We have been repeatedly told that certain health conditions are overrepresented in the adverse outcomes of COVID-19. Perhaps those of us who are able to lose weight and reduce our burden of disease should do so, and perhaps we should also avoid a few hundred deaths. At the very least, if more of us manage to do so, the health care system may be more likely to help others who need it. Joanna Wriedt, Eaglemont
Long-term impact of GPs not seeing some patients
Pre-COVID, general practitioners used to examine patients with the flu or other viruses. However, many have adopted the practice of not seeing patients with COVID-like symptoms.
In my experience, it’s almost impossible to get a face-to-face appointment with a GP if you have a fever. This practice is pushing people to use telehealth, call an ambulance, or visit the hospital’s emergency services.
In addition, fever may be the result of infections other than COVID-19. Phone appointments will not help someone who may have bronchitis or pneumonia.
I suspect that this practice is causing patients not to be treated properly and, in general, worse health outcomes. There is also increasing pressure on ambulance ramps, overworked medical professionals and hospital emergency departments. Mary Howe, Bentleigh
LETTERS
Inevitable blackouts
After decades of negligence on the part of coalition governments (state and federal), taxpayers will have to rescue a privatized industry that has failed to transition the supply to a renewable, carbon-free source. Three-word slogans have failed.
I fear that the colossal task of upgrading the network and financing and building about three times more than the solar, wind, hydraulic and storage energy we already have, in the next decade will be beyond the capacity of government and industry.
According to current strategies, I believe power outages and energy rationing are inevitable before these investments can replace obsolete fossil fuel power plants that supply about 60% of electricity demand. Robert Hutchings, retired senior director of the SEC, Kew
Reducing all power
Some readers have expressed concern about the lights on in commercial buildings as an obvious source of energy waste (Letters, 17/6).
The cumulative effect is not insubstantial, but for real savings we must look at the almost universal practice of setting the temperature beyond what heating and cooling systems can achieve.
Thus, instead of going in and out of maximum power, the machine consumes all the power constantly. With the demand driving many of today’s problems, a public education campaign on this issue is essential. Pat Hockey, Clunes
“Free” wind energy.
The current electricity crisis is not caused by renewables. It is caused by the cost of coal used in the reference coal generators. This coal must be bought on the open market and the price is controlled by foreign buyers.
The coalition government stated that Australia needed to maintain its coal-fired power plants to provide this base payload.
Electricity generated by wind and solar farms still costs the same. If, like Britain, Australia had large offshore wind farms, this would keep wholesale energy costs low, since once built, “fuel” is free. Laurens Meyer, Richmond
The benefits are always first
None of the big energy companies is “playing the system.” They are only practicing the principles of capitalism in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by for-profit private owners for the benefit of its shareholders.
What was to be expected when the nation’s assets were sold to foreign-controlled companies that were engaged in maximizing profits while minimizing costs, expenses, and taxes? These companies may be selling cabbage instead of energy, but their modus operandi would be exactly the same. Cushla McNamara, Hawthorn
Forbid me too, Vladimir
So Russia has a “small list” that forbids entry to certain people (The Age, 17/6).
Unfortunately, I request to participate. I am glad to have visited this fascinating country, with all its variety and contradictions, in the past, but I would like to join a group of fellow Australians who are losing the right to do so in the foreseeable future. . Vivienne Player, Beaumaris
Aim for zero incidents
Re Victoria Crime Rate (The Age, 6/17). While incidents of domestic violence may have decreased by 2.4% during the year to March, 90,794 incidents are 90,794 too many. Niko Melaluka, Footscray
Not all “experts” are right
Like Jennifer Nicholls (Letters, 6/15), I was also advised on my career options 65 years ago. This was my fifth school (a girls only school), I came from a working class family and this was a “check the box” assessment.
The recommendation was to target hairdressing or chicken sexing. I still don’t know, nor do I care, how to identify the sex of these chickens. Suffice it to say that I did a nursing career and later, between marriage and four children, I studied very well at the University of Melbourne.
