Australia’s standing in Pacific has plummeted because of our climate change failure.

Scott Morrison flew to the Solomon Islands last weekend to “show our Pacific step-up in action” but this policy will fail if his government doesn’t take meaningful action on climate change. A successful step-up must include stopping our own pollution, defending the sovereignty of our friends in the Pacific and offering a safety net to those who may need it.

‘It is only recently that we have realised our political
de-prioritisation of the Pacific islands and their needs
has advanced China’s entrance to our region.’

Over the past five years Australia’s standing in the Pacific has declined dramatically because of an unwillingness to take strong action on climate change. It’s not as if the Pacific hasn’t been clear. From female fishers to the Fijian prime minister, to remote communities in the Solomon Islands, climate change is a top-order issue. It’s about the very survival of people, nations and cultures. If action isn’t taken, in 40 years there are people in Pacific island states who may have nowhere to go.

Read the opinion piece on The Guardian by Dermot O’Gorman - “Australia’s standing in Pacific has plummeted because of our climate change failure." 

NEG’s new framework may raise costs, industry groups say

Energy industry groups are concerned the National Energy Guarantee may create barriers for new companies entering the electricity market and fail to cut power costs.

Industry groups warned that the NEG may make it more
 difficult for competition in the energy market.

It comes as stakeholders gathered on Monday to discuss the framework for the NEG at the Energy Security Board public forum.

The public forum examined the different design options for the National Energy Guarantee and sought to act as a vehicle for discussion to achieve what ESB deputy chairwoman, Clare Savage, called "a high-level model for the COAG Energy Council" rather than showcasing a final result.

Read Cole Latimer’s story in The Age - “NEG’s new framework may raise costs, industry groups say.”

AGL may turn to gas, as power units fai

AGL may consider converting its Liddell power station to gas as its coal-fired generation units fail in future years.

The Liddell Power Station in the Hunter Valley. 

The potential of the re-purposing of the existing plant was highlighted during a media site visit on Tuesday to a plant that has become a focal point for the increasing toxic energy policy debate.

During the tour, high-level AGL management outlined the potential, and likelihood, of the site being repurposed from coal-fired power.

AGL chief economist Tim Nelson said "repowering'' was an option for the site, due to its access to transmission services, adding that this could include gas or biomass.

Read Cole Latimer’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “AGL may turn to gas, as power units fail.”