Carrathool Shire Project update - Hillston, and Carrathool Boat Ramps A report to Carrathool Shire Council’s February meeting listed the delays being experienced in finalising the Hillston and Carrathool boat ramps.“At present the projects are waiting for approval from the Griffith Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) as they have a land claim over the sites,” the report read. “The Department of Fisheries will not issue a permit to proceed without approval.”During the meeting General Manager Rick Warren said he had been trying to get the LALC on-site to undertake an inspection.“We have been trying to get them on site, but tying them down is proving difficult,” Mr Warren said.

Central Darling Shire says the restrictions will remain in place until drought conditions improve.The NSW Government has expanded a new free virtual healthcare service to residents in Western and Far West NSW.Residents will be able to access free and safe virtual care for non-life-threatening conditions, right from the comfort of their own home.“We know that the added challenge of accessing healthcare in our part of the world is distance, and this service may provide another way for patients to access care safely in the comfort of their own home,” Member for Barwon Roy Bulter MP said.“It should not be meant to replace face to face attention from a medical practitioner, but looks to take some of the pressure off emergency departments and other overstressed sectors of our health workforce.“It will allow people with relatively minor ailments to seek free medical attention or be provided sound advice on whether to seek further help in person.”Member for Murray Helen Dalton said while it would not replace in-person care, the new service would be a ‘useful tool.’“Virtual health should never be a substitute for in-person health care, but virtual health can be a useful tool to address some health needs in rural communities,” Ms Dalton said.“This service will help address some medical issues in a timely fashion and that’s a good thing.“As part of a wider commitment to rural health, this free virtual healthcare service will be of benefit to the people of rural NSW.”This virtual care service will provide care for urgent but non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries including coughs, colds, fevers and flu, respiratory symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea or minor infections and rashes.The service will be available between 8am and 10pm seven days a week for people aged 16 years and older.You can access this service by phoning HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 where patients will first speak to a registered nurse who will assess your condition, and if appropriate, refer you to the virtual care service.The service uses video conferencing technology to connect patients with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, including doctors and nurses, where clinically appropriate.The NSW Government says virtual care forms part of a broader range of measures to relieve pressure on the state’s busy emergency departments, including $100 million investment for a further two years to continue our urgent care services, providing a pathway to care outside hospital for an estimated 114,000 patients, and $70 million over four years reduce emergency wait times.​

