The great problem with the Santos Narrabri Gas project, besides the overwhelming community opposition seen time and again raising various concerns over the development, is the fact that this project won't bring down gas prices, and even if approved is still years away from delivering gas to NSW.

There is no clear path for delivery of this gas to the market in NSW. Pipelines are a starter for none for community's in all directions of the project. The only approved corridor is the most expensive option coming direct to Newcastle from Narrabri virtually following the highway, (the proposed billion-dollar Queensland Hunter Gas pipeline) that is approved to terminate at Kooragang Island in Newcastle, funnily enough a major export facility.

Santos have already written down their billion dollar investment in the project to $0 after a decade of investment. This very newspaper has reported the fact that the Narrabri Gas production cost is three times the market average. (NDL, October 18, 2019) People in Japan pay less for Queensland gas than we ever will in NSW from this project.

Australia is now the biggest liquified gas exporters in the world, $49 billions dollar's worth in 2019 alone. There is no gas shortage, just blatant theft of a product from a marketplace.

Peter Wills, Breeza

I refer to Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson's press release issued 3 June 2020 advising the residents of the Tamworth electorate that he had unilaterally stopped the environmental flows from Chaffey Dam, according to his statement they would "cease immediately".

Nine days later the water flows continued and he faced the media again to prevaricate about the ongoing water releases from the dam that he and his fellow party colleagues claimed in 2016 would "secure our water future". It would have been a better performance to withdraw and apologise for his evidently false 3rd June proclamations and his disingenuous performance showed a level of incompetence for a politician that has the words "The Honourable" affixed to his title. Rural communities should expect better than a glib half-baked announcement about such a critical resource.

Now we are faced with around 14.2 per cent in that dam and still at the mercy of a government that has proven itself incompetent and given their lack of transparency and accountability possibly corrupt at water, river and stream management around the entire State. You wonder about their plans for our salvation if rains do not replenish Chaffey Dam soon as we inexorably approach a 2020/21 Summer.

A new Dungowan dam for an extra 16 gigalitres of water with a handsome price tag of just under half a billion dollars. Full Cost Recovery will take the gloss off that for all the residents and businesses of our region. Apart from that this Government is likely to privatise it.

Some alternatives - a pipeline from the Great Artesian Basin near Gunnedah, Keepit Dam or Split Rock Dam pumped to Calala for treatment, potable water recycling, but no the allure of standing in front of a new dam is too great; the Nationals will spend whatever it takes of taxpayers' funds to deliver wasteful and environmentally dubious water infrastructure. They better hope their ramshackle party has got better at controlling the weather.

Mark Rodda, Tamworth

We write to thank you for your support of charities and not-for-profit organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures you have put in place have ensured thousands of charities across Australia have remained viable, thousands more charity workers have been able to keep their jobs, and critical services have been able to respond to existing and emerging community needs.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to our proposals and responding in a way that has been supportive of the charities and not-for-profit sector through these unprecedented times.

We know charities will face a much tougher time over the next year and beyond. Fundraising revenue alone is set to drop over 20 per cent (based on post Global Financial Crisis patterns of giving). The increased need will stretch far beyond the end of COVID-19, with a new cohort of vulnerable and at-risk people joining those already challenged amongst us. Some charities will struggle to survive even with the support that has been provided to date, many more will have to close programs and services, and consider winding up.

There are several measures that need to be addressed across Federal and State jurisdictions to ensure charities can continue to serve their communities and provide much needed services. The measures we are proposing will promote giving, reduce red tape, enable access to new capital and support increased productivity. These measures will enable charities - employing 1.3 million people and engaging over 3.5 million volunteers - to be much better positioned to support their communities, especially those most in need in the post COVID-19 recovery. Key measures include:

We know and appreciate that you are already considering a number of these measures.

Finally, as a group of charity leaders, we strongly suggest that one clear principle be kept in mind in relation to questions about eligibility and where we draw the line for both government and community support. Those with the highest need should be given priority in accessing services.

This needs-based approach applies in critical areas such as health, housing, welfare, etc. As a principle it minimises the impact of bias or discrimination ensuring those who most need support receive it.

For charities, whether someone is an international student on a temporary Visa, a student from regional Australia, an Indigenous person, young carer, or older disabled person, we seek to serve based on need.

One of the pleasing features of Australia's response has been a sense that we are all in this crisis together. However, this sense is undermined when the lines of eligibility for support programs seem to discriminate against certain groups in our communities. We know that good programs - government and non-government - frame eligibility based on need and allow for variations within communities. This approach will ensure fewer people are left behind as we begin the recovery process.

Our sector knows we have a lot of work to do. We are constantly aware of the need to look to our own practices and seek to maximise our impact, especially as we enter the post COVID-19 period.

Charities large and small are a critical part of Australia's economic and social infrastructure. You have recognised this role in some of the measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the next 12 months and beyond, charities and not-for-profits want to be part of the solution, part of rebuilding our communities and boosting our economy.

As you frame policies in critical areas like employment and productivity, charities are keen and ready to be included in policy discussions and to contribute to the development and design of new initiatives. As a major Australian employer group, we are interested in supporting workplace flexibility. Similarly, in other major policy areas including information technology reforms, energy and other infrastructure, charities are eager to be part of discussions about improving productivity.

We are available at any time to discuss any of the issues or measures raised in this letter - please contact the Charities Crisis Cabinet secretary David Crosbie on 0419624420.

We hope you will continue to acknowledge our role and support us in our work to strengthen Australian communities through this important post COVID-19 recovery.

Rev Tim Costello AO, Ms Susan Pascoe

Co- Chairs, Charities Crisis Cabinet