March 2024
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.
A Bad Case of Gas
The gas industry likes to tell us it’s vital to the Australian economy. But when people are paying more in GST for Taylor Swift merch than many companies are paying in company income tax per year, and the government collects more from HECS than the PRRT, you know something is seriously wrong. Greg Jericho is
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
Here are 23 Times Carbon Offsets Were Found to be Dodgy
Carbon offsetting has received a lot of attention recently. As businesses and governments look to meet their climate targets, many are turning to carbon offsets. That is, they are paying someone else to reduce or avoid putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, so they don’t have to.
Australian governments suck up to Japanese fossil fuel companies. Again.
The Australian and Northern Territory Governments continue to do all they can to help foreign gas companies including giving them gas for free, despite them paying next to no tax.
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.
The War On Waste with Craig Reucassel | Summer Series
Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023. 7 years ago, The ABC’s groundbreaking environmental series War On Waste firmly placed the nation’s attention on Australia’s waste issues and solutions. The new season investigated recycling in Australia, brought to light new waste topics, challenged
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.
Ending Native Forest Logging with Bob Brown | Summer Series
Our summer podcast series brings you some of the best conversations from our webinars and live events in 2023. Australia’s native forests are not only home to some of our most vulnerable and threatened species, they hold critical cultural and ecological value. While native forest logging is being phased out in Western Australia and Victoria,
December 2023
How the Grinch Saved Christmas
For decades, the Grinch has had a terrible reputation as a Christmas-hating monster who railed against the festivities of the season and stole the townspeople’s presents, food and decorations in an attempt to stamp out the whole technicolour carnival.
Big Petrostate Energy
The United Nations annual climate conference, COP28, is wrapping up, and it’s crunch time. Is there going to be a mention of actually phasing out fossil fuels? Or will we have more of avoiding the issue? This was recorded on Tuesday 12th December 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Polly
Why are gas companies trying to sell us hydrogen?
The hydrogen dream has become widespread in the Australian climate conversation: apparently, with it, we’re going to decarbonise Japan, Korea, and the world! Is this ambitious vision a genuine step towards a greener future or merely a diversion from ongoing fossil fuel expansion?
‘Thylacine of the Sea’ vs. the Salmon Industry
The Maugean skate, native to Macquarie Harbour, is running out of time. It’s facing extinction, due in large part to the Tasmanian salmon industry. This was recorded on Monday 4th December 2023 and things may have changed since recording. australiainstitute.org.au // @theausinstitute Guest: Eloise Carr, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, the Australia Institute // @GeneveraE Host:
Have your say in the EPBC Act review of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour
The Australia Institute Tasmania’s work was critical to triggering the federal EPBC review of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.
Institute triggers EPBC review of salmon farming to protect Maugean skate ‘Thylacine of the Sea’
The Australia Institute Tasmania’s work was critical to triggering a federal EPBC review of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, given new scientific evidence shows the endangered Maugean skate, a ray-like animal, is at risk of extinction due in large part to salmon farming.
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.
Clive Palmer of…Singapore?
Clive Palmer, one of Australia’s richest men, is suing Australia for $41.3bn, claiming it breached the ASEAN free trade agreement in relation to coal exploration permits. But he’s doing so…as a foreign investor? Stephen Long explains how Clive Palmer’s controversial legal strategies challenge Australia’s trade agreements and environmental laws. Stephen Long is a Senior Fellow
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.
“That’s a great text!” – A Message from the Minister
Resources Minister Madeleine King texts in a question for Richard Denniss during a live interview about fossil fuels on ABC radio.
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.
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