April 2024
Fire ants economic bite underestimated in government modelling: $2.5b per year in costs by 2035
New research by The Australia Institute finds the threat posed by fire ants has been significantly understated, identifying a compelling economic case for their eradication.
Carbon credits no excuse for NSW Government to stall on saving koalas
A new video report from the Australia Institute shines a light on the NSW Government’s revelation that it is delaying the protection of koala habitat in the state until a system is in place to exploit native forests for carbon offsets.
UNESCO alerted to impact of salmon farming on World Heritage Area
UNESCO has been urged to request the Australian Government undertake an urgent and comprehensive environmental assessment and report on the impact of salmon farming on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA).
March 2024
Government approves Santos Barossa pipeline and sea dumping
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s Department has approved a major part of Santos’ controversial Barossa gas export project, the Darwin Pipeline Duplication Project.
Pledge results show widespread independent and crossbench support for an end to native forest logging
Fifty-seven independent and minor party candidates across all five electorates have signed Sophie Scamps MP’s Forest Pledge ahead of the Tasmanian election, setting the stage for the next parliament to end native forest logging in Tasmania.
More key independents pledge to end native forest logging
Independent candidates Craig Garland and Lara Alexander MP signed The Forest Pledge this Saturday, 16 March 2024, increasing pressure to end native forest logging in Tasmania.
Lines Drawn on Major Issues Facing the Tasmanian Electorate
Australia Institute polling research shows a majority of Tasmanian voters support action on integrity in politics, salmon farming, forestry, and housing affordability.
His Excellency Anote Tong Visits Australia to Advocate for Fossil Fuel Free Pacific
His Excellency Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati, arrives in Australia on Saturday March 9 for a national speaking tour.
Experts and community representatives slam major parties’ salmon policies
The major parties’ decision to continue to support the salmon industry ignores scientific evidence of environmental impacts, uses discredited jobs figures, and is out of step with voters, the Australia Institute warns.
February 2024
Tasmanian Logging Expansion an Environmental Tragedy
Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s decision to expand native forest logging will drive threatened species closer to extinction and is out of step with voters, the Australia Institute warns.
Offshore gas must not bypass genuine consultation with traditional owners, local community
Legislation that will allow the government to relax the approval and assessment process for offshore oil and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects is premature and risks bypassing traditional owners, local groups and tourism and fishing businesses, warns the Australia Institute.
Federal Intervention Required to Call Out Salmon Industry’s Clearly Unacceptable Impacts on Maugean Skate
The Australia Institute Tasmania has provided the federal environment department with substantial new information and evidence of a substantial change in circumstances that should lead to a change to the 2012 decision that allowed large-scale fish farming in Macquarie Harbour.
January 2024
Tasmanian Government Action Plan Will “Monitor the Maugean Skate Into Extinction”
The Australia Institute Tasmania has found that the Tasmanian Government’s newly released Conservation Action Plan for the Maugean skate comprehensively fails to deal with the number one threat to the critically endangered species: fish farming.
Plastic packaging waste tax could raise billions
New research from the Australia Institute shows a European Union-style tax on plastic packaging could raise nearly $1.5 billion each year.
November 2023
Government Decisions Look Set to Send Maugean Skate Towards Extinction
The Australia Institute has today condemned the decision by the Tasmanian EPA to renew fish farming in the Macquarie Harbour. The decision comes just hours after the announcement of a review of salmon farming in the Macquarie Harbour by the Federal Government, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, the Federal Government’s
Farmers Unite to Support Water Buybacks as Water Amendment Bill Clears Senate
Farmers and irrigators have joined the Australia Institute in a national campaign to support voluntary buybacks, with the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 passing the Senate today, clearing the way for important Murray-Darling basin reforms to become law.
‘Oh, you shouldn’t have’ – Christmas gift waste expected to top $900 million
More than six million Australians expect to receive presents they will not use or wear and the bulk of these unwanted gifts are destined for landfill, new Australia Institute research shows.
Native Forest Logging Could End with Little Economic Disruption
New research from the Australia Institute, presented to the MONA Forest Economics Congress, shows that an end to native forest logging in Tasmania will have no economic impact on the state as a whole.
Murray-Darling: Irrigators and farmers support water buybacks in new ad campaign
The Australia Institute and farmers will run full-page ads in leading rural newspapers in all Basin States this week supporting water recovery through voluntary buybacks.
Tasmanian Ocean Summit 2023 Calls for Urgent Tasmanian Government Action
The second Tasmanian Ocean Summit, hosted by the Australia Institute on Friday, called for urgent action by the Tasmanian Government to implement wholistic, integrated management in Tasmania’s coastal waters/Sea Country.
New Report Recommends Statewide Tasmanian Marine Authority
A new Independent Marine Estate Authority with whole-of-government oversight of Tasmania’s Ocean management would be established under a new proposal released today by the Australia Institute.
Two-thirds of Australians back doctors’ call for “health trigger” for coal, gas projects
Two-thirds of Australians support the federal government making new fossil fuel project approvals dependent on an assessment of their health impacts, according to new research by Doctors for the Environment Australia and the Australia Institute.
Tasmanian Salmon Industry: Few Jobs, Less Tax
New research released by The Australia Institute today highlights the modest jobs numbers and tax payments by the Tasmanian salmon industry.
October 2023
Murray-Darling Polling: Majority Support for water buybacks across Basin States, Party Lines and Regional Australia
New research released today by The Australia Institute shows strong public support for changes to Murray Darling Basin environmental and water rules.
Letters to EPA, Department: Evidence demands state and federal action against fish farm licence renewals in Macquarie Harbour
The science is clear: Removing fish farming from Macquarie Harbour is an urgent priority to be actioned before this summer.
Proposed NT gas mega-projects will crowd out jobs and non-gas businesses
Australia Institute analysis shows the benefits of gas development in the NT have been overstated, and that gas development will crowd out jobs in other industries.
So-called ‘Recovery Team’ Ignores #1 Threat to Maugean Skate: Salmon Farming
The Communique released today by the National Recovery Team for the Maugean Skate is woefully inadequate and demonstrates the undue influence of the salmon industry, according to the Australia Institute Tasmania.
September 2023
Tuvalu Pledge Can’t Greenwash Australia’s UN Climate Ambition Failure
The Australian Government has again taken a bandaid approach to climate action, announcing a climate adaptation partnership with Tuvalu at the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit in New York while remaining steadfastly committed to fossil fuels.
Research Reveals $1.2 Billion Profit from Food Waste
Australian food retailers make $1.2 billion in profit each year from selling food that households waste, according to new research from The Australia Institute.
Majority of Australians support fossil fuel industry paying for the costs of climate change
A significant majority of Australians (at least 75%) are concerned about the impact of the climate crisis on food supply, agriculture and insurance premiums, and support policies that would force fossil fuel companies to pay for the damage they are causing, according to the Australia Institute’s 2023 Climate of the Nation report.
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