Investing in a Bureau of Meteorology for Australia’s future

The Bureau of Meteorology touches every facet of Australian life, from severe weather warnings that alert individuals and communities to protect themselves and their property, to forecasts that support emergency services, and marine and ocean services that help keep people safe on the water. Today on World Meteorological Day, I thank the Bureau for the…

Red Hill Brewery benefits from $9,000 Industry Skills Fund

Red Hill Brewery recently welcomed Member for Flinders Greg Hunt MP, who toured the brewery to see the benefits that had been achieved thanks to a $9,000 Australian Government Industry Skills Fund grant. Proprietor Karen Golding, who runs the Brewery with husband David, said they had used the grant to move to more sophisticated financial…

Monitoring mission report on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area endorses Australia’s management efforts

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments welcome the report of the World Heritage monitoring mission to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and we accept all the recommendations. The report was prepared by experts representing the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) who visited the…

Government to invest in new research into coral bleaching

The Australian Government will provide financial and logistical support for new research into coral bleaching events impacting the Great Barrier Reef. The University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute (GCI) surveyed 40 sites in the Far Northern section of the Reef in 2012 and repeat surveys at 30 of these sites were undertaken by the GCI…

Government helping to showcase Kakadu during Discovery Month

The Australian Government is delighted to announce that April will be Discovery Month at the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park with a range of new and exciting activities for visitors. Discovery Month will showcase one of Australia’s premier tourist destinations with a range of immersive experiences so visitors can connect with Kakadu. These recognise the…

Future is bright for renewables jobs in Australia

Contrary to the rhetoric from Bill Shorten, figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today show the future is bright for jobs in the renewables industry. Since 2011-12, there has been significant growth in many areas of the industry (to 2014-15): Large scale solar PV jobs are up 1560 per cent (from 50 to…

Australian Government thanks Antarctic community for support

On behalf of the Australian Government, I would like to thank the international Antarctic community for the logistical support offered to the Australian Antarctic programme following the grounding of the Aurora Australis at Mawson research station during a blizzard on 24 February 2016. My sincere thanks go to the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, the United…

Strong new quality standards for solar products

The Australian Government welcomes changes announced today by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) that will substantially lift the bar on the quality of solar power products sold in Australia. The renewable energy industry’s peak body has introduced new initiatives following the Government’s push for continuously improved standards in the industry. An independent testing program is…

South Australia secures $3.2 million in 20 Million Trees funding

Up to 934,000 trees will be planted to help restore the South Australian bush and its wildlife, after the state secured $3.2 million in projects under the next round of the Australian Government’s 20 Million Trees programme. “The six major projects announced today will change landscapes for the better, from the coastal vegetation at the…