"cheap reliable power is essential,"

I used to live at a time and in a country where power was cheap and reliable. In fact so cheap that the country had arguably the cheapest power on the planet and was able to maintain high electricity using industries without any problems.

Power was reliable and the people became so used to it and so disconnected from the idea that it wasn't always going to be there when they wanted it, that they began to listen to charlatans who convinced them that they could offer power that was cheap and reliable while also saving the world and/or the GBR from the great AGW monster.

Alas that country no longer exists as the basis for its erstwhile cheap and reliable power has been destroyed.

The good news is that a return to that country is as simple as deciding to rebuild the power stations that proliferated in the early 21st century. The bad news is that the charlatans won't allow it.

Aidan,

The prediction from the renewable energy advocates was that solar and wind would make electricity cheaper. With a small amount of wind and solar, electricity supply is more expensive and less reliable. Can you give a working example of a renewable only power supply system that is as reliable and cheaper than coal? Australian consumers have been misled.

twisting figures and manipulating data use to be called lying. It seems the renewables crowd have become an expert at it. Even the founder of the weather channel exposes these charlatans. What I wonder is how these pseudo scientist, false prophets, data manipulators and fraudsters get any job satisfaction from spreading the lies. The pay must be very good while the satisfaction rate must be very low. I think toilet cleaners contribute more to this nation than these leaches.

Can any of you fossil fuel deniers tell us how huge ships and trucks and farm tractors and trains are to be fuelled? These modes of transport are used to supply food to the people. Alternative wind, solar and water movement created electricity will fuel none of these.

A Carbon Tax is coming for farm machinery, livestock, trucks, freight, fishers and boats - Cory Bernardi tried to stop this mechanism in parliament, but the Labor party and Greens voted for it.

There is also talk of cutting back on herds to reduced farting. Crazy!