What we learned today, Wednesday 28 May
That’s the end of today’s blog. Here’s are some highlights from a whirlwind day of news:
The Liberals and the Nationals have settled their dispute and reformed the Coalition after a week-long fissure.
Sussan Ley and David Littleproud unveiled their shadow ministry, which rewarded key supporters and saw others – including Jane Hume, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Barnaby Joyce – demoted or relegated to the backbench.
Anthony Albanese said Australia should “follow our own path” on Israel after other nations threatened to impose sanctions on the country.
Environment minister Murray Watt gave the green light to Woodside Energy’s plans to extend the life of the controversial North West Shelf gas development to 2070. Watt said there are “strict conditions” on the plan, but it has already prompted concerns from experts about ongoing pollution.
The UN group Unesco has deferred a decision to grant world heritage status to the Murujuga cultural landscape, home to more than 1m petroglyphs, some of which are nearly 50,000 years old. The move is linked to Woodside Energy and other fossil fuel projects.
About 9,000 people are still isolated after the NSW floods. SES officials have declared more than 1,000 buildings uninhabitable after the event. More than 6,000 insurance claims have already been filed.
Tesla is one step closer to opening a factory in an Adelaide suburb despite overwhelming community opposition.
Eggs cost almost 20% more than a year ago, according to this morning’s consumer price report. Inflation is steady at 2.4%.
See you bright and early tomorrow morning.
Updated
Environmental law group says it’s ‘no surprise’ energy companies want to ‘avoid legal scrutiny’
The Environmental Defenders Office has responded to comments by Santos chief executive, Kevin Gallagher, at the Australian Energy Producers conference earlier today.
Gallagher said environmental charities that mount legal challenges against big companies should have to disclose all of their financial backers. He was reflecting on the Munkara legal proceedings in the federal court that ended last year with the EDO ordered to pay Santos $9m in legal costs.
EDO chief executive, David Morris, said:
It comes as no surprise that the fossil fuel giants want to avoid legal scrutiny of their projects …
However, the public interest is not served by allowing these powerful vested interests to avoid the scrutiny and accountability that legal action provides.Community groups have a right to take legal action to ensure approval authorities and companies uphold the law. Indeed, many groups feel it is their duty to do so.”
Updated
