Renewables just one small part of getting energy mix right

Judith Sloan dispels the myth being peddled by Anthony Albanese that renewables will lower electricity prices (“Renewables push won’t bring down power prices soon”, 13/9).

On the contrary, as Sloan points out, because of the unrelenting surge of subsidised renewables – particularly rooftop solar panels – into the nation’s electricity grid, the operations of coal-fired power stations are being constantly disrupted, resulting in rising electricity prices as these energy workhorses struggle to remain profitable.

But what Albanese appears unable to grasp, despite his degree in economics, is that to keep electricity affordable an uninterrupted supply of stable, reliable baseload power is vital.

This is what coal-fired power plants are designed to do and why we currently depend on them for over 60 per cent of our daily electricity needs. But Albanese has no time for coal-fired power. In February 2020, he told ABC Radio: “I don’t think there’s a place for coal-fired power plants in Australia, full stop.”

Considering his determination to render the nation’s energy system inoperable by overseeing the ousting of coal-fired power in favour of intermittent wind and solar, we can forget Albanese’s pledge that average household electricity bills will fall by $275 a year.

Dale Ellis, Innisfail, Qld

Judith Sloan suggests rooftop solar panels “offer a reasonable but not excessive return”. My experience has been that their return can be very marginal in relation to their purchase cost, especially with a prolonged period of cloudy or wet weather. My winter quarter bill this year is almost exactly the same as it was before l paid to have the panels installed. Very disappointing.

K. MacDermott, Binalong, NSW

Ounce of sense

The Prime Minister is getting into a tangle of his own making over his promise to establish an anti-corruption commission by the end of the year.

Instead of stumbling his way through what he claims is a necessity for parliamentarians to lift standards he would do better focusing on why he believes an ICAC is necessary and address the root cause.

Parties and electorates should do better in scrutinising the character and past behaviour of candidates. None of this is rocket science, it is a matter of our elected representatives demonstrating basic decency and honesty as they conduct themselves.

Children are instilled with a knowledge of right from wrong at an early age and for the majority of us it remains a part of our character for the length of our lives.

I suggest that if you are taking a trip to undertake official duties and want to turn it into a break, you don’t book spouses and children travel and accommodation expenses on government credit cards with the intention of refunding their costs later. In private enterprise that is called theft and is a criminal action.

Our politicians are still being caught out hiring jets and helicopters to attend functions or events not remotely associated with their duties.

If you think this is OK you shouldn’t be in parliament. If you use your government credit card for private use, you should be in jail.

Once you are in a position of power, the corporate world comes calling with gifts of tickets and hospitality to events and functions. You are not being invited because you are such wonderful company but because you are in a position where you can be used for favours.

When you are out of power the invitations stop. You are paid enough to buy you own tickets to these events like the other 95 per cent of Australians in attendance.

ICACs don’t discourage or uncover improper behaviour. The vast majority of scandals and corruption uncovered during my lifetime have been through the media. Politicians not doing the right thing have more to fear from a tenacious journalist chasing a story than from any ICAC investigators and I hope that never changes.

Chris Blanch, Spring Hill, Qld

Vale Uncle Jack

Thank you, Uncle Jack Charles – for everything you shared with us, for your wisdom, humour and honour (“Actor and activist Jack Charles dies aged 79”, 13/9).

You shared with us 65,000 years of culture as only you could, and helped us connect with our First Nations history in warmth and hope, while never ignoring the tragedies that befell the First Nations people at the hands of the white fella colonisers.

A national day of sorry-business would be most appropriate, honouring the gifts shared, acknowledging the loss, and singing your spirit home.

Judy Bamberger and Bram van Oosterhout, O’Connor, ACT

Instead of putting King Charles on our new $5 note, can we please put Uncle Jack Charles instead?

Doug Steley, Heyfield, Vic