With an election looming and energy and climate policies that at best appear confused, Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week went on the offensive, with a dizzying array of policies that gave a nod to both his predecessors.
Tony Abbott's Direct Action policy was given a top-up and rerun before Malcolm Turnbull's two pet projects — a massive ramp up of the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric scheme and a kick-along for a power link between Tasmania and the mainland — were rolled out for the cameras.
At Tumut in the Snowy Mountains last week, the Prime Minister described hydroelectricity as "real, fair dinkum power".
It seemed like an attempt to keep everyone happy. Green groups derided the initiatives, particularly the $2 billion extension of Direct Action, an emissions reduction fund focussed primarily on forest replanting and waste initiatives.
In their haste to highlight legitimate concerns about the scheme's effectiveness and its impact on the Budget and national debt, however, environmental groups appear to have overlooked the impact of the two hydro initiatives.
Both hydro schemes are slated to be in place before the end of the next decade. Should that happen, however, it's likely they will hasten the demise of coal fired electricity generation, an outcome that appears starkly at odds with repeated commitments to coal fired electricity generation.
Just four months ago, the Federal Government left open the prospect that it may underwrite new coal fired power stations.
Both hydro projects are hugely expensive. Snowy 2.0, as it's been dubbed .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-30/snowy-hydro/10683112 , has been billed as a roughly $4 billion project, although it's possible that estimate is conservative. Taxpayers will foot the bill for about $1.3 billion.
On top of that, at least another $2 billion would be required for poles and wires to ferry the power around the network.
It will be capable of providing 2,000 megawatts of power on demand.
Photo: Massive electricity infrastructure is dotted around the Snowy Mountains. (ABC News: Melissa Clarke)
The Tasmanian project, called the Marinus Link, involves running a cable across Bass Strait to plug as much as 1,200 megawatts of the island state's hydro power into the mainland electricity grid, as part of Tasmania's "Battery of the Nation" program.
While Mr Morrison pledged to kick in $56 million to help fast track the project, the total cost has been estimated to be as high as $3 billion in a feasibility study compiled by the Australian Renewable Energy Authority.
The hydro projects essentially act as batteries. Given the unreliability of wind and solar electricity generation, a back-up is essential to maintain a constant flow of power in the electricity market.
When excess power is being generated, it's used to pump water up an incline. This acts as a store of energy which can be tapped when demand outstrips supply. Crude but effective. The question is: are they cost effective?
While these projects will be buying power when it's cheap and selling into a tight market, their viability in the next 10 to 15 years will depend very much on how many ageing coal-fired generators are scrapped.
Why water and coal won't mix
Here's where the numbers don't quite gel with the Coalition's long-standing commitment to coal.
At such huge expense, for either project to be economical — let alone both together — a large slab of our existing coal fired generators would need to be retired early.
That fact was highlighted in the Tasmanian project's feasibility study, released last week. It states that "the largest single factor" influencing the viability of the project is the timing for coal fired power station shutdowns. And not just a couple.
"The benefits of Marinus Link are likely to be greater than costs when approximately 7,000 MW of the National Electricity Market's present coal fired generation capacity retires, which could occur from the mid 2020's [with early retirement] to the mid 2030s [with retirement at the end of design life]," the report states.
It adds this: "There are plausible circumstances where Marinus Link could be economically feasible from the mid 2020s."
Photo: The Snowy 2.0 project would create 2,400 jobs, the Government said. (ABC News: Greg Nelson)
That's a huge amount of coal fired generation to be taken out of the system in a short space of time.
According to Green Energy Markets director Tristan Edis, two previous feasibility studies into the Tasmanian project concluded it didn't make sense until well into the 2030s, because you don't need such massive battery storage unless you plan on having 50 per cent renewables in the electricity system.
The federal government has committed to a 23.5 per cent renewable energy target by 2020 and has argued a 50 per cent target would result in widespread blackouts.
To put the proposed 7,000 megawatt shutdowns into perspective, Victorian coal fired generators produce a little over 4,600 megawatts, NSW pumps out a little over 10,000 megawatts and Queensland a little over 8,000 megawatts.
Mr Edis argues that if the Morrison government backs the Tasmanian project, it would be looking at the equivalent of a complete shutdown of Victoria's coal fired plants plus a fair whack of those in NSW.
If the closures aren't forthcoming, the cable will be a multi-billion dollar-white elephant.
It's a similar story with Snowy 2.0. The feasibility study in that case estimated that even after the retirement of the Liddell power station in the Hunter Valley, a further three large scale coal fired plants need to be decommissioned within the next 14 years.
The Australian Energy Market Operator expects three coal fired plants — Vales Point, Eraring and Yallourn — to close by no later than 2032. Combined, these produce 5,410 megawatts.
That's not enough to make even the Tasmanian project viable and the time frame is way too distant. Put both projects together, and it all spells a pretty bleak outlook for coal.
