Latest news with #AustralianGovernment
ABC News
2 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Australian-made rocket crashes after historic north Queensland launch
An Australian-designed and manufactured rocket has been launched from home soil for the first time, crashing shortly after the historic moment. The Gilmour Space orbital rocket, called Eris, was launched from a spaceport in the north Queensland community of Bowen on Wednesday morning. The Gold Coast company tried to launch several times this year but was hampered by weather and technical issues. Co-founder Adam Gilmour previously said that if the rocket was able to lift off the pad, he would deem the mission a success. He said the rocket underwent extensive checks before any potential launch. "We just seem to find a bug every time we do a test. We did find a couple yesterday and the day before, but quick fixes," he said. The small town just north of Mackay is lovingly called "Blowin' Bowen" by residents due to its notoriously windy conditions. North and north-easterly winds were expected between 15 and 20 kilometres per hour on Wednesday, while maritime restrictions were in place alongside an airspace exclusion zone. For Mackay resident Andrew Hyland, this was his third trip to Bowen to witness the rocket take-off. "I've been up here since the first launch was programmed to go," he said. Bowen residents Helen and Douglas Tawse were ready to watch the rocket take off from the beach. Ms Tawse said the launch would "put Bowen on the map". Mr Tawse said the launch could generate benefits for the small north Queensland community. "If they're talking about more satellites going up, it would have to help Bowen's economy in the long term." Gilmour Space Technologies has received Australian Government support for its Bowen project, including $5 million for the Eris launch vehicle announced last week. University of Southern Queensland astrobiologist and astronomer, Jonti Horner, said the launch of the Eris rocket was exciting and showed a maturation of the space industry. Professor Horner said that historically, only government-run space agencies had the capability to launch rockets. "In the last decade or so, there has been very much an explosion in our use of space, and that's been because there has been a shift to commercial capacity to put things into orbit," he said. "As soon as it becomes a commercial enterprise, that means the technology is now much more mature and the prices drop hugely, and there is now this burgeoning global industry of commercial spaceflight and the commercial use of space." Dr Horner said forecasting the weather for a launch could be tricky due to the many layers of the atmosphere. "Just because you have calm weather at ground level doesn't mean the weather is going to be calm all the way up through the atmosphere and it doesn't mean the wind will be blowing at the same direction in all levels," he said. He said launches required the weather to be as calm as possible. "You want the conditions to be perfect because you want to learn about how the rocket behaves, not how the atmosphere behaves," he said. "The bulk of what they will deal with is in that first 10 kilometres, and if you have crosswinds or you have wind shear, they will just wait and go another day." Gilmour Space Technologies cut its May launch campaign short after staff reported two anomalies on different days. The first was a power supply issue and the second was the premature opening of the spacecraft's payload fairing, or nose cone. Another nose cone was taken from the Gold Coast to Bowen and installed. The company hopes to eventually send satellites into orbit from Australia for commercial entities and government.
SBS Australia
14 hours ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
Labor scrambles to anticipate Trump's next tariffs play
Labor scrambles to anticipate Trump's next tariffs play Published 29 July 2025, 6:46 am The Australian Government is scrambling to make sense of the latest remarks from the US President which suggest the nation could face higher tariffs than anticipated. As the deadline for the decision looms, the opposition remains convinced the lack of face-to-face negotiations has led to a worse outcome for Australia.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Albanese government substantially expands renewable energy scheme amid 2030 target concerns
The Australian government will substantially expand a renewable energy underwriting scheme as it aims to capitalise on the falling cost of solar panels and batteries and combat concerns it may struggle to meet its 2030 climate target. The climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, announced on Tuesday that the government would increase the size of its main climate and energy program – known as the capacity investment scheme – by 25%. It means Labor plans to underwrite the construction of 40 gigawatts of large-scale solar, wind and storage by the end of the decade. In capacity terms, this is nearly twice as much energy infrastructure as the country's existing coal-fired power fleet. The announcement follows concern the rollout of clean energy has been slower than promised due to issues with planning approvals for new electricity grid connections, supply chain delays and social licence concerns in parts of the country. Labor has a goal of 82% of grid electricity coming from renewable energy by 2030, up from about 42% of generation over the past year. Sign up: AU Breaking News email The renewables construction is also central to the government meeting its legislated 2030 emissions reduction target – a 43% cut compared with 2005 levels. An official projection of progress towards that target released in December suggested it was roughly on track to meet this. But the projection was greeted with scepticism by some analysts due to the slower than planned adoption of renewables and the lack of other policies that can drive short-term change. In excerpts from a speech that Bowen planned to give to an Investor Group on Climate Change event at parliament on Tuesday, the minister said the transition to clean electricity generation was urgent as ageing coal-fired power stations were becoming more expensive and unreliable. 'We need new generation now,' he said. He said the cost of deploying solar and batteries had fallen faster than expected – down 8% and 20% respectively over the past year, according to the CSIRO – giving the country the chance to 'supercharge' its transition. The underwriting program is open to only clean energy developments. Fossil fuels, including gas, are not eligible. The scheme does not involve an upfront subsidy. Contracts are won through a competitive tender and include floors and ceilings for revenue earned by a development. If the revenue is higher than agreed, the proponent pays the commonwealth a percentage of the proceeds. If it is lower than agreed, the commonwealth pays the difference to the proponent. Bowen said the first six tender rounds had been 'massively oversubscribed', and the government had secured $17bn of investment that would deliver 6.4GW of new clean generation and 2GW of dispatchable capacity, which typically means large-scale batteries. Under the expanded program, the government has promised to underwrite a total of 26GW of large-scale solar and wind and 14GW of storage or clean dispatchable capacity that can be called on when needed. It had previously promised 23GW of generation and 9GW of dispatchable capacity. