December 2024
Minister’s early Christmas gift to coal companies
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has given an early Christmas present to coal companies by approving three new mine expansions – Caval Ridge (Qld), Boggabri mine (NSW) and Lake Vermont (Qld).
Neighbour from hell – A Pacific plea to Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton
A group of Pacific Island Elders, including two former leaders, have written an open letter to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, urging them to stop approving new fossil fuel projects.
Coal royalties a tiny part of NSW Budget
Coal royalties do little to fund schools, hospitals, teachers or nurses, despite frequent claims to the contrary from politicians and the mining industry, new research from The Australia Institute has found.
Australians urged to support Minister to keep her promise on “no more extinctions”
The Australia Institute has launched a petition encouraging Australians to support Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to keep her promise of no more animal extinctions under her watch.
Never used, never worn: the billion-dollar Christmas waste
More than a quarter (27%) of Australians will this year get a Christmas present they’ll never use or wear.
Another day, another bumper catch of misinformation from the salmon industry
Just 24 hours after The Australia Institute exposed the salmon lobby’s lies in the debate over fish farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, more misinformation has been spread by those with a vested interest.
NSW government now spending more public money on coal boosting than coal transition
The NSW Government is currently spending significantly more public money promoting coal than helping regional communities’ transition away from it, according to new research by the Australia Institute.
Tasmania’s great skate debate – cutting through lies and misinformation
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek vowed that there would be no more extinctions under her watch. But the Australian Workers Union has vowed that no species is more important than a single job.
November 2024
Albanese government rewards foreign company for driving endangered species towards extinction
The Albanese government has today announced it will spend more than $21 million of taxpayers’ money directly on propping up the salmon industry, which does not appear to have paid any corporate tax since 2019-20.
October 2024
Minister shows lack of leadership again, as endangered species faces extinction
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has, once again, delayed making an important decision to save the endangered Maugean skate in Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Top Australian scientists unite in defence of science on Maugean skate
An ancient and endangered skate (related to rays and sharks), which can only be found in a remote corner of western Tasmania, could be wiped out by salmon farming, prompting an extraordinary warning from some of the nation’s foremost marine scientists. 14 Professors and five Fellows from the Australian Academy of Science are among more than
Experts warn WA Government of gas price threat from Woodside’s export extension
New Australia Institute analysis shows that Woodside’s North West Shelf (NWS) Extension proposal represents a major threat to WA’s domestic gas market. The proposal is seeking approval from WA Environment and Energy Minister Reece Whitby. Today The Australia Institute is joined by two former WA premiers, Carmen Lawrence and Peter Dowding, and oil and gas
Asian groups call on Australia to stop new fossil gas projects
Non-government organisations from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have signed an open letter urging Australia to stop new fossil gas projects. The letter was published as a full-page advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times, coordinated by The Australia Institute. The groups say that Asia’s energy systems are shifting to use more
“Nature Positive” summit can’t conceal nature negative policies
A full-page advertisement published this morning by the Australia Institute warns that government policies and actions are overwhelmingly “nature negative” despite the NSW and Federal governments co-hosting the world’s first “Global Nature Positive Summit” in Sydney today. Published this morning in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times, the advertisement highlights that Environment Minister
September 2024
Report: Fire ants to kill 6 Queenslanders and cost households $188 million annually if not eradicated
As fire ant numbers surge across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, new research shows Queensland households could be hit with an annual bill of $188 million, if they are not eradicated. The report, released by the Australia Institute, estimates that, if fire ants are allowed to spread, every year they could cause six deaths, trigger 116,000 medical visits and
Open Letter Calls on Government to Set Timeline for End of New Fossil Fuel Projects
