The Liberals seem stuck in an ideological straitjacket on net zero

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I cannot understand why the Liberals are tying themselves in knots over net zero (“The innards and outs of Coalition energy policy,” November 8). It’s not as though the science is ambiguous on the issue. Nor the politics, with a clear majority of voters wanting action to mitigate climate change. And that action is now synonymous with net zero. There is no point the Liberals sticking with the policy if they are not going to accompany it with targets that will actually get us there. They might as well go the full hog and describe climate change as “absolute crap”, as Tony Abbott did in 2009, just before taking over as party leader. That’s certainly the message they’re sending to the electorate via their current shenanigans. Ken Enderby, Concord

Is Australia whistling down the wind hoping for a Coalition energy policy?

Saturday’s editorial encapsulates the Coalition’s quixotic approach to climate change over the past decade. Coalition policy decisions during this period have been driven by ideology rather than science and, even when the decision to support net zero by 2050 was agreed to in 2021 with an election looming, it came as a result of a sweetener for deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and his National Party of an extra cabinet position and the establishment of a multimillion-dollar Regional Future Fund. To my enduring gratitude, the Australian electorate saw through this facade at the 2022 federal election. As the editorial notes, unless the Coalition can develop a coherent energy policy, the “bloodied stump” will continue to drag Sussan Ley and her party down. Gordon Lambert, Kiama Downs

We will soon know whether the Liberal Party joins with Littleproud’s ignorant Nationals in rejecting net zero. The Liberals are likely to be damned if they do because voters have shown they support net zero, and damned if they don’t because they will become a single political entity with no chance of winning power on their own. In this last case, it would enable the party to eschew policies that led to them being so badly beaten, re-state their founding, genuinely liberal principles, and present new, positive ideas that appeal to the electorate. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne

So much time and energy wasted following the Coalition’s stance on net zero by 2050. Renewables energy is already lower cost, more reliable and less polluting. It can also progressively replace declining exports of coal. The government’s role is to provide an efficient and effective regulatory environment, combined with leadership to prioritise transition pathways that minimise existential costs and risks of emissions. The Coalition parties have got themselves into an ideological straitjacket, which seems to have no emphasis on what is best for the public or the country. No credible energy policy for the past 15 years and none is on the horizon. David Hind, North Sydney

In the search for an energy policy to stop the bleeding and heal the wounds, the Coalition would do well to meditate on the words of Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ (On Care for our Common Home). “We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth ... our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.” Mark Porter, New Lambton

All I want for Christmas – is net zero. Peng Ee, Castle Cove

Ley getting raw deal

It is time all Liberal Party politicians backed Sussan Ley by giving her a chance to lead the party (“Ley’s enemies refuse to back MP’s attack”, November 8). Ley is no Julia Gillard, but she deserves to be given a fair go in a position she was elected to. Unfortunately, Australia has a problem in dealing with a female politician leading a party or the country. Those opposing Ley are proof the talent pool is very shallow among the Liberals. Robyn Lewis, Raglan

There is a scarcity of any standout replacements for leaders of our major political parties. Certainly few, if any, Liberals would want Sussan Ley’s job currently. Timing is everything and the time is not right for a challenge to Ley. Would-be leaders will surely wait to pounce until the time is right. They have a long break to assess the situation before parliament sits next year. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

An anonymous Coalition MP says that they’ll wait for Sussan Ley to fail before making a challenge, and we should first have our Christmas holidays. The Coalition is the least deserving of a holiday. With only robo-debt to show for nine years in government and nothing in more than three years in opposition, it needs to work right through the holidays to develop serious policies for our future. Howard Charles, Annandale

I don’t vote Liberal. I never have. I never will, but I feel compelled to speak up for Sussan Ley. She has been leader of the Liberal Party for 25 weeks, and yes, has made some ill-advised comments, but the white-anting and disloyal comments about her from her party, particularly female members, has been staggering. Being “authentic” and “honest” should be exercised in the leader’s office or the party room, not in public to journalists – that’s basic common courtesy. The opposition need to remind themselves of the great Australian “fair go”, put away the knives and give Ley some breathing space. Then the public can make up their own minds about her. Julia Booth, Westleigh

Leader won’t matter

Nick Bryant sums up the Liberals well (“Libs master the zero-sum game”, November 8). With a distinctly uneasy “coalition” in which the tails are evidently wagging the (small) dog, the electors are left to observe an unseemly wrangle between elected politicians of the same theoretical political persuasion. This wrangle is not about the interests of the electors, but is, in fact, concentrated on which person will rise to command the cohort underneath them. It really does not matter who rises because the cohort fighting for the leadership is so small as to be irrelevant in the political life of Australia, and in any case whoever rises will inevitably be brought down by the pack they aspire to lead. The parties in opposition are not actually fighting about plans and policies that are important to the country; they are just using opinions about energy (in the main) to bolster arguments about things that can never come to pass in the lifetime of these elected representatives. It is akin to high-speed rail in Australia – great ideas that translate to reams of paper, but there is no political will to make this form of efficient long-distance transport happen. So, too, it seems with wind farms, solar, nuclear, continuation of coal, substitution of gas. Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie

Neo-Nazi travesty

How the hell were these lowlifes allowed to stand outside the state parliament brandishing that hateful sign (“Police allowed Nazi rally outside NSW parliament”, smh.com.au, November 8)? The premier and the police commissioner knew nothing, apparently. Well, the premier should ensure there is an investigation into the matter. Someone knew about it. Arthur Hennessy, Gymea Bay

The National Socialist Network holding a rally outside parliament in Sydney on November 8.

