In that state, batteries have become a necessity to enable the continuously fluctuating output from solar and wind to be stabilised for feeding into the electricity grid.  

Previously, when the large flywheels associated with coal-fired coal stations were available this was not a problem.

However, when acting as storage devices to take over when there is no sun or wind, batteries would have to be so large and that they would come with a prohibitive cost.

Proceeding cautiously and not making rash assumptions about future costs is the only sensible option.

WHAT a fantastic show of raw unselfish courage – The Invictus Games.

Wow, it is impossible to express enough our gratitude to these wonderful heroes.

They have not only protected us from the horrors of war, but have defied death and untold misery so we can wake up every day free.

For some, the costs have been humongous – loss of limbs from horrific injury. And now they show us real courage and compete in the friendship of competition in games of skills.

I will watch in pride and cheer as though it is an AFL grand final.

For every soldier that is successful I will applaud them, and praise those who competed. You have overcome incredible odds and now you courageously competing on a new level – magnificent.

From all the sincerity I can muster, thank you, and may you all be blessed with success.

LET the Greens make a rational assessment of the total financial cost of adding 10 more politicians (plus perks, plus staff) to the state’s budget, then say exactly which existing programs should be scrapped to support them, before Parliament votes on their proposal.

Rather than “good government”, the Greens’ plan is likely a cynical exercise to increase their numbers of MPs, thanks to our absurd Hare-Clark voting system.

With 40 State MPs and 29 councils to govern around 500,000 people (less than a quarter the size of Brisbane, managed by one city council), Tasmania's need in government is competence, not numbers.

NOW with a population of only 526,663 (as at March 31, 2018) the equivalent to less that 2.5 per cent of the national population, Tasmania simply does not need, nor can afford or justify, two levels of State Parliament, but only requires a single parliament of 35 members and no more than 10 (not 29) local councils, equivalent to one council per 50,000 population.

The greatest challenge Tasmania (now with the highest percentage of older people of any state or territory) will be meeting the cost of age care and the resultant savings would represent a significant contribution to be used for this purpose.

Both Queensland and New Zealand operate quite satisfactorily with single parliaments.

JUST how desperate the Liberals are over the Wentworth by-election is shown by ScoMo’s provocative, stupid and ill-thought out pronouncement that he’s open to moving our Embassy to Jerusalem, following the Donald’s silly (no surprise there) move.

We are just in the process of bringing a long sought after deal with Indonesia, the world’s largest Islamic nation, to fruition and our, at times, touchy relationship with our nearest is on the improve and he does this, in spite of a report indicating the possibility of violent protests if he is silly enough to actually do it.

So Wentworth has a 13 per cent Jewish population to be wooed.

Has anyone pointed out to our Prime Minister that means it has an 87 per cent non-Jewish population?

Another nasty touch was the email claiming Kerryn Phelps is suffering from HIV and will withdraw from the Wentworth election.

This, whoever the perpetrator is, just shows that homophobia is still alive and well in our country.

POOR Malcolm has returned to Australia and immediately his ex-colleagues are blaming him for their disastrous results in the seat of Wentworth.

Maybe those who have brought the Liberal government to its knees should look in the mirror.

A small minority, headed by an extremely disgruntled ex-Jesuit, ex-PM, along with other ultra-right conservatives, have done their best to foist their brand of Liberalism on the party and the country.

No compassion for people on Nauru, against equal rights for the gay community, bleating in support of live sheep exports and expounding their own ideas on how a Christian should behave.

Unfortunately our own leading senator has been one of the most vocal of this mob.

Surely now they will realise that most Australians don't want their brand of politics.

If not, then it will be the demise of the Liberal Party and we’ll end up with either Bill Shorten or a hung parliament.