The Murray Darling Basin Plan is not delivering – there’s no more time to waste
Quentin Grafton et al
https://theconversation.com/the-murray-darling-basin-plan-is-not-delivering-theres-no-more-time-to-waste-91076
Today’s Celebration
Chama Cha Mapinduzi Day Tanzania
Constitution Day Mexico
Liberation of the Republic from the Alberoni Occupation San Marino
Presidents Day Congo (Republic of)
St. Agatha’s Day San Marino
Unity Day Burundi
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late http://www.preventbowelcancer.org/
Feeding Tube Awareness Week http://www.ausee.org/feeding-tube-awareness-week
International Vendor Week http://www.thebigissue.org.au/news/2016/01/18/international-vendor-week/
Tinnitus Awareness Week http://www.takeontinnitus.co.uk/
Climate Change
Exxon studies climate policies and sees ‘little risk’ to bottom line
The oil giant issued a climate report, demanded by shareholders, examining the threats to its business of a move away from fossil fuels.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/climate/exxon-global-warming.html
National
‘Don’t fence us in’: Dingo barrier dismantlement could help farmers, ecologist claim
Dingoes struggle to attract the affection enjoyed by domesticated dogs, but an ecologist argues that letting them roam beyond the fence designed to keep them out could bring great benefits.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-04/ecologist-questions-environmental-value-of-dingo-fence/9393380
Murray-Darling basin plan fails environment and wastes money – experts
Scientists and economists issue urgent warning that $4bn plan is not improving basin health
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/05/murray-darling-basin-plan-fails-environment-and-wastes-money-experts
Summer heatwaves could provide future energy
New research has found ways to supercharge thermoelectric devices and make them up to three times more effective than standard thermoelectric semiconductors.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/summer-heatwaves-could-provide-future-energy-20180129-p4yz0a.html
Shell boss says ‘LNG glut’ a furphy
Shell, Australia’s biggest LNG exporter, says there will be no LNG glut and it will continue to invest in new projects.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/shell-denies-lng-glut-ready-to-invest/news-story/52790cd2ba6412451104ade5d6665f2b
Australian cities are far from being meccas for walking and cycling
Dorina Pojani and Elizabeth Butterworth, The University of Queensland
https://theconversation.com/australian-cities-are-far-from-being-meccas-for-walking-and-cycling-87331
The Murray Darling Basin Plan is not delivering – there’s no more time to waste
Quentin Grafton et al
https://theconversation.com/the-murray-darling-basin-plan-is-not-delivering-theres-no-more-time-to-waste-91076
Coalition efforts to restrict influence of charities go too far
Toni Hassan
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/coalition-efforts-to-restrict-influence-of-charities-go-too-far-toni-hassan-20180203-h0t66k.html
Labor ‘like Corbyn’ on energy
Josh Frydenberg
Nationalising the electricity grid would impose a huge cost burden on taxpayers in a move that is illogical, irresponsible madness.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/shorten-must-rule-out-nationalising-the-electricity-grid/news-story/282b309f5a3a8ed13987aa6e801f5530
Victoria
Taxpayers could be slugged $1.8b if West Gate Tunnel is blocked
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/taxpayers-could-be-slugged-1-8b-if-west-gate-tunnel-blocked-analyst-20180203-p4yzct.html
Power blackouts compensation: Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria investigates disputes
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victorian-blackouts-prompt-hundreds-of-complaints-to-energy-ombudsman-each-year/news-story/1ae2ac37d8887c0818ff30e79a18bef9
New South Wales
High house prices and rents are ‘pushing out’ some of Sydney’s key workers.
Sydney’s nurses, teachers and emergency service workers can’t afford to live in the city with the closest affordable towns 100km away, a new report shows.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/38828865/key-workers-shut-out-of-sydney-report/
Fire bans in place across NSW ahead of scorcher week
A bushfire continues burn through the Royal National Park in New South Wales, as the state prepares for yet another week of scorching temperatures.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/01/22/06/06/total-fire-bans-in-place-as-new-south-wales-prepares-to-sizzle-through-yet-another-week
Flames still going after three weeks: Battling the endless summer blaze
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/flames-still-going-after-three-weeks-battling-the-endless-summer-blaze-20180202-h0sqrk.html
Metro not the answer to Sydney’s transport woes
John Brew
The current woes of Sydney Trains suggest to me that the system has finally reached the limits of its ability to carry passengers.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/metro-not-the-answer-to-sydneys-transport-woes-20180202-h0sqm5.html
Queensland
Adani coalmine won’t get federal rail funding, Liberal minister says
Concessional $900m loan cannot proceed without Queensland government approval, Karen Andrews says
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/04/adani-coalmine-wont-get-federal-rail-funding-liberal-minister-says
Gautam Adani says attacks on mine proposal have turned vicious and personal
Adani’s chairman Gautam Adani says the attacks against him have become vicious and personal, and assisted by green groups, opponents and the media.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gautam-adani-says-attacks-on-mine-proposal-have-turned-vicious-and-personal/news-story/804fa48fa4e96662307e91ca780148c6
Shorten ‘a walking sovereign risk’ over Adani
Matt Canavan said Labor, as the alternative government, was jeopardising jobs and investment and that leader Bill Shorten was “a walking sovereign risk”.