The deadly illness has already claimed one life this yearA Victorian resident has been confirmed as the second human case of the potentially deadly Japanese encephalitis (JE).Authorities say this person was exposed to the virus while in the Riverina region of NSW, on the Murray River.The confirmed case comes not long after the first JE death this. NSW Health reported in February that a man in his 70s from northern Sydney died after battling the virus for several weeks. He was also infected while holidaying in the Riverina, and is the third person to lose their life to JE, since it was first detected in May 2022.Health authorities are reminding Back Country residents that a free vaccination is available for people aged two months or older who live or routinely work in several local government areas, including Carrathool, Hay, Balranald and Central Darling Shire.JE is a rare virus, similar to dengue and yellow fever, which is spread by mosquito bites and causes swelling in the brain. The fatality rate of those with severe JE can be as high as 30 per cent.If you are eligible for a free JEV vaccine, speak to your General Practitioner (GP), pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service about getting vaccinated today.NSW Health says residents should make an appointment with their GP, pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service and let them know it is for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine as they may require a few days' notice to order the vaccine.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is March Forward. La Trobe University’s academics have gathered to discuss what still needs to be done to achieve gender equality.  Professor Therese Keene is the Associate Dean of Research and Industry Engagement in the School of Education. For more than 30 years, Professor Therese Keane has been a champion for empowering girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). “The gender disparity in VCE Computing in Victoria is striking,” Professor Keene said. “In 2023, only 123 female students sat the Data Analytics exam compared to 549 males, while Software Development had an even greater imbalance with 1411 males versus 191 females. This pattern continues at the tertiary level, where men significantly outnumber women in computer science and engineering degrees.  “Societal expectations, a lack of visible role models and unconscious biases discourage many young women from pursuing IT-related studies. Those who do often report feeling isolated, experiencing bias or lacking encouragement from teachers and peers. Even after entering the workforce, many women leave IT careers within a few years due to hostile work environments, limited advancement opportunities or difficulties balancing personal and professional responsibilities.  “This underrepresentation isn’t just a diversity issue – it has real-world consequences, especially in the age of AI. When AI models are developed primarily by men, they tend to inherit and amplify gender biases, leading to: Flawed facial-recognition systems which misidentify women, especially women of colour, at much higher rates than men. Hiring algorithms that unintentionally discriminate against female candidates due to male-dominated training data.  Voice assistants (like Siri and Alexa) that default to female voices, reinforcing stereotypes of women in submissive or service-oriented roles.  “Diverse teams are more creative, make better decisions and develop more effective technology. Increasing the number of women in IT isn’t just about fairness, it’s about ensuring that the technology shaping our world is built for everyone, by everyone.” Natalie McKenna is a lecturer in Communication, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy. Thios year during International Women’s Day she poses the question - Do women need to behave like men to succeed?   “Female politicians often avoid discussing their children or families during election campaigns as societal biases can lead to perceptions that their familial responsibilities might impede their ability to serve constituents effectively,” Ms McKenna said“In contrast, when male politicians mention families, it often humanises them and enhances their public image. A notable example is former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who faced scrutiny after being photographed in her kitchen – which appeared pristine with an empty fruit bowl – sparking discussion about her domestic life and its implications for her public persona.  "Female politicians are often criticised more harshly than their male counterparts. Female politicians must be confident in shaping their narrative by crafting a personal brand that highlights their authenticity, expertise and values. A strong, consistent brand helps them connect with voters and stand out in a crowded political landscape. “Visibility and credibility are key for female politicians. By strategically using digital platforms and media engagement, they can shape public perception, build trust and reinforce their leadership identity.” Jennifer Boak is a Research Fellow at the Care Economy Research Institute and the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research.She says the tide is turning and more men are stepping into caring roles, traditionally the sole burden of women.“As a mum, wife, daughter and nurse, my caring role never stops,” Ms Boak shared. “I think nurses are inherently good carers and are often sought out when something goes wrong. With over 30 years’ experience as a nurse, I have become very good at nurse-mode first, to ensure safety, then 'mum' mode kicks in. “Women are more likely to take on the caring role, however, this tide could be turning. My perception is more men are taking an active role in caring as leave balances are shared and EBAs support caring duties. I think the increased cost of living and the need for both parents to work have influenced some of this change.”  Dr Melanie Bish, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional) and Associate Professor in Rural Nursing and Midwifery, aims to encourage women and girls into leadership and decision-making roles.She is also focussed on helping women living in regional and rural areas overcome career progression challenges.“When women lead, communities thrive,” Dr Bish said. “True leadership is not about power — it’s about influence, inclusion and action. We must create pathways for women and girls to step into leadership with confidence, knowing their voices matter and their contributions shape a better future. "Women in regional and rural areas face unique challenges in career progression, but location should never mean disadvantage. By championing mentorship, digital connectivity and flexible career pathways, we can ensure talent is nurtured locally and women are able to contribute to their communities as they meet their professional and personal aspirations.” 

Central Darling Shire says the restrictions will remain in place until drought conditions improve.Level two restrictions came into effect on March 3, and will remain in place until conditions improve.“Due to drought conditions, limited above ground storage and minimal rainfall expected, consumers are urged to minimise water usage,” Council’s General Manager Greg Hill said.Level 2 Restrictions are as follows: Watering systems, non-fixed sprinklers, handheld hoses, micro sprays, drip systems, soaker hoses on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays only. Watering between 6am and 9am and 6pm and 9pm Washing vehicles by: (a) means of a bucket or watering can filled directly from a tap (and not by means of a hose); or (b) By means of a trigger hose, used only for the purpose of wetting, and rinsing a vehicle after it has been washed; or (c) To clean inside a tank of a tanker vehicle by means of a trigger hose, where such cleaning is necessary either to avoid contamination of the tanker's contents or to ensure public safety. Construction Activities - water may only be used: (a) for the purpose of compaction by means of trigger hose. (b) for the purpose of dust suppression. Windows and building facades: By a bucket or watering can filled directly from a tap (and not by means of a hose) unless it is necessary to do so as a result of an accident, fire, or other emergencyThese restrictions are enforceable and Central Darling Council said penalties, including possible disconnection, will be imposed upon those who do not comply.Council said in cases of extreme hardship, it will consider requests for exemptions. If an exemption is issued, it will end if a restriction level changes.

