The high environmental cost of electric vehicles

Banning petrol and diesel cars is political grand standing, with no planning or idea about what this means. Australia sold 6.3per cent of its cars as EV in 2019. That excluded commercial vehicles trucks, buses etc – you know, the ones which carry what we eat and need. If only EVs are available, my excuse for not going to work will be "there was no electricity available" (as per parts of Victoria last week).

European countries are not like Australia in their driving needs, transport infrastructure and transport culture. Look at their renewable hydroelectricity, whereas we use a desalination plant that costs more than $600million a year to run even, when it is not producing water, and is powered by ... electricity. Also, the economies of some of the northern European, so-called environmental countries are based upon their petroleum exports.

A non-EV Hyundai Kona costs $26,000 and an EV Kona costs $69,000; clearly we will all receive a massive wage increase. Banning an essential part of our life without the replacement being developed, tested or even suitable is another political game of failure to deliver. Where we will get the copper and battery materials from, and at what environmental cost? Oh, mining. Currently the lifetime impact of an EV from raw materials to disposal of the batteries is greater than a fossil-fuel vehicle. Can we work on the dying, starving people on our planet first.

Ross Kroger, Highton

Our focus needs to be on eliminating coal

An EV powered by coal-generated electricity emits roughly the same carbon as a modern petrol vehicle. Until the happy day when increased electricity demand will be met by renewables or even gas-generated electricity, EV adoption will have no effect on greenhouse gas emissions. The focus needs to remain on elimination of coal as a method of electricity generation. Spending huge amounts now on EV infrastructure is a wasteful distraction on the route to the 2050 net zero emissions target.

Richard O'Hanlon, Anglesea

Different methods of generating electricity

More electric vehicles? How will the electricity required be generated? Will these vehicles increase the likelihood of power outages in summer? Britain uses electricity generated by nuclear reactors.

Alan Gunther, Carlton

Just another way for us to consume even more

I have three questions regarding electric cars, particularly in Victoria. Are they being charged using clean energy electricity or thermal coal electricity? Are they manufactured using renewable energy sources or thermal coal electricity? Are we switching to new cars simply to satisfy our need to consume ever more and, might I add, being sweetened by "green-wash" advertising?

Phil Labrum, Flemington

Will our coal be used to power Britain's EVs?

Boris Johnson brings forward the ban on internal combustion engine vehicles, but where will the extra electricity needed come from? With a new free trade agreement, no doubt Scott Morrison will offer Australian coal.

Michael Hipkins, Richmond

THE FORUM

At last, an end to the GP?

Motor enthusiasts like the noise that racing cars make. Will the dwindling of noise from electric cars, plus the dwindling spectator numbers at the grand prix, combined with the dwindling television audience, force the end to this race at Albert Park? What a bonus for Victorian taxpayers each year.

Margaret Hilton, Aberfeldie

Question of integrity 1

Is Emeritus Professor Adrian Evans (Letters, 6/2) on to something, suggesting lawyers' integrity be considered by the royal commission? I think six of my fellow students at Melbourne Law School in the early '70s have been jailed for fraud-related cases, one shot dead. In comparison, only one of the medical students of my year, from a similar number and perhaps a similar demographic, has been jailed.

Of course, this is merely a small and anecdotal impression. But then there is the protection of the professional practice rules, that everyone is entitled to legal representation. While there are good reasons for this, it effectively means lawyers are discouraged from questioning the integrity of their clients. Moreover they are made to feel they are "part of noble professional practice rules".

Many good and thoughtful people are actively discouraged from seeing clearly the consequences of their work. Coupled with the corporate model, where company aims are generally an integrity vacuum, the legal handmaidens can look a bit tawdry.

Ann Birrell, St Kilda West

Question of integrity 2

Back in 2017, I became a first home purchaser – not owner, since the off-the-plan apartment I purchased, after saving up while paying off other people's mortgages for 15 years, is yet to be built. I was assured that it would be ready by Christmas 2018.

