Federal Nationals and jobs
It seems the Nationals are going to create jobs in the bush because of their advocacy for coal and their donors rather than their constituents. We will see increased demand for insurance assessors, roof tilers and plumbers, glaziers etc as well as huge demand for panel beaters and spray painters.
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We will also see dramatic increase in infrastructure spending moving roads, railways, communications and indeed coastal towns and cities to higher ground. Brilliant!
Graeme Harris, Calala
Plea for genuine climate action
For those following the climate news this week, you would've been overwhelmed at the absurd political spectacle taking place. A governing party so behind the eight ball we are stuck negotiating a 2050 net zero target whilst the rest of the world moves onto 2030 actions.
A recent Australian Conservation Foundation poll that all seats in the country including those in National stronghold seats wanted action on climate change.
The Nationals may claim to be representing regional and rural Australia, but there's a rat somewhere.
You can be sure some big business at risk of losing profits are being used as scapegoat to delay effective climate action. Rural communities have lived through the record breaking droughts, heatwaves and faced day zero on water.
We are terrified of the impacts of climate change we have already seen and want genuine, thoughtful action.
The bluff of the Nationals does little to make me believe that they are standing up for my future or that of our children.
Helen Cameron, Tamworth
Coal and climate
At the present time there is a lot of media comment about both coal having a future in Australia and setting a target date to reach net zero greenhouse emissions.
As the burning of coal to create energy produces a huge amount of greenhouse gases, in fact very much more than any other energy producing method, logic dictates that surely as long as coal continues to be used in substantial quantities to produce energy, reaching net zero greenhouse emissions, is not at all likely to be possible.
Is having a future for coal and also a net zero greenhouse gas future in Australia, merely a pipe dream?
It is difficult indeed to see them both being able to co-exist.
Brian Measday, Myrtle Bank, SA
Blame the warmth of the sun
DAN Kirkpatrick's claim, (Short Takes, 19/10), that the Earth's temperature has been rising since the beginning of the industrial revolution is correct. However, it is hard to believe temperatures started rising just because James Watt invented the steam engine. During the 1700s, the Earth was suffering from a mini Ice Age. London's weather records show that during this period the Thames River would freeze over every winter. And what caused this mini Ice Age? The sun. During that time, activity on the sun's surface, solar flares and sunspots, were at their lowest level in 1000 years. Dare I mention that this mini Ice Age came to be known as the Maunder Minimum effect. For the last 100 years there have been many scientific studies about the Maunder effect of the sun. For those wanting to know more about Maunder, start with Wikipedia and also look at other websites.
Since the industrial revolution the sun's activity has been increasing and currently it is at its highest level in 1000 years and probably having an effect on our temperatures. The sun has influenced our climate for millions of years and continues to do so.
Robert Monteath, Newcastle
Can it really be greed rather than sheer, reckless stupidity?
Barnaby Joyce's non-leading of the Nationals to hold the nation hostage on a climate agreement beggars belief. Can it really be greed rather than utter, reckless stupidity?
The Nats are sticking up for no one but the fossil fuel barons and baronesses. If Joyce really thinks action on emissions is going to cost, he ain't seen nothing.
We've lost a house in the bushfires and just had property damaged by a freak storm - we know what it's costing right now.
And we all know it's going to get worse without really strong action on emissions by 2030.
That's what the regions really need because, more than anything else, that's what will give us, and our children, a shot at a future.
James Vicars, Armidale