dailynewsnblog
Greens say ‘chilling’ national climate risk assessment makes net zero ‘imperative’
The Greens said the party is deeply troubled by the findings released in today’s national climate risk assessment, saying any commitment less than net zero by 2035 would lock the planet into exceeding 2C of warming and set off a host of climate-related ills.
Larissa Waters, the Greens’ leader, said in a statement:
The revelations about Australia’s future under climate change detailed in this report are chilling. … The climate crisis is a risk to our safety, to nature, and to our economy and productivity. This report must be a wake-up call for Labor ahead of their 2035 climate target decision …
If Labor fails to set a science-based climate target then it’s crystal clear: they have utterly prioritised coal and gas profits at the expense of community safety and nature.
The Greens went on to lambaste the government’s decision last week to formally extend the North West Shelf gas project, calling it Albanese’s “most polluting fossil fuel project so far”.
Key events
Penry Buckley
NSW warned to expect late bushfire season amid rain-driven growth
NSW can expect a late onset to the bushfire season this summer, as the rural fire service says heavy rain this year has driven higher growth in bushland areas, creating the risk of fast-moving grass fires.
The NSW emergency services minister, Jihad Dib, has given a press conference today alongside the NSW rural fire service (RFS), which is releasing its annual outlook this week. He has warned 2024-25’s severe flooding and cyclone events have hampered efforts to meet hazard reduction burning targets, expected to be limited further by a wetter than average spring.
“What we’re really focused on this year is getting out of the complacency. We’ve had about a year or so of rain, and there’s been a lot of focus on floods, rightfully so, but our attention needs to turn to the upcoming fire season. Now, with the rain, we see a lot of growth that’s developed, and as a result of that, as soon as we get some dry hot weather, that grass will start to dry out and become quite easy for burning.”
RFS commissioner Trent Curtin, who took over from outgoing commissioner Rob Rogers in July, has warned that areas which burnt in the 2019-20 black summer bushfires have now regrown and can sustain fire again.
“We’re expecting fast-running grass fires to occur, that will impact communities, that will potentially threaten lives. We want to make sure everyone is prepared for those grassfires.”
Nick Visser
That’s all from me, thanks for sticking with us. Nino Bucci will be your shepherd on the blog for the rest of the day’s news. Take care.
Jack Snape
Gout Gout says he is ‘ready to rumble’ for World Athletics Championships debut
Australian teenage sprint phenomenon Gout Gout has declared his legs are “ready to rumble” before his major international debut on Wednesday at the World Athletics Championships.
The 17-year-old participated in a panel session with international press today, his only pre-meet media opportunity, as he prepares to contest the 200m in Tokyo. Gout was asked what his legs would tell him if they could talk.
“They’ll be ready to go, like in F1 when the cars are warming up the tyres,” he said, making a swerving gesture with his hands. “They’ll be just … ready to rumble, that’s what they’d say”.
The confident teenager said he did have some nerves about his major international debut.
Read more:
Eva Corlett
Five takeaways from the Pacific Islands Forum
China, the climate crisis and security concerns dominated the agenda as Pacific leaders gathered for the region’s most important annual meeting, last week.
The week-long Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) in Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, brought together Australia, New Zealand and 16 Pacific countries and territories at a time of fraught geopolitical tensions, and with accusations of outside interference in the region never far from the headlines.
Here’s everything you need to know:
Greens say ‘chilling’ national climate risk assessment makes net zero ‘imperative’
The Greens said the party is deeply troubled by the findings released in today’s national climate risk assessment, saying any commitment less than net zero by 2035 would lock the planet into exceeding 2C of warming and set off a host of climate-related ills.
Larissa Waters, the Greens’ leader, said in a statement:
The revelations about Australia’s future under climate change detailed in this report are chilling. … The climate crisis is a risk to our safety, to nature, and to our economy and productivity. This report must be a wake-up call for Labor ahead of their 2035 climate target decision …
If Labor fails to set a science-based climate target then it’s crystal clear: they have utterly prioritised coal and gas profits at the expense of community safety and nature.
The Greens went on to lambaste the government’s decision last week to formally extend the North West Shelf gas project, calling it Albanese’s “most polluting fossil fuel project so far”.
Dellaram Vreeland
Ballarat was promised ‘more and better homes’, but residents are still waiting
People living in the Delacombe public housing estate were moved out to make way for new “affordable” homes in 2023 – but construction is yet to begin.
In 2021, the state government announced it was going to deliver more housing in the estate as part of its $5.3b Big Housing Build project to address Victoria’s critical social housing shortage. It said more than 60 old dwellings in the estate would be demolished, to be replaced with a mix of social and affordable housing.
Relocation was completed in late 2023, with residents uprooted from their neighbourhood but promised first right of return to new homes that would be “energy efficient and environmentally sustainable”.
Two years later, and four years after the plan was announced, building has not begun.
Read more here:
Western Australia set to get two new public holidays
WA premier Roger Cook will introduce legislation this week to add two new public holidays to the state calendar after a public review period into the idea.
The state will get two new holidays: Easter Saturday to align with other states, and a new day called Show Day, which will coincide with the first Monday of the September/October school holidays.
Three other holidays will be shifted: Labour Day to the second Monday in March; WA Day to the second Monday in November; and the King’s Birthday to the second Monday in June.
If passed, the new schedule will take effect in 2028 to allow for a two-year implementation period.
Cook said in a statement yesterday:
Striking the right balance was essential and I believe this new schedule ensures our economy remains the strongest in the nation, while workers get the break they deserve.
Bird of the year nominations are open
Which of the 830 bird species that call Australia home (or at least one of their homes) should make it into the 2025 Australian bird of the year poll?
Australia has the greatest diversity of avian life in the world, home to nearly one in 10 of the world’s 10,000 living bird species. And we love to celebrate it.
Now is your chance to make sure you get to vote for your favourite. The Guardian and Birdlife Australia are taking nominations now to help shape the list of 50 birds the country will be asked to vote for next month.
Share your thoughts here:
Landmark climate report shows ‘every Australian has a lot at stake’, minister says – video
Barnaby Joyce says Coalition risks being ‘replaced’ as a movement
The Nationals MP and former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has used a morning TV appearance to offer a plan for the flagging Coalition, but does not believe replacing Sussan Ley as leader is the answer to their fortunes as there’s “not a great number to pick from”.
Joyce told Sunrise that he had a five-point plan to turn things around for the party. It appeared he had four points – one of which was sticking a map on the fridge – and two somewhat relevant opinions, but let’s not quibble. Joyce said:
Number one, get a map of Australia and stick it on your fridge and from that point on, just start worrying about them. Don’t worry about climate conferences or worry about what’s happening in the Middle East or worry about the fact that you’ve got people coming in – worry about the cost of living.
The next thing is basically pick three issues that are binary, that you’re all for them and Labor’s all against them or you’re against them and Labor is all for them because that helps you define the map on the fridge.
The third thing is put your best team on the paddock, not your best mates. Put your best team on the paddock and follow through with that.
Then I would say the Labor party’s been there before, after Julia Gillard they were down at the same numbers and came back. So you can come back. You’ve really got to focus.
The last thing I will say, if you don’t come back in the next three years, as a political movement, you might be replaced by another one.
When asked if Ley was safe, Joyce responded:
It’s not about Sussan, it’s about making sure you have the right people for the right positions because you want to present as competent across the field.
You haven’t got a great number to pick from, to be complete and frank.
