EPA opens Woodside's revised plan for Browse gasfield for public comment
On today's show:
Western Australia's environmental watchdog has taken the unusual step of reopening public consultation to Woodside's $30 billion Browse joint venture project after the company modified its proposal. This comes as new federal Environment Minister Murray Watt considers a proposal to extend the life of the Pilbara's North West Shelf gas project to 2070. Interview: Australia Institute principal advisor Mark Ogge
Tasmania's salmon farming industry has becoming increasingly contentious and the debate around industry became a central tenant of campaigning during the federal election. The $1.8 billion industry made headlines after mass mortality event last summer. To date, most of the focus has been on the south, but now a salmon farming trial in the Bass Strait in Tasmania's north is causing controversy. Reporter: Sandy Powell (Burnie)
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Indonesia revokes most mining permits in dive hotspot after outcry
Indonesia revoked permits on Tuesday for four of the five mining companies operating in the eastern archipelago of Raja Ampat after activists shared videos of islands damaged by nickel extraction. The cluster of islands and shoals in Southwest Papua Province sits in the Coral Triangle and is thought to be one of the world's most pristine reefs, with its clear blue waters making it a popular diving spot. Indonesia has the world's largest nickel reserves and is the biggest producer of the metal, which is used in electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel, and a 2020 export ban has spurred a domestic industrial boom. Last week, Greenpeace Indonesia published videos showing environmental damage to three islands because of nickel mining projects, including one clip which racked up more than 15 million Instagram views. President Prabowo Subianto "decided that the government will revoke the mining business licence of four companies in Raja Ampat", state secretariat minister Prasetyo Hadi told reporters. Energy and mineral resources minister Bahlil Lahadalia said "they have violated" regulations. "We believe this region must be protected," he said. Greenpeace said nickel exploitation on the islands of Gag, Kawe and Manuran had led to the destruction of more than 500 hectares (1,200 acres) of forest and vegetation. Environmentalists say coral reefs and marine life are threatened by the operations, but Bahlil denied the surrounding environment had been harmed. "If people say the coral reefs and the ocean have been damaged, you can see for yourself. Please be careful to differentiate which one is real and which one is not," he said. - 'Make sure they stop' - The NGO's campaign led to growing calls by politicians and celebrities for the licences to be withdrawn. The four companies impacted by the immediate ban are PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Nurham, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining and PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa. PT Nurham received its mining permits this year and has not started production but the other three have had them since 2013, according to the energy ministry. One more company -- PT Gag Nikel -- will continue to operate on Raja Ampat's Gag island but be closely monitored, said Bahlil. It received its operational permit in 2017. The three affected islands are categorised as small islands that under Indonesian law should be off-limits to mining, Greenpeace said. Greenpeace Indonesia said the decision was a good start but the government needed to take further action. "We appreciate this decision but we need to make sure the decision will be implemented. We need to make sure they stop," forest campaign team leader Arie Rompas said. He warned the government could reissue the permits later or the companies could appeal the decision in court. The activist said the government should also revoke the operating permit for the fifth company. A report last week by Climate Rights International alleged the Indonesian government was allowing environmental damage and violations against Indigenous people to go unchecked by nickel mining firms in the eastern Maluku islands. Processing and mining operations have grown there around Weda Bay, the world's largest nickel mine by production, but have led to locals reporting a spike in air pollution from smelters and rivers polluted by nickel tailings in soil carried by rain. An AFP report last month detailed how the home of the nomadic Hongana Manyawa tribe was being eaten away by that mine, with members issuing a call for nickel companies to leave their tribal lands alone.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Tasmania likely to get another state election as Jeremy Rockliff heads to see governor
The Tasmanian government has passed an emergency budget supply bill to keep the public service funded, clearing the way for the premier to visit the governor this afternoon and call for an early election. The ABC understands a mistake in the emergency budget supply bill, which needs to pass both houses of parliament in order to keep the public service funded, had to be fixed because of a typo before it could be considered by the upper house. Last week Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a vote of no-confidence in the lower house, 18 votes to 17. Labor Opposition Leader Dean Winter cited growing state debt in the yet-to-be-passed state budget, plans to sell off state assets and the bungled rollout of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries as the reasons for the motion. The government has since ruled out the sale of state assets. Convention dictates that after losing a vote of no-confidence, the premier should resign. Mr Rockliff has instead pushed for an early election. His position was backed by his Liberal colleagues, who have not mounted a leadership challenge. The governor has options other than granting an early election, including asking another Liberal MP to try to form a minority government, or asking Labor — with just 10 seats — to try to govern in minority. Mr Winter has ruled out forming a minority government that requires the support of the Greens, despite the minor party pledging confidence and supply to Labor. Premier Jeremy Rockliff will meet Her Excellency Barbara Baker, Governor of Tasmania, to seek an election. But can she say, 'no'? There's only two scenarios where that could have happened. The first is if the Liberals replaced Mr Rockliff with a new leader, who could then be asked to test their support on the floor of the house. That didn't happen, so that's ruled out. The second is if Labor leader Dean Winter had made efforts to cobble together his own minority government, using the Greens and crossbench. He made no such moves, so that is also ruled out — the governor won't make that request of him. It leaves an election as the only option.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Australia dives into the big blue as key climate ally
Australia has joined seven other nations pledging to harness the power of the ocean to cut emissions under the global climate pact. Capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and much of the excess heat caused by more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the sea is considered crucial in the fight against climate change. Brazil and France have used the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice as a launch pad for the "Blue NDC Challenge", a commitment to embedding ocean solutions into climate goals. Under the Paris Agreement, nation states must refresh their plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions every five years. September has been marked as the hard cut-off for nationally determined contributions for 2035 ahead of November's COP30 in Brazil, with Australia - like most of its peers - missing an earlier deadline. Environment Minister Murray Watt highlighted "significant" blue solutions to climate change, including conserving and restoring marine habitat. "We acknowledge the links being drawn between the Paris agreement and the ocean program this year, as we approach a decade of the Paris agreement," he said. Australia has joined the two instigating nations, Brazil and France, as well as Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and the Republic of Seychelles as early movers. The voluntary challenge invites countries to consider marine avenues for climate regulation, such as conserving and restoring mangrove forests and seagrass meadows. It further calls for the expansion of ocean energy, including offshore wind, and phasing out offshore oil and gas industries. Australian Marine Conservation Society fossil fuels campaign manager Louise Morris welcomed Australia's commitment at the conference, but questioned its credibility after extending the life of the North West Shelf gas project. "Signing the Blue NDC sends an important signal - but unless it's backed by action, including a clear plan to phase out offshore oil and gas, it risks being just another PR commitment without teeth," Ms Morris said. Progress on the high seas treaty has also been logged at the third UN Ocean Conference, hosted by France and Costa Rica. French President Emmanuel Macron expects the 60 necessary ratifications to come through in time for the treaty to come into force by January 2026, Reuters has reported. The agreement will allow nations to set up marine parks in international waters. The Labor government has pledged to ratify the treaty as a priority in its second term. Other commitments from Senator Watt on his first overseas venture as environment minister include better protecting Australian marine biodiversity. He is aiming for 30 per cent of the nation's waters to be "highly protected areas" by 2030. As much as 44 per cent of Australian waters are classified as marine parks, but not all those zones are fully protected from fishing and industrial activity.
