CARL Stevenson of Dora Creek makes an interesting, if slightly misleading, claim in his letter (Friday, September 26) about renewable energy.
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Yes it is true that renewable sources cannot supply energy 24/7 whereas a conventional coal-fired power station can - but there is not demand 24/7. There are well-established peaks and troughs.
The problem is not with generating electricity - we can do this easily - but with storing and delivering electricity. This is where new technologies - some not so new as pumped hydro has been used in Europe for over 100 years - comes into play.
Carl notes that a nation-wide grid is an expensive option and I agree, there are many better options than stringing power lines all over the country.
The only reason we have a grid at all is because huge power stations were built on coalfields and were remote from the end-users in the cities.
There are plenty of ways of generating and storing electricity where it is needed on a much smaller scale than Bayswater or Lake Munmorah.
This does involve some new ways of thinking and may not prop up hundreds of high-paid jobs in the mining industry, however.
That in itself will put off many people, especially those wishing to retain their high-paid mining jobs: most of which will be gone in 20 years anyway.
Mike Wilson, Broke
What are Latham's core values?
YOU'VE got to hand it to Mark Latham, for sheer illogicality. In his mind, showing kids a video of the vicious racist campaign against Adam Goodes is a bad thing, while at the same time he claims that Australian of the Year Rose Batty was "causing more harm than good" by her work against domestic violence.
Two questions arise: What are this man's core values, and does he oppose racist acts and domestic violence, or condone them?
It beggars belief that our council is happily working with this man to change the trading hours of bars in our town, given his background and extremist views.
John Beach, Cooks Hill
Decision-makers deserve penalty
I AM aghast as I read that Westpac is fined $1.3 billion yet no senior executive or employee faces any penalty. Why?
Did the bank itself do the money laundering? No, staff permitted it to happen.
Will the fine stop the bank from doing wrong? Probably not since no staff member suffered and the bank does not make decisions, but rather the staff make the decisions.
Can the bank have intent to do wrong? No, only the staff can have intent to do wrong. Who wears the penalty when the bank is fined? The shareholders and the customers and not the staff at all.
In 1986 I called for an inquiry in to the financial world and 32 years latter there was one and no one really suffered any penalties though it was clear that there was significant evidence of conspiracies to defraud customers by most if not all financial institutions that could have seen penalties of 10 years in jail and $10,000 for each offence; but nothing happened apart form a few golden handshake retirements. This is not good enough.
The senior decision makers must face the penalties before the courts if we are to have a balanced and just system of justice.
Milton Caine, Birmingham Gardens
Evidence we're a 'lost cause'
SO what's Scott Morrison's response to the banks' wilful indifference to their obligation to report suspicious international transactions millions of times, which funded terrorism, organised crime, money laundering and even child sex trafficking and just a day after it was revealed Westpac was fined $1.3 billion for its part in this dreadful malfeasance?
Why, to relax the 'responsible lending laws of course, which were established to protect consumers from borrowing more than they could afford.
When our society tolerates our political leaders to openly enable institutions, shown to have engaged in predatory, immoral and illegal practices time and time again by a Royal Commission no less, to carry on as usual, we are indeed a lost cause.
Liam O'Neill, Woongarrah
Wheel has turned for the worse
WELL, I believe we have heard it all.
Newcastle established lockout laws to address the rising drunkenness, violence and vandalism.
This worked well, but the government loses revenue, hence reviewed and relaxed.
The banks went through a Royal Commission costing over a billion dollars.
They were hauled over the coals for not scrutinising borrowers who, in a lot of cases omitted essential information, in determining their ability to pay. Obviously, it appears that it doesn't matter about your ability to pay, as long as you borrow money to get the economy moving.
Now, along comes Mr Backflip to ease the scrutiny performed by banks in order to revive the economy.
The wheel has turned again at a huge cost to the community.
John Alterator, Hawks Nest
Let's address Stockton issues
WITH all the talk of the new riches that the Port of Newcastle can bring to NSW through diversification, for example, fuel storage, hydrogen hub and multi-purpose deep water terminal (Herald, 22/9) it is time for the Port of Newcastle and the NSW Government to take responsibility for damage caused to Stockton beach.
It is long overdue that the state addresses the collateral damage that has been caused by the breakwater and dredged channel (with a possible deep water container terminal, this channel could be further deepened).
It is widely acknowledged that the severity of Stockton Beach erosion is related to the port infrastructure yet there has been no major effort to address this.
It is now time for the authorities to admit their liability and do the right thing.
Melanie Taggart, Stockton
Can you repeat the question?
WHILE the inquiry into the Victorian hotel quarantine continues, it has other benefits. It provides a grand opportunity for medical scientists to research memory loss.
Almost all health officials, public servants and politicians who have fronted the inquiry have suffered memory loss.
It seems to affect short and long term memory recall.
Now this could be another virus cluster that has spread in the Victorian government while we were concentrating on COVID-19.
As someone who is struggling with memory problems, I would be happy to hear if they find a solution.
Sandy Buchanan, Largs
SHORT TAKES
FOLLOWERS of rugby union in the Newcastle area will welcome the chance to see on November 28 four great teams playing at McDonald Jones Stadium in the Rugby Championship.. A designated stadium built to accommodate thousands of followers with no disruption to residents and roads around the area. This is in contrast to the Supercars event that would have resulted in weeks prior and weeks after of major disruption to business and residents in Newcastle East. Newcastle council and local business will benefit financially from this championship draw. Our Lord Mayor usually enjoys having her photo taken on the Supercars track each year in racing gear attire. Maybe there is an opportunity for her to venture out at the McDonald Stadium wearing the Wallabies attire.
John Fear, Newcastle East
AFTER a decade of squandering our massive gas resources, we must get behind Mr Morrison's plan to encourage new industries with the promise of reliable energy with gas in the mix. He is securing jobs, investment and certainty for our energy future. Joel Fitzgibbon is backing the PM so why can't the Labor Party do its part and stand up for jobs for our region?
John Butler, Windella.Downs
ADAM O'Brien, we need a new game plan. Five "one out" runs followed by a kick into the waiting arms of the opposition fullback isn't working anymore. I think they're onto us mate.
Eddie Niszczot, Thornton
IT'S interesting watching footy and reflecting on players' careers. Benji Marshall, for example, will be remembered for his brilliance in attacking situations. I think Benji is one of the toughest to ever play the game, his resilience is that of a title fighter on the ropes injured and the corner ready to throw in the towel but self belief, discipline, self respect, the fire that burns inside not to hit the canvas when you still know you're in the fight and have the skills to prove your detractors wrong. Would a 70kg kid make it in the NRL today? I don't think so. The prototype of what the NRL demands these days sadly means we have seen the last of the Fred Astaire silky hands, quick feet, could tap dance on a five cent piece. Benji, take a bow son, well done
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
TELL me again, Peter Dolan (Why some vote for Trump, Herald, 25/9), what is pro-life about more than 200,000 'COVID deaths' in USA resulting from Trump's mishandling and what is pro-life about his encouragement of USA's proliferation of guns as a problem-solving strategy?
Janet Sutherland, Hillsborough
JESUS calls his followers to be non-judgmental, compassionate, forgiving, selfless, honest and humble. Yet Peter Dolan (Letters, 25/9), speaking "as a Christian", thinks it's a "no-brainer" to prefer as President of the United States a man who has demonstrated himself to be intolerant, cruel, hateful, greedy, deceitful, and narcissistic. Mr Dolan's preference may stem from many things, but it seems to me the essence of Christianity isn't one of them.