http://www.afr.com/news/bill-shorten-a-walking-sovereign-risk-over-adani-coalition-20180204-h0tggp
Reef in ‘deep trouble’ from climate, other threats: MPA
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/great-barrier-reef-in-deep-trouble-as-climate-other-threats-mount-official-20180204-h0ta4z.html
Pauline Hanson pushes for new Queensland rail line
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/pauline-hanson-pushes-for-new-queensland-rail-line/news-story/b32ee10ade6421ece6ae5873519bd9a4
Buses overtake trains as urban services slashed in Commonwealth Games transport plan
http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/buses-overtake-trains-as-urban-services-slashed-in-commonwealth-games-transport-plan-20180204-p4yzdi.html
South Australia
Elon Musk’s Tesla plans to give thousands of homes batteries: here’s how it would work
Elon Musk’s Tesla cuts a deal with the SA Government to give thousands of homes batteries and solar systems to reduce power bills. But there’s a catch — the power generated by the scheme won’t be owned by the households, and may well be sold back to them.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-04/how-tesla-sa-labor-free-battery-scheme-would-work/9394728
Could this be South Australia’s biggest private solar panel set up?
A massive $10.5 million solar panel set-up will make Adelaide’s biggest wholesale fruit and vegetable market self-sufficient and cut its power bills by $500,000 a year.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/could-this-be-south-australias-biggest-private-solar-panel-set-up/news-story/7bb41005fa5a0b1d447f923593c8ba36
If Murray plan needs fixing, we must fix it
Advertiser editorial
The call by a group of prominent scientists to put a hold on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan so that its operation can be properly assessed appears rational, but it is troubling.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/the-advertiser-editorial-if-murray-plan-needs-fixing-we-must-fix-it/news-story/258ed1b2c287d3204f4591dd1ae66328
Tasmania
Tasmanian Tarkine forest advocates release political video spoken in Aboriginal language
In a first for Tasmania, the Wilderness Society and the Aboriginal Centre produce a political advertisement in the local Aboriginal language, highlighting concerns about protecting the Tarkine reserve in the state’s north-west.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-04/an-advertisement-featuring-the-language-of-the-aboriginal-peopl/9394656
Tasmanian election ad narrated in revived Aboriginal language – video
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2018/feb/04/tasmanian-election-ad-narrated-in-revived-aboriginal-language-video
Tas Liberals promise to break from national electricity market to reduce power prices
Tasmanian Liberals pledge to cut power prices by up to 10 per cent by removing the state from the National Electricity Market.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-04/the-tasmanian-liberals-have-promised-to-reduce-power-prices-by-/9394516
Tasmania election 2018: power prices plan welcomed
Welfare body welcomes Liberal plan to cut power prices as others warn reform will be needed
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/politics/welfare-body-welcomes-liberal-plan-to-cut-power-prices-as-others-warn-reform-will-be-needed/news-story/c51003f2308856c31b7f791d1172aecb
Liberal’s pledge $40,000 for mountain bike initiatives
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5207100/liberals-pledge-40000-for-mountain-bike-initiatives/?cs=95
Tasmanian Greens detail six-part planning policy for state
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/5207226/tasmanian-greens-detail-six-part-planning-policy-for-state/?cs=95
Sustainability
Is having a baby unethical?
When it comes to having kids, there are many things to consider, like your emotional maturity and financial stability. For some philosophers, the biggest question is whether it is right to become a parent at all.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-04/philosophy-parenting-is-having-a-baby-unethical/9382564
How Bill Gates aims to clean up the planet
It’s a simple idea: strip CO2 from the air and use it to produce carbon-neutral fuel. But can it work on an industrial scale?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/04/carbon-emissions-negative-emissions-technologies-capture-storage-bill-gates
Maelor Himbury