If we were truly serious about acknowledging those who serve in Defence we would be looking after them, their health and their families after they return from other people's failed wars. We need less memorials to former defence ministers and more action on PTSD and health support for military personnel - not to mention less war.

Columnist Ian Warden fails to recognise that the true genius of the rainbow symbol is that it reflects the true spectrum of human existence, gender identity and sexuality, not just "the gays".

There's nothing beige about that.

Good on the ANU scientists working on method to make a "limitless" amount of hydrogen fuel from a photosynthetic like process (Canberra Times, August 11). It will be a wonderful way to provide greenhouse emission free energy.

But be careful what you wish for - "limitless" energy suggests limitless growth, limitless population growth. We only have one planet and limitless growth on it is a logical impossibility.

What a very fine article by Joanne McCarthy about Matt Canavan (Canavan: the nightwatchman for coal, August 11, p 18)! I particularly liked her reference at the end, describing him as "... fielding for the mining industry at silly mid-on."

Canavan's cherry-picking of statements by the International Energy Agency is both shameful and embarrassing. It is simply unprofessional for a government minister. The IEA has been quite consistent in seeking to reduce emissions in accord with the Paris Agreement while trying to ensure universal energy access for all. In 2017, the IEA though its World Energy Outlook accordingly developed its Sustainable Development Scenario.

In April, IEA director Dr Fatih Birol wrote in response to a letter received on the role of the WEO in shaping global energy policies. He wrote: "Science tells us that we need an early peak and rapid decline in emissions, which is what the Sustainable Development Scenario delivers. But as our recent data for 2018 shows, and as we have been warning for years, the world is continuing to move in exactly the opposite direction, with a trajectory leading us towards warming of at least 2.7 degrees Celsius. We are highlighting this disconnect at every opportunity. The need to act is clear".

Coal is what takes us in exactly the opposite direction from where we need to go. It is deeply depressing that the two federal Ministers who control the levers over energy policy - Resources Minister Canavan and Energy Minister Angus Taylor - are wedded to coal-fired power. At 2 degrees Celsius we lose the Great Barrier Reef. Don't they understand that?

Joanne McCarthy points out that federal Minister for Coal - sorry, Resources and Northern Australia - Matt Canavan has a penchant for cherry picking statements and data that support his faith in coal ("Canavan: the night watchman for coal", August 11, p 18). She also notes that Canavan treats the subject of climate change as something rather nasty and untouchable.

Ms McCarthy notes that Canavan omits to mention any reference by his favourite source of comment on energy matters, the International Energy Agency, to his deadly foe: renewable energy. And, perhaps coincidentally, Mr Canavan's brother John is managing director of a company that has a stake in Queensland's Rolleston coal mine.

If Senator Canavan were paying attention and ceased using his fact filter, he would know that coal has had its day in the sun. Renewable energy, specifically that from solar and wind farms, is now cheaper than that from coal - or very soon will be, depending on its location - and does not foster global warming and climate change.