When, indeed

When did the Coalition decide that climate change wasn't rubbish? I must have missed the announcement.

Erica Grebler, Caulfield North

A slight improvement, but where's the vision?

The PM's new climate policies include extending the Emissions Reduction Fund (to be renamed the Climate Solutions Fund), energy efficiency, and "an electric vehicle strategy". These measures are a slight improvement on his past comments that we are doing enough with our target of 26 per cent emissions reduction by 2030.

But where is the reassuring, visionary national address on this most deadly serious world danger of climate change and effective action and Australia's role in that?

Last year, UN-appointed experts warned every nation has just 10-12years to establish corrective systems. What is the point of our nation increasing renewables if we don't also end mining, using and exporting fossil fuels, and end land clearing?

Barbara Fraser, Burwood

Don't fall for smoke and mirrors

As long as we have the Abbott votes as the benchmark for Liberal policy on climate change, we will have a nonsense policy.

Spending $2 billion on all sorts of things (including, do you mind, support for fossil fuel companies to keep emitting), but ignoring the obvious transition away from coal to renewable energy, can only be designed to cloud the debate about what really needs to happen.

This election may well show we are not stupid about the imperative need for proper climate change action, and that this "new policy" is truly smoke and mirrors.

Carolyn Ingvarson, Canterbury

Water restrictions, anyone?

With greater Melbourne's rain catchment levels at around 58 per cent and little rain for months and none predicted, isn't it time for water restrictions? And, Mr Andrews, why not cancel the duck shooting season while you are at it? Surely the wetlands are under stress.

Alan Williams, Port Melbourne

Abbott's scheme, any way you look at it

A climate policy that supports new coal mines such as Adani's and coal-powered electricity generation is to wilfully ignore science and common sense.

Tony Abbott's half-baked direct action scheme by another name is still Tony Abbott's half-baked direct action scheme that has seen emissions rising every year since it was introduced to replace the carbon tax.

Des O'Shea, Wyndham Vale

Rethink this program

While we battle with plastic waste from our packaging, and plastic pollution in our rivers and oceans, the last thing we need is more useless plastic objects such as the "Stickeez" plastic toys issued free by Coles with every $30 spent. Please, Coles, rethink this program.

Ron Hayton, Beaumaris

THE FORUM

Opportunistic inhumanity

As Nicole Hasham's article ("Refugee flights up to $100,000", The Age, 25/2) clearly reveals, we are now descending into a world of totally irresponsible political populism.

And it is not so much because of that cost but because, as she quotes Doctors for Refugees president Barri Phatford as saying, "Transferring them [sick refugees and asylum seekers] to Christmas Island ... is inherently dangerous to those who have to get on and off multiple small flights with IV drips, assisted ventilation and a precarious clinical condition."

So even if the government spends the mega dollars required to upgrade the medical facilities on Christmas Island to provide the care these sick people so urgently need, it seems perfectly happy to endanger their lives in getting there.

Notwithstanding Bill Shorten's casually thoughtless acceptance of this Christmas Island insanity, let's hope Labor's clearer heads can still somehow combine with concerned crossbenchers to present a powerful repudiation of this opportunistic inhumanity.

Simon Boyle, Carlton North

It's up to us

I am bewildered by all the media coverage surrounding the collapse of kerbside recycling by SKM resulting in valuable material ending up in landfill across many local councils throughout Victoria.

All that seems to be reported in the media is who is blaming whom for this disastrous outcome with no one prepared to own up and take control of the crisis that has been escalating since China's decision to stop accepting shiploads of recyclables from us.

Like climate change action, this problem seems too big and complex for government, industry and regulating bodies to work collaboratively to find sensible and sustainable solutions.

I urge all households, businesses and residents to take control of the recycling crisis and, like ABC's War on Waste, declare to take action by making better purchasing choices and in doing so place more pressure on manufacturers to also take greater "cradle to grave" responsibility for the products and packaging they sell us.

