Bold economic ideas are flowing ahead of next month’s roundtable convened by the Albanese government, aimed at boosting Australia’s productivity and economy, and repairing the budget. Among the biggest ideas to emerge is: should Australia resurrect its carbon price? Many respected economists say the answer is a firm yes. Among them are […]
Environment
The world’s highest court says countries are legally obliged to prevent harms caused by climate change, in a ruling that repudiates Australia’s claims it is not legally responsible for emissions from our fossil fuel exports. The landmark ruling overnight by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will reverberate in courts, parliaments and […]
In a world where climate change threatens food supplies and plant-based diets are on the rise, Australian scientists have developed a groundbreaking robot that could transform how we grow the crops we rely on most — from wheat and barley to legumes and grains. Called RootBot, the new robot doesn’t […]
When anti-racism specialist Gloria Tabi removed her wig for the first time in 25 years, she wasn’t simply changing her look—she was dismantling decades of social conditioning. “It was liberating,” she told The Back Cover podcast. “But also terrifying. I remember sitting in my car crying before walking into the […]
Imagine replanting various native species only to have them die because the area is too hot or too dry. Or reconnecting woodland habitat only to lose large tracts to bushfire. Well, our new research suggests those scenarios are entirely possible. We analysed the two most common ways to prevent overall biodiversity loss […]
Almost 700 rescues had been carried out in New South Wales by Friday morning as record-breaking rainfall pounds the state. Tragically, four people have died in floodwaters. Amid the chaos, videos posted on social media show people deliberately entering or standing above swollen rivers and flooded roads. It is a pattern of dangerous behaviour that occurs […]
As Tropical Cyclone Alfred bears down on the southeastern coast of Queensland and northern New South Wales, authorities have intensified emergency measures to protect residents from its imminent impact. The cyclone, currently classified as a Category 2 system, is anticipated to make landfall between late Friday and early Saturday, bringing […]
A series of wildfires in Los Angeles County have caused widespread devastation in California, including at least 24 deaths and the destruction of more than 12,000 homes and structures. Thousands of residents have been evacuated, and the danger isn’t over yet. Some estimates have put the cost of the damage and economic loss at […]
It is very difficult to take Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear announcement seriously. His proposal for seven nuclear power stations is, at present, legally impossible, technically improbable, economically irrational and environmentally irresponsible. Given the repeated community objections to much more modest nuclear proposals, such as storage of low-level radioactive waste, there is almost […]
In his latest foray into the climate change debate, Peter Dutton has sown fresh confusion around the opposition’s policy, whether intentionally or by failing to spell out what he means. It’s yet more frustration for potential investors in the energy and other clean industry sectors who crave greater certainty about […]
