Other nations have shown us how to avoid high energy costs

We do not have to “get used to higher electricity bills and the deindustrialisation associated with higher energy costs”, as Judith Sloan concludes in her article (“PM can flee energy modelling but not the mess it’s left us”, 1/4).

The alternative is to do a Trump, examine claims about CO2 causing dangerous climate change, find out they are driven by ideology, not facts, and join China, India, Russia and other big emitters in producing power by the cheapest, most reliable way possible, including coal, gas and nuclear. A proper study here would prove it is futile for us to keep trying to reduce emissions.

Doug Hurst, Chapman, ACT

“My dog ate my homework” holds about as much credibility as the government’s lame excuse for reliance on modelling as the reason power bill reductions weren’t realised (“ALP’s private power price claim”, 1/4).

Worryingly, the government’s renewable energy strategy is also based on modelling.

Terry Walmsley, Benowa, Qld

Capital deserves better

Many people can’t afford to buy a home and others are homeless, but Liberal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton lets us know in no uncertain terms about his choice of housing options if elected to the top job.

His remarks comparing the harbour views from Kirribilli House to The Lodge’s Adelaide Ave are insulting to Canberrans, many of whom have been pioneers of Canberra, while others have come from all over Australia to make their home here.

Dutton seems to be ignoring the wishes of one-time Liberal prime minister, Sir Robert Menzies, who was renowned as an enthusiastic advocate and supporter of the development of Canberra as Australia’s capital.

Geri Badham, Waramanga, ACT

Housing failures

There are three big problems with Peter Dutton’s solution to the housing crisis (“Peter Dutton’s bid to be home loan ranger”, 1/4).

First, it violates Liberal free-market principles. The government will have to interfere in the market with complex, burdensome and costly regulations and charges. Then it will need to interfere with the market to set profit limits. How about dismantling the red tape, green tape and regulatory excesses instead?

Second, it ignores how one of the key causes of the housing scarcity is very high immigration volumes.

And the Coalition’s tepid response is a promise to do only 75 per cent of what Labor is doing?

Third, this cements the belief that Dutton is competing with the Prime Minister on who can better manage Australia’s decline, not who can reverse it. This neither excites nor inspires.

Ramesh Thakur, Ocean Shores, NSW

Price gouging fallacy

Anthony Albanese has come up with a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. The ACCC spent 12 months forensically investigating whether supermarkets engaged in price gouging.

It issued a big report that in summary indicated there was no evidence to show that price gouging existed.

So, as part of his campaigning, the PM has declared that if elected, he will introduce legislation to prevent price gouging by supermarkets. This is populist pandering without basis or need, and will cost the taxpayer many dollars, without tangible benefit.

We the taxpaying electors should not fall for this pea-and-thimble trickery.

George Greenberg, Malvern, Vic

US abandons Ukraine

The US is demanding Ukraine repay the full value of all assistance, including budgetary, military and humanitarian aid, provided since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

The US administration has a short memory because in 1994 the US and Ukraine signed what became known as the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.

Under heavy pressure from the US, Ukraine gave up the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world. In exchange, the US would protect Ukraine’s independence. But what does it say about US security promises when, 30 years later, Ukraine is practically helpless against the giant nuclear-backed war machine of Vladimir Putin and the US tells Ukraine, sorry, you should have read the fine print in Budapest?

G. Jaworsky, Wollert, Vic

Putin outwits Trump

I thought Donald Trump could end the Ukraine war in a day. Obviously fake news. But clearly Vladimir Putin is the far better negotiator. I was actually amused by how Putin used Trump’s allegations of an illegitimate Ukraine “dictator” President to prolong ceasefire negotiations.

Poor Trump, age must be catching up with him. Now he’s implementing the same sanctions strategy for which he blasted the last “old guy”.

Greg Adamson, Griffith, NSW