It is obvious that the nuclear energy policy is a Dutton ploy to avoid upsetting the fossil fool donors – Matteo ( putative Italian citizen and deep north Senator) belled the cat on that one. It seems that a number of Liberals can see the danger in taking such poor policy to the electorate.
From: Maelor Himbury <M.Himbury@acfonline.org.au>
Date: 19 March 2025 at 8:54:21 am GMT+11
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Mar 19
Date: 19 March 2025 at 8:54:21 am GMT+11
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject: Daily Links Mar 19
Post of the Day
Once as high as 60 cents per kilowatt hour, solar feed-in tariffs are now as low as just a few cents for some. While 4 million households have rooftop solar, home battery storage systems sit at around 320,000 — but take-up has surged as the economics improve.
On This Day
Saint Joseph’s Day – Christianity
Ecological Observance
National Festival of Trees – Netherlands
Climate Change
Ana Toni also criticises the UK’s plans to slash overseas aid to fund defence spending
Break in cross-party consensus on issue to be announced on Tuesday
National
Liberals Against Nuclear say the policy would increase bureaucracy and impose ‘massive taxpayer-backed risk’
Ahead of the March 25 budget that will be handed down next Tuesday, Mr Chalmers has vowed to find a way to deliver cost-of-living relief without putting pressure on inflation.
Labor has been canvassing Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target for more than a year leading up to the federal election despite having ruled out a pre-poll announcement, it can be revealed.
Researchers think detected nitazenes may have been directly disposed of in wastewater, rather than consumed
The danger of Australia’s obsession with big cars – Full Story podcast
Transport and urban affairs reporter Elias Visontay tells Reged Ahmad why size doesn’t always equal safety and whether we need to reverse our attraction to SUVs
Research finds nuclear power is supported by 37 per cent by Australia, but one-third are still sitting on the fence.
Major investors have stepped into the debate over Australia’s energy future, warning that policies to slow the shift to renewables will push up power prices.
Under the proposal, households looking to replace their gas appliances with electric versions would be able to access up to $10,000 in grants and $20,000 in low-interest loans.
After three years it’s clear the same people who stopped climate action in Australia for a decade are still calling the shots in the Coalition partyroom.
Richard Tanter
To the horror of the Australian defence and foreign policy establishment, Senator Jacqui Lambie had a characteristically sharp and to the point response to Donald Trump’s imposition of a 25% tariff on Australian steel exports to the United States.
Richie Merzian
What if Australians were unable to generate any power when the sun was shining or the wind was blowing? If we couldn’t make electricity at home nor in our renewable power stations using Australia’s abundant sun and wind and water, we would all be poorer. That is what the latest analysis from Clean Energy Investor Group (CEIG) shows – if we didn’t have renewables in the grid, you would be paying, on average, up to $417 more a year for power.
Alexander Downer
You can call me a heretic if you want but Australia’s mad approach to the climate crisis has to change.
James Morrow
Voters have never been asked what they think about bringing in hundreds of thousands of people a year to pump up GDP and fill the coffers of the tertiary education sector.
Victoria
One of Australia’s biggest coal power stations is set to stay open for four more years, in an extraordinary reversal for the state Labor government’s renewable energy-only blueprint.
The Victorian energy safety regulator has ordered five solar farms owned by subsidiaries of a Chinese-owned company to stop generating electricity after a fire at one site spread to uncontrolled vegetation.
New study finds dolphins, including critically endangered Burrunan, have among the world’s highest levels of chemicals banned decades ago
Bernard Keane
The federal government has the power to investigate how taxpayer funds for Victoria’s Big Build ended up with organised crime. But it won’t use them.
Sue Barrett
In Goldstein, we’ve met them. You’ve likely encountered them too – those entitled, aggressive voices who seem to believe democracy is theirs to command, not ours to share. They’re the ones who stand too close, snapping photos and videos without permission, hurling insults at volunteers who dare to stand for something.
New South Wales
Thousands of dead fish and other aquatic animals have washed ashore across the NSW Northern Rivers as floodwaters surge through the catchment.
The Birpai and Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land Councils are working with Forestry Corporation to integrate cultural burning knowledge with government bushfire management.
Queensland
The move will allow commuters to ditch the go card, and tap on and off their service using a credit card, debit card or smart device, such as a mobile phone.
The former Queensland Labor government set aside $2.5bn as a contingency for a predicted shrinking of the state’s share of GST, but squandered it on renewables and hydrogen projects.
Footpaths on the Story Bridge will remain shut for at least the next few weeks – and a lengthy suggested detour directs people to a path in the CBD that is also closed.
South Australia
A leading development industry body has welcomed plans to abolish South Australia’s infill targets and is “cautiously optimistic” about proposed park lands in the northern suburbs despite cost and zoning questions.
Drought-stricken farmers are sending their sheep to abattoirs because they can’t keep them alive, but could water from the River Murray provide a solution?
Peter Malinauskas’s plan to replace prime food production land with suburbia has sparked an angry response from farmers.
Tasmania
Another music event has announced it is taking a break, with Tasmania’s Panama festival not going ahead in 2026.
A growing “effluent plume” near the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) was far from ideal a week before Christmas. Emails and reports show how the environmental emergency at a nearby Cadbury factory developed.
The state government has identified five parcels of land for logging, but redacted their location. It has left some Tasmanians “shocked that in 2025 that we’re actually having to fight for our native forests”.
Tourism and aquaculture are at risk if the Maugean skate goes extinct, the premier was warned in 2023 with documents revealing the federal environment departments reasons for reconsidering the EPBC decision.
Documents released today under Freedom of Information reveal advice to the federal government that salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour should be comprehensively assessed under national environment law, for its impact on the endangered Maugean skate and the harbour’s World Heritage value.
Western Australia
The opposition leader would move to facilitate approval for the WA gas expansion within 30 days, and crack down on appeals against approval decisions.
Sustainability
BYD unveils platform with charging power of 1,000 kW, which would be twice as fast as Tesla’s supercharging
Greenpeace, known for its bold environmental activism, could be forced to close its U.S. offices if it loses a $300 million lawsuit over its role in protests against the Dakota Access
Nature Conservation
Deal will restrict fishing near colonies on Robben Island and Bird Island for 10 years, after long debate between industry and conservationists
Maelor Himbury | Library Volunteer
Australian Conservation Foundation | www.acf.org.au
1800 223 669
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