Not only has Brisbane joined other regions of Queensland as a site of severe flooding, we have also been joined by Brazil on the receiving end of exceptional La Nina effects. This should remind us, just as we focus in the next few hours and days on helping our immediate neighbours, that these weather patterns [...]
Tags:2011·Brisbane floods·climate change·la nina·western suburbs
Blogging has taken a back-seat since the Federal election (congratulations, Sandra Bayley, on a great showing for the Greens). Hard on its heels was the Walter Taylor by-election for the BCC ward vacated by Jane Prentice, the LNP victor in Ryan. A further strong swing in the Greens direction with a reduced LNP margin and [...]
During this election a number of crucial national challenges have been given short shrift. Some (health, education) have been treated with extraordinary shallowness where thoroughgoing reform should have been on the agenda. Others, such as overcoming indigenous disadvantage or Australia’s proper role in Afghanistan, have appeared minimally or not at all. An election hijacked by small-target [...]
Tags:2010·climate change·election·federal election·floods·Greens·heatwave·Pakistan·Russia·Ryan·Sandra Bayley
Results from the Lowy Institute’s Sixth Annual Poll have been reported to imply a dramatic loss of concern on the part of Australian voters about climate change. The Courier Mail, for example, reported (accurately) that “The sixth poll from the Lowy think tank also showed that Australians remained committed to acting on greenhouse gases” and [...]
Tags:2010·climate change·CO2·dead issue·Environment·federal election·Lowy poll·Ryan·temperature
Anyone who puts up their hand for election has a duty to state how they would vote on crucial legislation, and why. So in this final week of the ETS debate I’ll make my position absolutely clear, starting with its basis: 1. The only uncertainty about climate change is its exact extent and timing. Few [...]
Tags:ALP·climate change·CPRS·emissions trading scheme·Environment·ETS·Greens·Labor·Larissa Waters·Liberal·LNP·Nick Xenophon·Ron Boswell·Senate