Australia will meet its international climate targets without wrecking the economy and driving power prices sky high.
The Morrison Government today announced a $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package.
Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, said Australians recognise climate change and the importance of protecting the environment.
“We will meet our global commitments, and do what is right for our environment, without taking a wrecking ball to the economy.
“We have an obligation to preserve the environment for our children. We also have an obligation to hand over a strong economy, where our kids and grandkids can get jobs.
“We will meet our commitments in practical ways by working with land holders, farmers, businesses and indigenous communities.
“There will be further announcements ahead but as part of the $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package, we will invest a further $2 billion in the Climate Solutions Fund.”
The Climate Solutions Fund will build on the success of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) which has contracted 193 million tonnes in emission reductions.
The Minister for the Environment, the Hon Melissa Price MP, said that Climate Solutions Fund will ensure the ERF delivers a further 103 million tonnes in emission reductions to 2030. This will make a key contribution to us meeting our 26% emissions reduction target under the Paris agreement.
“We are working with people on the ground to reduce emissions and lead real environmental change.
“The ERF is investing in our farmers to help them revegetate degraded land, to protect existing forest areas and to increase habitats for our native species.
“We are working with businesses to invest in the adoption of energy efficient business practices that are reducing costs and working with waste managers and with recyclers to reduce waste emissions.
“We are working with indigenous communities in projects such a savannah burning where traditional land care practice is blended with modern environmental science.”
For more information visit: http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/gover…
Month: February 2019
Historic Snowy 2.0 Plan Approved
The Government has approved Snowy 2.0 as part of its plan to support new renewable energy for Australia’s future energy mix to deliver affordable, reliable power.
The historic deal will see a high-tech expansion of the iconic Snowy Mountains Scheme and will help make renewables reliable, reduce volatility and drive affordability in energy markets and provide other services critical to the security and stability of the NEM.
The Government is pleased to announce shareholder approval has been given for Snowy Hydro Limited (Snowy Hydro) to proceed with Snowy 2.0.
Following Snowy Hydro Board’s final investment decision on 12 December 2018, the Government has reviewed the project’s business case and is satisfied that the project stacks up and will benefit energy consumers and the Snowy Mountains region.
The Government will commit up to $1.38 billion in an equity investment for Snowy 2.0, with the remainder of the project to be financed by Snowy Hydro Limited.
Snowy 2.0 will increase generation capacity by 2,000 megawatts and provide 175 hours of energy storage – enough to power the equivalent of 500,000 homes during peak demand. Importantly, this will also put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices.
Snowy 2.0 will create up to 2,400 jobs in construction and support up to 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across the Snowy Mountains region, providing opportunities for local businesses, improvements in local infrastructure and increased economic activity.
Planning for the Snowy 2.0 project is well advanced. The Government’s decision green lights the project to progress to the early works stage.
This decision builds on the our investment in Snowy Hydro following the acquisition from the New South Wales and Victorian governments on 29 June 2018 and our work to back electricity supplies in Tasmania and Victoria with a new $56 million investment in the Marinus Link to support Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation project.
More information about Snowy 2.0 is online at https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-scheme/snowy20/
The Hon John Herron AO
The Hon John Herron AO is remembered as a man who dedicated himself to others as a parliamentarian, surgeon and humanitarian.
John Herron was a Senator for Queensland from 1990 to 2002. He was Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 1996 until 2001.
After leaving the Senate, he served as Australian Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See from 2002 to 2006.
The great theme of John Herron’s life was medicine. It was tremendous life experience he brought into the Parliament.
John Herron served in the Royal Australian Medical Corps Reserve and the RAAF Reserve for thirty years.
Following the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, John Herron volunteered to go to Rwanda as a medic. He saw things that were unimaginable. He suffered for seeing them.
Prior to entering the Senate and near the end of his Parliamentary career, John Herron served as President of the Liberal Party in Queensland (1980 – 1984 and 2001 – 2002). This reflected the great trust that members across the Party had in him.
In retirement, Dr Herron continued his active support of medical causes including serving as Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs, and Chairman of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation.
On behalf of the Liberal Party and the Government I extend our sincerest condolences to his wife Jan and their many children and descendants.
Scott Morrison
Snowy 2.0 isn’t enough: Greens
Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today responded to the Snowy Hydro 2.0 announcement, noting that if the government was serious about energy storage, it would put in place a national storage target and incentives for storage across the electricity network.
“Snowy Hydro is not enough,” said Mr Bandt.
“Not only do we need to force coal out of New South Wales, so that an expanded Snowy Hydro doesn’t give it a leg up overnight, but we need to establish a Commonwealth Large Scale Energy Storage Scheme to legislate a target of 20 GW of storage across the NEM and the WA and NT networks.