“Experts” often don’t do well and adults have a big responsibility in asserting the potential of girls. Maree Jeffs, Mooroolbark
The first critical years
Referring to “More places, longer hours in a $ 9 billion children’s plan” (The Age, 16/6). We know that one in five Australian children is vulnerable in their development when school starts.
This figure jumps to two out of five for children who do not have access to early childhood education and care in the years leading up to primary education.
When children lag behind in the development of cognitive and social skills from the beginning, this disadvantage can be consolidated later in life.
The Victorian government’s review of early childhood education, including the free nursery, has the potential to change children’s life trajectories. The first few years are getting the attention they deserve and all the kids will benefit. Aileen Ashford, CEO, Kids First Australia, Thomastown
Party made in heaven
Re “The Unlikely Joke of Dan and Dom” (The Age, 6/17). A Labor Prime Minister and a Liberal agree to work together for the benefit of their two states.
Fantastic: There should be more. When the two sides of politics work together, the results can only be positive.
I just hope Dan Andrews’ relationship with Dominic Perrottet is better than that of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. John Cummings, English
Looking for another Barnaby, your correspondent asks Anthony Albanese to “do something” about Julian Assange (Letters 16/6). Last year, then-Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce strongly supported Assange’s release from the US legal system. Labor MPs fell silent.
The new prime minister has hinted that there are quiet backstage talks with the Americans over Assange’s release. However, he may need the determination of a “Barnaby Joyce” within the ranks of Labor to release him. Des Files, Brunswick
The failure of the big parties
Paul Strangio (Comment, 6/16) suggests that some people see the fall of the bipartisan vote as a failure of our electoral system, not a failure of the loss of party votes. But consolidating a duopoly of political power by changing the voting system to suit existing political interests is only 50% worse for democracy than consolidating a one-party monopoly. Julia Thornton, Surrey Hills
Some key issues
Jessica Irvine says: “In the longer term, the only way to sustainably grow real wages (higher-than-inflation wage growth) is to sustain the productivity of our workforce” (Comment, 6/16 ). I think this idea is on the nose, if not impossible.
A bartender can only make a certain number of coffees at a time, a dishwasher can only wash a certain number of glasses at a time, and there are fierce laws against truck drivers that increase the speed to increase the workload.
There are also costly safety compliance risks for the entire liability chain (from dispatcher to shipper, customer, and office workers) if drivers work beyond certain hours.
Irvine also says, “We need entrepreneurs to keep investing in new equipment.” A trucking company could buy a new truck to save some fuel per mile, although that could cost about half a million dollars, which may not be feasible for many businesses in today’s economic climate. Susan Brown, Maryborough
ABC of our republic
Well said, William Hennessy (Letters, 14/6). Keep the referendum of the republic simple with the necessary changes to the absolute minimum. No voting. Just cut the strings from the apron. This will help prevent John Howard-style sabotage. Trevor Street, Park Orchards
A dangerous apathy
More than 220 people lost their lives due to COVID-19 in the first weeks of June. How would we react to 220 deaths from car accidents at the same time? Are we “immune” to this now? Elizabeth Meredith, Surrey Hills
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Natural environment
It is time for the federal and state governments to review ownership of our energy supplies. Private property is not what it is believed to be. Barry Revill, Moorabbin
The grand prize will remain in Albert Park until at least 2035 (17/6). Is it consistent with Victoria’s fossil fuel policy? Kevan Porter, Alphington
The so-called grand prize victory is a massive loss for climate change and taxpayers. Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East
Albo, nationalize essential services and get rid of energy and media traders. Do it. Ian Anderson, Surrey Hills
When the sun does not shine and the wind does not blow, do coal-fired power plants strike in sympathy? Ron Burnstein, Heidelberg
Abetz
It was so exciting to read that Eric Abetz has lost his seat in the Senate. Greg Norton, Box Hill
From Abetz to Zed, and a heart full of reds and reds, the Libs couldn’t win any tricks. Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills
Goodbye Eric, and good release. David Allen, Bayswater North
Besides
Will the next ABC exposure to workplace bias and inequality focus on dysfunction within its own ranks (6/17)? Mary Cole, Richmond
I was …