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The Generator news service publishes articles on sustainable development, agriculture and energy as well as observations on current affairs. The news service is used on the weekly radio show, The Generator, as well as by a number of monthly and quarterly magazines. A podcast of the Generator news is also available.
As well as Giovanni’s articles it picks up the most pertinent articles from a range of other news services. You can publish the news feed on your website using RSS, free of charge.
 

  • Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

     

    FTA text and associated documents

    The text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is now available.

    TPP chapters and annexes

    This is an interim arrangement as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade works to load all documents onto this website.

    The text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) was made available to the public on 5 November 2015. The TPP consists of 30 chapters and related annexes.

    The TPP text is still to undergo a process of legal review, translation and verification.
    In addition, a number of side letters have been concluded by Australia as part of the negotiations. As these side letters are finalised, they will be made available to the public.

    For information summarizing the TPP outcomes for Australia, refer to FTA information and outcomes documents

  • In 5 days they decide whether or not to ban super trawlers Stop The Trawler Crew
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    In 5 days they decide whether or not to ban super trawlers

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    Stop The Trawler Crew <stopthetrawler@et.org.au>
    2:38 PM (4 hours ago)
    to me

    stopthetrawler.net
    Hi Neville
    I know it’s a crazy busy time right now but members of the Liberal National Government are meeting early next week to decide whether or not to ban super trawlers in Australia’s small pelagic fishery. It’s on their agenda because of you, and now, we really need your help again!

    Will you spare 2 minutes to send an urgent email to Liberal MP Peter Hendy and tell him to ban the factory trawlers?

    The Turnbull Government needs to hear that our coastal communities – who rely on a healthy marine environment and local tourism and recreational fishing industries – will not be sacrificed to the plunder of foreign factory trawlers that only benefit a few.

    Eden-Monaro, represented by Liberal MP Peter Hendy, is an important coastal electorate that is vulnerable to the ravages of super trawlers and important to the Coalition in the next federal election. Make sure the Turnbull Government knows it will have a fight on its hands if they don’t ban factory trawlers now.

    Please tell the Federal Member Peter Hendy to protect our coastal communities and economies, and support a ban on all factory freezer trawlers in the Small Pelagic Fishery!

    There is just 5 days left before the Coalition decides what to do with these monster trawlers. Let’s help them make the right decision for our kids’ future and our oceans. The clock is ticking.

    Thanks for all the actions you take to protect our oceans!

    Bec and the Stop the Trawler crew

    p.s. Prime Minister Turnbull is offering hope with the Coalition debate on factory trawlers in less than one week. We need to make sure that politicians like Peter Hendy send a message to the Prime Minister that Australians in the crucial electorate of Eden-Monaro want a ban on all super trawlers. You can make a big difference! Will you send him an urgent email today?

  • Don’t slug workers with the GST Australian Unions Team
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    Don’t slug workers with the GST

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    Australian Unions Team <info@actu.org.au>
    2:59 PM (4 hours ago)
    to me

    Dear Inga,

    The Turnbull Liberal government has put an increase to the GST on the table the same time as they consider cutting tax rates for corporations and the wealthiest Australians. Tell them we will not accept it!
    This represents a renewed attack on working people and our living standards. And even worse, the Liberal government wants to raise the GST so we pay more to fund even more tax cuts for corporations!

    Increases to the GST would disproportionately affect low and middle-income earners. Low-income households already pay almost 2.5 times as much of their income on GST than those on the highest incomes. A 5% increase to the GST will see household costs rise on average by almost $3000 per year.

    Unions want an economy where everyone is paid properly for their work and everybody contributes their fair share of tax. You can read more about the unfairness in the tax system here.

    We want to ensure that the tax system delivers sufficient revenue for the government to provide high quality education, healthcare, a supportive social safety net and equal opportunities.

    We want everyone to pay their fair share of tax by closing tax avoidance loopholes and rorts the very rich use to pay almost no tax.

    Sign our petition calling for the Turnbull government to make corporations pay their fair share of tax – not slug working people with an unfair increased GST.

    In unity,

     

    Ged
    Australian Unions Team
    http://www.australianunions.org.au/

  • 2 Banks, 2 Degrees Inbox x Blair Palese – 350.org Australia
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    2 Banks, 2 Degrees

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    Blair Palese – 350.org Australia <350@350.org> Unsubscribe
    6:15 PM (1 hour ago)
    to me

    Dear Neville,

    It’s a big day when not one but two of the big banks we’ve been asking to quit fossil fuels commit to limiting global warming to 2 degrees or less!

    This morning, the Commonwealth Bank and the National Australia Bank (NAB) stated their support for keeping warming below the internationally-agreed-upon target of 2 degrees and flagged moves to increase investment in renewable energy. [1]

    But, as you know too well, a real commitment to 2 degrees must mean a commitment to phasing out all fossil fuels.

    Join us in thanking NAB and CommBank for their announcement and call upon them to commit to a full phase out of finance for fossil fuels.

    We now have all four of the Big Banks saying something about climate change and their businesses before Paris. This sends a strong market signal that investment in fossil fuels is not in line with maintaining a safe climate for our future. It also provides much-needed momentum in the push to get our Governments to do more on climate.

    We want to take a moment to thank all of you who joined us to write letters, switch your accounts, protest inside and out of the banks or donate to our campaign to get the Big Four to move. It’s been a lot of effort and we’ve needed all of you with us to achieve today’s outcome!