Central Darling Shire adopted the draft Verge and Street Tree Policy at its February meeting, and has released it for comment.The draft Verge and Street Tree Policy provides guidelines for residents to create, install and maintain an authorised street verge in front of their property on CDSC land. The draft policy was adopted by the Council at the February Ordinary meeting and is now open for public comment.Council says it supports their strategic plan delivery program objectives for the greening and beautification of towns and streetscapes.In its report Central Darling Shire Council says verges (commonly referred to as nature strips) provide an area to increase biodiversity, offer a way to reduce maintenance with the right planting, and can make the area aesthetically appealing. “This policy provides guidance for residents to do that in a way to ensure their design complies with Council requirements, minimises risk and considers other uses associated with the space. “The policy ensures residents consider responsibility in relation to other users including pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, consider the other functions of the land including garbage collection, stormwater management, utility service corridors, parking and street trees and promotes and guides effective management and maintenance of established street trees.”Submissions must be made in writing by 4PM Tuesday 1 April 2025 to: The General Manager, Central Darling Shire Council, PO Box 165, Wilcannia NSW 2836Or by email to: [email protected] will not be accepted via social media.Review the Policy Here

Ley, Dalton & Milthorpe oppose water buybacksThe Member for Murray Helen Dalton and Member for Farrer Sussan Ley have both slammed the Albanese Government’s plans to rush through 100 gigalitres of new water buybacks in the lead to the next federal election.The buybacks are part of the federal government’s Restoring Our Rivers program, which has drawn criticism from both Members of Parliament.Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has labelled the federal government “sneaky” and “wasteful”. “The federal government is so desperate to get these new buybacks through, they are paying well above market value and wasting millions of taxpayer dollars in the process,” Ms Dalton said. Ms. Dalton also slammed the federal government’s attempts to avoid public scrutiny of the new buybacks. She claims the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water “quietly” posted a notice online on February 24 saying it was seeking entitlements in the Southern Connected Basin. “What’s with the secrecy?” Ms Dalton asked. “Is the Albanese Government scared of people knowing what they are up to?” Ms. Dalton has again called on the NSW Government to actively oppose the federal buybacks. “Premier Chris Minns must take a stronger stand against the federal government,” Ms Dalton said. “He can’t stand by and watch as NSW rural communities are trashed by federal water policies.“Every gigalitre that’s taken from the system leads to increase suffering in rural communities.” Ms Ley called the move “sneaky and secretive.” “Water buybacks is a lazy, uncaring method of taking enormous amounts of water for the environment,” Ms Ley said.“If you want to divide farms, split communities, add to the nation’s debt level and stop growing Australian produce, then this is the way to go about it.“And it’s only happening because Anthony Albanese collaborated with the Greens and crossbenchers in late 2023, legislating for the removal of more water from farmers over a shorter period of time.   “The Coalition is committed to stopping Labor’s ideological destruction of prime agricultural land.“The Environment Minister must put a halt to this latest round of buybacks, and every single candidate at this election needs to be honest with their views on water policy, so voters in Farrer can have a say on their region’s future.”Independent candidate for Ley’s seat of Farrer Michelle Milthorpe agrees, saying buybacks are not a solution, and only deepen the divide between the environment and rural communities.“I am opposed to water buybacks because they continue this cycle of poor decision-making. We need to invest in better solutions, like on-farm efficiencies and the relaxation of river constraints,” Ms Milthorpe said.“This will ensure both environment and community needs are met without sacrificing one for the other.”

