PM’s New Gas Deal Upsets Head of Australian Workers Union
As part of the federal governments CCP virus recovery plans, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has signed another two year deal with liquid natural gas (LNG) suppliers from the east coast of Australia to ensure that uncontracted gas is going first into the domestic market.
The agreement, announced by Morrison on Jan. 21, is part of the government’s CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus economic recovery JobMaker package aimed at getting “the right balance between affordable gas for manufacturers and a price that encourages new gas resource development.”
Affordable LNG for Australians is to play a key role in the federal government’s “Modern Manufacturing Strategy” as it moves to incentivise the scaling-up of manufacturing in Australia for strengthening Australia’s “sovereign resilience” amid disruptions to global trade.
Last modified on Fri 22 Jan 2021 14.02 EST
The Morrison government has quietly appointed fossil fuel industry leaders and a controversial economist to a committee responsible for ensuring the integrity of projects that get climate funding.
Critics have raised concerns about whether some appointees to the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee may have a potential conflict of interest that could leave its decisions open to legal challenge.
The overhaul of the committee follows the government indicating it plans to expand the industries that can access its $2.5bn emissions reduction fund, including opening it to carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects by oil and gas companies.
The government has inked a deal with LNG exporters to offer gas to the domestic market first, but manufacturers say it won't deliver the cheap gas needed.
In the second part of our series Future Power, we explain why the government wants more gas, and we ask, how clean is natural gas – and what is its future in Australia?
Southern rock lobster industry fears seismic testing in Bass Strait could threaten crayfish populations
WedWednesday 13
JanJanuary 2021 at 5:44pm
The lobster industry has had its exports to China hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and trade disputes.
(
Print text only
Cancel
In a lab in Hobart, scientists haven t been able to answer one of the crustacean world s curlier questions: can lobsters hear?
Key points:
Southern rock lobster fisherman fear plans to use seismic testing to look for oil and gas reserves in the Bass Strait could threaten crayfish populations
For years cray fishermen and other aquaculture industries have made anecdotal reports of impacts on fish stocks following testing