Post of the Day
Young people won’t accept inaction on climate change, and they’ll be voting in droves
Hannah Feldman
Today young Australians will hit the streets for the second Climate Strike of 2019.
Today’s Celebration
Constitution Day – Poland
Fiesta de las Cruces – Hispanic America
Constitution Memorial Day – Japan
National Day – Poland
Labour Day – Queensland
May Day – Northern Territory
National Day of Prayer
Climate Change
US House backs Paris agreement with bill
The US House of Representative has backed the Paris accord with its first climate bill in a decade in defiance of Donald Trump; the Senate won’t support it.
National
Morrison promises to protect waterways
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is promising to protect Australia’s waterways and threatened species with a $203 million election commitment.
Shorten slams climate change ‘propaganda’
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has rubbished modelling suggesting Labor’s climate change targets could shrink the nation’s economic growth by 0.8 per cent.
Ex-Nats leader dunks coalition on water
Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer has criticised the government’s “clunky” management of elements of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Clive Palmer says Lucas Heights has ‘no safety issues’ and SA is a ‘backwater’
live Palmer claims building nuclear reactors in SA would prevent it remaining a “backwater”, pointing to Lucas Heights in New South Wales as a glowing example despite safety concerns highlighted in a review last year.
Climate kids wagging school again to battle CO2 and denier politicians
Thousands of young Australians are expected to skip school again on Friday morning and stage another climate strike at more than 70 locations around the nation.
Almost half of Australians believe immigration should be reduced, poll finds
Survey results raise concerns about the extent of the impact of anti-immigration rhetoric in Australia’s public debate
Tony Abbott and Josh Frydenberg’s re-election targeted by school climate protesters
Students will also protest outside offices of Anthony Albanese, Jason Clare, Scott Morrison and Trevor Evans
Morrison defied Treasury’s advice to reject help for Liberal donor’s power company
Officials advised against ‘providing or hinting at providing any assistance’ to Delta Electricity
What Australia can do to recover from the recycling crisis
As China turns away previously accepted recyclable waste, container return schemes are offering a new solution. How and where you recycle has never been more important.
Morrison defends his climate policy as cost free [$]
Scott Morrison says his plan to reduce emissions will have no impact on the economy because taxpayers will foot the entire bill.
International permits vital to reducing carbon pain: Fisher [$]
Dr Brian Fisher, whose costing of Labor’s climate policy has been hailed and attacked, says whoever wins government must adopt international carbon credits.
Did activists push the media into fake news over ‘Watergate’? [$]
Energy Minister Angus Taylor may be the first victim of a national election story that was created and prosecuted on Twitter.
Santos may track carbon emissions of its customers [$]
Energy producer Santos has left the door open to tracking the carbon emissions of its gas customers, amid demands from investor and environment groups to more effectively tackle climate change.
Cleaner fuel means ‘more pollution’ [$]
The petroleum industry has warned that improving the nation’s fuel standards would increase pollution by refineries.
Key crossbenchers open to backing Labor’s 45 per cent greenhouse cuts
Likely Senate kingmakers the Centre Alliance party will consider backing Labor’s emissions cuts if the hit to households and the economy won’t be excessive.
‘At a crossroads’: Energy operator to get more power to prevent blackouts
The energy market rule maker will make it easier for the grid operator to encourage big businesses and households to power down to keep the lights on.
Gas companies defend climate actions, defy shareholder activists’ push
Energy giants Santos and Woodside have faced down environmental activist shareholders at their annual general meetings, saying they are offsetting carbon emissions by selling LNG to Asian consumers who would have otherwise used dirtier coal.
Libs declare war on waste with $203m recycling pitch
The Morrison government will promise $203 million to promote recycling, save waterways and protect native animals in a pitch to voters on the environment as it escalates a fight with Labor over climate change.
Climate economist egged at home [$]
Brian Fisher is considering walking away from economic modelling after his home was egged.
Renewable heat and bioenergy can reduce emissions and keep lights on
AFPA media release
Leading up to the 2019 Federal Election, the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) is urging major political parties to recognise the significant potential of renewable heat and bioenergy to both reduce energy costs for industry and help meet Australia’s emissions reduction targets.
Brian Fisher Linked to Fossil Fuel Industry
Climate Council media release
The Climate Council is calling on Brian Fisher to come clean about his links to the fossil fuel industry, following the release of his “independent” modelling looking at the cost of Labor’s climate policy.
Labor delivers on several key forest industries election priorities
AFPA media release
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes Federal Labor’s policy package announced today, which agrees to several AFPA policy priorities to grow Australia’s renewable forest industries, AFPA CEO, Mr Ross Hampton, said.
