PM must fight on issue of climate

Even some rusted-on Liberal voters want to see some action

Paul Kelly correctly identifies how hard Scott Morrison needs to fight to keep the Liberal heartland onside (“Flawed morality of the middle class”, 2-3/3). How the Government deals with climate change is the big issue as voters prepare for the election. GetUp and the like will make sure of this.

The jury may be out on what causes climate change, but its verdict is in when it comes to climate change itself. Ultra-conservatives within the Government need to realise the demographics of voters is changing, even among rusted-on Liberal voters. Climate change is of real concern to an important block of older Liberal voters, as well as younger generations.

As Kelly states, the Government needs to come up with a credible plan of how it is going to tackle climate change or else it is going to suffer a huge loss at the election. It is not too late to save the election and the furniture.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

The rebellious middle-class Liberals Paul Kelly writes about have much in common with the Green-Left side of politics. They can afford higher electricity prices and support open-door immigration, safe in the knowledge that their leafy suburbs will be less affected by social integration and other problems.

Many see themselves as morally superior and well educated so surely they must know that carbon dioxide constitutes only 0.04 per cent of the atmosphere and the human component is a fraction of this, making Australia’s contribution negligible.

They also know that Australia exports more coal every year than we would use in decades of power generation while we pay some of the highest prices in the world for electricity thanks to commitments to renewables and the Paris Agreement.

Brian Whybrow, Wanniassa, ACT

Paul Kelly cites “patching up the climate change credibility gap” as the best Scott Morrison can do at this stage with respect to modifying the emission reduction targets and walking out of the Paris Agreement. He suggests that the push to do both is “the political insanity of the conservative media cabal”. Does he not see that people of all stripes are saying the same thing? Kelly then says “if you want a prescription for political suicide, this is hard to beat”.

Therein is the moral dilemma that, with gathering pace, is undermining stable government around the world. Where the commentariat and the political class believe it is preferable to avoid political suicide by avoiding doing what is right, there is no morality in politics. The electorate craves government that is directed and driven by values and sincerity, not polls.

Geoff Ellis, Smithfield, Qld

Chris Kenny’s message on the need for the Government to engage in the energy debate is correct. The Coalition must move swiftly and firmly to counteract its image of climate scepticism (“climate change is crap”) and advocacy of fossil fuels (bringing a lump of coal into the Parliament). These were two serious missteps. There’s a simple solution; accept fully the policy problem as presented by mainstream climate science, while adopting the rational conservative position that solving it will involve an expensive and uncertain pathway. Every aspect of climate/energy policy can be successfully fought along these two principles, which are supported by an overwhelming body of scientific and technical arguments.

There will, of course, be attacks from the Left saying that cheap feasible means to reduce emissions without affecting prosperity are or will be available and that a “rational conservative position” is equivalent to climate denial. That’s exactly where the battle must be fought and won. The alternative is economic disaster based on the wishful thinking and ideology of Labor and its associates.

Tom Biegler, St Kilda East, Vic

Chris Kenny is correct, the Coalition appears to be ready to die on its knees rather than take a swipe at its political enemies. It is unfathomable. Indeed, while the Labor Party galvanises its forces through GetUp and the unions, the Coalition rolls on its proverbial back like submissive cocker spaniels. What will it take for Coalition politicians to learn that no one wants to vote for leaders who are afraid of their own shadows.

Denzil Bourne, Jerrabomberra, NSW

“Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.” Keep going, Prime Minister.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, NSW