Escalating extreme weather events due to our rapidly changing climate are already significantly affecting the economy.

Or does he not consider important the crippling costs to the public purse of cleaning up after some of the worst bushfires, floods, and droughts Australia has experienced of late?

These costs impact on so much more than loss of property, shocking though these are. They have also destroyed ancient native forests, and wildlife, as well as severely affecting people's welfare, livelihoods, and mental health. Industries that are key to the economy such as farming, food production and tourism have all been impacted by weather extremes.

Without a serious commitment by the government to address climate change these events and their aftermath will only worsen.

So no Mr Morrison, it's not more coal mines the country needs, it's a future where renewable energy options are at the forefront. And oddly enough renewables are also where most of the jobs of the future will also lie - which will be good for the economy.

EARLIER this week Scott Morrison and Michaelia Cash were objecting in no uncertain terms to "save tradies utes" from Labor's forward planning for more electric cars to be built and used more in Australia and in (The Examiner, April 13) was an ad by the state Liberal government for grants for electric car charging station. Go figure.

PSEPHOLOGISTS Kevin Bonham and Richard Herr assert that Lyons is a seat which gives loyalty to the incumbent.

That certainly applied with Max Burr (Liberal) and Dick Adams (Labor) who each held the seat for many years.

However, first-term MPs such as Eric Hutchinson (Liberal), and now Brian Mitchell (Labor), need to win at least a second term to gain the electorate's trust. This seat should be regarded as still in play.

AS I write this letter not 48 hours after the start of a devastating bushfire to our special piece of paradise, I'm fully aware that each of us processes material loss and significant life changes differently.

It's important for each of us to recognise this over the coming weeks and months.

My property at Dolphin Sands was badly affected by the fire.

Our shack was saved but we lost all vegetation as well as thousands of dollars of building materials and equipment.

However, we must recognise that nobody intended for this event to happen.

As is the case with most events of this type, it is a sequence of clearly unintentional but extremely unfortunate events that accumulate to form what we have just experienced. Now is the time for us to band together as a community to assist those affected in any way we can.

I'm sure I speak for every member of the Dolphin Sands community when I pay heartfelt respect and appreciation to all the career and volunteer firefighters and other emergency service personnel in attendance.

Without their assistance, the results may well have been catastrophic. The commitment of these guys and girls is without question.

We will remain forever grateful.

Local businesses have been instrumental in their unwavering support of those attending the front line and families immediately impacted.

Let us now look to the future, take forward positive learnings and continue to band together, which is what makes this community ours.

AS a regular user of the Sidling I find the recent hit or miss, mostly miss, road verge maintenance between Scottsdale and the Sidling lookout pathetic.

The stoney material used was neither graded or watered and rolled and has left dangerous gutters and loose rocks over the road surface.

Also, the many sections of melted tarmac that lifted at Christmas time in the heat have not been repaired and the warning lights that were installed at great cost to warn off the many oncoming heavy trucks have been out of action since then.

Surely this road, that has become increasingly popular since Derby bike trails opened, requires an urgent upgrade if not a full reconstruction with some passing opportunities before an unfortunate camper or caravan comes to grief. This is the Tasman Highway after all.

ON April 6 it was noted that City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten mentioned the City Heart Project when he met candidates from both major parties.

All the council's projects lately, that must have cost millions, have all been keep-it-pretty and above ground with no mention of the sewage stormwater problem at Inveresk.

Someone once said don't 'build your house on the sand', I think that also applies to antiquated overflowing sewage and stormwater.

We don't need or want bandaid solutions, we need it fixed properly.

Fix it once, fix it right.