National Maritime Day United States of America
National Sovereignty Haiti
National Unity Day Yemen
International Day for Biological Diversity www.un.org/en/events/biodiversityday/
Sherlock Holmes Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sherlock-holmes-day/
Goth Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/goth-day/
Accounting Day https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/accounting-day/
Macular Degeneration Awareness Week http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/
National Palliative Care Week http://www.palliativecare.org.au/Ourwork/NationalPalliativeCareWeek.aspx
More about May 22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_22
National
Summer energy crisis looms without reforms, Grattan Institute warns
Panicking politicians who make kneejerk decisions to bolster Australia’s energy security run the risk of fuelling a power crisis with more blackouts and restrictions, a Grattan Institute report says.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-21/grattan-institute-warns-of-looming-summer-energy-crisis/8545522
New coalmines will worsen poverty and escalate climate change, report finds
Oxfam attacks Australia’s ‘climate policy paralysis’ and urges it to promise no new coalmines and end public subsidies
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/22/new-coalmines-will-worsen-poverty-and-escalate-climate-change-report-finds
Cheap way to cut emissions
Graham Lloyd
Australia could meet a 2C warming target under the Paris agreement at no cost to business.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/land-management-changes-the-lowcost-way-to-cut-emissions/news-story/eaa311fadd2d5963774b94c3bcf9bb95
True power of coal
Tim Blair
FORGET nukes, it seems we have a much more powerful weapon right at our fingertips. Coal. Yes, coal, believe it or not
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/tim-blair/news-story/2dfb1571548dac311a226e92bea8cce0
The parallels are clear: coal is indeed the new tobacco
Marianne Cannon
The best way to improve the health of Australians is for the country to rapidly …
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4672295/the-parallels-are-clear-coal-is-indeed-the-new-tobacco/?cs=97
Victoria
Sand used to halt beach erosion acceleration along Great Ocean Road
More than 16,000 cubic metres of sand is being moved along beaches at Apollo Bay to protect the Great Ocean Road from coastal erosion, which has seen shorelines reduced by up to one metre per year.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-21/sand-used-to-halt-beach-erosion-rise-along-great-ocean-road/8543552
Hunters may face breath test scrutiny
ANIMAL rights groups have called for hunters to be subject to compulsory breath-testing — much like drivers.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/animal-rights-groups-call-for-compulsory-breath-test-for-hunters/news-story/e2539e5ee358c8a0bc527f9d34f118c6
Victorian families in power bill panic
POWER bills are crippling Victorian families, with almost 40,000 households now in hardship programs. struggling to pay their bills.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/power-bills-crippling-victorian-families-almost-40000-households-struggling-to-pay/news-story/42898b5983ef686e72c877da1c41904b
Cycling loophole in TAC insurance rules leaves us all worse off
Craig Richards
Victoria is a wonderful place to live. We generally come together and support people facing hardships, while still creating an environment where you can excel. However, a recent court case involving bike rider Rory Wilson shows we don’t always get it right.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/cycling-loophole-in-tac-insurance-rules-leaves-us-all-worse-off-20170519-gw8law.html
New South Wales
Limiting bus privatisation to the inner west not about politics: Premier
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/limiting-bus-privatisation-to-the-inner-west-not-about-politics-premier-20170521-gw9o6j.html
The Sydney motorway that you will pay for whether or not it’s used
The operator of NorthConnex will be paid compensation if not enough trucks use the 9 kilometre motorway
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/transurban-to-get-paid-if-trucks-use-northconnex-motorway-and-if-they-dont-20170521-gw9r20.html
Applying genetic sequencing to bush regeneration
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/royal-botanic-garden-applies-genetic-sequencing-to-multibilliondollar-bush-regeneration-budget-20170518-gw7w0m.html
ACT
Engineers devise promising solution to Canberra Airport PFC contamination
Engineers have devised a promising solution to the chemical contamination crisis hitting airports across the country, including Canberra.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/engineers-devise-promising-solution-to-canberra-airport-pfc-contamination-20170518-gw7lk4.html
Queensland
EnergyAustralia faces $1bn claim
Queensland Investment Corp has launched an almost $1 billion claim over problems at the Iona gas storage facility.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/qic-seeks-1bn-from-energyaustralia-for-iona-gas-problems/news-story/e7eff9266a9162f19cfde50b9baa3726
Do you support Adani, Ms Trad?
