Energy: expense daunting due to our wasted decade

June 9, 2022 — 12.05am

Chris Uhlmann not only draws attention to the challenges faced in the transition to net-zero emissions, but reminds readers of the huge opportunities foregone over the past decade or so (“Clean energy’s inconvenient truth”, June 8). He also cites the significant dependence of agriculture, in terms of fertilisers, farm machinery and transport, on fossil fuels.

If the Coalition’s support for the fossil fuel industry had been directed towards renewables and power storage research, our current circumstances would be very different, both in energy security and carbon emissions reduction. The potential offered by hydrogen, generated by solar and wind power, is a prime example. Roger Epps, Armidale

I get it: transitioning away from an energy system embedded over 150 years by huge growth in global population, commerce and industrial capability was never going to be simple or cheap. Your article’s doomsday tone fits nicely with that of our conservative politicians of the past 20 years or so: lots of reasons to avoid the issue. But where’s the can-do market when you most need it? My grandkids have grown into teenagers while John Howard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison have fiddled. The Germans have responded with a problem-solving approach and will strike barriers, but that’s how things change. Brian Jones, Leura

Germany’s energy experience is often quoted by energy pessimists but it is all but irrelevant to Australia’s future. Our energy network spans 10 times Germany’s area, so the chances of the whole network being “dark and still” at the same time are minimal. Our huge area means we can get all the solar and wind generation we need. Then we get twice as much solar power for each square metre. We just need storage and gas to back it up, and transmission to link it. That is indeed “difficult and costly”, but it will pay back in lower energy prices. Josh Dowse, North Curl Curl

Yes, it will collectively cost the nation billions to transition, but like any investment, this will be based on business cases. As the lowest cost and lowest polluting source of energy, the potential benefits of solar and wind are equally enormous. Terry Vandyke, Dee Why

What we should consider is 15 years of wasted time in starting a change to renewable energy. The billions to trillions of dollars in costs is not such a heavy burden when spread over 20 to 30 years, but we are already at least 15 years behind and so the burden is left for future generations. Shame on Australia for deliberately delaying the inevitable and leaving the cost for our children and grandchildren. Ken Pares, Forster

In his critique of the costs of transitioning to renewable energy, Uhlmann overlooks the costs of not transitioning. David Curtis, Fairy Meadow

To the contrary, Greg Cantori (Letters, June 8), I suggest there’s plenty to discuss about renewable energy in an energy crisis. Given that foregoing affordable renewable energy projects is highly problematic and costly, governments must be urged to identify and ease undue delays in deployment of renewables and to avoid expensive cul-de-sacs advocated by the anti-renewables camp. Jim Allen, Panorama (SA)

Regulation of interest rates missing in action

It was predictable that Westpac would lift mortgage interest rates by the full 0.5 per cent to pass on the Reserve Bank interest rate rise (“Rate surge hits home as inflation heats up”, June 8). We can now just wait for Fair Work Australia to approve a less-than-inflation-rate rise in the minimum wage. Perhaps interest rates should be as tightly regulated as the minimum wage. Glenn Johnson, Leura

As each day goes by, the reality of economic challenges to be addressed becomes glaringly obvious, and, following Tuesday’s interest rate rise, your article suggests the budget needs reshaping and that some “cuts” are warranted (“Rate hikes an opportunity to reform budget”, June 8). Life for many is going to become more constrained or far worse, inevitably meaning some gloss will come off the ALP’s victory. The government must not let this deter it from doing the right things to rectify the Coalition’s years of neglect and inaction.

Cut spending, by all means, where warranted, but drastic attention is also required to lift revenue, meaning rorts within the taxation system can no longer be tolerated. Ross Butler, Rodd Point

As co-owner of my home, I feel guilty reflecting on the financial pain being endured by struggling homeowners. Homeownership has been regarded as a right in this country. It has become a difficult commodity controlled by banks and government. Bill McMahon, Lennox Head

In this time of interest rate rises and cost of living increases, would I be correct in assuming that Australians have reduced their expenditure on alcohol, tobacco products, gambling, coffee and smashed avocado? Phil Peak, Dubbo

The Reserve Bank governor should resign. His multiple statements, just months ago, that interest rates would not go up until 2024 totally misled the housing market, causing unsustainable rises in house prices, and buyers to over commit to huge mortgages. He took rates down to ridiculously low and unsustainable levels, and now rates need to come back to natural levels around the 4 to 5 per cent mark. I am amazed that we did not foresee the adverse effect on inflation (a key factor the Reserve Bank has to manage), and inequities in getting a roof over everyone’s head, that his actions would bring about. Duncan Cameron, Lane Cove

I may be missing something, but how does making my home loan more expensive reduce the price of gas? John Christie, Oatley

Jobless need support, respect

Is it indifference, or do we just not see them (“Malice towards the jobless must stop”, June 8)? People who are currently unemployed are largely invisible. The voices of advocates get lost in competing with cost of living concerns. Can we even imagine how the jobless are hurting this winter? There are 850,000 Australians on income support for more than 12 months – and far too many dependent children are sucked into their mire of poverty. None of it is their fault, but the politicians, bureaucrats and the rest of us somehow don’t even have a picture in our heads of this sizeable segment of our population.

