Coal-fired steam turbo alternators delivering on-line electricity to homes and factories brought benefits that were tantamount to a second industrial revolution. Despite being cutting edge technology in their time they had two major deficiencies. Barely 40per cent of the energy in the coal is converted into electrical energy; the rest is dumped into the environment as waste heat. Also the system is characterised by a small number of very large power stations transmitting power over long distances. The result of this is that 70per cent of the final cost to the consumer is distribution costs (poles and wires).

Blind Freddy could see that replacing this system with one in which the sources of power are dispersed so they are closer to consumers would help to reduce the large distribution costs. It just so happens solar and wind generation spread around the country, backed up by various storage systems, provides the desired characteristics.

Seeing this as the logical replacement for the current coal-fired system as it reaches the end of its life is not being a starry-eyed environmentalist – it is just good solid engineering and economic sense.

The environmental benefits of using a free and non-polluting energy source are simply an additional bonus.

Roger Quarterman, Campbell

Douglas Mackenzie (Letters, December 31) quotes that it is "unequivocal" that "the cost of new wind and solar energy, even with hours of storage, is lower than the cost of new coal-fired generation". He neglected to mention the disclaimer in the Integrated System Plan (ISP) of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) that it "cannot guarantee that the information, forecasts and assumptions in it are accurate, complete or appropriate".

What is indisputable is that new low-emissions coal-fired generators can be used without any need to expand the grid and introduce the means for energy storage which is the Achilles heel of all renewable energy options.

The AEMO ISP has a requirement for 90 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage with a power delivery capacity of 17 gigawatts (GW) as well as large-scale expansion and duplication of the grid.

Battery storage will remain uneconomical even with the projected falls for battery and balance of system costs. No mention has been made of the hazard that a massive concentration of energy in a giant battery would pose. The atomic bomb which wiped out Hiroshima released 17GWh of energy. The ISP calls for more than five times that amount of energy storage. Few would dispute the ideal of renewable energy. Whether expectations are realisable is the question.

John L Smith, Farrer

Cabinet papers from 1996-97 reveal the Howard government was then being urged by a group of government departments to take effective action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions ("Howard was urged to bring in carbon price", January 1, p5).

This group of departments reported to the government that the best way address the soon-to-be adopted Kyoto Protocol was to introduce a price on carbon.

The departments made the point that no existing government proposals would be effective in holding emissions at 1990 levels. They were instead aimed at deflecting international criticism of Australia's lack of action on greenhouse gas emissions.

Rather belatedly, both the Howard government and the Rudd Opposition went to the 2007 election proposing an emissions trading scheme.

Now, in 2019, we have the Morrison-led Coalition government refusing to acknowledge the risks of not responding to climate change and not adopting an emissions policy.

On the contrary, the Coalition is advocating government financial support for sustaining existing coal-fired power stations or building new ones.

An influential group of Coalition government members seems to have learnt nothing in the last 22 years about the importance of tackling emissions, and/or is financially beholden to the fossil-fuel – notably coal – industry. However, given the state of chaos in the Morrison Coalition and its persistent unpopularity in the polls, we may well be spared further foolishness from our federal government.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

The word "courageous" gets used a lot these days, but I would apply it to the actions of those who risk jail time and other severe personal consequences in an attempt to preserve a habitable planet for us all. Anna Molan and others allegedly engaged in activities in September that temporarily interrupted coal export operations ("Canberra woman facing jail over protests", December 31, p2). It is a strange world when such people are treated as criminals, while our government continues to ignore the inescapable evidence of the disastrous climate changes to which our coal is contributing, and to lie about our global responsibilities to cut carbon emissions.

Australia's leaders and their love affair with coal are complicit in condemning young Australians, and people everywhere, to the certainty of more frequent and severe climate disasters, multiple heat-related health impacts and incalculable economic losses. They should be on trial for such negligence, incompetence and willful disregard of the future of young Australians.

