Policy turmoil over climate could cost us dearly

Stark divisions at political and community level are making climate change and energy policy difficult.

Paul Kelly quotes $67 billion as the return on coal exports this year, helping to fund education, health and return the budget to surplus (“Tribal warfare saps our energy”, 23-24/2).

With Australia’s manufacturing industry all but gone and irrigation practices along the Murray-Darling Basin under the spotlight, where is Labor going to get the billions of dollars to sustain budget requirements when the coal industry implodes through political ideology in appeasing the Green vote and keeping the urban progressives happy?

The Coalition needs to take on-board Babette Francis’s comment (Letters 23-24/2): it is no good reflecting after Labor has won an election that small and large businesses are what provide revenue to employ politicians, public servants and others. And that thousands on lower incomes similar to the lady in the takeaway who she mentioned, need cheap, reliable electricity instead of taxpayer subsidised renewable energy.

Ian Kent, Renmark, SA

Kelly’s article is a pivotal piece in the energy debate. This matter has a cost we’re only just beginning to explore. There is one issue that is never talked about when we discuss the diminution of our local coal-power generation facilities, and that is the enormous cost to industry — we have effectively reduced emissions by sending heavy industry overseas where it can be powered by coal often purchased from this country, but not counted as Australian emissions.

Also, we welcome thousands of migrants each year, many of them uneducated or under-educated. In past years, heavy industry enabled many of them to get a job in dirty, repetitive roles that have now largely disappeared.

So where do migrants, many of who can barely speak English, now get a start? In the services industry? I don’t think so. Many remain unemployed after many years. That wasn’t always so.

John Capel, Black Rock, Vic

Kelly outlines the climate change mess. Australia is on a Titanic-like course heading for financial disaster.

This could have been avoided had Coalition and Labor politicians called an inquiry into the science, costs and benefits of actions to prevent “dangerous global warming”.

A climate inquiry is urgently needed so all the facts and theories can be presented and questioned.

If it is done properly and the politicians respond appropriately, Australia might be able to change course and avoid the coming financial disaster.

Bob Greenelsh, Bulimba, Qld

With one phrase — “Australia is being convulsed by its contradictory identity” – Kelly summarises the effects of the malaise that is Australia’s climate change /resources debate.

With surgical precision he reveals the cancerous elements, that unless treated with the balm of common sense and practicality will reduce Australia to a stagnated society bogged down in a morass of identity politics and flawed ideology.

Blade Johnstone, Victoria Point, Qld

Australia’s problem with energy generation is that the true costs of solar and wind power are unaffordable, while the use of coal releases greenhouse gases.

But neither Kelly nor Graham Lloyd (“Climate evangelists use lawfare to target perceived ‘offenders’”, 23-24/2) identify the readily available practical solution, namely, that nuclear power is proven, affordable, reliable, dispatchable to meet demand and generates minimal greenhouse gas. And extremely safe.

Don Higson, Paddington, NSW

Paul Kelly’s inner suburban elites are far from aware about climate change if they think we can do without fossil fuels or nuclear to any significant extent or that, if we could, it would make any discernible difference to the climate here or anywhere.

Vague talk of cogent energy policies is irrelevant unless the link between proliferation of so-called renewable power supplies and sky-rocketing energy bills is addressed.

Michael Smith, Mooroolbark, Vic

Glencore’s decision to cap its coal production, like the decisions made by other businesses, has an economic basis, and has nothing to do with appeasing cults.

No corporation is prepared to invest in new coal-fired power stations because they are uneconomic and will become more so as renewables become cheaper.

Victor Branson, Waterloo, NSW