Solitary and hidden. The jobless don’t wear labels on their backs or badges – privacy and common decency is some protection. But how important is public recognition? If they coalesced and marched down our main streets, with colourful banners, T-shirts and caps, would we take notice or dismiss them as a rabble? Picket lines outside Centrelink offices or sit-ins, or overnight vigils? Protest votes at elections or petitions with thousands of signatures – what would it take to stir our collective conscience? Poverty in our midst is a real and present danger to Australia, no less than climate change. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Ross Gittins gives us a timely reminder of the plight of the unemployed. We live in a time when everyone will have a little less as inflation rises and the increased cost of living affects everyone. The unemployed will have even less than the less they already endure. We are not entitled to keep on giving the unemployed less to enable tax cuts for the employed. Mark Porter, New Lambton

Tollways or the highway

According to roads minister Natalie Ward, the government is trying to encourage people to use Sydney’s multibillion-dollar motorways (“State to spend $500m on pre-poll subsidies”, June 8). If congestion and gridlock are the government’s vision for Sydney, why not privatise and cut more public transport services, or just close or narrow a few more free roads. Then again Transurban probably doesn’t mind one way or the other, while increased traffic volumes grow their business, their existing contracts are likely to have compensation clauses that will protect revenue if the cars don’t show up. Ken Wilson, Willoughby

Why is the NSW government considering toll subsidies? Much better to provide dedicated bus lanes, more bus routes and trains, and subsidise public transport fares. Or do the contracts with the toll companies preclude all that? Bruce Welch, Marrickville

One’s airport grievances

With extreme heat levels in western Sydney and 24/7 noise from aircraft flight paths, the Aerotropolis may turn out to be the “unbearable-otropolis” (“Experts cast doubt over Sydney plan”, June 8). Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Bondi under construction

Here we go again (“The twin projects that will transform Bondi Beach”, June 7). Every year for the past six or seven years, just as one major Bondi Beach construction project draws to a close, the next one starts up. Why is it so hard for the council to co-ordinate the timing of these major projects, undertake them at the same time, and let people finally enjoy Bondi Beach in a way other than as part of a never-ending construction zone? Brad Hawkins, Bondi

COVID hasn’t given up

Complacency is threatening the progress against COVID-19 (“Vaccine ‘fatigue’ hits children’s uptake”, June 8). The death toll from COVID so far this year has exceeded that of the previous two years combined and the infection rate shows no sign of abating. More needs to be done to address the decline in participation in the vaccine program. The public may no longer accept mandates, but political leaders should be making every effort to promote the use of face masks and social distancing where applicable. These measures were very effective in controlling the virus and most people were compliant. It seems the majority are unaware of the ongoing mortality and morbidity from COVID. Perhaps daily updates should be reintroduced. The pandemic is not over. Graham Lum, North Rocks

Student debt growth

Any voluntary payment by a student towards their HECS-HELP debt will add 10 per cent towards their payment (“Rising inflation fuelling growing student debt”, June 8). That is, if I pay $1000, then $1100 will be removed from my debt. That’s an instant and relatively high return on my money given my “bonus” interest savings account has only just crept up to 1.35 per cent. Stephen Lawton, Weston (ACT)

Positive foreign relations

The photos in the Herald show clearly the friendly body language of Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong when meeting dignitaries and others in Indonesia (“Northern exposure: why Labor’s keen to cut deal with Indonesia”, June 8). After such a long time, this alone is a very positive step toward improving relations. Dorothy Gliksman, Cedar Brush Creek

Bright future in Biloela

As one of the richest developed nations, our civilised society seems to exhibit little to no progress in its humanity towards those less fortunate (“Four-year immigration battle over as Tamil family board plane to Biloela”, smh.com.au, June 8). Good on the Biloela community for challenging, and finally breaking, this malignant attitude. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why

Passport queue bypassed

I don’t know why all the fuss about passports (Letters, June 8). My wife and I applied online to renew our expired passports and received the necessary completed forms. We then took those forms to the post office on May 19 and paid the standard fee of $308 each. Our new passports arrived by registered mail on June 1, just 14 days later. Maybe they are processing passports for people in their 70s faster so we can complete our overseas travels before we kick the bucket. Terry Wooldridge, Mona Vale

Cos, it’s expensive

I always thought keeping tadpoles and frogs was a cheap hobby (“Lettuce pray: KFC hits an iceberg”, June 8). But now it seems their humble diet of boiled lettuce has blown out my budget. Josie McSkimming, Coogee

I always thought the tiny lettuce shreds on the burgers were tokenistic and, like the pickles, were picked off. Now the search is on for a green substitute to create a healthy aura. Cabbage might be OK elsewhere but why not use a slice of choko here; it’s very easy to pick off. Brian Thornton, Stanmore

Hands off humanities

And, Fred Jansohn, studying humanities develops essential critical thinking skills that allows students to understand more about the real world than do the formulas of economics, science and MBAs (Letters, June 8). James Mahoney, McKellar (ACT)

Numbers game

Not only missing house numbers, but shop and commercial premises numbers are also missing everywhere (Letters, June 7). Why isn’t it compulsory by law to have street numbers shown clearly? Peter Kahn, Coogee

Cathy’s on song

Cathy Wilcox plumbs the murky depths with yet another side-splitter (Editorial cartoon, June 8). Truth, insight and straight-faced humour – what a gift. Meredith Williams, Northmead

Thanks Cathy, love the hair. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook

The digital view

Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
New attorney-general promises national corruption watchdog will have power to investigate pork-barrelling
From Martin: “Great news. The fact the government has decided to consult with Helen Haines and the crossbench, even though they have a majority in the lower house and don’t strictly need to, is a good sign. Albanese promised to take a different approach to governing than the bulldozer model. Hope the government keeps it up.”

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