant hydro or wind terrain, as in Denmark. Australia has the rotten luck for the net zero cult to land in the virtue-seeking woke heart of the Labor Left.

Michael Sexton outlines all the additional electoral forces, beyond Liberal direct control, destined to keep the Coalition in opposition for a decade (“Shifting attitudes will make Liberals’ return harder”, 29/5).

Ironically these trends all prop up net zero by entrenching public reliance on government and ignoring its trillion of debt.

Ley’s “doing one’s bit” confirms Liberal irrelevance. It means joining Labor to achieve a scientifically proven nothing to diminish global warming, at colossal, unwarranted expense, which is kept secret from the public.

It’s a safe bet that the Prime Minister, Energy Minister Chris Bowen and the Labor fiscal team don’t actually know the current total costs.

Betty Cockman, Dongara, WA

Peta Credlin correctly criticises the Coalition’s “me too” policy on renewables it took to the recent election.

That was not the only stupid “me too” they took to the election. The Coalition also me-too’d Medicare policies. If the electorate is offered the same by an opposition, what is the motivation to change the government?

We wanted a viable alternative, not more of the same with different faces.

Alan Slade, Dover Heights, NSW

In his excellent article (“Nuclear not a dirty word”, 29/5), Robert Gottliebsen mentions that in Europe “better nuclear technologies such as molten salt-cooled thorium plants are receiving considerable investment, following China’s lead”.

This is no surprise when you realise uranium was only initially preferred to thorium because bombs could be made from its waste, but the facts were clear even then.

One tonne of thorium can produce the energy of many tonnes of uranium and thousands of tonnes of coal, while creating far less waste.

Much better than uranium, and infinitely better in every way than wind, solar and batteries, thorium could provide affordable, reliable, clean electricity for millennia. The Greens would probably lose much of their reason for being, but the rest of us would happily adjust to that.

Doug Hurst, Chapman, ACT

Against a barrage of senseless policies in support of subsidy-dependent and economy-wrecking renewable energy, the Albanese government has finally bucked the trend through its approval of Woodside’s North West Shelf LNG expansion project, which will be positive for economic growth, the global environment and relationships with our Asian neighbours.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

The answer to the question, “Are we powerless to stop costly, damaging renewables rollout?” (Letters, 28/5) is no, because Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can withdraw Australia from net zero Paris accords at any time, and stop the costly, unreliable renewables rollout.

Many people are investigating different aspects of reducing global warming, with some surprising results, which may persuade the PM to withdraw from net zero.

Australia’s part of global warming is negligible, when detailed analysis of our high temperature records are adjusted down, due to the widespread heat sink effect, caused by urbanisation of many countryside villages.

Allan Sangster, Randwick, NSW