Climate policies: Twelve dumped in half a decade

Over the past five years, the federal government has cancelled a dozen energy efficiency programs that were saving money and reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, and shelved possible replacements.

Karen Middleton.

Among the reasons for both moves were that they irritated business, were Labor-initiated or a low Coalition priority and risked comparisons with the Rudd government’s home insulation scheme.

Some of the cancelled programs were linked to the Gillard government’s carbon price and abolished by Tony Abbott, but the largest program was a 2006 Howard government initiative that after five years of operation was saving business $800 million annually, despite some complaints about onerous requirements.

Read the story from The Saturday Paper by Karen Middleton - “Climate policies: Twelve dumped in half a decade.”

Queensland weather: Heavy rain eases across south-east, disaster package announced

After more than 24 hours of heavy rain across south-east Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has cancelled all severe weather warnings for the region, indicating the worst is over for the time being.

A 4WD crosses the flooded Clagiraba Creek
causeway west of Nerang on Saturday.

But the BOM has warned the situation is being closely monitored and that further severe weather warnings would be issued if necessary.

Some drenched Brisbane suburbs exceeded the average monthly rainfall for February in just 24 hours, BOM forecaster David Crock said.

Read the ABC News story - “Queensland weather: Heavy rain eases across south-east, disaster package announced.”

Typhoon Hato: Hong Kong issues highest warning, halts trading

Hong Kong upgraded the storm warning to the highest for the first time in five years and cancelled its stock exchange morning trading session as Severe Typhoon Hato drew closer to the financial centre.

A man holds onto a lamp post against strong wind
as Typhoon Hato hits Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and schools and most businesses in the Asian financial hub closed.

Streets were largely deserted on Wednesday as winds intensified and rain lashed down, with many skyscrapers in the heart of the financial centre in darkness as the city battened down for one of the worst storms in years.

Hato churned up water in the iconic Victoria Harbour and triggered large swells and massive waves on some of the city's most popular beaches, with the weather observatory warning of serious flooding in low-lying areas.

Read the Melbourne Age story - “Typhoon Hato: Hong Kong issues highest warning, halts trading.”

Hundreds of flights cancelled as wild weather hits east coast

Wild winds battering Australia's east coast have left travellers stranded with dozens of flights from Melbourne to Sydney and Canberra cancelled.

Pedestrians in Sydney struggle in the windy conditions. 

And Victorians won't be spared Mother Nature's wrath with snow, thunderstorms and rain heading for the state.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled at Sydney Airport from Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra with the city's train services also in chaos as gusts of than 100km/h wreak havoc on the city's harbour. 

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin have all had to cancel or delay flights to Sydney and Canberra due to strong winds.

Read Melissa Cunningham’s story in the Melbourne Age - “Hundreds of flights cancelled as wild weather hits east coast.”

February's Beneath the Wisteria cancelled

This month’s Beneath the Wisteria has been cancelled.

We will not be gathering Beneath the Wisteria in Shepparton’s Maude St Mall on Saturday, February 25.

However, we will be back there on Saturday, March 25, to again continue our discussions about how we, as individuals, and our communities should respond to climate change.

Those with any questions about Beneath the Wisteria can direct them to Robert McLean at 0400 502 199.