Morrison, Taylor ‘tied up in knots’ on EVs, says Mike Cannon-Brookes
Fin Rev 8 Apr 19, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and energy minister Angus Taylor have tied themselves up in knots over electric vehicles since Labor announced a target of 50 per cent electric vehicles by 2030, contradicting their own past advocacy for the technology, software billionaire and clean energy campaigner Mike Cannon-Brookes says.Mr Taylor posted a steady stream of tweets ridiculing Labor’s EV policy, suggesting it would leave campers with electric vehicles reliant on highly …. (subscribers only) https://www.afr.com/news/policy/climate/morrison-taylor-tied-up-in-knots-on-evs-says-mike-cannon-brookes-20190408-p51c3a
‘Shame’: Anti-Adani protesters storm Morrison speech
SBS News , 8 Apr 19 Anti-Adani protesters have disrupted a Scott Morrison speech, as Coalition tension mount around the controversial project. Anti-Adani protesters have disrupted Scott Morrison at a Brisbane business lunch, but the prime minister appeared to take in his stride.One woman carrying a Stop Adani protest flag managed to reach Mr Morrison’s side, saying “we care about the climate. This will be a climate election … Shame”.
She was dragged away by security as a second protester stood to yell “stop Adani”………
Australian Youth Climate Coalition organiser, Melanie McAuliffe, said they wanted to highlight LNP government’s inability to react on climate change.
“We just had a summer of unprecedented heatwave, bushfires and floods and yet this government still continues to ignore what we need to do to address the climate crisis.”…….
Several teenagers said they were looking for action to save the planet.
Jo, from Cleveland, told the crowd outside the business lunch that all she wanted was a future.
“I am 17 years old and I want is for our government to do what they need to to save the planet,” she told the crowd.
“This is our home, this is what houses us, we have a responsibility to care for it.”………
Anti-Adani protesters disrupted a business lunch speech by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Brisbane on Monday. ……… https://www.sbs.com.au/news/shame-anti-adani-protesters-storm-morrison-speech
How last-minute Adani approval could be the final big call of the Morrison Government
ABC News, By political reporter Jackson Gothe-Snape 8 Apr 19, Adani’s controversial mine awaits its final Federal approval this week, days before the election is called.
Key points:
- Only one significant approval remains for Federal Government to approve Adani mine
- Securing sign-off before the federal election is called would mean Queensland MPs in marginal seats could campaign on the issue
- Queensland State Government still has two outstanding approvals
Approval from the Environment Minister, Melissa Price, is one of the final hurdles before the project can commence.
And pressure is growing from some of her colleagues for her to approve the mine so Queensland MPs can talk up the project during the election campaign.
This is the latest on what exactly is needed before the Adani mine can go ahead.
Federal groundwater hurdle
The last major federal environmental approval required is around how the mine will affect the local water system.
It’s formally called the Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Management Plan (GDEMP).
The Federal Government has asked the CSIRO and Geoscience Australia to assess the plan, but the decision to approve or deny the plan rests with the Environment Minister.
It’s not clear what these organisations have concluded, but a spokesperson for the Department of Environment told the ABC the department “has provided its assessment” to the Minister.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday the Government would be “relying on the scientific evidence”.
The ABC has previously reported the CSIRO had found flaws in the plan……… https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-08/adani-approval-last-decision-morrison-government/10980510
Coalition spends millions on electric vehicles despite claiming Labor push will ‘end the weekend’
SMH, By Nicole Hasham April 8, 2019 The Morrison government’s derision of Labor’s electric cars policy has been undermined after it emerged that the Coalition has spent millions of dollars encouraging Australians to use the vehicles and its MPs routinely spruik the technology.The government has aggressively criticised Labor’s election pledge that half of all new cars sold in 2030 would be electric, claiming it would “end the weekend” by forcing Australians to stop driving petrol-guzzling 4WDs…….. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/coalition-spends-millions-on-electric-vehicles-despite-claiming-labor-push-will-end-the-weekend-20190408-p51bz5.html
Australian voters back Labor to deal with climate change
Ipsos poll: Voters back Labor to deal with climate change, The Age, Michael Koziol, 7 Apr 19 Only half the Coalition’s voters believe it is the best to handle climate change, as the Morrison government struggles to manage a damaging split over the Adani mine and shift the focus back to Labor’s energy policies…..
an Ipsos poll taken last week – after Labor released its climate policy on Monday – shows voters have firmed in their view that Labor is better than the Coalition on climate change, with 42 per cent saying the opposition had the superior policy of the two major parties.