Lou Sbalchiero, Healesville

What about me?

Scott Morrison intends giving industrialists taxpayers' money not to do the wrong thing by polluting the atmosphere.

If I don't do the wrong thing by breaking the road laws can I also be given taxpayers' money? Another ploy. More money to industry by stealth.

Jean Tansey, Berwick

Right on the money

Peter Thomson's letter "Too Little, too late" (25/2) is right on the money. It shows this government to be a vociferous defender of the status quo of the 19th century, averse to "inconvenient" science and lacking social conscience.

Fearmongering and recycled policies are all it can offer.

As alluded to in the letter, the state of the Murray-Darling Basin serves as an illustration of its environmental and economic policies, the "trickle down effect" where those at the top end reap the benefits of the water and economic growth, while those at the lower end are left with but a trickle, which is not enough to sustain a livelihood or life.

Harry Kowalski, Ivanhoe

A sadly accurate read

The submission from Barney Cooney (Naked City, The Age, 23/2) to the aged care royal commission, written before his recent death, is an eloquent and sadly accurate description of life in an aged care facility. Is this the best we can do for our aged population?

And we can't forget it is not only the aged. There are around 6200people under 65 who have the misfortune to find themselves in these facilities. For these younger people all these issues are magnified. As one of these people, who came into one of these facilities in my 50s, I can't begin to describe the social and emotional isolation of spending my days in an environment designed for people aged over 80, many of whom have dementia.

This issue is part of the terms of reference for the aged care royal commission. I hope this brings real change to this intransigent and hidden issue.

Helen Burt, Hawthorn East

If this was the best ...

John Silvester's reporting of the late former senator Barney Cooney's submission to the royal commission was a very sad read.

To know that any aged care resident be treated that way is disturbing. When Silvester commented that the aged care provider was one of the best in the state, you have to ask what can it be like for residents in average and less than average care institutions?

David Fry, Moonee Ponds

A backwards step

Labor's proposal for a 1.1 per cent upfront fee on a loan's drawn down balance is a major step backwards (The Age, 23/2). Broker's should be paid commensurate with their effort in serving customers, and that effort is not related to the value of the loan, or whether it is drawn down.

Increasing the upfront component (from typically 0.65 per cent to 1.1 per cent) and removing the trail commission income exacerbates the already biased incentives for brokers to: a) chase higher value loans, b) maximise the size of any given loan, and c) actively churn loans in the absence of any trailing revenue – none of which is in the consumer's interests.

David Gibbs, Camberwell

No cap for me

Unfortunately I always mentally, automatically question the intelligence of any adult wearing a baseball cap in Australia. Particularly I question the heads of those organisations – government, police, armed services, etc, who make them part of the uniform.

I assume they believe that medical science will find a certain cure for melanoma before the tsunami of damages cases hits. They will have no legal defence. Baseball caps do nothing to protect most of the face and neck from sun damage.

The next repeat of the asbestos, tobacco and thalidomide lawyers' picnics is due to start any time now.

Rod Cripps, Parkdale

Who are we to say no?

The Coalition government has consistently refused to accept New Zealand's generous offer to house refugees from Manus and Nauru.

If the refugees in question are not Australian citizens, what gives our government the right to refuse such an offer? Surely these people languishing in detention have the right as human beings to accept or refuse New Zealand's offer on their own behalf.

Rev Paul Arnott, Ringwood East

All her skills will be needed

I hope Katie Allen (the nominated candidate for Higgins), who is a paediatric gastroenterologist and allergy specialist, can bring all her skills with her to the new job.

She will be attending to a lot of boys (who act like men), to a lot of women who can't stomach them and to many who have an allergy to every form of power other than coal.

On her rounds she might also check for any vital signs of life in a patient named Melissa Price (reports are she is suffering from a condition called climate change paralysis).

John Rome, Mount Lawley, WA

Let's see your books

Let the experienced Liberal spin doctor and "retiree" Jim Bonner publicly declare all his material assets – then we can judge whether he does require the continuation of his ATO tax credit cheques to save him from penury.