The following is a transcript of an exchange between Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and The Australian.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/jackie-trad-transcript-of-exchange-over-adani-with-the-australian/news-story/6d51716d1a2635fe50f7d216ebee332a
Adani deal ‘reworked’ after faction revolt
THE State Government is understood to be reworking the Adani deal after a Left faction revolt made it clear Cabinet would not approve a controversial scheme to delay millions in royalties.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/queensland-politics-labors-left-faction-revolts-over-proposed-adani-mine-deal/news-story/87c19264e06e00c9750aa870d1ba7dfc
Voters reject public subsidies for Adani coal mine, poll finds
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/just-7-per-cent-of-voters-want-the-government-to-invest-in-adani-mine-poll-20170521-gw9k4g.html
Turnbull government cuts Adani’s Abbot Point turtle controls
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/mockery-turnbull-government-quietly-cuts-adanis-abbot-point-turtle-controls-20170520-gw9cu6.html
Rangers using drones to monitor Great Barrier Reef
The first Indigenous ranger group in Queensland to receive certification to use drones commercially is being trained to use them to monitor the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-22/indigenous-ranger-drone-training-great-barrier-reef/8541762
Koala carer joins fight against land clearing after burying her ‘babies’
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/conservation-groups-join-forces-to-lobby-government-to-protect-against-land-clearing-20170521-gw9sfo.html
Stand firm on Adani mine, Premier
Courier Mail editorial
THE Palaszczuk Government has shown a perverse streak in its response to employment opportunities presented to the state, particularly the Adani mine.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-its-time-annastacia-palaszczuk-stood-firm-on-adani-mine/news-story/15a5a80e789157f420d5c810325a6ace
Tasmania
Tasmanian ‘super oyster’ gives hopes for disease resistance
Tasmania’s $26 million oyster industry has new hope, with scientists testing a “super oyster” in waters hit by the deadly Pacific oyster mortality syndrome.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-21/tasmanian-super-oyster-gives-hopes-for-disease-resistance/8537504
Forest jobs hunt: Barnett
The Resources Minister says forestry workers and small sawmillers will be forced to head interstate if the government’s …
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4676220/forest-jobs-hunt-barnett/?cs=5312
Labor pledges to fund key tourism projects
LABOR has pledged to fund the Tasmanian tourism industry’s priority infrastructure projects as part of a $50 million Long Term Regional Tourism Strategy.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/labor-pledges-to-fund-projects-to-futureproof-tasmanias-tourism-industry/news-story/24156f8fc07ee30828a103abf065ce6e
Planning laws favour development
Sophie Underwood
Proposed laws make it harder to protect what makes Tasmania special and unique
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/new-laws-will-help-developers-at-the-expense-of-tasmanias-identity-says-sophie-underwood/news-story/7f7a580f8f5f682d730fe7f997616fef
Water takeover questions
Doug Chipman
The community should be asking itself why the State Government wants to take over TasWater.
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/state-governments-planned-takeover-of-taswater-raises-questions/news-story/9c529db32270c3f81824c21c24b2cf08
Northern Territory
‘Cane-toad-smart’ quolls to be bred in the NT
Baby quolls that have been fed poisoned cane toads have descended on an island off the coast of the Northern Territory, in an effort to stop the species being wiped out.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-21/cane-toad-smart-quolls-to-be-trained-in-the-northern-territory/8544956
Western Australia
Synergy power bills could rise by 15 per cent
WA Energy Minister Ben Wyatt has indicated household electricity prices could have to rise by up to 15 per cent within two years as part of moves to allow people to choose where they buy their power from.
https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/why-synergy-power-bills-could-rise-by-15-per-cent-ng-b88481271z
Sustainability
Swiss voters back nuclear ban, embrace shift to renewables
Swiss voters back the Government’s plan to provide billions of dollars in subsidies for renewable energy, ban new nuclear plants and help bail out struggling utilities in a binding referendum.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-22/swiss-voters-embrace-shift-to-renewable-energy/8545844
China’s oversupply of shared bikes clogging up city streets
A spiralling oversupply of shared bikes in China is leading to huge piles of broken and unused bicycles in cities across the country.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-21/chinas-oversupply-of-shared-bikes-clogging-up-city-streets/8543720
Air pollution linked to poor sleep, study finds
Exposure to nitrogen dioxide and airborne particles affects sleep efficiency, says medical professor
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/21/air-pollution-linked-to-poor-sleep-study-finds
Charging ahead: Welsh battery scheme may aid growth of green energy
One of the UK’s largest battery storage schemes, built next to a windfarm, will offer vital services to the National Grid
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/21/charging-ahead-welsh-battery-scheme-may-aid-growth-of-green-energy
Time for the oil industry to snuff out its flares
The World Bank reckons the 16,000 flares worldwide produce around 350m tonnes of CO2 each year, causing untold harm
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/21/time-oil-industry-snuff-out-flares-pollutionwatch
How do the four main UK parties compare on the environment?
Environment experts weigh up the manifesto pledges on issues such as air pollution, climate change, energy and waste
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/21/how-do-the-four-main-parties-compare-on-the-environment
The eco guide to unusual materials
Fabrics such as cotton come at a dear cost to the environment. Look for progressive alternatives made from pineapples, eucalyptus, even mushrooms
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/21/the-eco-guide-to-unusual-materials
Nature Conservation
Microfibres from the clothes we wear are polluting oceans
When it comes to plastic pollution on beaches, scientists say few of us realise the biggest threat — microfibres. They are invisible to the naked eye, and there is no plan in place to tackle the problem.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-21/scientists-warn-of-growing-cost-of-inaction-on-microfibres/8540606
Demand for donkey skin sets prices soaring in China
Donkey skin is prized for its medicinal properties in China, including enhancing libido and treating insomnia. African countries are slaughtering the animals to meet Chinese demand, and Australia is considering following suit.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/05/21/demand-donkey-skin-sets-prices-soaring-china
Now for something completely different …
Right outspent by $121m
Anti-business activist groups spend four times more each year on political campaigning than business.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/right-outspent-by-121m-by-left/news-story/229cdb0976653f36a2ccd1dab2438a0a
Maelor Himbury