Only 25 per cent felt the Coalition’s climate policy was preferable – a decrease of 12 percentage points from when the question was asked in 2012. …
Climate and the environment have returned to the fore as Prime Minister Scott Morrison prepares to call an election, with Labor wheeling out its energy policy and the government exposed to internal divisions over the final ministerial approvals for the Adani coal mine.
Queensland Liberal National MPs and candidates are agitating for Environment Minister Melissa Price to rubber stamp the process quickly while they work to defend vulnerable Coalition seats up north, but Liberals in capital cities are urging a delay to avoid the issue blowing up just as the campaign begins.
Cabinet sources indicated they did not want to “elevate” Adani in the national mindset, nor risk any decision being challenged in the courts because it had been rushed……..
The Ipsos phone poll of 1200 voters found Labor supporters were much more likely to back their party’s climate policy than Coalition supporters: 72 per cent of Labor voters said their party had the best policy, while 5 per cent backed the Coalition and 23 per cent didn’t know.
People who lived in capital cities, had a university degree or earned more than $100,000 a year were significantly more likely to say Labor had the better policy on climate change. https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/ipsos-poll-voters-back-labor-to-deal-with-climate-change-20190407-p51boe.html
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg passes the buck on Adani coal mine to Minister For Coal , Melissa Price
Adani mine in minister’s hands: treasurer, SBS News 7 Apr 19, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says 
the final approvals for the Adani coal mine are in the environment minister’s hands, defending an apparent delay on the project.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has defended a hold-up in final approvals for the Adani coal mine in Queensland.
Mr Frydenberg said all major boxes had already been checked, and the environment minister was now working through “sub-approvals” in consultation with scientists.
“That’s in the hands of the minister,” he told the ABC’s Insiders on Sunday……https://www.sbs.com.au/news/adani-mine-in-minister-s-hands-treasurer
Where do candidates stand on nuclear waste dumping? Friends of the Earth are finding out
Sounding out candidates on nuclear https://www.whyallanewsonline.com.au/story/5991908/sounding-out-candidates-on-nuclear/?fbclid=IwAR3jlaHvuyECA2gwYQCZOGo6ysCmFwSKSGtyFUA8hD4IEex8CKJg6lK3GkQ, Louis Mayfield 3Apr19
Friends of the Earth National Nuclear Campaigners have been speaking to candidates for the seat of Grey ahead of the federal election to see where they stand on the proposed nuclear waste dump regional SA.
Mara Bonacci and Jim Green were in Whyalla on Tuesday and met with trade unionists and one of the candidates for Grey.
The process of establishing a low-level and intermediate waste dump in Kimba or Hawker is currently delayed because of two court cases brought on by the Barngarla and Adnyamathanha traditional land owners.
“Unless people go out to find the information towns like Whyalla, Pirie or Lincoln don’t get it,” she said
“The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science are still open for submissions. People can still write to the government about this issue.”
Ms Bonacci said the scope of the federal government’s consultation during the site process had been very narrow.
“They’re looking at the sites proposed to house the facility rather than the towns it’s going to impact which is potentially all of the Eyre Peninsula,” she said.
Their visit is also a follow-up on a report from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science made public last year which named Whalla, Port Pirie and Port Lincoln (among others) as potential nuclear waste ports. “There are communities that haven’t been told at all about being a nuclear port unless NGOs like the ones we work through had trawled through reports and identified these port towns,” Mr Green said.
“They’ve had no say, let alone a meaningful say on whether this goes ahead.”
To make a submission to the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science click here.
Coalition government rejects Clive Palmer’s call for nuclear power for Australia
Clive Palmer’s nuclear power plan for SA knocked back by Coalition, Chris Russell, The Advertiser, March 31, 2019
A push by the United Australia Party for nuclear power has been swiftly rejected by the Federal Government.
A spokesman for the party led by Clive Palmer confirmed nuclear was on the agenda.
“South Australia has a major energy problem and we, as a party, are discussing nuclear,” he said. “Australia has uranium reserves and nuclear is emissions free.
“Kristian Rees, our number one senate candidate is speaking with his SA candidates and party members on major issues like cheaper power, manufacturing and jobs.”
A planned announcement on nuclear power, reported by the Sunday Mail, was revealed early by Professor Adrian Cheok who quit the party despite being the No. 2 Senate candidate in SA.
