Without change of direction, nation could face energy poverty

The comments by Jennie George clearly set out the major change in approach that needs to be implemented now by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and his advisers (“Bowen’s energy revolution dodges inconvenient truths”, 2/7).

Australia’s loss of manufacturing capacity over the past 50 years cannot be reversed but it cannot continue. Considering we contribute only about 1.1 per cent of global emissions, isn’t it time we used our proven technical engineering skills and natural resources, particularly gas and uranium, to ensure our standard of living is kept improving continuously and not degraded?

John Houghton, The Gap, Qld

For more than three years our country has been suffering as the government insists on following its inane policy of being the first in the world to achieve 100 per cent energy security through the use of renewable sources.

All that has been achieved is ever-rising prices to consumers and frustration as countless farmers see their land ruined by eyesore arrays of wind farms and solar panels, while lip service is being paid to the use of gas as a transition fuel despite a looming gas shortage on the east coast.

The likelihood of new gas suppliers appearing is small as many companies are seemingly reluctant to enter the market in an environment that does not encourage new investment.

Chris Bowen’s latest idea, a review aiming to force new gas suppliers to provide supply to the domestic market, is unlikely to work.

Acknowledging the government’s dependence on the much-touted green hydrogen industry to support the use of renewables, Bowen says green hydrogen is facing difficulties but still has a role to play.

He appears not to realise that the few countries in the Middle East he refers to in his statements have substantial amounts of spare capital to devote to these developments – something that Australia, in a parlous financial position, does not have.

The review planned by Bowen will last for six months and presumably come up with more wacky suggestions that may or may not be implemented.

So shall we just wait until the end of 2025 and cross our fingers in the meantime that all will be well for our energy future by Christmas?

Helen Evans, Maleny, Qld

Renewable energy, net zero and all the other impossible dreams could be tied up in red ribbon and tossed away (“Offshore wind giant ‘could pull up stumps’ ”, 2/7).

Could we please return to making sure the people of Australia can live a normal life bringing up their children without poverty and paying for the mistakes of the past spendthrift mob?

Julie Tadman, Upper Caboolture, Qld

Where has Chris Bowen been hiding these past 19 years?

He has suddenly had a light-bulb moment, deciding that a gas reservation policy is now a good idea for the east coast.

The West Australian state government established a 15 per cent reservation policy way back in 2006. The Energy Minister should get with the program.

John Sheehan, Busselton, WA

It defies logic that the Albanese Labor government is persisting with its plan to have 82 per cent of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030 when we have a major offshore wind developer mulling a potential sale of its Victorian project as it considers exiting Australia.

And BlueFloat Energy isn’t the only one. Norwegian energy giant Equinor has yet to decide whether to accept an offshore wind development licence in NSW.

The federal government is pushing our coal-fired power stations out of existence to make way for renewables, despite coal-fired power being crucial for providing the cheap, secure, reliable energy our industries and businesses need to remain viable and for households to function normally.

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen can say all he likes about Australia becoming a renewable energy superpower, but the reality is that under the re-elected Labor government the nation is hurtling headlong into energy poverty.

This is something new Liberal leader Sussan Ley could get her teeth into if she can be bothered dragging her attention away from increasing the party’s quota of women.

Dale Ellis, Innisfail, Qld