Shorten’s climate policy and why we don’t need to fear the Coalition’s ‘big scary numbers’
Katharine Murphy
Scott Morrison wants voters to think that Bill Shorten is risky and reckless – but no one needs to grab the smelling salts
After Extinction Rebellion, Australian politicians are on notice – change is coming
Nicky Ison
Spurred by global movements to fight climate change, the federal election shows that if major parties won’t change, voter habits will
Labor wants to keep climate debate in the clouds [$]
Michelle Grattan
Refusing to own any particular set of figures, which is what Labor has done – apart from passing nods to assessments that suit its case – is risky.
Young people won’t accept inaction on climate change, and they’ll be voting in droves
Hannah Feldman
Today young Australians will hit the streets for the second Climate Strike of 2019.
The media has failed spectacularly on climate change [$]
Bernard Keane
The media’s coverage of climate change in the election campaign has reflected the Coalition’s long-term strategy of denialism, rather than a desire for genuine scrutiny.
Why does media fall for Angus Taylor’s ridiculous scare campaigns?
Giles Parkinson
Energy minister Angus Taylor has form on scare campaigns. Long before he became an MP, Taylor was a relentless campaigner against wind energy, becoming the poster-boy for the nasty and anonymous website Stop These Things.
Victoria
Four months of rain in minutes in Victoria
Parts of Victoria received more rain in 15 minutes than the entire first four months of the year overnight while severe storms wreaked havoc.
World Migratory Bird Day celebrations
The Newport Community Hub will be in a flap on Saturday 11 May as bird enthusiasts, conservationists and local community members come together to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day.
Floating gas plant fires up Mornington Peninsula locals in Greg Hunt’s seat
All the major candidates agree it shouldn’t go ahead, yet a proposed floating gas terminal in Western Port Bay is shaping up to be a key federal election issue in the Victorian seat of Flinders.
Victorian water corps look to zero emission targets
Allens has advised Intelligent Water Networks on a corporate power purchase agreement to promote renewable energy generation in Victoria.
Vic inquiry spotlight on recycling crisis
The illegal storage of toxic waste that led to fires in Melbourne will be a focus of the first hearing in state parliament’s recycling and waste inquiry.
Labor’s $2b pledge spells end of road for link row
Bill Shorten will promise to pump $2 billion into the Metro Tunnel, Victoria’s largest public transport project, if he wins government, ending a six-year standoff over federal funding.
More lewd posts emerge from Labor candidate [$]
An embattled Victorian Labor candidate has made more lewd jokes on Facebook, it can be revealed, as domestic violence groups criticise the state school teacher for his “appalling” comments.
New South Wales
Hawkesbury City Solar Program officially launched
Hawkesbury City Council has today launched the Hawkesbury City Solar Program, which will install 500kW in total solar power to generate electricity for 12 Council sites and provide cost savings for the community.
Endangered sharks found entangled in Palm Beach nets
Scalloped hammerhead sharks, which are listed as endangered by the NSW Department of Primary and Industries, were photographed caught and wrapped up in the nets this year.
ACT
ACT Government hits back after being accused of ‘fabricating’ public transport numbers
Just days after launching its much-awaited, somewhat-derided integrated public transport network, the ACT Government is touting record ridership numbers — but there are questions over whether the figures are actually good news.
Canberra ratepayers should pay environmental levy, inquiry hears
Canberrans should be charged a levy to fund and maintain environmental and conservation projects, an ACT parliamentary inquiry heard on Wednesday.
Queensland
Dengue fever outbreak risk for Brisbane residents from unsealed water tanks
New research reveals the typically tropical mosquito species that spreads dengue fever could survive winters in Brisbane, with non-compliant rainwater tanks providing the perfect habitat for the species.
Genetically-enhanced captive koalas could be saviours of wild cousins
Genetically-enhanced healthy koalas from zoos and reserves could become reservoirs of healthy genes to protect their cousins in the wild.
Adani mine delayed after plan for endangered finch rejected
Queensland’s Environment Department wants more information on the population of the black-throated finch and the availability of seed before it approves the Indian miner’s management plan for the endangered bird.
Finch flies again to stall Adani coalmine [$]
The Queensland government has rejected Adani’s critical environment management plan to protect an endangered bird.
South Australia
Coalition offers $25m for SA’s dog fence
South Australia’s ageing dog fence will receive a $25 million boost under a re-elected coalition government.
New planning code aims to reverse negative consequences of Adelaide’s urban infill
A new design guide under incoming statewide planning reforms laments the widespread loss of privacy and vegetation in Adelaide’s suburbs over recent decades and argues for the interests of pedestrians over private transport users.