Tania Nisbet has rocks in her head. Or rather, rocks on her mind. This fabulous artist dedicates many hours of her time and skill into creating works of art, all to put a smile on someone’s face. She doesn’t know which someone will end up with a smile. Or often where the rocks end up. But, she does it for the sheer fun of it, and to brighten up people’s days. Tania’s love affair with rocks began in mid-2023, when she began work as an SLSO for Hay War Memorial High School. “I was working in one class, the big picture class, which is for children who are exploring alternate educational options,” she said. “The teacher in that class was painting rocks with the students one day, and I joined in. From that moment on, I was hooked.” Over time, Tania estimates she has painted and circulated over 200 rocks. Under the cover of darkness, Tania and her youngest daughter Matilda, drop the rocks in places around Hay, and wait to see who finds them. People comment to Tania they never dreamed of finding rocks in Hay, and some are taken with them when they pass though town as visitors. “It makes me feel happy to know it has put a smile on a kid’s face,” Tania said. “While many don’t post if they have found them, many will message and ask when I am going to do a drop and ask for clues where to find them. “It has become a lot of fun for a lot of people, and I like that.” Brandon Burns loads up his pockets with rocks for Tania, and leaves them at various points on his many travels. Tania would love more people to post, both locally and visitors. “It would be wonderful to know when people come across one of my rocks,” she said. “I’d just love to know if and when they are found.” Over all her time doing rocks, only a few rocks have been posted as found, one in Port Macquarie, one in Goulburn, some in South Australia, and one was taken to Taree. These rocks don’t just take minutes to paint, they take many hours. Intricate, careful work, Tania does them whenever she has the time. It does get hard though, between this and her other hobby of etching different items for people, and making cake toppers, time is not in large supply. These days, Tania is also creating art; cooking up delicious storms in the canteen of HWMHS. She is really happy others in Hay have started painting and dropping rocks as well, such as Doris Pearse, Leonnie Laracy’s grandchildren and Kim and Leah Curtis. “Other towns have a rock snake; when someone finds one, they add it to the snake. I would like to start up something like that but I am not sure how it would go,” she said. Congratulations Tania, it isn’t everyday these days someone takes the time to do something so wholesome, purely for the love of it, and to make others smile.

Mrs Ellen Sendy has clocked up an impressive 45 years as a teacher, all at Balranald Central School. It never really hit home for her, the time she had been in the teaching field for until a friend pointed it out. Ellen can recall teaching the grandparent of a Year 10 student she is teaching this year. She was always intent on being a primary teacher, until she came across a pivotal influence in her secondary schooling years. “I absolutely adored my Year 11 Home Science teacher, and thought, “I just want to be like you,” she recalled. It’s so ironic, the influence of one person on Ellen’s life propelled her into a career where she has touched so many lives herself. So, it was 1981 when a young Ellen Sendy came to Balranald. These were still the days when a teacher would either opt in to teach in the city only, or anywhere in NSW. Ellen chose anywhere in NSW, and was then advised she was selected to teach in Balranald. “Doreen Greenham was invaluable when I first started,” Ellen recalled. “Joan Purton and Cynthia Barber, two other iconic Balranald teachers, were both like mothers to me. These ladies were wonderful to me. “I would more often than not go to Cynthia’s house for Sunday dinner. It was a wonderful little community and culture from the get go.” Ellen met her husband Laurie, a local, and they were married. They have two children, James and Amanda, who both completed their schooling at Balranald Central School and went on to foster successful lives and careers. A 45-year commitment to teaching, her vocation, is no small feat, but Ellen wouldn’t have dreamed about being anywhere else. “I never ever thought about leaving,” she said. “Either teaching or Balranald. I love what I do and I love the town.” Despite her specialty being home economics, Ellen didn’t always teach in this role. She taught in the school’s distance education department mainly textiles and English, worked as a support teacher. Some of the highlights of her career were teaching distance education, and the time one of her students received a Band 6 for their work in the HSC, and their work ws entered into the larger Exhibition of Year 12 work. One of her classes, who she called ‘my dream team,’ all scored band 5. One of her dream team began working at Balranald Central School as an SLSO in 2025, and Ellen was very proud and emotional. She has always noticed the stark differences between how girls enjoy and learn in her classes to the way boys do. “Boys just like machines, anything with an accelerator, so they gravitate towards the sewing machines,” she said. “Girls get in there and immerse themselves in different ways. “One time, back in the day where there were still boys’ classes and girls’ classes, I had a class going." We had a veritable sewing circle and production line going; there were busy girls cutting patterns, sewing on machines, hand sewing and more. “It just so happened to be the day the principal was touring people around, showing them the different classes. “He said to me later, “You must’ve known I was coming, but I didn’t” she laughed. What Mrs Sendy really enjoys about boys classes is the random conversations or things they bring up during class, like telling her things while they are washing the dishes. Home is where you make it, and Ellen vastly enjoys her home, Balranald. “Who could want anything more,” she said. “We have a lovely, friendly town with great people. The river is close by, and it is really green here.” Although she would like to retire one day, the kitchen at Balranald Central School is what drives her to stay in teaching. “I couldn’t stand the thought of the kitchen closing and the children missing out,” she said. “I just cannot fathom the idea of being at home, with a closed kitchen and the kids not having that option.” Incredibly modest, down to Earth and practical, it is so easy to see why Mrs Sendy is so treasured and respected. Congratulations on such a magnificent career.