“We can’t afford to wait for one big hydro project that will require billions in transmission upgrades.
“We need to fast-track other small-scale pumped hydro projects at a grid-level to complement Snowy and provide enough storage to underpin a 100% renewable energy system.
“One pumped hydro project does not a storage system make. We need a comprehensive nation-wide plan to deliver storage that the old parties don’t appear to have.”
Greens say ERF funding better spent on coal communities
Scott Morrison’s Emissions Reduction Fund is nothing more than a rort designed to funnel taxpayers’ money to his big coal mates and the funding would be better spent helping coal communities to transition, said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“Coal is the world’s biggest driver of climate change and Australia is the world’s biggest exporter of coal. Without a plan to shift away from coal, this government has no plan to fight climate change, ”said Senator Di Natale.
“Instead of wasting $2 billion reheating Tony Abbott’s failed policy to pay polluters out of your pocket, the government would be better off helping coal communities prepare for the future.”
“A transition away from coal is urgent and necessary but the Greens want to ensure that it doesn’t leave workers and communities stranded.
“A responsible and caring government would have already been investing in a transition plan for the coal workers and communities who will be impacted by this significant structural shift.”
Man dies when tractor rolls – Lake Macquarie region
A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the death of a man in the state’s Lake Macquarie region.
Emergency services were called to a property on Mandalong Road, Mandalong, about 26km south west of Toronto, just after 12pm today (Tuesday 26 February 2019), following reports a tractor had rolled down an embankment.
Police have been told the man was conducting maintenance on the property at the time.
The 77-year-old man could not be revived.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
It is not being treated as suspicious.
Five new police puppies to be named by sick children
The NSW Police Force have welcomed five new crime-fighting canines at 
the Dog Unit, whose names will be chosen by chronically ill children.
The five German Shepherd pups – three females and two males – were born on Christmas Eve last year (Monday 24 December 2018) and will be trained as General Purpose dogs.
Dog Unit Commander, Superintendent Steve Egginton, said the puppies are a welcome addition to the NSW Police Force.
“Since 2004, our breeding program has seen 34 litters of German Shepherd pups join the ranks of the Dog Unit, and these five new recruits have just started their journey in the pack,” Supt Egginton said.
“Keeping with canine recruit tradition, these puppies will be given names starting with the letter ‘Z’ and will form part of the ‘Z’ litter.
“We are encouraging everyone to help suggest names for the dogs before they start sniffing out crime,” Supt Egginton said added.
Patron of the NSW Police Dog Unit, Mrs Andrea Fuller, said the naming process has proven to be an excellent way to engage with the community and allow members of the public to take part.
“This year, we are delighted to be working with Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick to give some of the children in their care a chance to help choose the names of our new crime-fighting canines,” Mrs Fuller said.
“A list of suggested names will be provided to the hospital, then the children will research the names and hold a vote, with the most popular names chosen.
“The pups will then be assigned a name and taken to the hospital, so the children have a chance to meet them,” Mrs Fuller said.
Director of Nursing at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, Ms Verity Luckey says the patients of Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick are thrilled to join forces with the NSW Police Force Dog Unit.
“The children are armed and ready to help to with the im-paw-tant job of naming the newest recruits, and also really looking forward to shaking paws with our new furry-friends when they are old enough to stop by for a visit,” Ms Luckey said.
Police Minister Troy Grant welcomed the puppy naming partnership with Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
“This is a great way for the children to engage with the Dog Unit, which does some of the most extraordinary behind-the-scenes work helping to solve crime in our community,” Mr Grant said.
“It’s also a fantastic opportunity for the unit to bring a little cheer to the kids at the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick. This is an incredibly worthy initiative that we’re proud to be a part of, and I look forward to hearing the names suggested for our latest four-legged crime fighters,” he added.
The five pups will stay at the Dog Unit until they are about 12 weeks old and will then be placed into the foster carer program until they are old enough to begin training.
The NSW Police Force Dog Unit was formed in 1932 and currently forms part of the NSW Police Force Police Transport and Public Safety Command.
It is the largest police dog unit in Australia and its canine police officers include German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, Labradors, Border Collies and English Springer Spaniels.
The Dog Unit’s breeding program has been running since 2004, and has bred 34 litters of German Shepherd pups, two litters of Labrador pups and two litters of English Springer Spaniels and one litter of Belgian Malinois.
NEW 250,000 JOBS TARGET TO BOOST OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKERS AND PROMOTE TRADES ACROSS NSW
NSW will remain the economic powerhouse of Australia with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announcing the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will create 250,000 new jobs in the next four years.
