November 2023
“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.
What job is worth the extinction of an entire species?
‘Thylacine of the sea’ at risk of extinction this summer if salmon farming doesn’t cease in Macquarie Harbour
Who knew Queensland’s richest man is a foreign investor?
Clive Palmer’s controversial legal strategies challenge Australia’s trade agreements and environmental laws, and have profound implications for global climate action, writes Stephen Long.
Who cares about national security?
In parliament last week, responding to the temporary blocking of a legislative favour to Santos, Foreign Minister Penny Wong berated the opposition. The bill – which did eventually pass – is designed to facilitate massive expansion of the gas industry.
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.
How Labor out-loved the Coalition in its embrace of big oil and gas
“You know what you’ve been doing,” said Foreign Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Penny Wong, wagging her finger at the Opposition senators across the Chamber.
The Tasmanian salmon industry’s talk about boosting the economy does not include paying tax
The Tasmanian salmon industry talks a big game about its importance to the economy, but it is rather quiet when it comes to paying tax
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.
Massive Gap Between Rhetoric and Actions on Emissions
Farmers know you can’t fatten a pig on market day and scientists know you can’t reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 while expanding coal, oil and gas production.
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.
New research shows our 2030 emission targets are woefully out of date
The evidence is clear – our current policies and targets are insufficient to prevent dangerous global warming, and not aligned with latest scientific research.
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.
There are still climate refugees in Lismore [Politics in the Pub]
As the Northern Hemisphere experiences extreme heatwaves and Australia prepares for a “horror summer”, and the new RBA Governor Michelle Bullock warns climate change poses a “particularly acute” challenge for the Australia economy, listen back to the launch of the 2023 Climate of the Nation Report at Politics in the Pub. This was recorded on
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.
Don’t mention the coal: Australian Government tries to walk both sides of climate policy. Again
While Australia’s Foreign Minister attends the UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit in New York, the nation’s Environment Minister will be in court fighting for new coal mines.
Who should pay the cost of Climate Change? [Climate of the Nation 2023]
As many Australians are facing rising cost-of-living, which is being made worse by climate change, fossil fuel companies are making record profits. So how can our Government make them pay the bill? This was recorded on Tuesday 12th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute // @theausinstitute Guest: Liz Morison,
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.
Eating the three-eyed fish: where is Australia on nuclear wastewater in the Pacific?
The Australian government’s muted response to Japan’s release of Fukushima wastewater into the Pacific raises serious questions about its commitment to the region and Australia’s history of standing against nuclear testing.
Support For Tasmanian Salmon Motion Would Ignore Voters, Economics and Science
With Tasmania’s Legislative Council set to vote on a motion praising the state’s salmon industry, research released today by the Australia Institute Tasmania shows a strong majority of residents in the Tasmanian electorate of Franklin are concerned about the health of the state’s coastal marine environment, including the impacts of salmon farming on marine life.
Federal government advice annihilates salmon industry claims of sustainability in Macquarie Harbour
The Australian Government has released new Conservation Advice aimed at preventing the extinction of the Maugean skate in time for Threatened Species Day 2023.
Dead in the Water
A new deal to save the Murray-Darling basin has been brokered by Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, following another mass fish kill, and a survey finding not a single adult Murray Cod in the Lower Darling-Bakka. This was recorded on Tuesday 5th September 2023 and things may have changed since recording. The Australia Institute //
NSW Government Coal Royalties Decision to Raise $2.7 Billion
The Australia Institute congratulates the NSW Government on increasing coal royalties, potentially raising an extra $2.7 billion over four years. “This is a good move by the NSW Government that will benefit the NSW economy and community,” said Rod Campbell, research director at the Australia Institute. “Collecting more royalties from the fossil fuel industry allows
August 2023
An Eventful Trip to Fiji
The Labor Government has been campaigning for Australia to host COP31, the UN climate conference, in partnership with a Pacific Island nation. But Pacific Islanders have several concerns, mainly due to Australia’s track record with new fossil fuels, and lacklustre climate policy. This was recorded on Wednesday 30th August 2023 and things may have changed
Tasmanian government backflips on measures to protect depleted fish species
The Australia Institute Tasmania is calling on the Tasmanian government to keep in place protections for depleted fish populations. The Tasmanian government has today announced a backflip on planned measures to rebuild depleted fish populations managed under the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery. Instead, the government has reopened consultation on the rule changes until September 25 and
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