Electricity asset sales prove a failure that government is incapable of fixing

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Electricity asset sales prove a failure that government is incapable of fixing

Our governments sold all our electricity assets and created an artificial "market" based on the patently false premise that the "market" would deliver better and cheaper energy ("Power giant defies PM", September 6). Now AGL wants to close Liddell, presumably for valid business reasons, and our PM is begging them to keep it operating. Clearly a massive fail for the ideology that created this mess in the first place and a government incapable of fixing the problem.

Tony Heathwood Kiama Downs

Illustration: Cathy Wilcox

Illustration: Cathy Wilcox

Well that's privatisation for you. The Prime Minister of the country has to go cap in hand to the owners of a power station, once a public asset, begging them to stay open to meet the country's energy needs. Easy solution Malcolm – buy it and reverse the slide of key public infrastructure into the hands of developers, banks and hedge fund managers.

Eric Scott Bondi Junction

Illustration: John Shakespeare

Illustration: John Shakespeare

It beggars belief that a commercial company which usually puts profit as the top priority should be the one championing clean energy whereas our PM should be the devil's advocate for coal power. Bravo AGL for standing up to undue political pressure and not prolonging unduly the operation of coal-fired stations. You have the full support of your clients and every Australian, who has the wellbeing of our country and our world, at heart.

Helen Ho Milsons Point

AGL's CEO [Andrew] Vesey says that they are getting out of coal and are looking to renewables and other energy sources for the future. Once again it seems that everyone except for the LNP Government knows that coal is not the future, and that extending the life of aged, polluting coal-fired power plants is neither a policy, nor a solution. While every child at every school is taught the science of climate change, it appears ridiculous and ignorant for government members to deny it and prevent progress. Deferring difficult decisions seems to be this government's forte and time regarding these issues is pressing. Perhaps another non-binding postal vote would help.

Alan Marel North Curl Curl

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I seem to remember a certain Kevin who was elected with a mandate to act on climate change. He turned out to be bereft of spine, vision and sense. He's now joined by a Malcolm with identical failings. So history repeats itself, a farce and a tragedy in both cases.

Alan Watterson Pottsville

I smell a rat. There is such paralysis on energy policy that I reckon that there is collusion to create artificial domestic gas shortages to push up prices to such an extent that the states and consumers eventually capitulate to the demands for fracking. Why else would energy companies sell gas offshore at prices lower than can be achieved on the domestic market?

Hilton Symes Hamilton, Vic

The reality is that AGL has not put forward a realistic alternative that ensures comparable reliable energy supply and that is where Mark Kenny's focus should properly be. This is really just another example of corporate or other interests playing games with substantive issues rather than getting on with the serious business of providing affordable energy supply without subsidy. If AGL cannot lay out credible proposals then that is precisely why Turnbull is left with the option of considering keeping Liddell open. It's not like he wants to and it's not like AGL haven't had years in which to plan their replacement program. AGL are playing games with us all.

Mike Seward Launceston

Companies free to exploit public

Ross Gittins is right about the arrogance of today's business leaders ("The most arrogant people in Australia", September 6). Here's another example, one that most readers would be familiar with. Today I waited for 133 minutes to talk to a "customer services officer" at my electricity supplier. During the wait I was assailed with the same six to 10 bars of music repeated over and over, interrupted precisely every five minutes with a message telling me if I "want to speak to a real person, just hang on and we'll be there in a second". During the discussion of why my daily rate has gone up 38.77 per cent this year despite the country's inflation rate being less than 2 per cent, I was told there would be a disconnection fee of $166 if I closed my account. Keeping me waiting for over two hours, increasing my rate by 19 times the inflation rate and charging excessively to close an account occurs only because the company can do it. The company feels no ethical responsibility, there is no real competition and there is no effective legislation to protect consumers from this sort of exploitation. And what do we get from our "agile" federal government? Words but no action.

Ron Shapiro Rozelle

Kick Socceroos' fumbling into touch

The Socceroos need a whole new strategy ("Socceroos forced into play-offs for World Cup spot", smh.com.au, September 6). If we qualify by the "grace of god" in the forthcoming play-offs, the Football Federation Australia must take steps to change the coach immediately. Ange Postecoglou's mantra of a new format of 3-2-4-1 has not worked so far. It is most unlikely to succeed in the future. Otherwise we will face embarrassment in a very highly competitive tournament in Russia. Former great Mark Bosnich has spoken publicly while most fans are frustrated silently.

Ranjith Samaranayake Hunters Hill

Amalgamation failures

Administrators of the amalgamated councils talk of their performance ("Challenges detailed as elections loom", September 5) but are silent on their financial forecasts delivered. In Cumberland, administrator Viv May talks of a $2.1 million surplus in the 2017-18 year while the amalgamation proposal had a surplus of $19 million. In Northern Beaches, administrator Dick Persson talks of the Community Strategic Plan being a road map but not of the surpluses, which are only 60 per cent of the amalgamation proposal figures over the next three years. In Central Coast, the administrator gives no explanation of a surplus in the plan of $2 million, which compares to $15 million in the amalgamation proposal. Given there is no explanation of the differences from the proposals put to the community, the proposals can only be seen as misleading and the community should be given a say of whether they wished the amalgamation to continue.