However, soon after handing over my $30,000-plus deposit, I realised the agency had been wilfully dishonest. As well as that, having locked myself into a contract, I no longer merited its time or consideration. For the past three years I have been burning money on rent and unable to get a straight answer as to when my purchase of nearly half a million dollars will be delivered.

The real estate profession is rife with unethical practices designed to part people with their money on false pretences. With so many Australians having their plans and dreams for the future turned into nightmares of frustration and financial loss, I call on the government to launch a royal commission into the real estate sector and, finally, create some transparency and accountability around off-the-plan sales.

Mateusz Buczko, Elwood

People's safety comes first

Braemar College's closure of its Mount Macedon campus on days of total fire ban (The Age, 5/2) highlights the need for the Planning Minister to call a halt to new schools or churches in high-risk, non-urban areas.

A flood of recent applications for these in the Southern Ranges Green Wedge has left residents incredulous. The Shire of Yarra Ranges has rejected two applications but council planners were unable to include bushfire risk in their grounds for refusal because of inadequate government policy.

Casey Council has approved two proposals – both hotly contended and headed for VCAT – with a third apparently on hold. Given Casey's history of corrupted planning decisions and the six-month time frame for the government's forthcoming review of the Green Wedges legislation, the minister should call them in. Putting children's lives at risk by allowing these school applications to proceed is not acceptable.

Rosalie Counsell, Harkaway

The tough, Aussie way

So some of those who have been evacuated to Christmas Island from Wuhan in the wake of coronavirus have complained that it feels like they are in a prison.

They are. How lucky are they that they were transferred from the Royal Australian Air Force base in Learmonth by aircraft? If they had been transferred to Christmas Island by boat, they might have had to spend the rest of their life in detention despite having committed no crime.

Ray Frost, Jan Juc

The stylish, French way

Last Friday a planeload of French nationals from Wuhan were placed in quarantine for two weeks on their arrival in France. The place chosen to accommodate them? A picturesque holiday resort by the Mediterranean Sea, 30kilometres from Marseille. "We needed a convivial, welcoming place, pleasant for the families," announced the French authorities. "There is no thought that these people would be placed in a detention centre."

Australian citizens repatriated to their homeland have been placed in an abandoned and run-down detention centre on a remote island, treated as though they had the plague and kept at bay. They were also initially requested to pay $1000 for their imposed holiday on Christmas Island.

Jean-Jacques Portail, North Melbourne

End the profiteering

First powdered milk formula being sent to China caused local shortages. Now P2 masks, already in short supply, are being sent there to satisfy the Chinese market (The Age, 5/2). When will a stop be put to this profiteering at the expense of Australian consumers?

Edward Combes, Wheelers Hill

Becoming self-sufficient

Governments, economists, bankers and superannuation advisers recommend that investors should diversify their portfolios to secure their future. Therefore why is it that Australia has most of its investments in the China market?

Now we are left vulnerable due to health problems with coronavirus. It would have been smarter to produce the critical items for existence in Australia and diversified what was not critical in multiple countries.

Our security analysts must be dismayed that health and safety (drugs), defence raw materials (fuel) and information systems (computers) etc are under threat of shortages. Being more self-sufficient should be a strategy into the future, rather than if it is a cheap buy from China.

Roger Wolfe, Balwyn

Seeking independence

As a 50-year-old female divorcee of 12 years, I understand the frustrations of Pru Goward's male friend (Comment, 6/2) – but the other way around.

It is the men I date who want me over for family Christmases, holidays and dinners. They seem to be threatened by female economic and emotional independence. Many are keen for a "mother figure" in their children's lives and want to look after (control?) me in an emotional and financial sense. I do not need or want any of that.

Perhaps many of our generation are still navigating breaking free of traditional roles which were rigidly prescribed by society? My dating experience suggests truly independent male souls are rare. I would love to meet one. As Pru suggests, "the human need for intimacy runs deep". Intimacy at the cost of independence, however, is too big a price tag.