David Rose, Balcatta, WA

In the spotlight at last

At last one of Victoria's internationally listed wetlands is in the spotlight ("Green groups fear for wetlands' future", The Age, 25/2).

The proposed Mordialloc Freeway threatens to disrupt birdlife and pollute the Edithvale-Seaford waterway.

But successive state governments have a record of neglect with Victoria's UN-protected wetlands. In regional Victoria, they are in poor condition, frequented by duck shooters.

"State Wildlife Reserve" signs have recently been replaced with "State Game Reserve" signs, complete with pictures of shooters and a notice that hunting occurs there – a death-knell for non-hunting tourism.

Why can't politicians see the potential dollars from nature-based tourism, and protect wetlands and waterbirds for the economy's sake?

Neil Wilkinson, Mont Albert

A brilliant choice

Ita Buttrose is a brilliant choice for chair of the ABC, being a person with her own mind, not a herd follower or a politician's donkey; successful in media for decades, respected throughout the community, compassionate and with a sense of humour.

Someone Australians like and trust; a natural leader we would have faith in at any helm.

John Dobinson, Herston, Qld

It will never work

Bill Shorten's "strategic shipping fleet" sounds like Dad's Navy. Can you imagine the MUA official obeying orders in any emergency if it breached their enterprise bargaining agreement conditions? Implausible.

Wayne Tonissen, Kangaroo Ground

Let them try it

Should any Australian politician – including Scott Morrison – require urgent medical attention, then expeditious transfer to the world-class facilities on Christmas Island would be appropriate. The same should apply to any children of said politicians who require urgent, high-quality care.

Eric Kennelly, Ballarat Central

Ease up on packaging

Overpackaging of goods is the main cause of the problem of rubbish disposal. It is time for governments to impose standards on both wholesale and retail companies to limit it.

We don't need fruit and sliced ham in plastic boxes – a paper bag and a sheet of paper do the job just as well. The political parties must show leadership, resist the power of the packaging lobby, refuse donations from packaging companies and stop Australia from becoming a vast rubbish dump.

Meg Paul, Camberwell

Cut to the chase

Pope Francis has come up with 21"reflection points" for tackling child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. I can simplify that to one for him: Call the Police.

Angus McLeod, Cremorne

AND ANOTHER THING

Politics

People in towns and cities across Australia beware, a pork barrel will be rolling your way soon.

Terry Malone, Warburton

With our Parliament in Canberra only meeting for around three days in the next three months, can taxpayers have a refund?

Hans Paas, Castlemaine

So, $2 billion for climate solutions from the Prime Minister, who hectored Parliament with "Don't be afraid, don't be scared, it won't hurt you. It's coal."

Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley

So, the Emissions Reduction Fund becomes the Climate Solutions Fund: Different title, same non-action.

Mick O'Mara, Winchelsea

After rebooting the Abbott Climate Fund, Scott Morrison should rebrand it Abject Failure 2.

Dean Wotherspoon, Northcote

Riddle me this

I'm not much of a football fan, Ross (Letters, 25/2), but I am still waiting for someone to explain to me why there is AFL and AFLW when it really should be AFLM and AFLW

Loy Lichtman, Carnegie

The church

Can someone tell the Pope that priest child abusers are not "tools of Satan", although they may be seen by some as tools of the church. This is just another way of absolving them of responsibility. They are acting of their own free will.

Merryn Boan, Brighton

The Pope blames the Devil for all the things the priests performed. Silly me, I thought God was in control.

Les Field, Blackburn South

Given the appalling facts of systemic child abuse in the Catholic Church, it might be well that the Vatican lose its city-state status and become fully accountable to Italian and international law.

Gary Oraniuk, Geelong West

Finally

There is a serious omission in the 2019 Leunig calendar: there is no date recorded for the F1 Grand Prix. How are people to know when to book their weekend away?

Peter Goad, Middle Park