David Braybrook, Sebastopol.

The word 'drought' is no longer sufficient to describe long term trends towards lower average rainfall in many parts of Australia. Ballarat is on track to record less than half of its October average and, without a substantial correction in the rainfall pattern, a 30% rainfall deficit for the year. This is not a drought; this is the new normal.

We need to start talking about 'climate shift' rather than drought. The big watch is on Mildura where less than 75mm of rain has been recorded for the year, comparable to that recorded in parts of the Sahara or Death Valley in California. The impact on the flora of the region will be profound and devastating. We can't adapt to these changes as they are linear and only set to get worse without radical action on our emissions.

The present delays will make the effort required by Australians to act on climate change so much greater and the damage incurred so much more severe. Only by banishing the conservative forces in the state and federal governments to a term in the political wilderness to purge their ranks of the ideologues who are denying the threat shall we see progress.

Patrick Hockey, Clunes

The banking, superannuation and associated insurance industries have treated some of us poorly.  My fixed term deposit rate is continually falling while the bank is increasing the home loan rate. They are extricating money from the borrower and the investor.

After being deregulated, they have pocketed profits at whim and still enjoy government protection against failure. I imagine If fines are imposed in court, the more the little people will pay even though the banks are the instigators.

Colin Holmes, Ballarat.