warned of potentially significant threats to the surrounding marine environment from this recent spill, but the Greens say too little is being done as this is the third spill from an Esso/ExxonMobil facility in just six months.
Whish-Wilson is concerned Esso is now applying to use old gas fields for dumping carbon pollution despite evidently not being able to manage its operational offshore infrastructure.
Esso/ExxonMobil is proving to be a highly problematic and dangerous operator – yet Australia’s embattled offshore oil and gas industry regulator, Nopsema, is failing to take the strong actions necessary to rein in the fossil fuel giant.
Nopsema is supposed to have oversight and regulate the environmental management of the offshore fossil fuel industry, but coastal communities are fast losing confidence in the ‘independent’ regulator, which has become more of an enabler than an investigator of offshore oil and gas projects.
Esso’s inability to manage its operational infrastructure safely is deeply troubling given the company’s currently applying to use old gas fields for dumping carbon pollution.
Fossil fuel corporations make millions from Australia’s offshore oil and gas fields yet repeatedly breach our environmental management laws and have also gotten away with not properly cleaning up after themselves.
Australia desperately needs stronger laws and regulations to govern the offshore fossil fuel industry. How much more must our oceans and marine wildlife suffer before the Albanese government acts to change this?
Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop will be built using tunnel boring machines that carved out the new Sydney Metro, AAP reports.
From 2026, the machines will start creating a 16km stretch of tunnels running from Cheltenham to Glen Waverley, due to open in 2035.
Two of the four machines Victoria ordered from German company Herrenknecht were used to build the Sydney Metro.
There is renewed focus over the project’s cost, after a Parliamentary Budget Office assessment earlier this month found the first two stages of the orbital train line around Melbourne will not provide adequate value for money.
The two main sections, dubbed SRL East and SRL North, will form a 60km metro line that will run through the city’s middle suburbs and across 13 stations.
The independent analysis requested by the state opposition found construction costs would be about $96bn, with every $1 spent returning social benefits of between 60 and 70 cents.
Good afternoon everyone! Plenty of news coming your way, including more nuclear reaction and the Brownlow Medal red carpet fashion later this evening.
Many thanks for joining me on today’s blog. I’ll hand over to Natasha May who will guide you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care.
NFF president praises Tony Mahar’s ‘passion, professionalism and approachability’
Continuing from our last post, National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke has recognised Tony Mahar’s decade of service to the organisation and the agriculture sector, as he leaves to become the new Energy Infrastructure Commissioner.
Jochinke says:
During his tenure, Tony has strengthened NFF’s position as the leading national advocacy body for agriculture through his integrity, stakeholder management skills, and dedication to the industry.
His passion, professionalism and approachability earned him respect across industry, government, and corporate partners, and we have greatly appreciated his leadership …
It is a challenge to lead a national peak body, in this case bringing together all elements of our primary industries, and engaging effectively with supply chains both upstream and downstream, and I commend Tony’s professionalism, credibility, and determination in doing so.
The Albanese government has appointed a new Energy Infrastructure Commissioner to facilitate the renewables rollout.
Tony Mahar, the outgoing chief executive of the National Farmers Federation, has been appointed to the role – to act as an intermediary between farming and regional communities, and industry and government.
A statement from climate minister Chris Bowen says Mahar’s work will include investigating the optimal delivery of long-term social and economic benefits to host areas, and “promoting more information and transparency to combat misinformation” about major energy projects.
Mahar will stand down from the NFF to take up this non-statutory appointment for an initial term of three years. Bowen says:
Mr Mahar has great experience working with business, government, farmers and farming communities and has the respect of both landholders and the energy industry.
Bowen thanked John Sheldon who served as the interim Commissioner, following the retirement of former Commissioner Andrew Dyer.
Source: theguardian.com
