Major parties must work together on energy security focus

Pradeep Philip is right to link the two issues of climate change and national security (“As tensions rise, we must get hawkish on energy security”, 7/1).

Intensifying weather disasters are a real threat to our national safety. This includes the damage to infrastructure like rail links and the energy grid, and water supply issues.

Importantly, our food security is also at risk. Changes in weather conditions have had a marked effect on Australian agriculture in recent decades.

Crop and livestock producers across NSW are now feeling the devastating effects of drought after being hit with severe floods.

Former defence experts have previously warned the government about the security risks posed by climate change. Co-operation and bipartisanship are sorely needed to tackle this issue.

Anne O’Hara, Wanniassa, ACT

The fact that Australia is in the position of having to reimport our exported gas (“LNG developer proposes import fix to head off gas shortfall”, 7/1) is a reflection of the incomprehensible stupidity of past governments that have allowed one of the world’s largest gas producers to have to import gas to meet local needs.

If this scenario was presented to the Monty Python team they would reject it as being too ridiculous even for them.

Ross Hudson, Mount Martha, Vic

Let me get this straight. Three of the smartest people on the planet, Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Sundar Pichai (Google), believe that nuclear must be in the energy mix in order to fuel a modern economy efficiently and with zero emissions. But our Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, thinks that intermittent, unaffordable wind and solar are the answer to all our energy requirements. Can anyone name one other country on Earth where this ludicrous experiment, a renewables-only policy, is being conducted?

The majority of the wealthiest countries on Earth are using nuclear power or heading quickly towards creating nuclear plants. Chris Bowen will not even contemplate such a move.

Sue Hofbauer, Randwick, NSW

AUKUS at risk

AUKUS is a massive long-term undertaking that requires knowledgeable, astute, strategic leadership, and a sense of urgency on the part of government.

However, so far, none of these essential prerequisites has been obvious (“AUKUS accreditation fails ‘shows Labor lacks commitment’ ”, 7/1).

The accreditation of all participants to international standards seems to be lagging and this government needs to promptly lift its game there if it is at all serious about the project.

Michael Schilling, Millswood, SA

Road to scepticism

Queenslanders should not set too much store in the promise of Anthony Albanese to fix the Bruce Highway.

Having first been appointed as the minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government in 2007, he has been well aware of the deplorable state of this important road for almost two decades.

Yet, a few months before the next election, the PM with much media fanfare announces he will fix it. The timing of his epiphany gives cause for scepticism. It is hoped that this pledge does not go the same way as so many of his other unmet projections.

Tim Trotter, Brisbane, Qld

Cynical Queenslanders suppose the Prime Minister and his entourage flew to Queensland, so were spared much of the worst of the Bruce Highway.

We travel on the Bruce Highway weekly and can vouch for its state of disrepair. Yet Kevin here-to-help-us Rudd did little in his brief times in office, despite his early years in Nambour and Eumundi. But we can enjoy the travel sideshow, with the PM suddenly wanting to know us. Pity the poor Treasurer trying to feel the love in his home state.

Keep trying, Albo and co. We all need a good laugh as we budget for that occasional limp BLT and coffee.

Ruth Bonetti, The Gap, Qld

Great series tainted

It’s ironic that Cricket Australia didn’t include one of the men who has his name on the trophy and who represents over a billion Indians to co-present the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Sunil Gavaskar was present at the venue. It’s evident that in the blind pursuit of sporting gold, the simple, and important, things are often forgotten.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

India’s batsman, Virat Kohli, leaves Australia disgraced by his behaviour in the Sydney Test, after shoulder-charging 19-year-old Sam Konstas at the MCG (“Tainted legacy of a man we love to hate”, 6/1).

The climax was his final-day action resorting to mimicking the sandpaper scandal. He is no more the “King”.

Alan Chipp, Hawthorn East, Vic