The party spokesman said it was “disappointing someone who didn’t get what they wanted leaked confidential discussions”.
Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor rejected the nuclear call.
“Nuclear power remains illegal in Australia and highly expensive to build and operate,” he said.
The Government has short-listed electricity generation projects that could warrant underwriting — but the program specifically excluded nuclear.
Last financial year, SA generated more electricity than it used, exporting the excess to Victoria.
Wholesale prices were 11 per cent lower than the year before, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s report on SA electricity.
Mr Palmer is the national leader but has yet to nominate for a seat. His options include his former seat of Fairfax, on the Sunshine Coast, and Herbert, based in Townsville.
The Senate ticket for Queensland also is unresolved.
A party spokesman said Mr Palmer was expected to be endorsed “very soon”.
Government ‘failing’ on climate change: poll
SBS News, 1 Apr 19, As the federal election approaches, new polling shows how public attitude to climate change are shifting. Only 13 per cent of Australians believe the Morrison government is doing a good job in addressing climate change, according to a new poll.Results from an Ipsos poll released Sunday framed public perceptions of climate change in the leadup to the federal election, due in May.
It found almost half of Australians now feel that “honouring the Paris Climate Agreement should be a key priority” for this country.
And many Australians want to go even further. Forty per cent said they would like to see an emissions reduction target set that goes beyond reducing emissions by 26 per cent – 28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 as set out in the Paris agreement.
In a statement, Ipsos said the poll “uncovered a growing momentum for action on climate change and acceptance of the role of humans in causing it”.
“We also [found] that the majority of Australians believe that they will not be negatively impacted by a move towards renewables and that support for climate action by the government is on the rise.”……. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/government-failing-on-climate-change-poll
Clive Palmer will promise to build a nuclear reactor in South Australia
Clive Palmer will promise to build a nuclear reactor in SA, United Australia Party defector claims, The Advertiser MARCH 30, 2019
Building a nuclear reactor in South Australia will be Clive Palmer’s final pitch to voters on the eve of the Federal Election, a man who was selected to represent him has told the Sunday Mail.
The bold project has been revealed by Adrian Cheok, who was selected to run as the second Senate candidate for Palmer’s United Australia Party.
Professor Cheok has quit the party, in part because he says the mining magnate is not the Donald Trump-like figure he wanted to represent.
The awarded University of Adelaide alumnus, who has specialised in human-computer interfaces, has also told the Sunday Mail:
CANDIDATES elected to parliament who then leave, or breach party rules, have to repay $250,000 as a reimbursement for the costs and expenses of the party.
TRUMP’S chief strategist Steve Bannon and Mr Palmer had a meeting to discuss political tactics.
CEASE and desist notices are used as a tactic to stop party members talking to each other about policy.
PALMER kept asking the professor to get a haircut to match a picture, taken from social media and used on party promotions, from 15 years earlier.
AGREEMENTS were made for him work as chief of staff for the party’s lead candidate, former Adelaide United soccer player Kristian Rees, for three years and then take over the Senate spot.
The party did not deny the claims when contacted by the Sunday Mail but said that Professor Cheok had resigned because he “wasn’t happy” being the number two Senate candidate.
Professor Cheok said the party’s big idea to woo South Australian voters would be something that has never been done in Australia, would require expertise from overseas and would not employ “a single worker from Salisbury”.
“He said to me that ‘one week before the election we are going to announce South Australia is going to have a nuclear reactor’,” he said.
“He said ‘it is going to win us the election in South Australia’. I think everything is related to mining in his mind.”…..
Bill Shorten’s climate policy, much better than Liberals’, but it might appeal to some Liberal voters?
Bill Shorten treads gently with careful climate change plan, https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/bill-shorten-treads-gently-with-careful-climate-change-plan-20190331-p519di.html, By Shane Wright, March 31, 2019 The environment has claimed many political victims since the 2007 election.
John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Malcolm Turnbull and even Tony Abbott were all, to an extent, brought down by their response to climate change. And if Scott Morrison is defeated at next month’s election there’s likely to be a mention of the issue in his political epitaph.
Which means Bill Shorten is well aware of the dangers around Labor’s latest climate change approach, which is being made public in the shadow of the federal budget and just six weeks out from an election.
Hence the absence of a carbon tax, the use of safeguard mechanisms which were introduced by Turnbull, the exclusion of agriculture except for where farmers and landholders may be able to turn a buck, handouts to trade-exposed businesses and credits to firms that over-achieve.
