Morrison forced to step up Pacific charm offensive

Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga said the
needs of people had to be put above politics.

Tuvalu: Scott Morrison will be forced to step up his Pacific charm offensive in Tuvalu on Wednesday after eight island nations declared his $500 million climate package was worthless unless Australia fast-tracked its transition to renewable energy and banned new coal mines.

The Prime Minister's attempts to salvage his government's regional Step Up program was met with cynicism ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum, with Australia warned it must back up its foreign aid pledge with more action at home to cut carbon emissions.

Read the story from The Age by Rob Harris - “Morrison forced to step up Pacific charm offensive.”

MPs seize on power hardship to renew coal push

A record number of households are being forced onto hardship programs to pay off their electricity bills as they struggle to cope with rising power prices.

EnergyAustralia managing director Catherine Tanna
tells the AFR Energy Summit governments should
trust the experts and work with, not against, industry to fix energy.

A group of Coalition backbenchers have seized on the new data to bolster their push for the government to help build new coal-fired power plants, claiming it would help drive down prices.

The Australian Energy Regulator's latest electricity retailer report, released this week, shows 80,437 households had sought help with their bills since June 30. That was up 17 per cent, from 68,832, for the same period the previous year.

Read the story from The Age by Cole Latimer - “MPs seize on power hardship to renew coal push.”

Campers evacuated as fire in south-west Tasmania brings smoke to Hobart

A fire in Tasmania's south-west wilderness has burned through more than 2,500 hectares and forced the evacuation of bushwalkers in the area, as the state is warned to brace for a scorcher on Friday.

Traveller Teagan Fone-Stephenson snapped this
 photo of the Gell River fire from the helicopter.

Two separate fires, both started by lightning last Friday, joined together and are burning at Gell River, approximately 6 kilometres north-west of Lake Rhona, the Tasmania Fire Service said.

Parks and Wildlife personnel, supported by waterbombing aircraft, are working to contain the fire.

Leah Soo and two friends were camped at Lake Rhona on Friday and saw the fire on their way to a nearby peak.

Read the ABC News story by Ellen Coulter and Lucy MacDonald - “Campers evacuated as fire in south-west Tasmania brings smoke to Hobart.”

Energy companies will pay more under budget changes that could also secure company tax win

Oil and gas giants will be forced to pay billions more in tax under changes to the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax that could also deliver the Turnbull government a shock victory on its stalled company tax cuts.

Treasurer Scott Morrison ordered a review into the system in 2016.

It is understood next month's budget will tackle longstanding concerns about the way energy companies are taxed by curbing "uplift concessions", which determine tax deductions associated with exploration and construction. But in a concession expected to win industry support, the changes will exempt existing projects.

Read Eryk Bagshaw’s story from The Age - “Energy companies will pay more under budget changes that could also secure company tax win.”

Airstrip used in firefighting threatened by proposed wind farm

A south-west Victorian airport instrumental in fighting the St Patrick's Day bushfires could be forced to close if a proposed wind farm is approved by the state planning minister.

The location of the proposed wind turbines drawn on the Cobden airport window.

The $100 million Naroghid Wind Farm project plans to build 12 wind turbines on the outskirts of Cobden, seven kilometres south-east of Camperdown.

According to those who run the airstrip, the location is a problem.

Part of the farm's proposed site borders the northern edge of the Cobden Airport, with four of the 180-metre-high towers to be built within kilometres of the start of the runway.

Read the ABC Rural News story - “Airstrip used in firefighting threatened by proposed wind farm.”

Power companies forced to pay $5 million in compensation to Victorians hit by blackouts

Power companies are being forced to pay compensation to Victorians affected by last month's blackouts, with payments up to $180 depending on how long a household went without electricity.

As part of the $5 million package, announced on Sunday, around 50,000 households who lost power on January 28 will receive a one-off payments.

Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said $180 would be given to those without power for between 20 and 30 hours, while those affected for between three and 20 hours would receive $80.

Read Daniella Miletic’s story in The Age - “Power companies forced to pay $5 million in compensation to Victorians hit by blackouts.”

French Riviera fires force 12,000 to evacuate.

Bormes-Les-Mimosas: Backed by planes dropping water and fire retardant, more than 1000 firefighters battled wildfires that billowed smoke into the sky over France's southern Cote d'Azur coast and forced the evacuation of 12,000 people.

Sunbathers are being evacuated from the
beach in Le Lavandou, on the French Riviera. 

Large swaths of Mediterranean forest have been left bare and blackened after three days of fires.

About 250 trailer homes, a hangar, an artist's studio and several vehicles were burned in the blazes but no one so far has been injured, according to the prefect of the Var region.

Residents and tourists were evacuated early on Wednesday after a ferocious fire whipped by strong Mistral winds spread from La Londe-Les-Maures to around the picturesque hilltop town of Bormes-Les-Mimosas.

Read the story in today’s Melbourne Age - “French Riviera fires force 12,000 to evacuate.”