Energy security has been sacrificed for climate zealotry

In a country renowned for its abundant and affordable power, it is a disgrace that we have a full-blown energy crisis on our hands courtesy of politicians choosing to sacrifice energy security in favour of climate change zealotry (“Net-zero gain in politicians’ bungled play for power”, 18-19/6).

The Morrison government betrayed us by signing up to net-zero emissions by 2050. If it had been truthful, if it had insisted that net zero was against the nation’s best interests, voters would have had a real choice on May 21. Instead, the former government folded like a camp stretcher to pressure from moderates within its ranks in the deluded belief that a second miracle win would come its way.

Now here we are in the midst of an energy crisis lumbered with a Labor government not only committed to net zero, but one that ­intends punishing us even harder with its interim target to lower emissions by 43 per cent by 2030. And to make doubly sure that the cheap, secure, reliable power we are entitled to is put further out of our reach, the Albanese government has a climate policy requiring 82 per cent of electricity to come from intermittent renewables in less than eight years. State and territory governments needn’t think they can evade blame. They have the same reckless climate policies as their federal counterparts.

With the threat of blackouts and soaring power bills stalking us, it is time our politicians got off their backsides and started earning their keep by desisting from indulging in climate alarmism claptrap and formulating commonsense solutions that will get us out of this energy mess they created.

Dale Ellis, Innisfail, Qld

Chris Kenny provides welcome commentary demonstrating there are some in the media who understand the situation facing the country over renewable electricity. As a retired engineer who has worked in electrical generation, I find the policies of most politicians display stupidity, and this is world wide. The sensible ­exceptions such as Matt Canavan are very much in a minority.

The argument that renewables are so much cheaper and create jobs is ridiculous. It is easy to do some figures on the back of an ­envelope showing how many ­trillions of dollars Labor’s policy will cost. The importance of ­reliability is ignored. It is going to take rolling blackouts, or teals and inner city Greens trapped in high-rise lifts for long periods, for ­people to realise the importance of a reliable electricity grid.

Raymond Watson, Sunnybank Hills, Qld

Just when the country needs a pragmatic government we have an idealistic, utopian one which, based on its unrealistic ambitions, will most certainly worsen outcomes for all (“Labor is caught in a web of contradictions”, 18-19/6). Any government that determines our future based on a bunch of biased models, such as the one ­behind its 43 per cent emission cut, will soon come unstuck as ­reality bites back.

A forced uptake of unreliable renewable energy, the payback to the states for their roles in destabilising the Morrison government and a wages policy that has no regard for struggling businesses will exacerbate and lengthen inflation and do nothing for productivity. This all adds up to an inevitable decline in living standards.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton and his NSW counterpart, Premier Dominic Perrottet, should take Chris Kenny’s well-penned advice as their bible. To not abandon commonsense. To not appease, as have Tony Abbott’s successors – to their peril. And ours.

It’s time the two key Liberal flag bearers, Dutton and Perrottet, performed a double act by singing from the same hymn sheet and declaring that, irrespective of ­jurisdiction, it is party policy to challenge climate catastrophism (think Abbott’s Daring to Doubt address), while on 24/7/365 reliable, affordable baseload power voter mandates will be sought for coal, gas and nuclear.

A nation potentially emulating Venezuela is averted, commonsense prevails, Dutton is a one-term opposition leader and Perrottet is returned next year. What is not to like, Liberal HQ?

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

Could Anthony Albanese please explain, in technical and scientific terms, precisely what his plan is to achieve his emissions reduction target of 43 per cent by 2030?

Deirdre Graham, Moss Vale, NSW