Category: Archive

Bigger subsidies for rainwater tanks will be made available to anyone who purchases one from today in New South Wales.

The State Government will now refund $1,500, up from the $800 previously offered.

The subsidy was originally only available to Sydney residents but now will apply statewide.

Water Minister Phil Koperberg says people should not become complacent because of the recent heavy rains.

"It’s not the time now to gamble that it’s going to keep raining and, if it does, and storages return to something approximating normal, then the Government may well decide to ease the restrictions," he said.

"But it’s just a little bit too early to do that and, whilst they apply, the prospect of having your own water supply for those things which restrictions don’t allow you to do, is certainly worth the investment."

 From ABC Online

"It’s going to have a huge impact on dairy, potatoes, tomatoes, rice and corn," he said. "People saw what happened when Queensland lost its banana crop with Cyclone Larry … well, we’re now looking at widespread shortages and price rises for a whole range [of produce]."

The NSW Greens have demanded the Government warn households to prepare for a lean winter and spring. The predicted zero water allocation would place at risk table grapes, apples, pears, stone fruit, lemons, mandarins, grapefruit, tomatoes, lettuce, salad vegetables and dairy, the Greens’ Consumer Affairs spokesman, Dr John Kaye, said.

"Warning households of impending price rises will help people prepare budgets and make financial provisions for rising food prices," he said.

Meanwhile, the NSW Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries has warned that heavy rain in North Queensland is threatening tomato and green leafy vegetable supply.

"If this rain doesn’t stop, the price of tomatoes will go through the roof," the chamber’s chief executive, Colin Gray, said. But while prices might soar, Sydney would be relatively well off, he said, because of easy access to imported produce.

On ABC Radio National Breakfast, Premier Rann said that SA would be 'world leading' by matching the California 'return to 1990 greenhouse pollution levels by 2020' target, going on to claim that his legislation would be, with California, the 'most advanced in the world'.

However, even a cursory examination shows this is wrong. California is currently well above its 1990 pollution levels - in 2002 they were 11.5% above and increasing every year* - so legislation they passed in 2006 to return California to 1990 greenhouse levels was a major and exciting commitment. 

Meanwhile, SA is currently well below (6.5% below) its 1990 greenhouse pollution level* - therefore a 'return to 1990 levels' is actually a legislated increase.

 "It might be the same words in the target, but the effect is completely different.  While California will be helping the world avoid dangerous climate change, it appears Mike Rann is planning for SA to go in the opposite direction.

"No matter how much Premier Rann tries to spin this he can't get around the fact that his greenhouse pollution target for 1990 is a licence to increase, not decrease the state's emissions over the next 13 years.

"For the Greens, that is simply untenable - we simply can not support a target that completely ignores the latest IPCC report, which says the world's greenhouse pollution emissions have to start decreasing by 2015 if we are to have any chance of avoiding dangerous climate change," he said.

The Yes Men assume the complainant was Exxon. "Since parody is
protected under US law, Exxon must think that people seeing the site
will think Vivoleum's a real Exxon product, not just a parody," said
Yes Man Mike Bonanno. "Exxon's policies do already contribute to
150,000 climate-change related deaths each year," added Yes Man Andy
Bichlbaum. "So maybe it really is credible. What a resource!"

After receiving the complaint June 15, Broadview added a "filter"
that disabled the Vivoleum.com IP address (64.115.210.59), and
furthermore prevented email from being sent from the Yes Men's
primary IP address (64.115.210.58). Even after all Exxon logos were
removed from both sites and a disclaimer was placed on Vivoleum.com
on Tuesday, Broadview would still not remove the filter. (The
disclaimer read: "Although Vivoleum is not a real ExxonMobil program,
it might as well be.")

Broadview did restore both IPs on Wednesday, after the Vivoleum.com
website was completely disabled and all mention of Exxon was removed
from TheYesMen.org.

“Production of many important food stuffs will drop dramatically
causing suppliers to push up prices and increase reliance on expensive
imported foods. 
 
“The Greens are calling on the state government to conduct an urgent
investigation of likely impacts on food prices and issue a warning
outlining which foods are at risk and likely impacts on household
budgets.
 
“Retail prices of fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy products and some
grains and snacks will soar. At particular risk are table grapes,
apples, pears, stone fruit, lemons, mandarins, grapefruits, tomatoes,
lettuce and salad vegetables.
 
“NSW Fair Trading Minister Burney has a responsibility to protect
consumers in NSW. Warning households of impending price rises will help
them budget for the lean times that might be ahead.
 
“We are concerned that nutrition standards, particularly for the young
and the vulnerable, will fall dramatically unless households make
financial provisions to tide them through possible shortages. 
 
“Global warming could bring more frequent and severe droughts. The
state government can help people learn how to adjust to fluctuations in
food prices.
 
“Few living Australians remember food shortages and rising prices. The
Minister has the opportunity to help the community prepare budgets and
make financial provisions for rising food prices,” Dr Kaye said. 
 

WIN TV/Channel Nine is conducting a poll on the war games Talisman Sabre 07.
They are asking people to vote on the issue.

To vote NO phone
1902 555 166.