Heat on premier to end uranium ban
Pressure is rising on the Crisafulli government – from the resources industry and a former conservative leader – to lift a ban on uranium mining in Queensland to create jobs and chip away at soaring state debt.
One project is ready to go, according to Canada-based miner Laramide Resources, owner of a potential open-cut site in the state's north-west, which it says could rake in more than $600 million in revenue each year for an industry that would provide billions to the state's economy annually.
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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Point Roberts, Washington: the US town that only exists due a mistake made 180 years ago
'If I want a pizza or sushi, I have to go to another country,' said Steve O'Neill. 'There are three million people right next door and some days I will walk down the beach and see no one.' For Mr O'Neill life in Point Roberts is bucolic but full of absurdities. Perhaps the biggest of which is that this American outpost might not even exist today were it not for the thickness of a pencil – and potentially the thickness of the people using that pencil – almost 180 years ago in 1849. 'It can feel like the film The Truman Show,' he added of the exclave of Washington state. 'You can walk but there's also this limit to how far you can walk.' The limit Mr O'Neill is referring to is the border between the US and Canada. The two nations have one of the world's longest frontiers but few parts are as odd as here in Point Roberts. A rural hinterland which directly abuts the vast suburbs of Vancouver, Canada's third largest city. The US exclave is located on the base of a peninsula whose only land connection is to Canada. A tiny part of the US, barely 13 sqkm in size, seemingly forgotten by America and almost entirely dependent on a foreign nation. 'We're a no man's land, separated from the US, not part of Canada,' said Mr O'Neill, who has lived there since 1999. For decades, the border was just a daily wrinkle for Point Roberts' residents: a cheery wave to border guards as Americans headed north for pizza and sushi – and school and work – as Canadians headed south for cheap petrol and to pick up packages from the US avoiding international postage. Then Covid came and Canada sealed the border decimating business for two years. The border is back open but US President Donald Trump's continued mutterings of Canada becoming the '51st state' have delivered another economic blow with many Canadians now refusing to pop across to Point Roberts. 'Trump hit us hard' From Sunday, Canada hosts the G7 summit of the world's wealthiest nations. Australia's Anthony Albanese will be a special guest at the chin wag which will discuss tariffs, wars and the environment. But all eyes will be on Mr Trump. Any further annexation talk by the US president will be met with disdain by Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney and with despair in Point Roberts. 'The 'elbows up' Canadian boycott election stunt hit hard,' Point Roberts local Kathryn Trainor told 'Right now the exchange rate and our gasoline carbon taxes make it cheaper to buy fuel in Canada. 'It's pretty grim and some people super duper hate Trump being president again.' Point Roberts is beautiful – but bonkers. Forty minutes from Vancouver's CBD, the skyscrapers give way to neat Canadian suburbia that wouldn't look out of place in Australia. Semi-detached homes with double garages face well maintained parks with outdoor barbecues. Small strips of takeaways, laundrettes and convenience stores are close by. Then it all comes to a sudden, shuddering halt. A row of yellow bollards and warning signs marks of both the end of suburbia – and Canada. It would be easy to just walk over the unguarded barrier to the seeming wilderness of maple and cedar trees beyond. But to do so would be a felony of international proportions. Use the tiny borders crossing instead. On the US side, in Point Roberts, live around 1300 people. On the Canadian side, in the suburb of Tsawwassen which covers a similar area, there are 24,000 people – almost 20 times as much. From the air at night it can look a bit like North and South Korea. Busy Vancouver shines brightly. Then a straight line and just a few lights flicker in Point Roberts. The 1849 pencil stroke the ricochets today 'We're minutes from downtown Vancouver but people would be hard pressed to find us on a map,' Mr O'Neill told Blame the maps on the British. In the 19th century, the UK and US were still battling it out as to who would control the North American continent. In Washington and London pencil lines were furiously drawn on maps. The result was the 1849 Treaty of Oregon which set the border in the west at the 49th parallel. The British were savvy enough to ensure the entirety of the strategically important Vancouver Island, south of the 49th parallel, was in its column. But when the pencil lines were drawn the Point Roberts peninsula was so small that the British didn't realise they had handed over the tiniest southern tip of it to the US. Realising their error, London belatedly asked the US to allow Point Roberts to be within British – now Canadian – control. Reportedly, they received no reply and the treaty stood. Ms Trainor moved to Point Roberts from Texas to bring her children up in peace and quiet. 