Election now?
Malcolm Weatherup writes: Re. “Tips and rumours: could an election be almost upon us?” (Friday). Ms Tips has every right to be skeptical that a federal election will be called in the next week or so, but she shouldn’t be on the grounds that the Libs are sans a boss pro tem. Quite the contrary. Making no claims to be a Lynton Crosby (or Paul the Octopus), I would’ve thought that the departure of the incumbent is not so much seen as the departure of Brian Loughnane but seen more as the departure of Peta Credlin’s husband, completing the break with the Abbott era. It cannot be denied that rightly or wrongly, Credlin was seen as one of the most divisive and pivotal figures to hold the Abbott ear (insert your own merry jape ‘ear’ here) and guilt by association is a favourite conspirator’s trope. Given that perception and timing are the two drivers of calling an election, might be best to keep the bike tyres pumped up, just in case.
Turnbull and climate
Roger Clifton writes: Re. “For all the hype, Turnbull still has a major problem on climate” (Friday). It is misleading the innocent reader to say, “the only alternative is massive government investment in renewable energy”. On the contrary, nuclear electricity is indeed an alternative to carbon-based power. When it comes to baseload, it is nuclear that is “the only alternative”. And let’s not pretend that 50-year commitments to increased gas installations, even backing up wind or solar, are going to halve our emissions every 15 years. Turnbull’s representatives will have to go to Paris with something better than that.
Respect and domestic violence
Kerry Lovering writes: Re. “Rundle: Turnbull’s call for ‘respect’ might not prevent domestic violence” (Friday). The power relationship between women and men has changed dramatically since women started to gain power and control over their lives. Women now are seen as powerful and resented by many men who were brought up to think men were more important. We have to change the culture in which men were raised. Brutal force has now been replaced by brain power. This has to be recognised by parents, teachers, corporations and academics — particularly historians. The Duluth approach appears only to recognise the power of men over women whereas the power of women to equal treatment and respect in all matters must also be seen as the driving force for change.
Nuclear’s time was fifty years ago.
It would take a decade (at least) to build nuclear power stations and they would subsequently have expected lifetimes of 50-100 years.
Is there anyone out there who thinks renewables won’t be capable of handling our power requirements in those timeframes ?
Roger,
Even if would be necessary to have massive government investment in order to make renewable energy a means of making the government’s target in reducing greenhouse gas emissions possible, nuclear power as an alternative would require massive government investments too.
Not only that, but nuclear power has long lead times, perhaps if we’re optimistic 5 years for planning and public discussion and 5 years for the actual construction, which would take us up to 2026 at the earliest before any electricity from a nuclear power plant enters the grid. And in the subsequent 5 years, nuclear power would have to do 15 years’ reductions and also cancel out the CO2 emissions from construction.
Whereas, renewable energy is incremental. Each new wind farm is generating some electricity from the beginning.