Reluctance to act on climate change costs all Australians

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A Farmers for Climate Action poll shows that at least 70 per cent of rural Australians living in renewable energy zones support clean energy projects on farmland. It’s National Party MPs like David Littleproud who are in the minority (“New mapping sparks clash over impact of renewable energy projects on farmland”, October 7). Wind turbines and solar panels offer a drought-proof income stream for landowners and provide many cost-saving and health benefits to local communities. The Clean Energy Council estimates landholders will receive $1 billion by 2030 for hosting renewables. While the benefits blow strong across the country, it is disappointing that many in the Coalition still seem determined to resist the shift – even if it could revitalise the very regions they claim to champion (“Liberals closer to net zero deal as Hastie leak stirs discontent”, October 7). As extreme weather worsens and insurance premiums rise (“Insurance industry warning on costs of extreme weather”, October 7), we can only hope the Coalition finds the courage to produce a climate policy. Until then, they remain not just lost in the political wilderness – but unwilling to care for the actual one. Amy Hiller, Kew (Vic)

Climate sceptics might claim that damaging weather events are not on the rise, but figures from the insurance industry tell a different story. Losses per person have increased about 450 per cent in real terms since the 1980s, and only a small part of this is due to the rising cost of building materials. Most is because there are more extreme weather events, because more people are living in areas that are prone to such events and because little is being done to make those areas more resilient. The insurance industry really is the canary in the climate change coal mine. It has no reason to hide the truth, unlike the fossil fuel industry. We ignore its warnings at our peril. Ken Enderby, Concord

Caitlin Fitzsimmons reports insurance policy costs for floods and fires have risen every decade since 1980, but that investment in resilience measures to prevent this haven’t kept pace. The Coalition, which says it is a better manager of the economy, has been silent on this. It’s only the independents and the Greens who are pushing for action. Gary Barnes, Mosman

Wind turbines offer a drought-proof income stream for landowners.

Mike Foley’s excellent article on the Coalition Muppet Brigade’s rearguard action against renewables shows what a fact-depleted bunch they are (“New mapping sparks clash over impact of renewable energy projects on farmland”, October 7). Michael McCormack and David Littleproud need to acquaint themselves with the facts, rather than slavishly singing conservative hymns of fear. As his article highlights, the actual renewable energy footprint is just 0.12 per cent of the 3.6 million square kilometres of agricultural land in the country, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which is almost identical to the 4560 sq km of land used for mining. Littleproud is quoted as saying the renewable industry has “lost their social licence”. Sadly, he ignores the majority of climate-aware farmers who see their paddocks flooding and burning each year, while those elected to help them put on broad-brimmed hats and pose as farmers. Rob Asser, Balmain East

Nothing sums up the ridiculous state of Coalition politics at present as the double page spread on Tuesday. The most prominent item is the conservative business voice of the insurance industry warning of the increasing “costs of extreme weather” caused by climate change. Below that, an article on the Nationals waging war on renewables in farming area, built on misinformation and lies; and next to both the Liberal Party moving at a snail’s pace towards net zero. How about the Coalition listen to some business people besides Gina Rinehart and accept reality? Otherwise, they will be condemned to be in opposition for decades to come. Neil Ormerod, Kingsgrove

David Littleproud and Michael McCormack.

How interesting. Before the last federal election many pundits were claiming that Peter Dutton’s best achievement was to unite the Liberal Party. Niki Savva’s article on his relationships with shadow ministers, and Andrew Hastie in particular, obviously shows otherwise (“The meeting where Dutton and Hastie’s relationship fell apart”, October 7). The blame for the disastrous election result clearly rests with the former leader. Rob Phillips, North Epping

Population problem

The Australian Conservation Foundation says agriculture is the biggest cause of koala habitat destruction (“Banking giants take fire on ‘nature risk’”, October 7). Can they, together with the Greens and all other environmental groups, tell us farmers how to feed an 8 billion and growing world population without more farmland? All governments are pushing for economic growth and more people when we live on a planet with finite resources, like farmland and fertilisers. Should farmers grow less food? I think it is time for people to wake up and talk about overpopulation. Henry Schneebeli, Moree

Demographer Liz Allen seems to think we need “to turn around the train wreck” because our fertility rate is low, yet our natural increase is still more than 100,000 a year (“Baby bonus delivered extra kids but at cost to the taxpayer”, October 6). Those worried about declining population growth ignore the devastating impact that more than 8 billion humans are having on the planet, and are not considering the dire future in store for babies born now. After recently finding multiple used nappies tossed into wattles and buried in sand at the beach on Father’s Day, the thought of the extra plastic throw-away nappies alone, thanks to the baby bonus, is horrific. Karen Joynes, Bermagui

Crack down on extremists

I am deeply concerned that, despite Australia’s clear laws proscribing organisations such as Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS and al-Qaeda, their symbols and slogans continue to be displayed publicly (“PM condemns antisemitic graffiti on anniversary of October 7 attacks”, October 7). This breaches the criminal code and emboldens extremists, who face no consequence for glorifying terrorism. We should not wait for a tragedy like the recent killing in Manchester before decisive action is taken (“Terror attack leads British Jews to wonder if it’s time to leave”, October 7). The new federal laws banning terrorist insignia must be enforced consistently and visibly. At the same time, I urge the government to give full and public support to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal. Prime minister, please show leadership: enforce our laws, protect our communities and stand firmly behind this ceasefire to help secure a just and lasting peace. John Whiteing, Willoughby

Police monitor a pro-Palestine protest in Australia.

