Lyn Dickinson, Pottsville.
It is all very well for incoming Prime Minister Scott Morrison to announce that drought relief is at the top of his agenda, but what does he plan to do about it? How long can we afford to prop up struggling rural industries when the real threat to farmers – climate change – is unaddressed? He also announced that getting power prices down was at the top of his agenda. No mention of getting carbon emissions down.
In February 2017 the then treasurer of Australia Scott Morrison brought a lump of black coal into the House of Representatives question time, which was supplied by the Minerals Council of Australia. He said, “This is coal…do not be afraid…do not be scared…it will not hurt you,” as it was passed from hand to hand. The coal was used to demonstrate how the government planned to keep the lights on and keep power prices low.
We have every reason to fear for the future under our new pro-coal prime minister who obviously is not taking climate change seriously. It appears that propping up the coal industry is really at the top of his agenda. The best hope for a safe and prosperous future is to vote for the Greens at the next election – the only political party with zero coal and 100% renewable energy at the top of its agenda.