Not everyone welcomes high-octane thrills on Lake Macquarie

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Once again residents and our delicate marine environment have been subjected to the V8 Superboat races, an event I believe is entirely unsuited to the closed waters of northern Lake Macquarie.

Despite claims of massive crowds, they didn't seem to rival the massive noise generated by a handful of million-dollar craft operated by a few corporate syndicates.

This, along with the now annual jet ski championships, are becoming a cultural feature of our beautiful lake. Both of them seem slated to grow as we become a "destination" for aquatic motor sports.

The promise that the lake is for everyone is not the case during these events, as areas are closed off to other lake users. Ask any sailor who tried to get his yacht out of the marina hosting the event but couldn't - Superboats apparently had priority.

Newcastle spent years fighting V8 Supercars, and their last race there was in 2023. Perhaps we can eventually expect that event around Lake Macquarie as well, making it a motor-fuelled trifecta?

We have a Labor council that sees the promotion of events like this as central to "growing the economy". Like with other actions taken by the Minns government, including Mr Minns legislating for a local mine expansion to go ahead despite being blocked by the High Court, environment comes in at poor second or not at all, as will hopefully the Minns government at the upcoming election.

Dorin Suciu, Eleebana

There's cuts there to be found

Glen Wilson ("If you want cuts, show us where", Letters, 16/10), asks what do we want to cut from the Albanese government's spending spree, then goes on to make up a long list of essential services that he must surely know nobody would nominate.

Here's just a few areas where spending can be cut: the recently announced plans to spend $100 million to send a man to the moon, can you believe such stupidity? The $560 million local and community grants, of which $6 million was given to the Marrickville Bowling Club. That's just a couple of hundred metres from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's home, a venue that he denied knowing he was a member of.

Then there's all the millions of dollars spent on overseas travel for himself and all the hangers-on he takes with him, and all the snouts in the trough claiming dodgy travel allowances.

Then we have the grandaddy of them all, my understanding is that big spending Albo has 59 "advisors" whereas the late Bob Hawke, in my opinion the only decent Labor prime minister in living memory, made do with just 19 thank you very much, again as I understand it each of these seat warmers - sorry, advisors, earn between $500.000 and $1 million per year.

As you can see Mr. Wilson, there are any number of areas where savings could be made in my opinion.

Ian King, Warners Bay

We're no minnow on climate

Your correspondent points out some of the problems of declining to take responsibility for our domestic emission because they are "small" ("Small point of responsibility", Letters, 21/10).

If, however, we include the emissions associated with our exports, as manufacturing nations do, we are the source of 4.5 percent of global emissions.

In the nine years after signing the Paris Agreement to limit temperature rise Australia doubled her climate-warming gas production. Australia ranks fifth in the list of 15 countries responsible for nearly 80 per cent of global oil and gas extraction over those nine years. We lead all 15 for the rate of gas and oil production increase.

Today we're in a climate crisis and an associated cost of living crisis. But we're the world's second largest gas exporter - and we're still not getting paid for over half of it.

Are we led by mad people?

There are more sustainable ways to employ our workers. We should not have them toiling to destroy their children's futures.

At least we could tax the gas exports.

Lesley Walker, Northcote

Musical chairs on coal emissions

John Gruszynski ("Small point of responsibility", Letters, 21/10), comes out with a non-argument. He has not answered any point that I made, nor that of any other critic of anti-coal activism has made.

Playing musical chairs with global coal production to make it look like Australia is a bad player for mining coal is more alarmist nonsense about CO2 emissions. It still stands that HVO is making only a tiny contribution to any CO2 level in the air. Stop making a mountain out of a mole-hill. And he (and others) continue to fail to show any scientific argument to prove that burning carbon (of any sort) changes the climate in any measurable way.

Peter Devey, Merewether

Homelessness action offers a fine example

City of Newcastle could well learn from Lake Macquarie council's recent action on rough sleeping. The number of people sleeping rough in Newcastle is a blight on the city. Horseshoe beach, Pacific Park, and parts of the inner city bypass are just a few examples. Lake Macquarie has proved that positive outcomes can be achieved for all.

Shane Tull, Redhead

Umpire's call ignored on mine

When the High Court blocked the expansion of MACH's Mount Pleasant coal mine, the Minns government didn't accept the umpire's decision. It changed the rules ("'Devastating blow': Green light for Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion", Newcastle Herald 20/10). That's a troubling precedent. Hunter locals fought this through the courts, the proper way, and won. Now a foreign mining company gets a law tailored to its needs. Who is the Minns government governing for? The people or big corporations?

Sarah Brennan, Malvern East

Pocock's vision a powerful one

Independent Senator David Pocock delivered a powerful address to the National Press Club on Wednesday, October 21. It was grounded, articulate, and insightful, with well-researched ideas of what politics in future Australia could look like in meeting the needs of all Australians. The big end of town and huge profit-making companies that employ tax minimisation strategies to avoid or limit paying company tax were also in his sights. Bravo, Senator Pocock. It's time.

Christine O'Mara, Elermore Vale

World news is there for watching

I have to agree with Les Field ("Price of coffee a killer", Letters, 21/10), but if he wants to see the price situation in the UK; cost of fuel, gas and electricity he could watch the BBC News at 6pm and 10pm news on SBS TV, twice a day except Sunday.

Fred Saunders, Waratah West

Boys club spans footy codes

For all the dumb asses saying rugby union is a private school rich boys club, 41 per cent of NRL players attended either independent or private schools. Many of them are not from rich families. Do your homework before you open your mouth.

Bruce Cook, Adamstown

Meaty gag is a little bit hammy

OK Mac Maguire, why did the hamburger cross the road? To meat Patty. Took a while, but I got there, Mac. Cheers.

Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay