All rightfully condemned the outcome - none recognised the compelling need for the aim. Time for balance. The original report (21/12) included, "What sort of health and safety issue could there be from cats that have been desexed and fed everyday? What sort of harm could they do?"

A letter (23/12) included "we all know there are no endangered species on the break walls. They are populated only by rats, snakes and seagulls". In the same edition, a veterinarian is reported as having written, "they've got names, they're tame and they live in a man-made environment, not around other wildlife".

Whilst I agree the job was botched, may I suggest that these cats are nothing more than a feral pest - and anything but 'tame'; that their being de-sexed and fed deters them not a bit from killing native animals and birds; and that pretending that giving such a pest a 'name' makes it domesticated is a farce.

The feral cat, along with the fox, is likely the greatest four-legged threat to Australian native mammals, reptiles and birds that man has inflicted upon the land. Maybe now Port will do the job properly? Close the area for several days; employ 24-hour security; and use effective and humane methods. Don't chicken-out.

I AM terribly disappointed by the total disregard for animal welfare and our own native species shown by those opposing the culling of feral cats in the Port of Newcastle.

We were all shocked last year when 2 billion native animals lost their lives to the bushfires but little has been said about the 20 billion native animals that are lost to feral cat predation each year. This does not include the average of 110 native animals per year that each well fed and housed domestic cat living in a home kills each year.

Removing the cats from the harbour area will allow native species to move back into an area that has been hunted into a desert of indigenous wildlife. It will be nice to see more than just seagulls in the future.

It's time that we as Australians woke up to the fact that feral invasive species have caused more extinctions in our country than anywhere else in the world and that the cat sits at the top of the list of threats as public enemy No.1.

While traumatic injuries hit our emotions hard and are not always instantly lethal, they are far more humane than other alternatives like 1080 poison and ineffective trapping. I do wonder if these were far less destructive cane toads or pigs, would we have the same level of outrage.

THE Prime Minister's recent statement that we have been fortunate in combating the pandemic and looking around the world, things could have been so much worse, is correct. However it also should have been so much better.

Since our international borders were closed early in the year the federal government has shirked its responsibility to maintain and construct a national quarantine and repatriation program to ensure not only all those Australians overseas, but those at home, are safe and the risks are taken away.

Most of the major outbreaks; Ruby Princess, Melbourne, Tasmania, South Australia and now the Northern Beaches of Sydney are results of quarantine breakdown. To eliminate risk you must also minimise the chances. Sending infected people into crowded cities is a recipe for disaster.

Mr Morrison was quick to berate certain state leaders where was the leadership to set up quarantine stations away from major population sites? Like the aged care tragedy, the PM wants to pass the blame on to the states.

The promise to bring all Australians home by Christmas was just another advertising slogan. Jetting a former senator all over the world at taxpayers' cost, whilst Australians abroad and home are suffering is a national disgrace.

Unfortunately, like the sports grants, overpriced land purchases and Australia Post CEO fiasco, it's quite obvious our prime minister is an opportunist.

Marketing is a different game where money is everything. Unfortunately there is no training for decency, honesty and accountability in government.

I RECKON regarding our future energy supply we have been so wrapped up trying to save the world, we have left it too late to save ourselves.

Victoria, heavily involved in renewable energy, is now guaranteeing a payment each year close to $20 million to aluminium smelters to stop production during periods of high base load demand to stop the state from going into shutdown because the renewable providers only supplied 6 per cent of the power required during these periods.

I believe the past 10 years have been wasted by being too involved in renewable energy at the expense of not building new power stations and because it will take close to 10 years to plan and build a power station, we really have run out of time.

We, being an island, are not in the same position as others regarding renewable energy, we can't buy or borrow power from a neighbouring country, "which they do", we must go it alone even if we start building today can we last 10 more years considering some existing power stations have already reached their use by date?

I realise the push is on for large battery pack installations for when power demand is high, which will help the domestic market, but not the commercial or industrial market.

Considering they are a good investment with little, if any, maintenance, they will be in great demand, what other investment can buy a product when plentiful and cheap and sell over 100 per cent more when prices are high, not just now and then, but most of the time.

How is this going to lower the price of power supply?

Unless the government takes an active role and governs pricing we will be at the mercy of batteries and their investors.

I AM bewildered by the continued disbelief of climate change deniers, whose perspective seems to be at odds with science documentation, that has been soundly reviewed and has resulted in warning us that the planet has already begun the catastrophe of climate change.

A recent letter by Greg Harbourne (Letters, 21/12) suggesting "people should be put before protections" is maybe an example of not having suffered the consequences of scientific evidence not being adhered to. Of course, we have all enjoyed the luxuries provided by raping and pillaging countrysides throughout the world.

Unfortunately, the remedy to rehabilitate will be costly. Life as we have enjoyed will no longer be possible, and that is the 'sticking point' which has to be overcome.

GREG Hunt, I also believe everyone has an opinion and those opinions should be shared in a reasonable and logical forum such as this. If sharing an opinion stimulates discussion among other thinking readers then I have achieved my goals. It's the sheep/mob mentality of blindly following which concerns me. If one reads the same things, inane political comments over and over with no possible result, one votes with a finger and turns the page. Thanks for your interest and have a safe season.

I THINK it is important to call out China, John Ure (Letters, 23/12), on human rights abuses and overreach in foreign affairs and trade. If the price is the Chinese losing face and even "seeking revenge" then so be it. The economic bottom line is not the be-all and end-all. Churchill once said of countries willing to appease a totalitarian regime: "Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last." Today we can substitute dragons for crocodiles. Better to look for other trading partners less likely to bully us.

THE danger of COVID-19 spreading into Newcastle and the Hunter is increasingly concerning as NYE approaches. The prospect of being locked down due to returning revellers is a cost we can ill-afford. Please discourage your friends and neighbours from taking a non-essential trip to Sydney.

MICHAEL Gormly, two things bother me about drugs that legalised drug use will fix. Firstly, no more filthy drug dealers as a registered user will have to buy drugs from a government-controlled outlet. A new law should be introduced ware as anyone caught selling trafficking or in possession of drugs not legally obtained gets a minimum sentence of 20 years. Secondly, wasting my tax dollars on useless rehabilitation programs and funding excuse factories will stop the same. With alcohol, you choose your poison, you pay for your own rehabilitation. The billions raised into government coffers can then be spent drought proofing Australia and creating jobs for those people who choose wisely how they live their lives.

IT was great to read a positive story about Novocastrians coming home after living and working abroad in the US for three years. (Herald, 24/12). The Booth family by all accounts were treated well in their two-week period of hotel quarantine in Sydney. Welcome home Sally, Steve, Stirling and Maggie.

I'M not so sure, Richard Ryan (Short Takes, 28/12). Trump still has until noon on January 20 to come up with a posthumous pardon for Adolf. He may even make it his next to last act, before pardoning himself. The juxtaposition would be fitting.