Hydrogen is becoming popular around the world because of its capacity to be a large scale and clean energy storage and distribution network, but not the way our government plans to do it.

To separate hydrogen and oxygen in water is a high energy process called electrolysis. If we set up hydrogen plants where the energy source is a clean renewable one such as solar or wind, we would have completely clean energy day and night.

Instead, the government wants to use gas as the energy source, which means we will use a dirty process that creates more emissions to produce an energy storage system that will no doubt be marketed as clean.

Don't fall for the government's carefully worded promotion of the gas powered hydrogen plant - it's as bad as coal. Promote hydrogen by all means, but only "clean" hydrogen, not one that requires burning gas to create it.

Graham Parton, Beechworth

IN OTHER NEWS:

Rex is up against the big guns in airline competition and without Rex regions would face much dearer airfares and less service. Regional people need to book with Rex, realise how important they are as the regional airline. Regions need Rex and Rex needs us in regions.

Without affordable airfares and route competition, business and tourism in regions will be affected.

Stuart Davie, Corowa

I would like to suggest a site for the new hospital (hopefully) being considered for Albury-Wodonga.

A perfect site is next to the old Sunicrust bakery building in Chapel/Osborne street, Wodonga vacant land. It is quite large to accommodate a good size hospital, and space for car parks etc, etc. It is so well situated to the Baranduda link for easy access to Albury and beyond.

And also southbound, with ring roads already in place. But seeing as it's in Wodonga, "pie in the sky".

Tony Greenhow, Wodonga

MORE COMMENT

Professor Newman has highlighted the few environmental steps we have undertaken, and the great strides we need to take to protect the environment (Opinion, April 29).

The truth is that we need to stop treating Mother Nature as though it is an endless magical pudding that we can continuously plunder. Stringent environmental protection measures need to be undertaken so that our children and their children will be able to enjoy the wonders of nature that we currently experience. This includes pushing for strong and effective climate action from the government so that irreversible and catastrophic climate events can be averted.

After all, "we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children".

Emilie Nuck, Stanley

Where's the fairness?

As an observer living not far from the federal seat of Indi, I understand Sophie Mirabella lost her Federal seat because voters objected to her abrasiveness, belligerence, arrogance, lack of empathy and inability to listen.

The government, in its wisdom or should that be largesse, has now rewarded Sophie with a job for life, an 11 year stint until retirement age on an annual salary of $387,960.

Admittedly the announcement was on April 1, but unfortunately it was not a joke. Are the qualities Sophie exhibited to her electorate appropriate for her new role as a Fair Work Commissioner?

Bert Washington, Albury

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