Meanwhile in your part of the world, in the wake of Trump's deregulation spasms, and his lack of concern for your grandchildren, the courts, at least, are working to safeguard cleaner air for you, your children and them.
"Federal election 2019: Dutton's apology over disability slur 'humble thing to do', says PM – politics live"
One Nation is Australia's answer to the Christian far-right of the Franklin Graham crowd. How stupid are they who preach family values while living another life, during the 2020 Australian federal election campaign to boot. LOL, if an American he would be a Trump voter no doubt.
Steve Dickson, 56, has been caught on video appearing to grope and make lewd suggestions to exotic dancers in a Washington club.
Candace Sutton April 30, 20195:57am
[...]
Mr Dickson, 56, is a former Liberal MP for the Queensland electorates of Kawana and Buderim, on the Sunshine Coast.
He served as sports, national parks and racing minister for former Queensland premier Campbell Newman between 2012 and 2015.
One Nation spokesman James Ashby told news.com.au Senator Hanson would make a statement in response to the video on Tuesday morning.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (centre) with Steve Dickson after the Al Jazeera gun lobby footage was released. Picture: Dan Peled Source:AAP
Coal to be kaput in Australia by 2050, as renewables, batteries take over
"Federal election 2019: Dutton's apology over disability slur 'humble thing to do', says PM"
Sophie Vorrath 19 June 2018
IMAGE caption Greenpeace activists, including brand new executive directors of Greenpeace Netherlands: Anna Shoemakers and Joris Thijssen, block the coal ship ‘Paquis’ which plans to unload coal from Russia for the largest coal-fired power plant in the Netherlands. The blockade is accomplished by stretching a rope above the water between two wind turbines on either side of the harbour and attaching three Greenpeace activists to the middle of the rope. The activists are hanging ten metres above the water, holding a banner with the message: "Coal: Gone with the Wind". The sunset has come and the activists will stay at the rope until the morning.
The latest National Energy Outlook from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, predicts Australia will generate all but 8 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2050, as dramatic reductions in battery storage costs boost solar and wind uptake.
The report, published on Tuesday night in Australia, neatly pole-vaults over the current national energy policy mire to forecast a six-fold growth in renewable capacity for Australia over the next 30-odd years, as technology and economics take over.
In fact, according to the NEO, renewables overtake fossil fuels as the major source of energy generation in Australia as early as 2031, before supplying 92 per cent of the total in 2050.
Australian conservative Peter Dutton attacks court decision on medevac. Echoes of Trump's attacks on the courts on early decisions regarding his flub immigration executive orders.
"Federal election 2019: Dutton's apology over disability slur 'humble thing to do', says PM – politics live"
Peter Dutton says boat arrivals will rise following court decision on medevac
A fight over border protection is heating up, with the Home Affairs Minister claiming boat arrivals are much more likely, following a recent federal court decision on the so-called medevac legislation.
Key points:
* The Federal Court recently ruled that doctors don't need an appointment with patients before deciding if they need treatment in Australia
* Human Rights Law Centre said there's nothing unusual for doctors to provide assessments without seeing patients
* The Labor Party said it supported the medevac law and would not support the government's efforts to repeal it
"We can only clean it up if the Labor Party support the Government in the Senate to abolish this bill, to abolish this law," he told AM.
The Federal Court on Tuesday ruled that doctors do not have to have an appointment with a refugee before determining whether they need medical treatment in Australia, and can instead make a recommendation based on a person's records.
The ruling only applies to those on Nauru, where medical consultations via teleconference have been banned, and Mr Dutton has raised concerns.
"The fact that two doctors who haven't had any interaction with the patient could make a decision that that person should come to Australia is a completely outrageous arrangement."
Under the medevac laws, two Australian doctors must assess a person before making a recommendation for a transfer.
Human Rights Law Centre's Senior Lawyer David Burke worked on the case and said there is nothing unusual about providing a medical assessment without meeting a patient.
"This is something that is done every day in Australian in hospitals, where surgeons and specialists are recommending treatment for patients on the basis of detailed medical records and x-rays and lab tests," he said.
"There is nothing controversial in this."
Boats could come, regardless of outcome: Dutton
Despite this, Mr Dutton has warned that the Federal Court ruling could have wide ranging ramifications.
"It may have applicability to many hundreds of people, which has certainly the potential to restart boats and that would be a travesty," he said.
Photo: The medevac legislation passed in February in an historic defeat for the Government. (AP: Jason Oxenham)
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Kristina Keneally said boat arrivals are highly unlikely because the medevac legislation only applies to people already on Manus Island and Nauru.
"There is no pull factor here, this is just scare mongering from the Government," she said.
However, Mr Dutton said that will not be the message that people smugglers convey to vulnerable people.
"We are not dealing with honourable people, we are dealing with organised criminal syndicates who will spin and twist any message they possibly can to take money from innocent men, women and children," he said.