Decades ago, Australians went to prison for their role in the blockade of Tasmania's iconic Franklin River, while the authorities lied that unless the Franklin dam went ahead the state would run out of power. When governments deceive and fail us (and let's not forget the opposition who can't even say "no" to Adani), we owe a debt of gratitude to those who take personal risks to raise the alarm about threats to the common good.

Dr Sue Wareham, Cook

The unsubstantiated and hysterical claims made by Ebony Bennett ("Australian voters right to be cynical", December 29, Forum p11) beggar belief. "Only if Australia starts reducing its emissions, will the rises in extreme temperature days be far lower and more manageable".

And our coal-fired power stations are fuelling this heat. Unadulterated apocalyptic garbage. Even our chief scientist said Australia's emissions make no difference to global temperature.

As for renewable energy being cheap, cease the massive subsidies to the REM and see which way prices go. A few hot days and the climate alarmists go into overdrive.

Owen Reid, Dunlop

Stop! Stop! Stop taking away all the public housing dwellings from Kanangra Court and Ainslie Village!

Andrew Barr and his team should be ashamed of themselves ("Big sites could be sold", December 28, p1). They do not care about who lives there or where the residents will go, just move them out and get the developers in to put up shoddy high-rise buildings.

Ainslie Village is a great place for residents who have experienced, and still have, difficulties in life. It's well run, always kept neat and tidy, all the residents can walk into Civic or catch a bus, but more importantly, it's a community who care about each other. Andthat's what is important – something this Labor government would not understand.

Maggie Scott, Deakin

B.Middleton of Fisher (Letters, December 31) asks whether anyone else in the Weston Creek area is having a problem with ABC TV transmission.

I can confirm that people I know in Weston have television reception problems involving "no signal" or a lot of pixelation. Others in Stirling in that friendship network have a similar issue.

The problem also extends beyond the ABC to other channels. Clearly, some broader interference or issue is at work, rather than individual problems with aerials or television receivers. The default option is to check first for individual malfunction, but it would be useful now for the broader issue to be recognised and addressed properly.

Murray May, Cook

Further to a recent letter regarding parking at the Palace cinema in Acton (December 29), I contacted Access Canberra a few months ago about the same issues raised. I was advised that due to a government department moving into the building next door, parking times were changed to two hours to give parking opportunities to others.

If there was a better bus system to the area, maybe staff would not use their cars. Two hours is not long enough if you are going to the cinema, but Access Canberra says it cannot change the parking time now.

I mentioned the parking issue to staff at Palace, who say they have lost a lot of business since the change. I wonder if this is also affecting the restaurants opposite. I personally know of movie outing groups, despite car pooling, that no longer go to the Palace due to the parking. What a great loss to the culture of Canberra if we lost the Palace cinema, which gives us such wonderful movies and film festivals to stimulate the brain.

Gail McAlpine, Griffith

After reading "Generous act" (Letters, December 31), I am prompted to write about a lovely young couple who helped me out.

On Saturday last, I found myself lost and a little disoriented while walking around the streets of Aranda. Acouple drove by me, continued on and then drove back to ask if I was OK and could they help me? Iam elderly and it was piping hot mid afternoon. So I replied that I was lost and looking for the church.

The young lady immediately made some space and helped me into the car. Her partner got out and remained on the path while she drove me to the church. Her kindness and caring shone through as we drove, and when we arrived at the church she also made sure that I was safe and able to continue.

Her name is Caroline and she so touched my heart that I would like to say a public thank you to her and her partner.

At a time when much news is on the negative side, I am nourished by the goodwill and kindness shown within the Canberra community.

Thank you, again, Caroline and partner, and may you both have happiness bestowed on you in 2019.

I do so enjoy visiting this beautiful city; it does indeed have a good heart and soul.

Susan Cavenor, Bribie Island, Qld

Last week, I walked a young and hip overseas guest around Turner and the city. Coming back through the Turner grasslands beside Sullivan's Creek, he was shocked to see, in his own words, a garbage dump in the middle of the nation's capital.