Knoll’s knot: His ‘complicated’ plan to fix Adelaide’s struggling public transport
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll is promising better public transport services despite deep cuts to the budget. In this interview, InDaily asks him how he plans to pull of this feat and the answer is: it’s complicated.
Clive Palmer wants SA to go nuclear
Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party plans to use South Australia’s large uranium deposits and build a nuclear reactor if the party gains the balance of power at the May 18 federal election.
SA solar stands to gain from NSW connector [$]
Solar energy projects worth billions of dollars and hundreds of jobs stand to gain from construction of the NSW-South Australia electricity interconnector.
Fake grass debate heats up after City of Marion council turfs out ban on artificial lawns
A debate over artificial turf and its contribution to urban heat is warming up after an Adelaide council removes a ban on residents laying it on the road verge.
Tasmania
Fire permit period ends but caution still required [$]
Property owners are being urged to continue to take caution when lighting fires despite the Tasmanian Fire Service declaring an end to the fire permit period.
Labor pledges funding for renewable jobs, support for Tasmania Battery of the Nation
Shorten unveils $75m Renewables Training Package, extends establishment of Renewable Energy Zones to Tasmania, where it makes down-payment on Battery of Nation.
AFPA media release
At a national live streamed forest industries debate, hosted by the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) in Launceston last night, Senator Richard Colbeck, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, announced that if re-elected, the Coalition would include forestry operations in the Government’s plan to help educate children about agriculture.
AFPA media release
At a national live streamed forest industries debate, hosted by the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) in Launceston last night, Senator Richard Colbeck, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, announced that a re-elected Coalition Government would provide $500 million in low interest loans to plantation growers.
Labor to deliver a renewable future for North West Tasmania
ALP media release
Labor will establish a Renewable Energy Zone in North West Tasmania, and we will take the next steps in establishing Tasmania as the Battery of the Nation – bringing investment in renewable energy, related industries and new jobs for the West Coast of Tasmania.
Northern Territory
New pollution challenge drifts into fore of battle to stop illegal Indonesian fishing
Cases of illegal foreign vessels intercepted in northern Australian waters have plummeted in recent years, according to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), but another “concerning” issue is raising its head.
Tradition belies excuses for the Uluru climbing ban [$]
Marc Hendrickx
It’s about six months until government agency Parks Australia locks the gate on one of the most iconic experiences of the natural world: the climb up Uluru/Ayers Rock.
Western Australia
Biomass, solar plans for WA coal town axed
The McGowan government has re-allocated $60 million earmarked for a biomass energy plant and solar farm at WA’s only coal mining town to a job creation plan.
Council wants developers to build around trees to keep canopy green
A Perth council is hoping that planning guidelines will strengthen protections for established trees on subdivided land, but how realistic is it to build around a tree?
Climate inaction ‘not an option’ [$]
Woodside CEO Peter Coleman has told investors that climate change is real and the company cannot ‘sit on our hands’.
This skink vanished in the wild a decade ago. Now authorities want to bring it back
A handful of Christmas Island’s blue-tailed skinks were rescued right before their extinction, and now reptile keepers have bred 1,600 and plan to reintroduce them into the wild.
Sustainability
Why the new “solar superpowers” are likely to be the Gulf petro-states
Gulf nation economies are built around energy exports. Climate change means they will have to look beyond fossil fuels in order to keep their economies afloat.
India could meet air quality standards by cutting household fuel use
Nearly half of the country’s population relies on dirty fuels such as wood, dung, coal and kerosene for cooking and heating
How to increase train use by up to 35% with one simple trick
David Levinson and Bahman Lahoorpoor
There are many technical solutions to help travellers get from home to the station and back, ranging from cars to electronic scooters, but most people use a much older technology, their feet, to get from A to B. What is seldom considered is access to the train platform itself.
Nature Conservation
New research has uncovered a missing nutrient source in coastal oceans, which could promote better water quality and sand management on popular beaches. While the release of nutrients buried in the seabed ‘feeds’ coastal marine ecosystems, the latest research has found a new physical mechanism which erodes seabed sediment at depths up to 20 meters, well outside (between 10 km and 20 km) from the surf zone closer to shore.
Mathematician’s breakthrough on non-toxic pest control
Breakthrough ‘gene silencing’ technique uses naturally occurring soil bacteria to kill specific crop-destroying pests without harming other insects or the environment. Non-toxic pest control could help feed growing global population, boost organic food production and drive bio-fuel production. Experiments show up to 92% more crops survive with this approach compared to no pest control.
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