The Oil Drum: Australia/New Zealand | The Bullroarer

The Bullroarer - Thursday 28th August 2008

Posted by aeldric on August 27, 2008 - 11:27pm in The Oil Drum: Australia/New Zealand
Topic: Miscellaneous

ABC - Analyst warns of looming global climate wars

The prospect of global wars driven by climate change is not something often discussed publicly by our political leaders.

But according to one of America's top military analysts, governments in the US and UK are already being briefed by their own military strategists about how to prepare for a world of mass famine, floods of refugees and even nuclear conflicts over resources.

ABC - Govt backs mining despite shale oil ban: Lucas

The Queensland Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Paul Lucas, says the decision to ban oil shale mining in north Queensland does not mean it is against mining.

Otago Daily Times - $1b fund persuades Greens to support Climate Bill

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons yesterday said her party's support for Labour's emission trading scheme was based on the setting up of a $1 billion fund to be spent over about 15 years on insulating homes and making them more energy efficient.

Courier Mail - Ziggy Switkowski says Queensland needs nuclear energy

Courier Mail - $2m to size up climate threat to cities, coast

THE Bligh Government is funding a detailed study into how southeast Queensland should respond to the impact of climate change.

Premier Anna Bligh announced this week that the Government would spend $2 million out of its Smart State Innovation projects budget to fund an investigation into the ability of towns and cities in the region to withstand climate change impacts such as storm surges.

The Government is growing increasingly concerned about Queensland's preparedness for climate change impacts, particularly in low-lying coastal areas.

Stuff.co.nz - Falcon ditches lockable fuel cap

Ford Australia has raised the ire of Victoria's peak motoring body for building its new Falcon range of vehicles without a lockable fuel cap, increasing owners' exposure to fuel theft or tampering.

Every model in Ford's new FG Falcon range, including its high-performance FPV operation, misses out on the lockable fuel flap that was standard on the previous model and is also standard across the rival Holden Commodore range.

Stuff.co.nz - Mallard calls in Contact Energy wind farm project

Environment Minister Trevor Mallard says he intends to call in Contact Energy's proposal for a 180-turbine wind farm near Raglan to be considered by an independent board of inquiry.

ABC - Banking losses outstrip energy gains on market

The banking sector's weakness largely outstripped the gains in the energy sector today.

Woodside Petroleum's profits have been given a big lift by higher oil prices with net profit for the first half rising 67 per cent on last year's June half, to just over $1 billion.

The Age - Emissions trading scheme a tax: Nelson

The federal government's planned emissions trading scheme is nothing more than a tax, Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says.

The government is meeting with representatives from the transport sector on Thursday to discuss their concerns about the model it is planning to introduce from 2010.

"The emissions trading scheme is nothing more than a tax," Dr Nelson told reporters.

Stuff.co.nz - More reports of exploding energy bulbs