August 2023
C’mon Albo! Stop Native Forest Logging
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can stop the logging of Australia’s native forests, just as PM Malcolm Fraser stopped whaling in 1978.
Polling: Labor Voters Back Native Forest Protection Ahead of National Conference
Research released today by the Australia Institute shows a strong majority of Australian voters want bans on native forest logging extended to New South Wales and Tasmania.
What Transition?
The lifecycle emissions resulting from Tamboran Resources’ proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) processing and export facility in the Northern Territory would be equivalent to 12 coal-fired power stations every year when operating at full capacity. Not exactly on the transition to net-zero… This was recorded on Wednesday 16th August 2023 and things may have changed
Native Forest Logging in Tasmania: The Facts
Tasmania’s native forests are globally recognised for their unique species and conservation value, as well as being some of the most carbon dense forests on the planet.
Federal Government Is Legally Obliged to Protect the Endangered Maugean Skate
The Australia Institute has provided Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek with additional evidence that highlights the urgent need to end fish farming in Macquarie Harbour, in further correspondence about Federal Government obligations to protect the endangered Maugean Skate.
Multinational miners rue the day Palaszczuk and Dick delivered for Queenslanders
Queensland’s revised coal royalty system has delivered billions to the state, and NSW could be following suit. But as always, the mining industry is keen to let hysteria get in the way of a good policy.
A Trojan Horse for Fossil Fuels
The Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill currently before Parliament sounds promising. But as it turns out, the name of the bill is hiding a lot of ugly truths. This was recorded on Thursday 11th August 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute //
Funding and transparency needed for Tasmania’s long-overdue State of the Environment report
Leading organisations have warned that Tasmania’s first State of the Environment report in almost 15 years will not be fit for purpose without an immediate funding boost and increased transparency.
Proposed LNG plant emissions equivalent to 12 coal-fired power stations
New research from the Australia Institute has found that the lifecycle emissions resulting from Tamboran Resources’ proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) processing and export facility in the Northern Territory (NT) would be equivalent to 12 coal-fired power stations every year when operating at full capacity
Labor’s climate credibility is melting under the heat of scrutiny
Neoliberals are always worried about government ‘picking winners’, but strangely never seem to have a problem when governments back obvious losers, like perennial failure carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Maugean Skate Recovery Team fails to agree to act to protect the skate
The Australia Institute has found that a communique, released late on Friday 4th August by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, is lacking action to prevent the extinction of the endangered Maugean skate.
Australia at risk of exclusion from renewable manufacturing boom
Australia risks being left out of lucrative new markets for renewable energy-related manufacturing unless government provides an urgent, domestic response to match powerful incentives introduced by the U.S and several other industrial nations. The finding is published in a new report released today by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, as part of the
July 2023
The Shell Game Behind Carbon Credits with Nick Feik [Webinar]
In his new essay “The Great Stock ‘n’ Coal Swindle” for The Monthly, Nick Feik takes a deep dive into Australia’s carbon offsets industry and its links to fossil fuel expansion. This was recorded on Wednesday 8th March 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guests: Nick Feik, Writer, journalist
80-plus Groups Worldwide Demand End to Greenwashing Maugean Skate Extinction with Farmed Salmon Accreditations
More than 80 organisations from around the globe are calling for the accreditation schemes, Best Aquaculture Practices and GlobalG.A.P., to immediately revoke their ‘sustainability’ certifications from farmed salmon and trout raised in waters adjacent to the World Heritage Area, Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. The demand comes as federal and state government workshops are held in Hobart
Australia’s Climate of Discontent
Australia gives more aid to foreign fossil fuel companies than it does to our neighbours in the Pacific.
You must be coking! Are new coalmines OK if they help make steel?
Some critics argue we should lay off metallurgical coalmines because they’re used for steel, not energy. But that ignores the big picture.