"And the fact is that if you end up with new boats arriving, they will be there under false pretences sure, but the fact is that they will be there."
Mr Dutton said he is concerned about how many people from Nauru will now apply for a medical transfer following the court's ruling.
But Mr Burke said he believed the number of medical transfers from Nauru will not be high and will mirror the Manus Island figures.
"So far we've only had a handful of applications of people on Nauru and all of them were incredibly clear cases where there was a real need for medical treatment and we think that will continue," he said. Kristina Keneally addresses media at Eastwood in Sydney. Photo: Kristina Keneally says Labor will not help abolish the medevac legislation. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
Mr Dutton has urged Labor to support the Government and abolish the medevac legislation when parliament resumes, but Ms Keneally says that will not be happening.
"Labor supports the medevac legislation for two reasons," she said.
"One, it provides a way for people who are sick to get the healthcare they need, and two, it ensures that the minister retains the power and discretion to determine who comes into the country."
It means the Government will have to look to the crossbench for support, needing four out of the six Senators to ensure the legislation can be scrapped.
A doctor, being interviewed just now, says doctors everyday are making decisions whether for referral or test or other things on patients without seeing them so Dutton's argument is specious. The doctor works with immigrants and refugees.
Trump-types downunder - Coalition gave out $100m in pre-election grants favouring targeted seats, audit office says
"Federal election 2019: Dutton's apology over disability slur 'humble thing to do', says PM – politics live"
Yes, both sides favor own candidates with money for their electorates, or opposition electorates they could grab in up-coming elections, but this conservative 'giving' effort according to the audit office was over the line.
Sport grants were at odds with program guidelines and not assessed on merit, according to auditor general’s report
Sarah Martin Chief political correspondent @msmarto
Tue 14 Jan 2020 22.24 EST Last modified on Wed 15 Jan 2020 04.10 EST
Report by auditor general slams the handling of a sports grant program by then sports minister, Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
The Coalition awarded $100m in sport grants that were not assessed on their merits in order to favour “targeted” Coalition seats at the May 2019 election, according to a scathing report from the Australian National Audit Office released on Wednesday.
The audit office found the successful applications were “not those that had been assessed as the most meritorious in terms of the published program guidelines”, finding McKenzie’s office had run a “parallel” assessment process in deciding how to hand out the funds.
Its report found there was a distributional bias in the award of grants.
“The award of funding reflected the approach documented by the Minister’s Office of focusing on ‘marginal’ electorates held by the Coalition as well as those electorates held by other parties or independent members that were to be ‘targeted’ by the Coalition at the 2019 Election,” the audit said.
“Applications from projects located in those electorates were more successful in being awarded funding than if funding was allocated on the basis of merit assessed against the published program guidelines.”
The $100m program was administered by the Australian Sports Commission, known as Sport Australia, with the guidelines saying eligible applications would be assessed competitively against the three weighted merit criteria.
However, Hehir found that the separate process undertaken by McKenzie’s office “drew upon considerations other than those identified in the program guidelines, such as the location of projects”. Her office “also applied considerations that were inconsistent with the published guidelines”, the auditor said.
“It was this assessment process that predominantly informed the Minister’s funding decisions, rather than Sport Australia’s process,” the audit said.
Sports Australia had ranked the projects after assessing each application for eligibility and against the three merit criteria to arrive at an overall assessment score.
The program, called the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program, was announced in 2018 to ensure more Australians had access to quality sporting facilities, encouraging greater community participation in sport and physical activity.
During a short application timeframe of just six weeks, Sport Australia received 2,056 project proposals seeking more than $396.6m.
Funding totalling $100m was awarded to 684 projects across three rounds in the months before the election, with the final round announced in April.
Hehir said that had a merit based process been followed, the cut-off score would have been 74 out of a possible 100. More than 400 projects received funding that were below this score, in defiance of recommendations made by Sports Australia.
The audit found that in each of the three rounds of funding, Sports Australia’s recommendations were not followed or even considered.
In the first round, 91 of the projects (41%) approved were not endorsed by the Sport Australia board. In the second round, 162 (70%) of the approved projects were not recommended, and in the final round 167 (73%) of the approved projects had not been recommended by Sport Australia.
The auditor found the design of the program was deficient in a number of areas. There was potentially no legal basis for the minister to approve successful projects, and “it is not evident to the ANAO what the legal authority was”, which it said was a “significant shortcoming”.
He found the guidelines were “well structured and included clear assessment criteria with transparent weightings”, even if these were ultimately ignored.
Labor’s shadow minister for sport, Don Farrell said McKenzie needed to explain the “betrayal” of the sports community that had been exposed in the audit.
“The Morrison government’s shameless politicisation of taxpayers’ money meant for community sports clubs is appalling, unacceptable and cannot go unpunished,” Farrell said.
A spokeswoman for McKenzie said it “was a very popular program that funded 684 projects right across the country to help get people up and moving.”
“All projects selected for funding were eligible to receive it.”
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