    While these commitments are just a beginning, they signal that serious change is coming and that real momentum is building to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

    Can you thank NAB & CommBank for taking this solid first step and ask them to take the next step by committing to phase-out fossil fuel finance?

    Now that two of Australia’s Big Four have set a standard to reach, we’ll need to work hard in the coming months to make sure they deliver on their commitments. You can support our work by becoming a monthly donor or by making a one-off donation.

    With much appreciation,

    Blair and the 350 Australia team

    [1] Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank join 2-degree climate change push, Sydney Morning Herald, 5th November 2015.

    350.org is building a global climate movement.You can connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and become a Climate Defender and donate monthly to help 350.org keep Australia’s fossil fuels in the ground.

  • Is Newcastle’s water safe from contamination? Hunter Community Environment Centre

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    Is Newcastle’s water safe from contamination?

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    Hunter Community Environment Centre
    2:24 PM (2 hours ago)
    to me

    Hunter Community Environment Centre
    Dear Nevile,

    You are invited to an important public meeting to find out if NEWCASTLE’S WATER IS SAFE.

    In 2012 the Fullerton Cove community successfully blockaded and ended Dart Energy’s Coal Seam Gas (CSG) operations in the Hunter. Now, a new company wants to start drilling again!

    Come to a public meeting and hear from residents impacted by CSG and the recent contamination from the Williamtown RAAF base.

    How is residents’ safety now being ensured? How can we stop ongoing threats to our most important resource – our water?

    Be part of a positive, forward-looking forum about how we can best work together as a community to protect our water resources.

    SPEAKERS:
    Sue Walker – Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group
    Tim Crakanthorp – Member for Newcastle
    Michael Osborne – Cr Newcastle City Council
    George Woods – Lock the Gate Alliance
    Adam Gilligan – NSW EPA
    Professor Garry Willgoose – The University of Newcastle

    WHEN: Monday 9th November, 6pm to 7:30pm
    WHERE: Newcastle Town Hall, Hunter room

    For more information and to RSVP check out the FaceBook event.

    Please share this event with your friends and come along.

    For a healthier Hunter,

    Fee and the team at HCEC

  • You pay more for bread and milk…Gina Rinehart gets a tax cut Mark – GetUp!
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    You pay more for bread and milk…Gina Rinehart gets a tax cut

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    Mark – GetUp! Unsubscribe
    10:20 AM (8 minutes ago)
    to me

    NEVILLE,

    GST is all over the news this week, with momentum steamrolling towards a 50% increase in the GST for everyday Australians to fund tax cuts for big business and the wealthiest.

    What the…..!?

    Leaks reveal plans to hike the GST from 10% to 15% are under serious consideration by Cabinet. That could include expanding the GST to essentials like fresh food and health, which would hit the most vulnerable hardest.

    And a powerful combination of business groups and major players in the Liberal Party are pushing for the GST hike to fund tax cuts for big business and Australia’s top income earners.1 It’s insane, but that’s what could happen if we don’t enter the debate right now.

    The Turnbull Government has surged in popularity by distancing itself from Tony Abbott’s attacks on everyday Australians, and they don’t want to put a foot wrong now.

    Show them just how unpopular a GST hike will be – click here to call on Prime Minister Turnbull and Treasurer Morrison not to increase or expand the GST.

    Modelling shows an average family will pay $2915 more a year if the GST was increased to 15%. Removing the GST exemption on fresh food would also force struggling families to pay 15% more for household staples like bread and milk.2

    Meanwhile, one GST proposal costed by a Coalition MP would deliver an income tax cut worth $41,000 to someone making $1 million per year – dwarfing any increase in their GST bill.3

    Paying tax is a good thing. Tax funds our schools, hospitals, public transport – the Australian way of life. The problem is multinational corporations are dodging billions in tax, and 1 in 5 major private companies and 55 millionaires paid zero tax last year.4,5

    That’s the problem we need to fix – shutting down loopholes and wasteful corporate handouts – not asking working people to pay more for bread, milk and health care.

    Sign the petition for a fairer tax system: https://www.getup.org.au/gst

    The Liberal Party are split on GST, with the rightwing determined to divert funding away from community services and into the pockets of the rich and powerful, and others opposing any increase in the GST. Public pressure could tip the balance, if we act quickly – click here to sign the petition: https://www.getup.org.au/gst

    Thanks for being a part of it,
    Mark, Daney, Nat and Alycia, for the GetUp team

    PS – We’ve already seen what happens when ordinary people are priced out of fresh food and veggies in the USA: a malnutrition epidemic leading to record-high obesity levels.6 Is this the future we want for our kids? Click here to take a stand against a GST on fresh food.

    References
    [1] Taxes cut with GST shake-up, The Australian, 2 November 2015
    [2] Low income families hardest hit by 15pc GST, The Australian Financial Review, 20 July 2015
    [3] Taxes cut with GST shake-up, The Australian, 2 November 2015
    [4] One in five large private companies paid no tax last year: ATO, Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Spetember 2015
    [5] Tax Office statistics reveal the 55 millionaires who paid no tax, Sydney Morning Herald, 30 April 2015
    [6] Hidden hunger: America’s growing malnutrition epidemic, The Guardian, 11 February 2015