Many commentators on climate change articles in this publication have abandoned hope that effective action on climate change will happen under an Abbott government. The only solution for those concerned…
- Director, Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University
While the politicisation of climate change has transformed climate reporting into something of a circus, the Coalition’s announcement of a 26% emissions reduction target on 2005 levels for Australia by…
The second rejection of Bjorn Lomborg’s “Consensus Centre” by an Australian university this week raises questions as to whether any university would ever go near him.
If it is to succeed, Labor needs to be on the front foot, pointing out the nauseating contradictions in the rhetoric around tax reform.
As the latest State of the Climate report reaffirms 2014 to be “the hottest on record”, the NSW Liberal Party is pressing ahead with plans for a “Carnival of Coal” in August. The party’s upper house whip…
The confirmation by Trade Minister Andrew Robb that the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has been ordered to cease future investments in wind power is a major setback to renewable energy, investment…
The enormous amount of press that Tesla received last month over the announcement of its battery storage system – the Powerwall – cannot be put down to just clever marketing. There are so many reasons…
As tabloid news outlets invite us to feast on the “craziest” and most “insane” images of the Sydney storms this week from social media, University of Western Australia vice-chancellor Paul Johnson has…
Greens senator Scott Ludlam’s prophecy that environment minister Greg Hunt has been directed to play solitaire for an entire term of office is so far holding up to scrutiny. It is looking increasingly…
The greatest tribute that can be paid to Gough Whitlam is the fact that he is so fondly remembered by so many. The affection for Whitlam is contagious for those who admired the vision he had for Australia…
Possibly the most lamentable outcome of the raised tension and insecurity that has accompanied the theatre of terrorism in Australia is the decline in our political culture, which will last for as many…
The future of Australia’s climate and respect for environmental science stand to be the biggest losers in all of the forms of class-mobilised politicisation that are impacting Australia currently. Somewhere…
The Abbott government’s shift from Voltaire to Orwell last week is an act of political desperation. Replacing divisive changes to the Racial Discrimination Act (because they have no hope of going anywhere…
Something strange was happening in the arctic city of Norilsk last week. In an unprecendented heatwave, Siberians discovered the highs of 32C sunbaking in a city that is capable of -60C. The city is 300km…
If Tony Abbott had been expecting to get a lift in the polls from carbon tax repeal, he would have been left disappointed by weekend polls which had him tracking from bad to worse. His adept handling of…
The Abbott government was under considerable pressure to have the carbon tax repealed this week – and not just for political point scoring. Wholesale electricity providers had already priced in the repeal…
As Lenore Taylor observed recently, carbon policy has been responsible for the demise of three prime ministers and two opposition leaders in Australian politics. You are damned if you ignore carbon and…
Ever since Clive Palmer announced that the Palmer United Party (PUP) would support the retention of the Renewable Energy Target (RET), The Australian and News Corp’s tabloids have really ramped up their…
What is little known about coal baron and federal MP Clive Palmer is his interest in world affairs – and his adulation of the great American president John F Kennedy, and interest in US politics in general…
As Tony Abbott returns to Australia, there are important climate questions about what really did happen in the Oval Office, where he met not only with US president Barack Obama but with Secretary of State…
Tony Abbott’s trip overseas has certainly brought rewards. The timing has been very fortunate, as it has relieved pressure on his government over the budget. The political capital that a prime minister…
It could never have been foreseen in a column looking at political climates and the physical climate that a sitting Australian government would ever show the symptoms of the climate crisis itself. But…
With Melbourne and Sydney now breaking records for the most number of days above 20°C and 22°C respectively in May, and the news that the West Antarctic ice shelf is at a tipping point melt rate double…
A new book released today, Power Failure: The Inside story of climate politics under Rudd and Gillard, documents the failings of the Labor government between 2007 and 2013 in tackling climate change. Written…
The current gallery of columnists at The Australian are always interesting to read. There is a core of them that display the views of Coalition politicians only with more colour and erudition, and often…
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