Independence Day Paraguay
Mother’s Day Samoa
Peace Officer Memorial Day United States of America
San Isidro Spain
San Isidro Labrador Peru
Teacher’s Day South Korea
International Conscientious Objector Day https://www.facebook.com/events/1257538564295940/
International Day of Families http://www.un.org/en/events/familyday/
Schizophrenia Awareness Week http://www.sfnsw.org.au/
National Law Week http://www.lawweek.com.au/
National Families Week http://www.nfw.org.au/
More about May 15 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_15
National
Roads and rail building set to drive economy
http://www.afr.com/news/roads-and-rail-not-houses-and-mines-set-to-drive-economy-bis-20170514-gw4dnf
Gas sector split on exports
There appears to be a fracturing of energy sector unity as Malcolm Turnbull talks of east coast export restrictions.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/gas-sector-split-on-export-restrictions/news-story/a26783ad671abf1e395d26e710d1f191
Recklessness fed energy crisis
Josh Frydenberg
We must integrate wind and solar without sacrificing affordability and stability.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/john-howard-is-right-recklessness-and-states-gas-bans-fed-energy-crisis/news-story/309922ce34d6dccc099910abe96988c7
Australia’s biggest emitters opt to ‘wait and see’ over Emissions Reduction Fund
Jayanthi Kumarasiri, Swinburne University of Technology and Nava Subramaniam, RMIT University
http://theconversation.com/australias-biggest-emitters-opt-to-wait-and-see-over-emissions-reduction-fund-77160
From ‘white flight’ to ‘bright flight’ – the looming risk for our growing cities
Jason Twill, University of Technology Sydney
http://theconversation.com/from-white-flight-to-bright-flight-the-looming-risk-for-our-growing-cities-76787
Victoria
Tree lovers push to save St Kilda boulevard
A PUSH to list St Kilda Rd’s iconic tree-lined boulevard on the World Heritage Register has been launched by dozens of prominent Victorians and could force a change to a Metro rail tunnel station location.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/push-to-list-st-kilda-rd-iconic-treelines-boulevard-on-world-heritage-register/news-story/57841dbccfc05629793c2eaa7d693fd6
Housing affordability: Bill Shorten accuses Coalition of releasing ‘contaminated’ land
Scott Morrison says release of former defence land in Melbourne is proof Coalition serious about affordable housing
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/14/housing-affordability-bill-shorten-accuses-coalition-of-releasing-contaminated-land
New South Wales
Scientists track threatened weedy seadragons using marine ‘facial recognition’
Sydney scientists use the marine equivalent of facial recognition software to photograph and track weedy seadragons off the coast of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, fearing the species could be dying out in some areas.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-14/seadragon-research-tracks-threatened-species-in-australia/8523924
ACT
Nonsensical opposition to heritage is harmful
Ken Taylor
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/andrew-barrs-nonsensical-opposition-to-heritage-will-harm-our-citys-future-20170514-gw4d8u.html
Queensland
Rail link fails to make it to port
THE $8.4 billion Budget allocation for a long-awaited Inland Rail link does not include the cost of connecting it to the Port of Brisbane.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/inland-rail-link-fails-to-make-it-to-port/news-story/fca964e16125da4dab5da8f22b1998fe
State gets on board bullet train bid
A BULLET train connecting key centres in southeast Queensland could be on the cards.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-opposition-makes-bid-for-bullet-train-proposal/news-story/2f11c08f1d862819fb1d43d89a9ef6ab
‘Monumental experiment’: Concerns raised over Adani’s mine plans
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/monumental-experiment-concerns-raised-over-adanis-mine-rehab-plans-20170513-gw46v9.html
South Australia
And Australia’s tidiest town is … in SA!
A SOUTH Australian Riverland community whose future was in grave doubt just a decade ago due to the drought has just been named the nation’s tidiest town.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/barmera-in-sas-riverland-wins-australian-tidy-towns-award/news-story/a1f82b512e2bcb3f89eddf4e7650d02b
Tasmania
TICT tick for park project
Plans to develop an “activity base” within Narawntapu National Park have been welcomed by the Tourism Industry Council …
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4660789/tict-tick-for-park-project/?cs=5312
Western Australia
Research shows WA’s northern quolls are avoiding feral cat baits
Northern quolls in Western Australia’s Pilbara region may be learning to avoid toxic baits aimed at decimating feral cat numbers, according to researchers.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-14/northern-quolls-may-be-learning-to-avoid-toxic-baits/8524890
WA Opposition supports Government’s shark strategy
The WA Liberal Opposition expresses support for the State Government’s shark mitigation strategy, but says it should still allow for sharks involved in attacks to be killed.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-14/wa-liberals-support-governments-shark-strategy/8524154
Photographers capture burn-off haze hanging over Perth city
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/photographers-capture-burnoff-haze-hanging-over-perth-city-20170514-gw4f0l.html
Perth to get ‘smart freeway’
Kwinana freeway to get upgrades to become a ‘smart freeway’
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/perth-to-get-smart-freeway-bc-5433602130001
Sustainability
Will clothes companies do the right thing to reduce microfiber pollution?
Synthetic fibers are polluting the world’s oceans – but a new report shows how apparel companies have been far too slow to respond. Can they change their ways?
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361616265
The eco guide to green lawns
Manicured grass comes at a heavy cost in terms of pollution from pesticides. We need better legislation, and wildflowers happily mixed with the turf
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/14/the-eco-guide-to-green-lawns
Nature Conservation
Where have all the insects gone?
Surveys in German nature reserves point to a dramatic decline in insect biomass.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/t/-995200128361620317
Maelor Himbury