He was referring, of course, to the small mountain of trashy soil shoved into piles between ugly concrete walls near Barry Drive, long a hideous eyesore to all who use the cycle way to the city.

He was also stunned at the unkempt state of all the parks. This government's continual justification of lack of park care shows contempt and disrespect to both city residents and our guests.

David Griffin, Turner

Clive Williams can usually be relied upon to make eminent sense on thorny security issues. He puts the case that Huawei has been singled out unfairly for demonisation by "hysterical" commentators and, more plausibly, competitors ("My way or the Huawei: Company deserves inclusion in 5G", December29, Forum p2).

Huawei, prima facie, may be all of what Clive asserts. However, the problem is the Chinese Communist Party and its pressing hegemonic designs. Sure, all "private" companies can be expected to co-operate unreservedly with their respective governments in extremis, but the CCP will demand far, far more of those in its orbit whose very survival, perhaps literally, depends on the CCP's approval.

That is the raw difference.

A.Whiddett, Forrest

Peter Dutton is almost certainly correct that Neil Prakash deserves to lose his Australian citizenship and serve lengthy jailterms ("Put Prakash in Turk jail: Dutton", December30, p2). But questions of guilt and consequential sanctions are, or should be, matters wholly for an independent judiciary, not politicians.

Grandstanding for political advantage serves no substantive public purpose. It is not that Prakash himself deserves better. But the innocent dual citizens among us do deserve protection from the exercise of powerful voices and overweening authority for political purposes.

I had thought that the notorious days of egotistical Queensland politicians failing to understand and respect the separation of powers were long gone. Perhaps not.

Mike Hutchinson, Reid

DESERVED HONOUR

It was a pleasure to read that "Duck" was awarded the ACT Emergency Services Medal ("City's bearded helper': Duck's 50 years of SES service", December 31, p2).

What a deserving tribute to a man who has put so much of his time into volunteering in the ACT.

I have volunteered with "Duck" in ACT Scouting and he is a thorough gentleman and a great role model – well done "Duck".

Bob Sobey, Macgregor

OUT OF TUNE

Shouldn't we be testing the quality of the music as well as the drugs?

With more interesting music the punters may not need drugs I think.

But then I'm an old musician.

Miroslav Bukovsky, Flynn

WALL FUNDING

Trump promised that Mexico would pay for his wall.

Why is he asking Congress to fund it?

Leon Arundell, Downer

NO BACK-TO-BACK

Eric Hunter and I sometimes disagree on matters, but his latest Letter to the Editor requesting the media should "Sharpen up syntax" (Letters, January 1) has my full support.

However, he did omit the one phrase used by sports reporters who do not know that there is a word "consecutive" and use the phrase "back to back", which infuriates me.

Paul O'Connor, Hawker

DUTTON RIGHT

Peter Dutton was quite right to call out Malcolm Turnbull for being the spiteful, untrustworthy, selfish, politically inept narcissist that he was.

Oh that it hadn't been done sooner.

Mark Sproat, Lyons

SPOT-ON ASSESSMENT

"He doesn't have a political bone in his body": Mr Dutton's spray at Mr Turnbull.

Although I never liked Mr Dutton, I think he is spot on, on this one.

Mokhles K Sidden, South Strathfield, NSW

ADVERTISING COSTS

Seriously, were the federal government really pursuing worthwhile, meaningful policies they would "advertise" themselves, without need for grandiose, silverback-like, chest thumping ("Federal ad campaigns reach $157million mark", December 29, p1). However, there are sinecures to be had, and mates to look after.

Well, what's the public purse for?

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan, NSW

IN PRAISE OF GITTINS

Ross Gittins always gives us a real treat, and should not be smeared, ashe was in a recent letter (December 27).

How many economists are so clear of eye as to see their own shortcomings?

Gittins shares real wisdom with us. Long may he reign.

Barrie Smillie, Duffy

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