Penny Wong says Labor will try and undo Abbott's legacy on climate policy

The shadow foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says Labor will beef up international approaches to combating climate change, including with work in the Pacific and with Asean countries, in an effort to restore lost credibility as a consequence of repealing the carbon price.

Penny Wong and Tanya Plibersek. The shadow foreign affairs
 minister will argue Tony Abbott’s actions on the carbon price
damaged Australia’s reputation on climate change.

Wong will use a speech to a climate conference in Melbourne on Tuesday to commit Labor to reinstituting the position of climate change ambassador, and broadening Australia’s work in the Pacific through the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Community (formerly the South Pacific Commission) and the secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program.

The shadow foreign minister will argue Australia, if it wants to be a serious international player on global warming, needs to demonstrate constructive internationalism.

Read Katherine Murphy’s story from The Guardian - “Penny Wong says Labor will try and undo Abbott's legacy on climate policy.”

Australia risks being crushed by Antarctic rivals Russia and China, scientists say

Australia risks ceding its influence in Antarctica to nations such as Russia and China because drastic cuts to scientific research are eroding its credibility in the region, respected scientists say.

Australia is losing ground in Antarctica, scientists warn.

They include the Australian Academy of Science, comprising more than 500 of the nation’s leading scientists, which has warned of Australia’s diminishing ability to address its Antarctic interests including its geopolitical claim, sustainable fishing in the Southern Ocean, climate change research and international Antarctic governance.

Australia has sovereignty over 42 per cent of Antarctica – almost six million square kilometres. It has traditionally played a commanding role in the affairs of the continent, largely due to its infrastructure assets and capability.

Read the story from today’s Age by Nicole Hasham - “Australia risks being crushed by Antarctic rivals Russia and China, scientists say.”

Budget cuts threaten credibiity and reef

Budgets cuts threaten one of the world’s wonders, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The ABC has reported that funding cuts to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority threaten not only that body’s credibility but the inherent wellbeing of the reef itself.

That dilemma is explained in a story headed: “Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority losing credibility amid job cuts, expert warns”.

The ABC reports: “The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will not have the expertise to protect the reef when jobs go because of budget cuts, a leading scientist has warned”.