Brian Halstead Queenscliff

'Tough guy' posing the bigger danger

That Kim Jong-un is an appalling despot is without question ("South Korea muscles up", September 6). That he treats his people worse than almost any leader in recent history is also incontrovertible. But whatever the shape and size of his weaponry, does anyone really believe that he's going to cause his own certain and immediate annihilation by launching an attack on his neighbours or the US? It may be that the biggest danger is overreaction by "tough guys" like Trump and his acolytes Turnbull and Bishop (think Iraq/Syria). There would be a good reason to argue that the best approach may be to totally ignore him and leave China to deal with him in their own way.

Tony Mitchell Hillsdale

Totally agree that North Korea should abide by the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and international law. Would also be great if the members of the security council and other nuclear states would do the same. Has Ms Bishop made similar statements in regard to Israel and its nuclear program and other breaches of international law, or India and Pakistan? What about Australia and its obligations under international law in regard to refugees and maritime boundaries? Should we not abide by international law? It's great to have these laws and refer to them, but it would help if those insisting others abide by them were consistent in following the law themselves.

Gavin Dimery Dusodie

Don't we all get it? Selling weapons is America's specialty. That's exactly what they want to do, John. (Letters, September 6.) As if the untested missile defence system is not enough, Donald Trump can't wait and is now "allowing" Japan and South Korea to buy billions more in arsenal, which may include nuclear weapons. Japan with nuclear arsenal? Wish us luck!

Paul Lau Blakehurst

Turnbull and Trump talked again. I can't wait to see the transcript leaked to The Washington Post and read all that they discussed.

Mukul Desai Hunters Hill

While the world hovers over a possible nuclear catastrophe occurring on the Korean Peninsula, Kevin Rudd puts forward the probability of a diplomatic "grand bargain" contingent upon China stopping and eventually "eradicating" North Korea's nuclear ambitions ("War drums pound but diplomacy can still succeed", September 6). The problem with this precondition is that it flies in the face of North Korea's religious cult-like ideology of self-reliance known as "Juche". It was established by Kim Jong-un's late grandfather Kim Il-sung, who is worshipped and revered as an eternal deity in this nuclear weapons state. The only diplomatic solution is for the US to enter into bilateral negotiations with North Korea without such an improbable precondition.

Vincent Zankin Rivett ACT

Preacher Dick

Poor old Dick ("Smith sinks millions into his attack on 'biased' ABC", September 6). The challenge when you run a population debate is to practice what you preach. A key part of Australia's population "carrying capacity" is the lifestyle we choose to live. If it is not driven by consumption, but rather thrives on a sustainable use of our resources, then no doubt we could support a population greater than we have (and all be a lot happier). However, if your lifestyle allows you to fly around in a helicopter and thrive off the sales of cheap electronic goods that make wonderful landfill, then likely we exceeded our viable population some time ago. The beauty of Australia is that we have the freedom available to all citizens to showcase narrow biased views, albeit the cost sometimes is a significant advertising budget.

Chris Andrew Turramurra

Dick Smith believes the ABC has been deliberately ignoring his personal views on immigration. This, he claims, is "warping our democratic processes". His response? To use his personal wealth in a blatant attempt to directly influence public policy development to further those personal views. Whatever merits your views may or may not have, who is really "warping our democratic processes", Mr Smith? Is it the wealthy who determine policy in this country?

Peter Outhwaite Hawks Nest

So Dick Smith wants free ABC coverage for his pet project and if he doesn't get it, he's going to run a TV campaign against the ABC. I think Dick's having a senior moment.

Phil Bradshaw Naremburn

Diplomats gazumped

Geoff Black's point regarding sinecures for failed politicians (Letters, September 6) is well made. One sympathises with those career diplomats at DFAT who, having served their apprenticeships in some of the more odious postings in the world, are in line for a plum job such as London or Washington, only to find that they've been gazumped by the likes of a Downer, a Hockey or a Beazley.

Lewis Winders Sheffield (Tas)

Court high-jinks

Will some learned legal person please explain why it takes several weeks for seven High Court judges to verify the citizen status of a politician? Surely, a quick phone call by a junior staffer to the relevant embassy or consul would appear to be all that is necessary.

Tim Wynn Jones Homebush

Should we be fortunate enough for the High Court to find against the proposed postal poll, maybe some of the funds could then be spent on a spinal transplant for the PM.

Bill Carpenter Bowral

Crown land must benefit us all

I am deeply disturbed by the latest developments regarding Crown land valuations ("Labor warns of Crown land fire sale", September 6). There is only one reason to value land, and that is to consider whether it is worth selling. Crown land is for the benefit of all people – managing that land has nothing to do with its monetary value. Hands off our Crown lands.

Deirdre Trow Curtin ACT

Our reckless and foolish state government is living proof of Wilde's cynic; they know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Deb McPherson Gerringong

Developments stress elderly

Be aware that public housing is not only being removed from inner Sydney (Letters, September 6), Claymore near Campbelltown is being bulldozed so that the land can be sold off to developers. The residents have been told they have to move but not told where they will be rehoused. This is causing great stress to the older members as they see their support network of friends being scattered. All in the name of money.

Richard Kirby Campbelltown

Sculpture out of the picture

Apparently the cloud sculpture is intended to be a tourist attraction (Letters, September 1). Has any one considered how a tourist is going to be able to photograph it? Usually the best place to be photographed is under an arch, in this case you would have to be standing in the middle of George Street. Perhaps a better location would be in Hyde Park over the Archibald Fountain.

Georgina McPhee Goolmangar

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