With NSW boasting the lowest unemployment rate on record of just 3.9 percent, Western Sydney and regional NSW will be a key focus of the new jobs target. Two vocational high schools and two additional Productivity Bootcamps will be established to help young people build skills and kick-start careers.
“We have created more than 600,000 jobs since 2011 – more than any other state – and smashed our last four year jobs target of 150,000 by adding more than 420,000 new jobs,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are prioritising young people trying to get in to a trade with the bootcamp program and at the same time giving those whose ambition is to learn a trade the opportunity to do so through new vocational high schools.”
The vocational high schools will be located in Western Sydney and on the North Coast. Up to $17 million is earmarked for each site to fund construction of specialist training facilities at two existing schools.
The two schools will train students in skills in demand by local employers and industry requirements and allow them to study a trade while completing the HSC. Courses may include construction, electro-technology, hospitality, metal and engineering and primary industries.
The successful Productivity Bootcamp program will also expand to two more locations in Western Sydney and the South Coast.
Already operating at Quakers Hill and Penrith, the program provides fully-subsidised skills training to help young people secure a career in the construction industry.
Over an intensive eight-week program Productivity Bootcamp participants work on-site of a major NSW infrastructure project. Essentials life skills such as effective communications, work ethic and time management are also honed at TAFE NSW.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills John Barilaro said, that as a former tradie, he knew first-hand many of the pressures faced by students considering a trade.
“We are doing more to support our young people to assure them that a trade is both a credible and rewarding career option,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The concept is truly exciting because it brings together the best of traditional learning associated with the HSC and the hands-on skills that will allow our tradies of tomorrow to kick-start their careers.”
Ms Berejiklian said the key to creating 250,000 more jobs was an ironclad guarantee by the Liberals & Nationals to complete all employment-generating infrastructure projects such the F6 extension, Western Harbour Tunnel, Metro West, Metro South West and WestConnex.
“Our record infrastructure pipeline has been the key driver for this jobs growth and we simply cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said only the sound economic management of the Liberals & Nationals would ensure NSW continues to prosper and grow.
“We have managed to get NSW back on track after Labor consistently delivered an unemployment rate higher than the national average,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Now Labor’s failed former Finance Minister Michael Daley is threatening to cancel this Government’s vital job creation infrastructure projects.
“One of the few costed policies they have released is their promise to abandon our payroll tax cuts. The consequence of that are higher cost to small business and fewer jobs as a result. Labor doesn’t have a plan for NSW – only a hit list.”
LABOR RESTORES FAIRNESS WITH $640 MILLION BANKING FAIRNESS FUND
Labor will give bank victims a fairer chance to fight for their rights with a $640 million Banking Fairness Fund.
The fund will raise $160m per year from Australia’s biggest banks to revolutionise the services available to Australians in financial difficulty – a key recommendation from the Royal Commission.
Labor fought for the Banking Royal Commission – unlike Scott Morrison and the Liberals who voted against the Royal Commission 26 times, called it a “populist whinge” and refused to give parliament more time to implement the recommendations.
Labor will double the number of financial counsellors across Australia from 500 to 1000with a $320 million commitment from the Banking Fairness Fund over the next 4 years.
These new financial counsellors will provide advocacy, support and advice to an additional 125,000 Australians each year.
These 500 new financial counsellors will be able to assist Australians to pursue fair compensation through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority under significantly increased compensation caps announced by Labor last week.
Commissioner Hayne recommended that Australia’s hardworking financial counselling sector should be given “predictable and stable funding”. Commissioner Hayne noted in his final report that “their services, like financial services, are a necessity to the community”, but that the sector currently “struggles to meet demand, which is increasing”.
Financial counsellors provide invaluable assistance, free of charge, to Australians who find themselves in disputes with their banks and other financial service providers.
A stronger, larger financial counselling sector is just one part of Labor’s plan to restore fairness to financial services.
Labor will make further announcements about the other programs that will be funded by the Banking Fairness Fund over coming days.
Labor called for the Royal Commission, Labor fought for the Royal Commission, and Labor will work day and night to give victims of financial misconduct the support they need to fight for their rights.
Greens say an Independent process must be followed in ABC appointments
Ita Buttrose must be considered by the independent nomination panel before cabinet names the next ABC chair, the Greens say.
“If the Morrison Government wants to nominate Ms Buttrose, it must go through the proper channels,” Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Five months have passed since the Government was caught in a web of political interference at the ABC. They still have not learned their lesson.
“Ita Buttrose is clearly a strong candidate for the position, however the current mess at the ABC is a result of exploiting board appointments. This cannot be allowed to continue, no matter how strong the contender.
“Political interference has plagued the ABC and there can be no doubt placed on future board appointments, or indeed the chair.
“The independent panel exists for a reason, and must not be disregarded or side stepped yet again by this Government.”