Love not money

Having retired from medicine, I still fondly remember my years working as a doctor in a country town classified as an “area of need”. Bulk billing for 20 years, it was a wonderful experience. So when I read of the Bill Crews clinic in an area of need in Blacktown being unable to attract a new doctor to a beautiful new clinic, I felt total shame for the new graduates, who are meant to be in a caring profession (“The Sydney clinic that can’t find a GP”, October 7). The huge amount of satisfying work that could be done there knows no bounds, and the pay is pretty good too. Sorry, I think the new graduates we are pushing through the system are not being vetted properly on enrolment. Good luck Bill, you deserve better than this because your “certain breed of doctor” should ideally be a normal, caring GP, not a rarity. Kim Dunstan, Sydney

Rise of the machines

Elizabeth Knight writes that Deloitte’s report to the government contained serious AI errors (“This botched government report should be wake-up call on AI hype”, October 7). Apparently it was asked questions it couldn’t answer so it just made up answers, unbeknown to Deloitte. The tech bros are not renowned for fixing faults in their products if it affects their bottom line. Witness democracies everywhere scrambling to legislate against the harms they are doing. But that’s not the most serious warning about AI. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the godfather of AI, and who in 2024 won the Nobel Prize in physics for research behind machine learning, has a much more startling warning. He says in the next few years AI will surpass humans in intelligence. We can’t really predict what it will do then, but the signs are not reassuring. He has said he believes there is a 20 per cent to 40 per cent chance that once it is cleverer than us it will go rogue, and could even destroy humanity within a few decades. News site The Conversation asked five AI experts whether they believed such a threat existed. Two out of five said yes. We can predict that Silicon Valley will say it’s not true. Who should we believe? Gary Barnes, Mosman

Dangerous advertising

Smoking kills, so governments around the world banned smoking advertising. Gambling, for most, is a long and expensive illness which often also leads to death (“Legal case against Sportsbet puts heat on industry”, October 6). As with smoking, “passive gambling effects” ruin families, cause homelessness of innocents and just destroy many lives. Anthony Albanese defends the right of blokes to have a wager. Fair enough, but do not subject everyone else to the continuous TV advertising of this cruel addiction. Just stop it Albo, period. John Elder, Brisbane (Qld)

Correspondent Anne Ring (Letters, October 7) quotes Associate Professor Charles Livingstone, who says, “Australians squander $31.5 billion every year, the biggest losers in the world for gambling per capita.” Next time you want to have a $10 bet on the races or in the pokies, why not donate your $10 to the Alliance for Gambling Reform, to help do some real good? Paul Reid, Campsie

Don’t rely on China

China’s destruction of the US soybean farming industry after years of feeding its people on American soybeans is a clear warning to our coal and mineral exporters (“Trump’s $15 billion Band-Aid for the problem he created”, October 7) – China has no attachment to long-term suppliers. It acts on its perceived national interests. In the same way that China fostered soybean production in South America to remove its dependence on US beans, China is fostering mineral and coal production in lower-wage locations across the world: Africa, South America and Indonesia. The end effect of this will be to reduce its dependence on Australian minerals and coal. We need to start working on replacements now so we don’t fall into poverty when China turns off our money tap. Green steel looks like a good bet: 40 gigawatts of solar panels could power the production of a million tonnes of steel each year. Alan Stanley, Upper Corindi

Soybeans are harvested on a farm near Brasilia, Brazil.

Know your oats

Oats indeed are the breakfast of champions, as experienced by your correspondent with her winning breakfast recipe (“The very Aussie tweak behind Caroline’s porridge world championship win”, October 7). However, the oatmeal jaffle is so much more than a taste sensation, as expounded by the late Dr Michael Mosley. As a cholesterol buster it is unequalled in its ability to soak up the fat that clogs our arteries. Since following his advice and eating oatmeal, as well as more avocado and nuts, my lipid profile has dropped 30 per cent without the need for medication. Its benefits should be lauded wide and far. Elizabeth Maher, Gordon

Taken for a ride

I’m not surprised at the successful trial of Ubers at Sydney airport (“Uber rank gives taxis terminal pain”, October 7). My experience is that taxi fares between the airport and Darlinghurst can be twice that of Ubers. Certain things must happen. Taxis must stop ripping off their customers. The $60 cap to the city scheme will help, but not all inbound passengers are going to the city and anyway, that approach is merely a Band-Aid on a meter-abuse epidemic perpetrated by crooked taxi drivers. Uber must pay its drivers fairly, which will surely push their fares up, but there is no rational justification for taxi and Uber fares to be so different. Both forms of transport are legitimate and should be competitive with each other. Mike Salon, Darlinghurst

Satisfaction guaranteed

What if there were decent minimum statutory warranty periods for whitegoods? Say 15 years for large items such as fridges and washing machines, and 10 years for smaller items (“Call for lifespan and repairability labels on household appliances”, October 7). And what if whitegoods sellers had to take back items at end of life? Perhaps then they would sell whitegoods that last longer and could be easily repaired. Jill Robinson, Randwick

Respect the mountain

Hundreds of people have been stranded in a Himalayan snowstorm (“Blizzard traps hundreds of hikers on Mount Everest”, October 7). Surely there are better ways to boost one’s ego than putting rescuers at risk when things go wrong. It’s time all these potential climbers remove Everest from their bucket lists and redirected the costs to a more worthy cause. Don Leayr, Albury

Villagers with oxen and horses ascend Everest during rescue efforts to reach hundreds of hikers trapped by heavy snow.

Hall of villains

Surely property developers must now rank well ahead of politicians, social media influencers and used car salesman as the least trustworthy members of society (“She signed her home over for sale in 2015. Jennifer is still waiting to be paid”, October 7)? George Zivkovic, Northmead

Trump’s circus

Correspondent John Bailey was looking for a word that best describes the current US system of government (Letters, October 7). I suggest “kakistocracy”, defined as “government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state”. Martin Frohlich, Adamstown Heights

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