Taking back Port of Darwin should have been done years ago

I agree that the Port of Darwin should not be owned by foreign entities and should be taken back into Australian government hands (“China’s northern expulsion”, 5-6/4). But I think the use of words like “kick out” and “boot out” are really not helpful to international relations. We should explain and admit that Australia made a monumental mistake in permitting foreign-controlled interests to acquire a 99-year lease. It was not in any way the fault of that foreign entity – our foolish governments, state and federal, put it on the block, and they said “thank you, we’ll have it”.

Accordingly, we now need to pay generous compensation for our mistake. While we are at it, let’s return the Port of Newcastle, which is also part-owned by a foreign-controlled power, to the Australian government, or at the very least wholly Australian hands. Do we ever learn?

Peter Thornton, Killara, NSW

Dutton’s chance

Granting a Chinese company a 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin was a bad decision made a decade ago. Being acutely aware of rising geopolitical tensions in our region, and recognising the port’s crucial role in our ability to defend ourselves, Peter Dutton has vowed that if he wins the election he will immediately cancel China’s ownership of this critical piece of infrastructure and restore it to Australian hands.

This policy will be welcomed by voters. But with only four weeks left to election day, Dutton must demonstrate the same decisive leadership when it comes to tackling the soaring cost of energy caused by Labor’s reckless renewables-only policy, which is crippling households, small businesses, industry and our productivity. Bringing more gas supplies online is a start. But like he has done with the Port of Darwin, Dutton needs to get squarely behind our coal-fired power stations that are under siege from the relentless surge of Labor’s renewables, because our coal plants alone are responsible for keeping the nation’s lights on.

Dale Ellis, Innisfail, Qld

Solar delusion

Anthony Albanese’s announcement of $1100 solar battery rebates is yet again another unjustified pre-election handout. As standard solar panel/battery installation costs are between $10,000 and $26,000, depending on system size, households struggling with cost-of-living issues are unlikely to take up this generous offer. However, through taxes, lower-income households will still contribute to the cost of this government bonus. There is no evidence offered to justify this expenditure as a better way to reduce power costs for the country at large. Is the cost-benefit positive? Will Labor tell us?

Michael Neustein, Bondi, NSW

Anthony Albanese has announced a new scheme to save on energy bills. His government will subsidise 30 per cent of the cost of a new battery to store solar energy in the home. He says this subsidy could be up to $4000 and this would offer savings up to $1100 on the average residential power bill. On that basis it is assumed the cost of the battery alone could be over $10,000 to install. The solar panels are extra. With the average length of stay that Australians reside at the one address just over a decade, there is every chance one might just recoup the initial capital outlay for the solar system before they move on. This sounds too good to be true.

Geoff Ellis, Smithfield, Qld

The Albanese government, in its wisdom, proposes to subsidise the purchase of home batteries for those with rooftop solar to the tune of 30 per cent, at a cost to the nation of $2.3bn. Surely the purchase of such a luxury item comes into the category of discretionary expenditure, similar to a luxury car or home swimming pool; the expense being the responsibility of the owner. Having wasted taxpayers’ money for years subsidising solar panel installation, we are now all expected to pay for the wealthy to install home batteries while energy prices for the majority inexorably increase. The less well off will still be unable to afford the 70 per cent balance of the cost.

Ian Crawshaw, O’Connor, ACT

Welfare drain

Greg Sheridan’s excellent though thoroughly dispiriting article places our economic situation into sharp focus: our welfare addiction is indeed killing our beloved country (“Our welfare addiction is killing Australia”, 5-6/4). Our political leaders must know the economic damage they are doing every day on the hustings, quite apart from that done by their refusal to countenance any serious structural fiscal reform. I suspect many Australians feel ashamed to be part of this vote bribe and would gladly endorse any political leader who had the courage to say enough is enough. Such a pitch might not win this election, but it’s a pretty safe bet it would not only ensure a landslide win in 2028, but establish a base for long-term political success.

Bob Miller, Leederville, WA