Karen Dreher, Thornbury

A very sensible ban

Twenty years ago we took our nephews to Grants Picnic Ground to see the rosellas. Since then these birds have been driven away by the raucous cockatoos which proceeded to demolish the picnic tables and trees around the cafe.

It is illegal to feed wild birds in the Shire of Yarra Ranges. I am pleased that at long last, there will also be a ban on bird-feeding here – "Seeds of change as bans hit tourist spot" (The Age, 5/2). It is not in the birds' best interest to be fed as there is plenty of their natural food to be foraged. As an aside, if the tourist buses go we locals may be able to find a table to lunch at the excellent cafe.

Patricia Ray, Seville

Too high a price to pay

Somewhat bizarrely, Jeff Kennett, in answer to whether Hawthorn Football Club would get out of pokies, said no and added: "We are a family club" Sport, 5/2). Does he still have no idea how much damage poker machines do to families, or is his club's river of gold simply too tempting, no matter the cost?

Neale Meagher, Malvern

Lessons from history, Jeff

Through the defeat of his government in 1999, it might be expected that Jeff Kennett learnt that dollars over community come at a price. It is time for the Hawks to lengthen the development timeline at Dingley and find alternative ways of financing the club's expansion. Other AFL clubs have.

Jenni King, Camberwell

End preferential treatment

In "The myth of 'investor confidence"' (Comment, 4/2), Kate Shaw asks: "How is it that Victorian governments have become so in thrall to corporate giants and cowboy developers?"

I would dearly like to know. I would ask a similar question about our federal governments which fiercely defend the heavily subsidised, fossil fuel industries and others acting without any social responsibility. Stop the subsidies and preferential treatment and there will be plenty of taxpayer cash – and renewables – to avoid sending the next generations into a furnace-like future.

Merry Kidby, North Melbourne

Surely a win-win solution

Extraordinarily, Eltham's traffic volumes are slated to reduce by 20per cent on completion of the North East Link (The Age, 6/2). So leave our safe roundabout alone and just improve the existing peak-hour, traffic light sequencing. This saves the trees and a huge amount of money, and avoids the production of an enormous amount of concrete.

Graham Fildes, Eltham

A truly ethical cuppa

Cindy Bohan want to know where to source slavery-free and fair trade tea" (Letters, 6/2). There are superb, loose-leaf teas grown on plantations in Queensland and the Tweed Valley, just for starters. And not a slave in sight.

Gab Gardner, Montmorency

AND ANOTHER THING

Environment

LOL. Canavan backing Barnaby so the party can "move forward".

Stuart Gluth, Northcote

Of the coal industry. By the coal industry. For the coal industry

Charles Lakey, Macedon

Those arsonists are at it again but they're causing floods this time.

Gary Sayer, Warrnambool

Did Morrison drag out the sports rorts to take attention away from his lack of action on climate change?

Marg D'Arcy, Rye

How many koalas and endangered species are killed by state government-authorised habitat destruction?

Adrian Hyland, St Andrews

Did Molan rely on evidence with respect to his duties in Iraq and the matter of WMDs?

Andrew Barnes, Ringwood

Politics

I wish we could impeach our PM.

Sarah Russell, Northcote

Do my eyes deceive me or were Bandt and Di Natale twins who were separated at birth?

Pamela Pilgrim, Highett

Ministerial standards: oxymoron.

Rosslyn Jennings, North Melbourne

Will McKenzie be gun shy about applying for cabinet positions in the future?

Greg Tuck, Warragul

Payback time. No Democrat crossed the floor in the Senate acquittal of Clinton.

Gary Bryfman, Brighton

The dogs barked and the Canavan moved on.

John Blanchfield, Melbourne

Furthermore

The first time in living memory that more images of women (21) than men (10) were in Sport (5/2).

Jennifer Mansfield, Melbourne

China built a hospital in 10 days. Transurban and John Holland, are you watching?

David Francis, Ivanhoe

Could the media stop referring to the "deadly virus"? Most infected people survive.

Rod Matthews, Fairfield

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