The ‘Tassie Tiger of the Sea’ is on the brink
The Maugean Skate, nicknamed the ‘Tasmanian Tiger of the Sea,’ is on the brink of extinction, with salmon farming in the region threatening its natural habitat. So will Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek be able to fulfill her promise of no new extinct species until 2030, or will the Skate become another relic of the
MPs and Climate Leaders to Speak at No New Coal and Gas Forum
The Australia Institute will host a public forum at St Kilda Town Hall from 6.30pm tonight, Tuesday 11 July for a community discussion about Australia’s plans for an enormous expansion of fossil fuel exports, its impact on the climate and what can be done. Coal and gas mined in Australia already adds around 1.5 billion tonnes of
States and Territories Could Foot the Emissions Bill for Beetaloo Basin
State and territory energy ministers meeting in Tasmania today may be asked to pay the cost of offsetting emissions from proposed fracking operations in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin. This proposal comes as the Federal Government looks for ways to fulfil a commitment made during the Safeguard Mechanism negotiations to fully offset all emissions from Beetaloo gas development.
June 2023
Australia’s Olympic Moment on Greenwashing
The Australian Government has proposed that Australia host the 2026 UN Climate Conference, in “partnership” with Pacific nations. But can Australia be considered a credible host for a COP31 while it continues to subsidise and approve fossil fuel expansion? This was recorded on Wednesday 14th June 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The
Nordic Talks: The Role of First Nations Communities in the Clean Energy Transition [Webinar]
Australia has all the ingredients for a green industrial revolution; abundant rare minerals, plentiful wind and sun, manufacturing capabilities, while Sweden is a global leader in green industry practices and production. But how can First Nations communities participate in the clean energy transition? This talk will unpack how Sweden and Australia can better balance the
Tasmanian government must end overfishing and rebuild fish stocks
The Australia Institute Tasmania is calling on the Tasmanian government to commit to end overfishing and rebuild fish stocks, after ignoring evidence of overfishing for decades. It is among the think tank’s 10 recommendations (see below) to the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery Rules Review that aims to aid species recovery and modernise management arrangements so the
SA Duck Hunting Ban, Backed by Majority of Voters, Would Have Minimal Economic Impact
New research from public policy think tank The Australia Institute shows that a permanent ban on native bird hunting in South Australia is supported by a strong majority of the public and would have minimal impact on the state’s economy. The findings are the result of a survey of 604 South Australians, undertaken between 15
Native Forest Logging in Tasmania
Tasmania’s native forests are globally recognised for their unique species and their conservation value. They are also some of the most carbon dense forests on the planet.
Big names unite to protect Tasmania’s forests
Federal MPs, an Olympic champion and acclaimed authors are among dozens of high-profile names urging the Tasmanian government to end to native forest logging.
May 2023
Carbon capture and storage is a dangerous rort
There’s nothing politics loves more than a good rort or scandal, like the recent revelations of PwC’s misconduct, which is finally throwing a spotlight on the vast tentacles of the big four consulting firms into the business of government. But it’s concerning that one of the biggest and longest-running rorts in climate change policy—carbon capture
Consultancy firms boast of action on climate change while advocating for more coal mines
Consultancy companies like to boast they are committed to action on climate change, but they much prefer overstating the benefits of coal mines
Tasmania must end native forest logging after crucial Victorian decision
The Australia Institute is calling on the Tasmanian Government to follow Victoria and end native forest logging from 2024.
Green Wall Street Will Crash
The mania around markets and investment in nature has continued at the UN biodiversity conference (#COP15) with Australia promoting the outsourcing of conservation to the private sector and its proposed ‘nature repair market’. This builds on the government’s previous promotion of ‘Green Wall Street’ – a vision that describes the world investing in Australia’s ecosystems.
Scientists’ urgent call for action to save Maugean skate
The Australia Institute will join a growing number of state and national organisations, independent scientists and Tasmanians, demanding an immediate halt to salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. The Maugean skate is teetering on the brink of extinction according to scientists from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), who this week took the extraordinary
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