Bob Debus

Australia’s political class is being played by the world’s best negotiators, with prominent economist Dr Richard Denniss arguing the global gas industry has weaponised the nation’s insecurities and fear of missing out. Speaking on a webinar about his new Vantage Point essay, the Australia Institute’s co-CEO said it was “pathetic and embarrassing” that Canberra continued to fall for the industry’s flattery and false promises that other countries saw straight through.

Some of Australia’s former fire and emergency chiefs have issued a dire warning as wildfires burn across Europe, North America, and Africa, urging the Albanese government to stop approving fossil fuel projects to rapidly reduce emissions. Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) said countries that hadn’t been considered fire-prone in the past, such as Canada, Norway and the UK, are now dealing with regular emergencies, as traditional fire seasons become a “thing of the past”.

In the coming weeks in the federal Senate, the Australian Greens will hold the balance of power vote on a small disallowance motion with big repercussions for climate policy in Australia. The Coalition has moved to disallow the Albanese Government’s proposed new carbon credits method, the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) Method.