Post of the Day
Climate change costings that don’t count the cost of inaction are worthless
Greg Jericho
We must demand better of our political parties – and there is no excuse for the media either
Today’s Celebration
Martyr’s Day – Lebanon, Syria
Samuel K. Doe Day – Liberia
Hidirellez Festival – Turkey
National Nurses Day – United States of America
Teachers Day – Jamaica
Ramadan (until June 6) – Islam
St. George’s Day – Orthodox Christianity
Birthday of Margaret Anna Cusack 1829 – Catholicism
Tourette Syndrome Awareness Week
International Composting Awareness Week
Climate Change
The media is failing on climate change – here’s how they can do better ahead of 2020
We spoke to climate change experts for advice on how news outlets can cover the environment in ways that make voters listen
This Democrat’s climate Change plan would kill coal
This is just the first part of Jay Inslee’s climate plan.
How climate change will affect real lives — Now and in the future
To better understand future climate projections, let’s look at how they may play out in the life of someone born in 2000.
National
Push for referendum on federal takeover of Murray-Darling river system
Centre Alliance says water resources ‘must be managed in the national interest’
Australians more worried about climate change than most other nations: poll
The level of concern about climate change is growing in Australia
A new poll shows people across the globe are more troubled about climate change and plastics in the environment than ever before
Call to overhaul ‘mishmash’ of battery standards after house fire
Consumer advocates have called for stronger safety regulations for lithium-ion batteries after a house fire was thought to be caused by an e-bike battery.
Dam nation: tough road to water reform on the world’s driest continent
In a speech to the National Press Club this week, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack pledged to bring in a new era of dam building across the country. “We know the key to unlocking the potential of regional Australia is simple – just add water,” the Nationals leader said.
Price to pay for renewables [$]
Policymakers have ignored the costs associated with the move towards renewables, APA claims.
#Watergate: Labor Sees ‘No Alternative’ But Royal Commission Into $80 Million Water
Labor is calling for a Royal Commission into the water buyback scheme, as questions continue to be raised over an $80 million buyback in 2017.
Climate change costings that don’t count the cost of inaction are worthless
Greg Jericho
We must demand better of our political parties – and there is no excuse for the media either
Our carbon budget is all but spent, but who in Canberra is counting?
Penny Sackett and Will Steffen
Australia will burn its remaining fair share of global emissions in just three years.Two top climate scientists write that Canberra is ignoring this emergency.
An open letter to our politicians: Save the oceans from plastic pollution
Jeremy Brown
An open letter to Australian politicians and councillors — you are missing one very important environmental policy in your election promises.
Tim Blair
We’re having a climate change election in a nation that contributes nothing to climate change and devotees of the warming faith are becoming holier by the day.
Victoria
Sit! Seek! Fly! Scientists train dogs to sniff out endangered insects
Julia Mynott
A labrador, border collie and samoyed have come to the rescue for stoneflies in Victoria’s alpine region. Author provided (No reuse)
Author
New South Wales
‘Sydney is in drought’: Water restrictions loom as dam levels drop at record rate
Water levels in dams are dropping faster than they have in decades, according to new research by Sydney Water — edging Sydney closer to the re-introduction of water restrictions.
Sydney three months away from tough water restrictions [$]
Water restrictions will be placed on Sydney households within three months unless dramatic rainfall fills the dams supplying the city. Sydney Water says without a break in drought conditions the city’s dams will be less than 50 per cent by August.
‘If it was your child bathing in this water, would you risk it’
Four months ago Kate McBride’s video of her father pulling dead cod from the Darling River shocked Australia. Now she’s intent on exposing locals’ fears about their water and its possible health impacts.
Stokes aims to mend State-Council rift to make Sydney cycle-friendly
NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes wants to use public space to promote walking and cycling.
Awestruck’ Premier takes metro for a ride ahead of opening
The $7.3 billion north-west metro will open later this month, eight years after it was first announced by Gladys Berejiklian.
ACT
The underground house where the roof is the garden
Morell Court in Rivett is a very conventional cul-de-sac in a very conventional Canberran suburb – except that it has a very unconventional house at the end.
Queensland
‘It is up to us,’ to stop Adani: Bob Brown’s dire warning on coal mine
The stop Adani convoy has ended its long journey in Canberra with a rally on the lawns of Parliament House where Paul Kelly performed.
After years of problems, Palm Island Mayor calls for help over undrinkable water
About 5,000 residents of Palm Island have faced years of problems with their water supply, and despite a new $1.4 million water treatment plant the island’s mayor says tap water remains undrinkable.
In Adani country voters have had a ‘gutful’
Support for “straight-talking” Clive Palmer and Pauline Hanson runs deep in country Queensland, despite the scandals that have engulfed their parties.
Qld coal accord a tribute to persuasive courage [$]
Matthew Stevens
Aurizon’s accord with coal miners is an against-the-odds triumph for the company’s chief executive Andrew Harding.
I’m willing to go to jail to stop Adani and save our beloved country. Will you stand with me?
Richard Flanagan
In this anti-Adani rally speech, novelist Richard Flanagan says the fight against the Carmichael coalmine defines the fight against the climate crisis
Queensland makes demands on Adani over finch [$]
Tim Blair
In the manner of Charles Darwin, I have spent most of my life closely studying animals. Like the celebrated naturalist, I exhaustively examine all types of creatures. Be they of land, sea or sky, I deeply consider every single one. And then eat them.
South Australia
Hundreds protest against Bight drilling
Hundreds of people have gathered on an Adelaide beach to protest against Norwegian oil drilling plans in the Great Australian Bight.
Mayo voters want royal commission into Murray [$]
An overwhelming majority of voters in a key South Australian electorate say a federal royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin is required, putting the issue front and centre for the remainder of the election campaign.
The kids are united on climate [$]
Just six per cent of young SA voters rate climate change an insignificant concern as polling reveals how many would change their vote over environmental policies.
Peter Goers
Just what the world needs is more plastic — and Marion Council’s decision to approve the rollout of plastic grass on council property is both dangerous and stupid.
Tasmania
Last wombat from original Greens Beach colony killed by vehicle after surviving mange
Not too many years ago, wombats roamed relatively freely at Greens Beach.
Where have the wind turbines gone? [$]
Workers have spent the day using a crane to remove the wind turbines from Hobart’s Marine Board building.
Western Australia
WA Government to spend $30 million on East Perth Power Station site revamp
The WA Government pours $30 million into the long-dormant East Perth Power Station site to attract a developer to a precinct long viewed as one of Perth’s biggest eyesores.
Argyle revenues soar to decade high [$]
Diamond production might be sliding in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, but Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine still raked in the cash.
WA rules out Lynas waste imports [$]
Mines Minister Bill Johnston has rejected a request by the Malaysian government.
Sustainability
US fracked gas exports to EU could ‘take world far beyond safe climate limits’, campaigners warn
Environmental activists representing more than 200 organisations have called on the EU and the US to put an end to a booming transatlantic trade in fracked gas or face “taking the world far beyond safe climate limits”.
Nature Conservation
Natural high: why birdsong is the best antidote to our stressful lives
Dawn chorus day is a good time to celebrate the benefits to mental and physical health of birdsong – and fight for beloved species facing extinction
Now for something completely different …
If we only confirm our biases, expect the same old vicious circles
Nick Enfield
Consider this, voters. Too many of us resort to the comfort of information that supports our own opinions, but that is the enemy of knowledge.
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