Good morning. Tensions with Russia continue to increase as Vladimir Putin has spoken out about the crisis with Ukraine for the first time this year. In Australia, the reopening of international borders has seen demand for passports soar. And scientists are working out if human urine could be “liquid gold” for parks.
Fossil fuel companies gave nearly $1m in political donations to the three major parties last financial year, according to analysis from campaign group 350.org. The lion’s share of the $959,115 donated by eight oil and gas companies or their lobby groups went to the Liberal party, followed by Labor and then the Nationals. Shani Tager, the senior campaign manager at 350, called for political donations from the oil and gas sector to be banned over the risk it may influence policymaking in a way that stops action on climate change. The Australian Electoral Commission has also released its transparency register for the 2020-21 financial year. Anthony Pratt’s Pratt Holdings was the biggest political donor in the last year.
