I believe Scott Morrison is handling the situation rather well in reference to other countries. We travel much longer distances between destinations, thus the need to charge batteries comes at more frequent intervals.

To encourage unlimited sales of electric autos without power back-up is placing the cart before the horse, the horse being power from power stations that are worn out with no promise of replacement.

People don't realise the extra base load power required for say 10 million cars to be fast charged every day would require much more power than power stations are producing today. I am not talking domestic supply, this is a high amperage industrial base load power supply, something home solar can't deliver in a half-hour charge especially since most homes now have multiple autos. Not everyone has a lock-up garage or outside power available.

I would expect the transition to electric will be met by oil companies when the time is right, as they are the only ones at present with enough establishments to transition to electric while also pumping petrol. Until they show promise, and more power stations come online, the electric car in Australia as the main source of transport, I believe, is still a long way off.

IN regards to an article by Jeff Corbett (What drives me crazy, Herald, 13/2), I wish to reply. As one of those biddies, I disagree with the judgmental Jeff on his self-righteous opinion on elderly women drivers.

I find elderly men hog the right lane on the freeway and on local roads they don't step on the accelerator to get to the correct speed. I know this as when I pass them I plan to give them a frown, but it is always fruitless. They are usually in their "spaced out zone" with their patient wife sitting there because that is her dutiful role. No way is she allowed to be the driver. Oh no, she would be rooster pecked all the way.

IN THE NEWS:

There must be an old codgers men's club which we biddies don't know about. The rule I have noted is they generally have a large older car, usually a Toyota which is unsuitable to their shrunken height. They lessen more of their height by tucking their aged neck into their hunched over shoulders which adds up to barely seeing over the steering wheel. Their hands are always white from blood deprivation because of their tight grip on the steering wheel.

I may sound harsh but for us biddies we have to sit there and say nothing as we don't want the old codger to get agitated and cause an accident, which of course would then be our fault.

IT'S intriguing that Newcastle chief executive Jeremy Bath describes Novocastrians now as "more responsible in the way they consume alcohol at licenced premises".

I'm not quite sure how he measures this, but it sure sounds good. Other stories of families being able to have fun until after 3am sounds great too.

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

However, the fact that the numbers show the rate of non-domestic alcohol related assaults in Newcastle is many times above the state average even with lockouts in place should say something about our collective responsibility.

COVID has taught us to open and shut things at the drop of a hat so if our leaders truly believe that's all a mirage, then try it out, but keep in close touch with the emergency departments.

THANK you John Ure (Letters, 15/2) for assuring me that the Victorian Premier has received well-deserved attention from cartoonists for his shambolic handling of hotel quarantine. I also take your point that incumbent governments receive more media attention.

That being the case, you must be glad that Labor is not in power in NSW after revelations that their leader signed a letter for a convicted paedophile. This coming after two recent leaders were forced to resign; one for alleged sexual assault and one for signing a letter of support for the Lindt Cafe killer. If you read my correspondence you will see I'm an advocate for balanced media reporting, unlike those who obviously regard "scandals, gaffes and intrigues" as open to ridicule only if they occur on one side of politics.

WHY is this government allowing these overseas travellers back? They would have left when the pandemic was already here, so it is irresponsible for them and the government to allow them entry.

The state government is just as remiss allowing all the travellers loose on their return. The only hope we have to beat this dreadful plague is total shutdown and whether or not business owners agree, we cannot be concerned. If it is not controlled everyone will lose more than their business, they will also lose their lives. This is when the leaders of this country have to man up. If you leave this country by choice you cannot expect everyone to allow you to risk them and their families by contracting COVID just because you think that it is your right to go where you want, when you want. That is not how it is. Wake up, Australia.

CAMERON Park looks like a war zone; firstly there was confusion over rubbish pick-up dates, now the projected pick-up date has come and gone.

The kerbside grassed areas are paying the price; the grass is dying under the piles of discarded household waste, meanwhile the median strips continue to grow unkempt and out of control. In some areas it is blocking out the safe vision of vehicles turning into side roads. Please look twice for kids on bikes coming and going from schools.

Come on, Lake Mac council, tidy towns are obviously not on your high priority list, and it hasn't got anything due to the tropical weather conditions. It's summer, things grow quicker, so maintenance should step up to accommodate.

I SPOKE with my family in Scotland recently to see how they were dealing with the COVID lockdowns etc - and all they could talk about was to thank god for global warming. It was -27 degrees Celsius outside. At first I thought he was kidding, and I told him so. He then suggested I should get my greenie head out of the sand and check online. And what did I find? I find people ice skating on the River Thames. Then I checked Europe and goodness me, Germany has reported so much snow that their solar panels are not working due to an extremely thick cover of snow. In fact if you have a look at the vast majority of the northern hemisphere, it's the same story. We would be in a right mess if not for global warming.

WHEN Phillip O'Neill wrote of "pokeability" in the opinion pages of Monday's Newcastle Herald, I didn't get it at first but ironically that is what I am engaged in right now. Due to work-related COVID-19 restrictions I am currently in Fremantle, WA. As a third-generation seafarer from the Port of Newcastle, the value placed on Australia's oldest export port's maritime history is pathetic. Pokeability is available in extreme in WA's rambling historic precinct, Fremantle. Art markets, pubs, live music that doesn't overwhelm, a thriving waterfront with many options to dine and a world-class maritime museum. The chance of poking some life into Newcastle's heritage precinct is fading fast under the leadership of local and state governments. Newcastle's designated "entertainment precinct" deserves scrutiny.

PHILLIP O'Neill's piece is a timely reminder for our council town planners and all architects to get out from their CAD desks and hit the pavement to renew their physical experience of our city's nooks and crannies, lest they omit such considerations in our city's once-in-a-generation renovation.

GLENN Turton (Short Takes, 16/2) the only people who slow down for a suspected speeding trap are speeding drivers, and the only people who are held up and need to slow down are speeding drivers. Everyone should stop speeding to save lives and money, and stop whinging.

JOHN Ure has never tried to disguise his Labor leanings but he is generally an interesting and objective contributor to this page. However, his letter "Heavy lies the cartoon crown" (Herald, 15/2) defending the alleged bias of the Herald cartoonists, is not convincing. If he hasn't noticed that the most of the articles by John Hewson as well as the daily Herald cartoons appear to have the sole purpose of humiliating Scott Morrison, his perspicacity may not be what it used to be.

PERHAPS his real excuse is that Peter Dutton misunderstands the role of "Home Affairs" and instead treats it like a juicy new 'B' grade reality show. For the man to change the merit-based assessments carried out by his professional staff then say the system was oversubscribed and his decisions helped provide support to more councils is Trumpish in its sincerity. What is the Australian equivalent to impeachment for 'safety second' reprobates?

JENNY Atchison, the Metford roadworks have been going on for a few weeks now, so have a look next time. Also yes, there are hold ups so put up with them.

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