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion The announcement comes during heightened focus on a national 2035 emissions reduction target due to be announced by September, and as a group of Coalition MPs led by the former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce spruik a private member's bill that would abolish all government climate change programs. Civil society and climate-focused groups were hosting events in parliament on Tuesday calling for an ambitious 2035 target, ranging from a 75% reduction to reaching net zero by that year. Bowen met on Tuesday with the UN's top climate official, Simon Stiell, who is visiting several countries ahead of the Cop30 climate conference in Brazil in November. In a speech in Sydney on Monday, Stiell said the 2035 target would be a defining moment for Australia. He urged the government to not pick a 'bog-standard' number but to 'go for what's smart by going big'. Bowen said he welcomed Stiell's acknowledgment in his speech of the steps Australia was taking on renewable energy and batteries, and the UN official's emphasis on the economic opportunity that could come from rapid action. He said the government had not yet received advice on the 2035 target from the Climate Change Authority, led by chair Matt Kean. 'Targets are easier set than met,' Bowen said. 'We will set a target informed by the expert advice in the national interest.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Major new travel warning issued for Aussies amid Thailand-Cambodia conflict
Australian travellers have been warned to exercise a 'high degree of caution' in Thailand 'due to security and safety risks' amid an escalating border conflict with Cambodia that has left at least 33 people dead. 'Due to the ongoing armed conflict … we now advise do not travel to areas within 50 kilometres of the Thailand-Cambodia land border throughout the provinces of Buriram, Si Saket, Sa Kaeo, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Chanthaburi and mainland Trat provinces,' the Australian government said in its latest Smartraveller advice. 'Armed conflict between Thai and Cambodian forces along the Thailand-Cambodia border has increased. This includes military strikes, violence and landmines. 'There are reports of casualties. Martial law has been declared in some districts in these provinces. 'There's an ongoing risk of terrorism in Thailand. Popular tourist areas may be the target of terrorist attacks anywhere across Thailand, including Bangkok and Phuket.' Tensions flared over long-contested ancient temple sites before fighting spread along the countries' rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice. Clashes, now in their third day, broke out Saturday in the countries' coastal regions where they meet on The Gulf of Thailand. 'Border crossing points along the Thailand-Cambodia border continue to be closed,' the Smartraveller warning read. US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was talking with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand in a bid to end their border conflict that has left at least 33 people dead. 'Just spoke to the Prime Minister of Cambodia relative to stopping the War with Thailand,' Mr Trump, who is on a visit to Scotland, said in a post on his Truth Social network. 'I have just spoken to the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, and it was a very good conversation,' he said soon after in a new post. 'Thailand, like Cambodia, wants to have an immediate Ceasefire, and PEACE. 'I am now going to relay that message back to the Prime Minister of Cambodia. After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!' 'I am trying to simplify a complex situation! Many people are being killed in this War, but it very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt.' Mr Trump also indicated he would not move forward on trade deals with either nation until fighting has stopped.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Councils urge state support as mounting legal bills from Native Title cases push regional budgets to breaking point
Dozens of Queensland councils are calling for urgent financial support as they grapple with the high costs of Native Title claims, some of which have dragged on for decades. There are currently 38 Native Title claims active across the state, including one in the Torres Strait that's been lodged for 24 years, placing mounting pressure on already stretched local government budgets. While many claims are uncontested, others, particularly those affecting populated areas and public spaces, have forced councils into lengthy and expensive negotiations. Redland City Council has spent over $2 million of ratepayer funds attempting to clarify how the extensive Quandamooka Coast claim could affect the 1300 land parcels within its jurisdiction. That figure is set to climb as a four-week Federal Court hearing looms later this year. 'Council has advocated to the Australian Government and Queensland Government for greater clarity and transparency surrounding Native Title claims, particularly where the claimant seeks exclusive possession of local government-controlled reserves, facilities, and community use areas,' a spokeswoman said. 'Having this clarity is important for the whole community, including Quandamooka peoples, so it can be fully understood where native title rights and interests can be exercised." According to the Courier, some 80 parcels of Redlands land are potentially affected, including key public areas such as Cleveland Cemetery, the Redland Performing Arts Centre, and popular reserves at Wellington Point and Cleveland. 'The Australian Government revoked funding to parties responding to native title claims, including local governments, while funding for parties making Native Title claims has continued,' the spokeswoman added. Native Title law recognises Indigenous Australians' traditional rights to land and waters but does not apply to private land. In recent years, groups such as the Kabi Kabi people have won non-exclusive rights over significant areas in processes that often span decades. Senator Pauline Hanson has now joined the call for support, saying small regional councils are being crushed under the financial strain. 'These claims are often very complex and can take years to resolve, resulting in huge legal costs for respondents. It's simply not fair,' she said. 'It's a burden that few, if any, regional Queensland councils can bear.' Queensland's Local Government Minister, Ann Leahy, said the state is working to ease the pressure on councils, but stopped short of confirming any new funding would be allocated to help with legal costs. 'While Labor walked away from supporting councils for a decade, the Crisafulli government is helping reduce red tape and costs to ensure they can deliver for their communities,' she said.