'The kids go to the beach and do nature walks every day. They have more of a holistic experience which is really good.' Compact houses dot the tree lined lanes of Point Roberts. The area's one supermarket, a big box which seems out of place in the rural setting, flies the US and Canadian flags and accepts both currencies But Point Roberts comes with challenges. Students that choose US over Canadian schools endure a daily coach trip that's 40 minutes each way and crosses an international frontier four times. Any fire that erupts in Point Roberts has to be extinguished by volunteer fire fighters from Canada. Few Americans visit or settle in Point Roberts because the multiple border crossings make it hard to get too – so it generally relies on Canadians. But US visa rules mean Canadians can only visit for 180 days a year so few of them are able to settle in Point Roberts even if they wanted too. A stark sign of that is house prices in Point Roberts are around three times less than just a few metres away across the border. When the border was closed during Covid things went downhill. For a time locals couldn't even drive through Canada to get to the US. While visits to Canadian doctors were no longer allowed. At great expense Washington state laid on a ferry to the US mainland so residents weren't entirely stranded. Residents would trek up to the frontier, next to a stone obelisk marking the border, and mingle with their Canadian neighbours. But they had to remain on their side of the 49th parallel or risk the wrath of the border guards. For two years, barely a Canadian visited the exclave. But now the border is open, the ferry has stopped and the people of Point Roberts set about enticing Canadians back. Tremendous beauty Mr O'Neill's dream is to open the Blackfish resort, in an old fish cannery. It would be a boutique hotel, restaurant and spa that he hopes will entice Canadians year round to revel in Point Roberts' city adjacent wildlife and wilderness. 'It's got a tremendous natural beauty. I see eagles and blue herons every day; I've kayaker with Orcas hundreds of times. 'We get people coming down here for gas and parcels but what if they could get a cup of coffee, lunch, and a cocktail? 'It would make Point Roberts more accessible, and every business would be better off,' he said. 'We need that. I've got three children that left because there's no opportunities.' 'Our regulars are offended' Neil and Krystal King, who own a souvenir shop in Point Roberts, had a quirky idea to give visitors a quirky reason to linger. The pair opened the world's only rubber duck museum. 'We already sold rubber ducks in our shop. We did research, and were like 'wait, the history of rubber ducks is really interesting and nobody is telling it',' said Mr King. The modest museum has a rubber duck from 1911, an original moulding from the first mass-produced Disney Donald Duck toy from the 1930s and a modern Taylor Swift duck. Of course, there are copious ducks in all hues for sale. Mr King said border guards would tell them that when they asked why people were coming to Point Roberts many said it was because of the ducks. 'The day we opened, we had a line going through the store'. But since spoke to the Kings, everything has changed. 'Our regulars are all saying the same thing,' Mrs King told the US' National Public Radio in May. 'They're offended by the rhetoric from the White House. 'They don't like their sovereignty being threatened. They feel the only tool they have is boycotting the US and keeping those tourist dollars out.' It's tariffs too. Mostly made in China, the price of importing rubber ducks skyrocketed for the Kings. They're now moving their museum to the Canadian side of the border. 'We love having our quaint little shop here. 'But it's not a choice between moving the ducks to Canada or keeping them here; it's a choice between moving to Canada or closing.' No country has been Abel to spoil it Despite the seeming remoteness and peace of Point Roberts, the world isn't far away. Container ships to and from Vancouver's port and ferries connecting the islands of British Columbia glide silently by in the distance; the lights of the Canadian metropolis shimmer on the horizon. Wouldn't it just have been easier if Point Roberts had been officially detached from the US all those years ago? 'If Point Roberts was part of the contiguous United States or Canada it would be strip malls like the rest of the place,' said Mr O'Neill. 'It's unique because it's the bastard stepchild. 'Neither country has been able to spoil it'.
