DURING the recent and ongoing bushfire emergency, most Novocastrians have become painfully aware of the variable air quality in the Hunter depending on which way the wind is blowing, smoke and other environmental factors.

Some days have had quite hazardous air quality, especially for the more vulnerable in our community suffering from asthma or other lung issues, as well as those exercising or working outdoors.

It seems reasonable to me to expect our governments, especially state and local, to provide easily understood warnings to residents when air quality is going to be an issue. Unfortunately, it appears that the currently available information from the state government air quality monitoring sites is either too difficult to interpret or up to two hours out of date.

Why not improve the reporting of this information and broadcast it via the Newcastle Smart Cities System or via text messages to smart phones? What about developing a smartphone app like the NSW Rural Fire Service's Fires Near Me?

In my opinion air quality warnings delivered efficiently to residents could improve the health outcomes of many Novocastrians.

ON Tuesday night, our 35-year-old son died. He had suffered from mental health problems since he was 11 years old.

We have tried to navigate the mental health service for 24 years in attempts to help him, or more importantly treat him without any success. He suffered every day of his life, but every contact with mental health services failed to help him. We did meet some staff within mental health services who tried their best to help him, and we understand the staff are working to policy, however the access to services must be changed so the unwell person can easily access immediate care whenever needed.

Please, Hunter New England Health, consider the approach to mental health care with a view to making it simpler for unwell people. We thank the NSW Ambulance Service, the police and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service for their attempts to save our boy. We will be forever grateful and we are heartbroken.

LOOKING back on the year of 2019, the mind fills with unpalatable questions.

Where are the real jobs and growth? In an automated world of artificial intelligence and driverless vehicles, where will we find jobs for the coal miners, shop assistants, mechanics, clerks, cashiers and bus drivers? Should we work to slow change, or accept the biggest challenge yet?

The powerful believers swore that the world was flat until someone tried to find the edge. Who is looking at the way we will live in 10 to 15 years? Too hot to venture out, too hot to stop the fires, too dry to grow the food. What sort of celebrity is the chef of manufactured food? What have we lost? How can we gain? Income, satisfaction and self respect.

Where are the answers? Listen to the science. We can't go on with our heads in the sand When the river runs dry, we didn't know what we had until it was gone. Loss always ends up with grief and pain unless the loss is acknowledged, shared, found or replaced.

It's time to act, to find new jobs and meaning for all, coal miners, shop assistants, musicians, clerks. Don't let the robots thrash the meaning of life out of us.

We elect the governments. We pay their wages with our taxes. We can demand real answers for the questions. Healthy society needs meaningful work for all levels of society. More than 60 years ago in 1952, the great American author Kurt Vonnegut wrote Player Piano. It was his first novel, a tale of a society where machines and computers performed all routine manufacturing tasks. Those with redundant or obsolete skills found themselves victims of computerised and bureaucratised tyranny.

It is time for change.

LET'S hope 2020 brings letters to the editor that are a better quality than the recent opinions, with no factual basis, from Brad Hill and Kerry Redman (Short Takes, 21/12)?

The Greens are not in power and never have been. The government for the last seven years has been a Liberal-National coalition that has no energy policy and is in my opinion a government of climate deniers and coal lovers.

They govern the country, full stop.

This "disgusting situation" has been predicted by climate scientists for the last seven years, but the Coalition government has made no preparation for the inevitable. Head in the sand stuff, Mr Hill. You would understand that. And the economy is on the nose, Kerry; ask the retailers. I fear a new global financial crisis is on the horizon and every man and their dog is saving whatever money they can for when it comes.

Leaders lead. They are in your face in time of troubles. They do not tell the electorate "how good is Australia?" and then spend their holiday dollars in Hawaii. Scott Morrison said he would burn for Australia, but I believe we are burning for his climate idiocy. Merry Christmas and happy new year to all, especially those who are embracing action for a better world and not simply mouthing 'thoughts and prayers' when the country needs leadership.

NO right-thinking Australian would ever dispute the right of Scott Morrison to take his family on an overseas holiday ("'Merry crisis' mural of PM depicts anger over holiday', Herald 26/12). Mr Morrison is after all, just another employee of Australia's largest publicly-funded organisation enjoying conditions of that employment, including paid periods of leave.

What many Australians find difficult to accept is the timing of this Morrison family holiday, its location and the secrecy surrounding both. As prime minister, a trip to Hawaii in a time of national crisis was something he could have quite easily cancelled yet it appears to me that at some point he chose not to. While his presence in our country would never have reduced the intensity of the infernos blazing, it would have demonstrated he understood and possessed the qualities required of a leader during times of extreme crisis.

His Hawaii holiday decision could in my opinion have him compared to Francesco Schettino, captain of capsizing cruise liner Costa Concordia. He too placed self-interest over the fate of his passengers by abandoning his ship in a time of extreme crisis. Similarly to Scott Morrison and Australia, Francesco Schettino had to be forced to return to his capsizing ship. Replace the names between the Morrison and Costa Concordia sagas and consider.

IN conjunction with the Herald's week of earthquake coverage, may I make an observation? The normal practice with disasters in Australia is to quickly appoint a nationally recognised and respected leader, often with a military background. That did not occur for Newcastle. My observation is that Newcastle's capable and respected leaders predominantly came from within.

I AM with you, Adz Carter (Short Takes, 21/12). Live music is a great way to encourage people to come to the East End to socialise and spend their money. With great venues like the Queens Wharf Hotel, Great Northern and Honeysuckle areas as well as The Station, why not promote this vibrant city? Those in the East End have now become quite possessive of their little enclave, so woe betide anyone who disturbs their serenity. Where I reside, in the suburbs, I have a constant flow of cars and trucks past my residence, but do you think if I complain to council about the noise action would be taken? I think not. Give the music scene a fair go. Don't turn the East End into a retirement village. Get insulation and double glazing; I am sure many of you can afford it.

ALOHA, Scott Morrison.

SAYING he was sorry because Australians were offended is hardly the apology we were expecting from Mr Morrison. He took a deliberate, secret holiday in the middle of a national disaster that is still unfolding. He said he's no good with a fire hose. In my opinion we're waiting to hear what you are good at, Mr Morrison. Please don't say you're good at leading this country during a national emergency.

WHAT if all the firefighters wanted to go away on holidays?

EVEN while operating in a sea of smoke and ash, it seems to me that our Prime Minister can't see the forest for the trees. The current bushfire crisis is not about more battlefield resources but rather about what is causing the situation of an unprecedented nature that is seeing massive, early season, uncontrollable fires in five states. State-level talkathons around resources won't solve the problem; rather, the community is looking for leadership from Mr Morrison on what can be done to address the cause. How long will Nero continue to fiddle while Rome (climate change) burns?

PETER Lewis (Opinion, 21/12) gives new meaning to taking coals to Newcastle.

SO where is the God of western monotheism amidst the ongoing drought and catastrophic bushfires? Presumably congregants of synagogue, church and mosque are calling upon Him for rain. Is He deaf or indifferent to the present chaos? Native Americans, when faced with the problem, did the rain dance. It's just a suggestion since prayer seems to have failed.