Mr Stephen O'Donoghue of the EPA seems to have ticked the boxes of the gas company without regard to the fact that it is an earthquake-prone area. The fact that high-pressure gas pipelines are subject to an accident as in the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas (as reported on Prime 7 on 2.8.20), where a motor vessel accidentally breached the high pressure gas line in an industrial area when it was a day off and fou crew were instantly vaporised and six injured, with warehouses flattened from an explosion and fireball.

I do wonder, dear editor, is he really protecting the environment? I believe he is not and should be removed, and the approval should be rescinded. I believe this is disgraceful behavior in our democracy.

The big investors are so arrogant to make money out of their investments they play people against each other. Those who work in the industry versus those who oppose it, in reality have just as many rights.

We need to work together for the good of all Australians. The urgency is very real.

Lindsay Bridge, Quirindi

I note NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet is about to embark on the final tranche of privatisation of anything valuable to the people of NSW including the balance of the NSW Lotteries, a pure revenue earner for NSW Treasury. It takes really smart people to sell everything that turns a dollar for the people of our State as the current Liberals and Nationals have done. Economic illiterates selling off the States' silverware. Now in line with the principles of privatisation the prices continue to increase as they do for electricity and charges associated with buying and selling homes and plan registrations amongst other service and in future their will need to be tax increases, service cuts and redundancies.

It takes a while to digest the information contained in recent budget papers and indeed glean information from a range of sources and websites, press releases extolling the virtues of the Government's plans or lack thereof as is the case for the electoral districts of Tamworth (safe Nationals) and Barwon (fairly safe Shooters, Fishers & Farmers) which have faired poorly in the 2020-21 Budget.

In stark contrast the electorates of Dubbo (marginal Nationals), Northern Tablelands (safe Nationals) are set to receive a budget bounty the people of Tamworth and Barwon electorates could only dream of. At the 2019 State election the incumbent Member for Tamworth declared that he had delivered the sealing of Rangari road and Goonoo Goonoo Road as well as "building a better (33 bed) Banksia", his rhetoric not mine and a new $53 million Gunnedah Hospital. The budget goodies for the electorate of Tamworth are so lean they barely rate a mention on the Government's website: Supporting our regions | NSW Budget

After six years I am still smarting at what has been a con by this Government when in June 2014 Premier Baird and his Deputy Stoner declared that they would privatise revenue producing electricity infrastructure and deliver cheaper electricity, keeping rural jobs but most importantly delivering a massive $6 billion bounty to rural/coast National party held electorates. The Libs soon frittered that bounty away and then Premier Berejiklian and her Deputy Barilaro had to flog off the NSW portion of the Snowy Hydro Scheme for $4.15 billion with every cent to be spent in regional NSW.

Our region has plans, Gunnedah needs a new hospital but as we quickly approach the middle of the incumbent member's third term since the election promise Gunnedah people can expect more planning. The Banksia Acute Mental Health unit is stalled, no first sod turning just yet despite numerous promises. Tamworth continues to wait for funds for the New England highway section of Goonoo Goonoo Road duplication, nothing for Nundle road and nothing for Port Stephens Cutting. If we are to ever see a new aquatic centre or performing arts centre we need to start receiving the kind of cash Dubbo and Northern Tablelands are receiving. Over the last three years Northern Tablelands must be up to the $500 million mark for infrastructure and local councils must be close to paving their roads in gold. Tamworth has a blue print for growth but it appears it isn't on the Liberal/Nationals radar. At least not the required infrastructure bits.

Interestingly the surprise announcement by the Treasurer was proposed changes to Stamp Duty and Land Tax on properties. Since this government has virtually sold or will sell every revenue producing asset it needs to raise revenue in different ways such as these changes and a possible GST increase to 15 per cent. It may not be long before we are required to pay annual land rates to the NSW government as well local government rates. Ultimately we are paying for the Liberal/Nationals economic plan to socialise the increased charges required to run an asset and revenue poor State government thanks to privatisation and woefully poor advocacy by the rural National party in our region and elsewhere.

Mark Rodda, Tamworth

We now have a radical population of non-conformists - the 'true blue Australia - non existent!

We have been indoctrinated with the influence of the media's leftists reporting.

These left-wingers are gradually eroding our status at the most envied society on the planet.

This is a very melancholic scenario that will gradually energate our whole population, particularly those who are the peremptory perpetrators of this cause.

The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian now wants to change the lyrics of Advance Australia Fair as you are aware. (The Premier said the country should consider amending the word 'young' in the second stanza to replace it with 'one and free': editor).

This is a reflection of our interference with our history - things should not be altered by whimsical platitudes.

Makes you wonder what's ahead for us doesn't it?

Greg Daly, Limbri

The Grattan Institute and the Australian Institute released reports this week highlighting that the gas industry will decline both in household and manufacturing use. This is due to a combination of environmental impacts and rising costs for extraction.

The 'gas-led recovery' is therefore unlikely to assist Australians with either lowered power bills or job creation as constantly championed by our leaders. This comes too as San Francisco has become the latest American city to ban gas in new dwellings citing the potency of methane as a greenhouse gas.

San Francisco has also acknowledged that natural gas is a major source of indoor air pollution. Additionally, the ACT has a plan to phase out gas usage by 2025. 'Councils being urged to take position on coal seam gas' (NDL 19/11) would be wise to consider these critical findings when supporting the desperate farmers and communities wanting surety that zombie PELs will not be activated on their properties.

Eliza Weekes, Tamworth

When the Four Seasons Landscaping press conference folly occurred a check for Memes on the topic showed there were quite a few and they were funny. How could so many show such disrespect for the President's representative? Very easily and very frequently it seems. It does raise the question about what we find funny, Slapstick where someone is hurt, sports mishaps and stupid animals usually raise a laugh. Perhaps their time is done and people want more sophisticated humor and yet it is the ridiculous, the weird tweets, the inability to accept reality and the general high farce of the Presidency that provide most of the best laughs. What is needed is a political leadership that provide confidence and reliability and then people can return to watching cat videos. This time is almost upon us.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne

Your letter.'Climate bomb' (18/11) about Hurricane Iota in Central America describes the impacts of climate change in visceral terms. Millions facing hunger, crops decimated, landslides and ongoing flooding. The region experienced another category 5 storm just 2 weeks ago. This is the first time two hurricanes in November have been recorded in 130 years.

Scientists predict more extreme weather events to come as temperatures rise. Often, the worst impacts of climate change are borne by poor countries who have done little to contribute to climate change.

But Australia is highly vulnerable too. We are 'climate takers' as well as 'climate makers'. Our policies here are affecting others. Global heating requires global solutions and everyone doing the most they can. We need to do so much more.

Helen Cameron, Tamworth

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