This is an absolutely blatant attack on the renewable energy sector and to call it "by stealth" is just nonsense.

As a world citizen firstly, Australian citizen secondly and a supporter of progressive politics thirdly, I am appalled and dismayed by the current conservative government's promotion of the fossil fuel industry when our world environment is under such catastrophic threat from the burning of fossil fuel.

Conservatives are by definition supporters of the status quo and secondly our economy has benefited greatly from the recent mining boom.

But that boom has gone for now, as China's need for or coal and minerals has slowed greatly.

The mining industries are still, however, enormously powerful and their influence on political decisions is great.

Both major parties are fearful of taking on the miners, the Labor Party's attempt under Rudd was a disaster politically and the Coalition's energy policy could almost have been written by the Minerals Council.

Just as "big tobacco" fought so hard to bury evidence against smoking so does the the fossil fuel industry, through its lobbyists, fight just as hard to influence the government.

The Minerals Council must thank their lucky stars and say a little prayer every night because of their good fortune in having Tony Abbott as Prime Minister.

"Coal is good for humanity" he says, so for now in Australia coal is safe but humanity is far from safe when our future is in the hands of the Abbotts of this world

Barry Stevens

Tura Beach