A group of Australia’s leading climate and environment organisations have signed an open letter, coordinated by the Australia Institute and published today in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times, calling on the federal government to tell Australians when it will stop approving new coal, oil and gas projects. The open letter
Coal Mine Approvals Undermine Climate Goals, Government Rhetoric
The approval of three new coal mines in the Hunter Valley, during a rapidly escalating climate crisis, is shocking given the federal government’s stated commitment to climate action, the Australia Institute has said. Key Points: The federal government has approved three coal mines in the Hunter Valley Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri Underground Mine Stage 3 Extension
WA gas policy changes: East coast-style mess looms
The Western Australian Government’s changes to the state’s domestic gas policy give companies more opportunities to export gas and further reduce domestic gas supply, said The Australia Institute. Key Findings: Exports of gas are threatening the stability of WA’s gas market. The policy changes announced today allow more of WA’s domestic onshore gas to be
Overdue report delivers scathing assessment of Tasmanian Government’s environmental record
The State of the Environment Report released today shows that Tasmania’s unique environmental assets have been severely impacted by years of neglect from the state government, the Australia Institute has said. Key Findings: The Tasmanian Government has released the first State of the Environment Report in 15 years. The report shows that the Government has
No Shortage of Gas or Profits — Only Shortage of Tax
Australia Institute research has shown that there is no shortage of gas in Australia, in either the short or medium term, and that it is gas exports that are putting pressure on domestic supply. Continued attempts by the gas industry to claim a domestic shortage while expanding gas exports show that there is no shortage of
Analysis: 95% of Government Revenue not from Mining Industry
Claims from the mining industry that they are significant funders of public services in Australia are overblown, ignore the fact that their profits are made off the back of public resources, and are heavily publicly subsidised, the Australia Institute has said. Key Points: Taxes and royalties paid by the mining industry make up just 5 cents
Scrap fuel tax rebates for mining industry, not farmers
The Fuel Tax Credits Scheme should be scrapped for the mining industry, not farmers, the Australia Institute has said in response to calls at today’s National Farmer Rally to keep the tax rebate for the agricultural industry. Key Findings: The Fuel Tax Credits Scheme, also called the Diesel Fuel Rebate, is a subsidy for fossil
Pure Farce: Gas Import Proposal Shows Extraordinary Export Failure
Plans to import LNG to Australia reveal the extraordinary failure of consecutive Australian governments to stand up to multinational gas corporations, the Australia Institute has said. Key Points: Australia is one of the biggest exporters of gas in the world, alongside Qatar. Around 80% of Australia’s gas is exported as liquefied natural gas (LNG). Over
August 2024
$41 billion of new fossil fuel projects are gobbling up construction supply chain
$41b of committed resource and energy infrastructure projects is soaking up construction capacity that could otherwise be used to build essential infrastructure, such as housing and roads.
NT motorists pay 32 times more in rego than the gas industry pays in royalties: New research
Motorists pay almost 32 times more in vehicle registration than the gas industry pays in royalties in the Northern Territory, according to new Australia Institute research.
June 2024
Momentous budget and planning decisions must be based on current environmental data
Leading environment and policy groups are calling on the Tasmanian Government to make the decade-long-delayed State of the Environment Report public before several key financial and planning decisions are made by the government and the parliament later this year.
Zero royalties charged on $111 billion in WA gas sales
Australia Institute research has found that 73% of gas exported from WA attracts zero royalty payments, effectively giving a public resource to multinational gas corporations for free.
May 2024
Gas exports: 56% given to corporations royalty-free
Australia Institute research has found that 56% of gas exported from Australia attracts zero royalty payments, effectively giving a public resource to multinational gas corporations for free.
Australians revealed as world’s biggest fashion consumers, fuelling waste crisis
Australians buy more clothes per person than any other country which is fuelling a fast fashion waste crisis, according to new Australia Institute research.
“Perverse Incentive” NSW Government Continues Native Forest Logging to Keep Carbon Credits Plan Alive
An investigative video report by the Australia Institute has found taxpayer subsidised native forest logging is destroying hundreds of hectares of the future Great Koala National Park each week, despite the NSW Government’s election commitment to put the land aside for protection.
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