A neo-Nazi rally on the steps of the NSW parliament? Really? In our country with its cherished democratic values of tolerance and multiculturalism? This travesty cannot be countenanced, and the premier must be held accountable. Chris Minns must resign. Evie Apfelbaum, Bondi Junction

No room to move in parking space

I concur wholeheartedly with Malcolm Knox (“Why is Australia so parking mad?”, November 8). Every day the two large parking spaces outside my residence are carelessly taken by a (different) single car plonked right in the middle so I can’t legally put my vehicle in front or behind it because I have a neighbour’s driveway to consider and a “No stopping” sign at the other end. I write polite notes to suggest drivers walk around to observe the signs and discreet paint mark I’ve added to the kerb to show a halfway point. It’s not rocket science to park with consideration for others – it’s just “consideration”. The parkers seem to be “casual visitors” we never see again. I feel better now! Those who know me well will vouch for my “normally cool, kind demeanour”. Ian Fontaine, Cremorne

I pray for rain every Friday night during the netball season as I live in a small cul-de-sac that backs onto a park with 30 netball courts, where thousands come looking for a spot to park in their huge vehicles. Most weeks my prayers go unanswered. Josephine Piper, Miranda

It isn’t a surprise that parking is an issue and that punch-ups in car parks are on the rise. We have built our society around the motor car, put a million new cars on the road every year and cannot keep up with the infrastructure needed to accommodate all those vehicles. It is easy to blame local councils – and a lot of blame is due – for approving large housing estates without making developers fund new shopping centres and pay for increased parking at existing ones. But ultimately the love affair with private transport must be reined in and innovative solutions found to the mobility problem. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

My mother had a solution for parking difficulties. Despite being a Catholic of the kneeling-at-a-back-pew and scarpering at the “Ite, missa est” persuasion, she importuned St Anthony of Padua to deliver her parking spaces in the city, preferably near a Commonwealth Bank. She claimed he delivered unfailingly. Philip Moore, Glebe

Homes on car parks

If Chris Minns is looking for new spaces to build multi-storey housing (“Planning minister blocks 1700 homes”, November 8), he needs to look no further than the dozens of enormous car parks (the Glenmore Park car park springs to mind) that dot the suburbs. What an amazing chance to turn those into multi-storied high-rise apartments. Shoppers’ car parks undercover, no pesky NIMBYs, no purchase of land. Ground floor: Public car parking. First floor: car parking for inhabitants (including a designated area for hanging bike racks). Second floor: apartments built around a courtyard that has a children’s playground + vegetable garden; an allocated space for a childcare centre as well (preferably along with a dedicated seniors block). Many floors up and topped with solar panels. Outer edge with balconies for plants with a mini-water tank on each. What’s not to love? Deni McKenzie, Armidale

The continuous upward movement of housing prices benefits only people who own two or more houses; it does not benefit nor disadvantage single homeowners, but harms younger buyers anxious to purchase their first home. Unfortunately, politicians who make vital decisions on this blatant inequality fail to act in the public interest. We need a courageous government that highlights this injustice and acts on behalf of the younger generation. Ferdo Mathews, Robina (Qld)

BTR not answer

Build-to-rent (BTR) clearly has advantages – long leases, good facilities and a pleasant environment (‴⁣⁣I am never moving out’: renting could be new dream”, November 8). However, at $1100 a week for a one-bedroom apartment, BTR is certainly not going to resolve the housing crisis. It is evident that what is required is massive government intervention in the building of social and genuinely affordable housing. Alan Morris, Eastlakes

Move wind farms

As your correspondent (Letters, November 8) points out, there are as yet no offshore wind farms. With rural areas complaining about wind farms, which are predominantly away from cities, perhaps offshore wind farms off the east coast would be closer to major centres of demand. As for aesthetics, I would rather see distant wind turbines offshore than almost constantly visible oil tankers. Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights

Bravo, Rachel

Thank you, Helen Pitt, for sharing the excellent, almost vicarious, experience of dining with Rachel Perkins (“Harsh history lesson for all modern Australians”, November 8). A creative person whose published work should be on everyone’s reading list, she is a national treasure. Her films especially I remember – the sensitive empathy of Radiance and the rollicking roadtrip that was Bran Nue Dae. Charlie Perkins has a daughter to be proud of; she has inherited his determination to bring out of the shadows Australia’s grievous mistreatment of its original inhabitants. Nola Tucker, Kiama

The book The Australian Wars, co-edited by Rachel Perkins, is a chilling reminder of the great wrongs done to our Indigenous people in years past, and not so long ago – the Coniston massacre was in 1928. It is time that a truth-telling commission was set up to confirm the truth and establish the basis for reparations, as New Zealand and Canada have done. Only then will our national shame be put to rest. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

I remember when Rachel Perkins’ father Charles (Charlie) Perkins was denigrated for daring to go beyond his station in campaigning against racism. If he hadn’t done it, he wouldn’t have inspired his daughter. He would be proud. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill

A different class

The politics of envy is alive and well (Letters, November 8). We don’t need to tear down the private school system to ensure good education options are available for all Australians. What’s next: a cap on the value of cars because not everyone can afford a Bentley? Perhaps correspondents would be more comfortable living under communist rule, such as in New York. Rob Fraser, Balmain

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