WHILST I have never enjoyed a degree education, I am very much aware of the very important role, the university has in the community. The people of Newcastle look to the university for guidance and leadership in a variety of social, scientific and economic issues as well as being a centre of learning and research. As such, it would be important for the uni to select as its leader, one who has a history of scholastic inquiry and experience. Someone who has published some peer reviewed papers and books, perhaps? Regardless of Mr Vaile's connection to Whitehaven Coal, which I think would be problematic, he is simply unqualified. I would not think, that an unremarkable career as a stock and station agent and politician, would qualify someone as the city's leading academic. Mark Vaile's appointment could only be seen as a desperate UoN moving into top shelf lobbying. Is this what our universities have become? Should they now forgo academic excellence to ply their networking skills at the funding table? I know that's what "Scotty from marketing" would have them do. This will come back to bite. Politicians won't be motivated to fund, if they can secure well paid jobs at universities as a cash magnet nor will overseas students wish to attend an institution that has clearly diminished its academic standards.

IN the wake of the report handed down last week into the shameful Robodebt scheme that destroyed many Australian lives (Herald, 12/6), Australians need to be reminded that earlier in the year the Dutch government resigned over a similar scheme that also wrongfully targeted especially vulnerable people. This Morrison government, however, feel that an apology and compensation are sufficient and that we can all move on. The fact also that PM Morrison was Minister for Social Services back in 2015 when the Robodebt scheme was introduced makes it an even worse indictment on his leadership, a PM who feels he is above accountability. Australia deserves a more compassionate, caring government, one that treats people humanely and with dignity and that accepts accountability for its actions.

SHAUN Beck's question asking is coal free, and his belief that sun and wind energy can manufacture hydrogen (Letters, 14/6), can be answered in simple terms. Coal is not free but it is available and can be used all the time, and yes hydrogen can be produced using wind and solar, but in very small quantities and only during six hours a day. This raises the question, can we survive on small quantities of sun and wind power, which produces 15 per cent of our power over an average of six hours a day, to provide what is already being produced 24 hours a day? So, if hydrogen is to be manufactured in export proportion, for the benefit for others, at our expense, the only power source able to supply the extreme heat and pressure that's needed are power stations, working 24 hours a day.

THE Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, first raised the idea of a gas-led recovery in September 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. At a time when efforts, of considerable magnitude, are being made by scientists in an attempt to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are the prime cause of man-induced climate change, a gas-led recovery is encouraging the production of the very emissions scientists are trying to reduce. I liken a gas-led recovery to a person trying to put out a fire by throwing petrol on the flames. Many scientists are warning that a gas-led recovery is, and will continue to, hasten the advance of climate change.

DOUG Hoepper's remarks about speed cameras and speeding fines are absolutely correct (Letters, 9/6). We seem to have accepted a culture of no responsibility, and there seems to have arisen an assumption that we do not have to obey the road rules unless compelled by the seen presence of the traffic police. If we break the rules then it is assumed to be the fault of the police for not being seen, or the fault of the camera operators for not warning us we are about to be caught. Reason and logic shows the falseness of those ideas. Another traffic assumption appears to be that the outside lane of a multi-lane road is for drivers to drive at any speed they wish. If any other vehicle impedes the operation of extra speed, then it is apparently assumed to be some sort of right to dangerously tail gate and intimidate the "nuisance" out of the way so the speeder can continue unchecked. Bleating about unfair revenue raising, is an entirely false argument. Holding a drivers licence is an undertaking to drive responsibly.

PROFESSOR Jennifer Martin reminds me of some of those people who stand on the beach or a paddock holding up signs reading, "stop coal, stop oil, stop gas, stop everything except trees". If she wants to politicise university appointments, then goodbye.

CHRISTINE Everingham (Letters, 11/6) as most Novocastrians should be well aware, the Newcastle live music scene has been a staple of the city for a long time. A live music scene undeniably helps a night time economy, and I think it can definitely be strongly argued that a city and its economy can only truly thrive with a flourishing night time economy. The lockout laws have not just restricted the sale of alcohol, but have inhibited the hours that musicians can play in licensed premises. I think the impact on the hours of live entertainment on offer in Newcastle will undoubtedly be measured with the trial of lifting the lockout laws.

I THOUGHT i was fluent in four-letter words but Greg Hunt's use of the word "dolt" had me reaching for the dictionary (Short Takes, 12/6). Unlike some recent useless show-offy words used by another opinion page regular I can see a practical everyday use of the word "dolt".

STEVE Barnett (Short Takes 14/6) states that this global warming thing is going well. Steve, just imagine how cold it would be without it!

STEVE Barnett (Short Takes 14/6) it sounds like it's been a bit chilly up at the Bay lately? Apparently global warming is only a thing when we have heat and fires but not when we have record low temperatures and snow. Funny that!