By targeting vehicle emissions, Labor is tapping a worldwide trend which already has countries such as China and Britain effectively outlawing the sale of new petrol-driven vehicles from 2040.
Labor isn’t even going this far. Instead, it is setting a target of 50 per cent new car sales being electric while also looking to lift overall vehicle emission standards.
The demise of the Australian car manufacturing industry means any fight against the proposed changes will have to be led by the government if it dares.
But arguing against tighter emission standards would run the risk of the Coalition looking like those who bemoaned the removal of lead from petrol in the 1980s.
Not that the government won’t try. While the $100 lamb roasts may be gone, it’s already trying to claim that a snag at the local school fete could go through the roof under Shorten.
Labor’s policy is as much an effort to neutralise the political attack as to find ways to truly reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Bill Shorten doesn’t want his name added to the list of those MPs claimed by Australia’s climate wars.
Labor’s climate plan
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-climate-plan 31 Mar 19
Labor has promised to get Australia’s 250 biggest polluting companies to cut their emissions if the party wins the next election.
*Extend the safeguard mechanism to a threshold of 25,000 tonnes of direct carbon pollution annually
* This will capture about 250 of Australia’s biggest polluters.
* Pollution baselines will be reduced over time below current levels, in consultation with businesses
* Agricultural sector is exempt, working towards carbon neutral by 2030
* Energy companies also exempt, covered by Labor’s energy policy
* Steel, aluminium and cement companies supported to remain trade competitive
* Kyoto credits will not be carried over to count towards the Paris target
* Half of all new vehicles sold by 2030 to be electric
* New government vehicles to be 50 per cent electric by 2025
* New vehicle emissions standards for car retailers, electric cars to offset higher polluting vehicles
* Restoring the Climate Change Authority
SOURCE: Labor
Home Affairs Minister, and wannabe Australian P.M> Petewr Dutton rubbishes the climate action schoolkids
‘Defies common sense’: Peter Dutton takes aim at school climate strikers Peter Dutton has taken aim at school students who protested about inaction on climate change, saying they would be sitting in the dark without coal-fired power. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/defies-common-sense-peter-dutton-takes-aim-at-school-climate-strikersHome Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has laid the boot into Australian students who skipped school to rally against inaction on climate change.
Nearly 40,000 students took the day off school last Friday to participate in strikes around the country.
Mr Dutton said it was “100 per cent right” to suggest people would be left to sit in the dark if coal-fired power was stripped from the grid for 48 hours.
“Let the teachers tell their students that and go out on strike – but their mobile phones aren’t being charged,” he told 2GB radio on Thursday. This is how stupid the debate’s gotten, it defies common sense.”
New South Wales Labor’s pledge for ‘solar schools’
Labor promises $100 million for ‘solar schools’ https://www.smh.com.au/nsw-election-2019/labor-promises-100-million-for-solar-schools-20190315-p514i9.html, By Lisa Visentin, March 17, 2019 Labor leader Michael Daley has pledged to spend $100 million installing solar panels on hundreds of public schools across NSW.
Mr Daley linked his “solar schools package” to the recent student strike over climate change inaction, and said the policy would help teach students about renewable energy.
“As we saw at rallies across the country on Friday, the next generation is demanding real action on climate change,” Mr Daley said.
“Putting solar panels on schools will help students further their knowledge about renewable energy, as well as bring down their school’s power bills and reduce emissions.”
Under Labor’s plan, solar panels would be installed at 350 government schools. The $100 million package would be funded as part of the Labor’s $800 million “cool schools” policy to install airconditioning in every single classroom in the state.
Mr Daley’s announcement comes after he publicly backed the striking school students during a speech earlier in the week, describing their actions as a “demonstration of young leadership”.
His endorsement drew fire from Premier Gladys Berejiklian who said she was “appalled” the alternate premier was encouraging students to skip school.
It comes as a recent ReachTEL poll revealed climate change was a pressing concern for most NSW voters, with 57.5 per cent of voters saying it would influence the way they voted.
As part of the state election campaign, Ms Berejiklian has announced interest-free loans to 300,000 households for solar and battery systems while Labor has pledged to put solar on 500,000 homes over the next decade through rebates.
Ms Berejiklian earlier this week restated her government’s support for action on climate change and said NSW had the largest renewable projects in Australia.
“We’ve had a consistent position since we’ve been in government, that climate change is real and that as a government we need to do everything we can to deal with it and we have been,” she said.
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