Courier-Mail
7 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Anthony Albanese makes bombshell Olympics call
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared New South Wales and Victoria could host several of the 2032 Olympic Games sports, in a bombshell revelation that has left Queenslanders furious. The Aussie PM – appearing on the Two Good Sports podcast on Friday – suggested sports such as tennis would be better suited to the facilities in Melbourne, while rowing could be carried out in Sydney's west. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. 'I've been meeting with (2032 Organising Committee President) Andrew Liveris as well as with the Queensland Premier (David) Crisafulli about where it goes,' he told the podcast. 'For example, are we really going to do rowing in Rockhampton on the Fitzroy River when there are some pretty good facilities at Penrith? 'There's a debate over tennis and what's needed there in Brisbane as well.' Anthony Albanese suggested tennis and rowing could be held outside of Queensland at the 2032 Olympics. Image: Getty The PM, who has flown to Canada for the G7 summit, cast doubt on Queensland's ability to accommodate certain sports and questioned if it is the best use of taxpayers' money to develop new facilities to host those events when there are perfectly good venues available in Sydney and Melbourne. 'You have pretty good tennis facilities here (in Melbourne),' Mr Albanese told the podcast. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY However, the Crisafulli state government was quick to fire back, stating there was no chance any Olympic event would be held in another Aussie state. A Queensland government spokesperson told the Courier Mail on Friday that 'we are working with all levels of government to implement the 2032 Games Delivery Plan, which will see Rowing in Rockhampton and Tennis played at the upgraded Queensland Tennis Centre.' While Mr Crisafulli previously stated that his government guarantees 'Melbourne will not be taking the tennis from Brisbane'. Premier of Queensland, David Crisafulli has shut down talks of moving any Olympic sport away from Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass Many have called for the rowing at the 2032 Games to be moved away from Fitzroy River. Picture Instagram A team of talented Northern Territory crocodile wranglers will travel to Rockhampton's Fitzroy River to relocated crocodiles in preparation for the Olympic rowing in 2032. Questions continue to be raised over 2032 rowing location Hosting the rowing in the crocodile 'infested' waters of the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton has created plenty of controversy. The ridicule only intensified after a recent hydrological study also concluded the river drops to almost zero flow in the winter months when the games are scheduled to be held. A Brisbane 2032 spokesperson said issues are still being ironed out but said there will be no issue holding the event in Queensland. 'Delivering world-class fields of play that provide an optimal performance environment for athletes remains key for Brisbane 2032 and ensuring International Federations are involved in planning and delivery will help achieve this outcome,' a Brisbane 2032 statement read. Originally published as Anthony Albanese makes bombshell Olympics call
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Albanese's Trump plea before crucial summit
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to make a plea for the Trump administration to temper its trade policies in a key speech in the US ahead of this weekend's crucial G7 summit in Canada. Mr Albanese will tell an audience of US and Australian technology leaders in Seattle that Australia will 'engage respectfully and constructively' in matters that effect 'our national interest' and will continue to advocate for 'free and fair trade'. Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the US has been treated 'unfairly' by many countries on economic matters and he is wary of free trade deals. The Trump administration has imposed tariffs including a 10 per cent import tax on Australia despite the US having a trade surplus with Australia. That will be another theme that the PM will pointedly raise in his US speech. Both the US President and Mr Albanese are heading to the G7 summit of the world's wealthiest nations – but so far no meeting between the pair has been publicly announced. Indeed, the mood music towards Australia has been dicey over recent days. It has chastised Australia for not spending enough on defence, has criticised it for sanctioning two far right Israeli ministers as has announced a review of the AUKUS defence pact which will shred nerves in Canberra. Major Amazon investment in Australia The centrepiece of Mr Albanese's Seattle trip will be the announcement of a 'significant investment' by tech giant Amazon on data centres in Australia. The dollar figure has yet to be released. Data centres are physical buildings which are critical IT hubs. 'It was fantastic to … highlight (Amazon's) new investment in Australia's strong and growing digital economy,' he is expected to say at a technology and business reception in Seattle on Saturday, US time, hosted by Australia's US ambassador Kevin Rudd. 'This sends a signal to the world – and it's a powerful symbol of Australia and the United States co-operating to seize and shape a new era of prosperity.' Mr Albanese will push for more investment from US firms in Australia in fields including artificial intelligence defence, health and space technology. Mr Albanese's Seattle trip coincides with the end of AI Con, which is being attended by firms including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services. 'Respectful, constructive' In Seattle, the PM will also will beat the drum for the US not to lose track of its positive economic relationship with Australia amid Donald Trump's clamour for tariffs. 'This city reflects of the strength of the economic relationship between Australia and the United States,' the PM will say. 'The US has had an annual trade surplus with Australia since the early 1950s. 'We will engage respectfully and constructively, in our national interest,' he will add. 'We will continue to advocate for free and fair trade, for the jobs it creates and the investment it drives. We will hold true to the principles of shared opportunity and collective responsibility that are vital to building a more secure, prosperous and stable region – and world.' Mr Albanese will depart Seattle for the G7 meeting near Calgary, in the Canadian province of Alberta, on Sunday. Hosted by Canadian PM Mark Carney, world leaders including France's Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Sir Kier Starmer and Japan's Shigeru Ishiba will attend. Australia is not part of the G7 but Mr Albanese has been invited as a guest alongside India's Narendra Modi, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and others. Mr Albanese has yet to meet Mr Trump and it would be extraordinary if he failed to do so in The Rocky Mountain resort of Kananaskis the summit is being held under tight security. The US defence department's review of AUKUS came after defence secretary Pete Hegseth said Australia should spend more on its military. It could conceivably see AUKUS, a nuclear submarine pact between the US, UK and Australia, axed altogether. But in Fiji, on Friday, Mr Albanese tried to calm nerves. 'We are very confident that AUKUS is in the interest of all three of our nations, and that it will play an important role in peace, security and stability around the world, at a time when that is absolutely necessary,' he said. If the two do meet, Mr Albanese would be looking for some kind of reassurance from Mr Trump that AUKUS is still on track and Australia will receive its nuclear submarines. He will also likely bring up US tariffs on Australia and see if there is a way of reducing the 50 per cent import that the US has on steel from most countries.