Hold the Mother, not the Baby is a book written by Rosie Cimono (pictured), written from the mother's perspective on becoming a parent. It covers the emotions of postpartum through to juggling everyday life. Rosie Cimino (pictured) originates from Balranald and now lives in Cohuna with her partner. She has a 20-month-old and a five-month old. A work from home administrator for a livestock company, Rosie is a motivated and busy mum. She loves what she does, both motherhood and career but concedes life is quite busy. “People extol the virtues of motherhood, and indeed it is magical, but somehow it is a taboo to keep quiet about the 2am feeds, the bottles, hormones, changing friendship dynamics, the juggling act of dealing with it all,” she said. “Two things can be true at once; motherhood is fantastic but it also has its struggles.” “It is more of a poem, a short story with pictures,” said Rosie. “It is a light-hearted read to just keep the conversation about the issues mothers deal with going. “The important messages and issues so often get lost in a sea of other words; I wanted people to be able to have something to get the ball rolling. “It is vital women out there have easy ways to bring up issues, especially those around mental health.” Rosie said it was a smooth process, the publishing of the book, which began in November of 2024. The book is out now, an easy read and relatable book to reassure all mothers that their feelings are valid and completely normal. She aims to publish more books in the same thread; from the father’s perspective, those struggling with conception issues, among others. The thought-provoking conversation starter, Hold the Mother, not the Baby can be found on Amazon.com.au Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Booktopia.com.au.

The announcement shares little detail on how Australian farmers will be impactedUS president Donald Trump has announced tariffs of all agricultural imports will come into effect on April 2.President Trump made the announcement of social media platform Truth Social on Monday“To the great farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold INSIDE of the United States. Tariffs will go on external product on April 2nd. Have fun!” No further detail has been released, and it unclear how this will impact of Australian farmers and exporters. Currently, Aussie beef is being shipped to the US in record numbers.The statement comes after the US slammed Mexico and Canada with 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming in from those countries, which came into effect on March 3. The possibility of a tariff on Australian agricultural products has been on the cards for some time, with Australian beef industry leaders forming a working group to keep a brief on the Trump administration’s moves.Some have raised Australia’s trade surplus with the United States as a possible avenue to negotiate tariffs that might be imposed on Australia.

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11am - Power has been restored in Hay, after reports bird strike caused the three hour outage. 10.55am update: Essential Energy’s website shows no outage in Hay, yet the power remains off.They expect the service to resume at 11am.10.30am - no updates on when power will be restored10am - no update from Essential Energy9.30am update: No new information from Essential Energy. Hay Children's Services are open and contactable as normal 0269931757 (option 1) or email [email protected]. Robbo’s Bakery is open. Instant coffee and tea only, but EFTPOS is working for now. Commonwealth Bank will remain closed until power is restored. Hay Newsagents is open for cash or account transactions- no Lotto. 9am update: 2108 customers effected. Essential Energy says the reasons for the outage remain unknown but they are investigating. Bendigo Bank will remain closed until power is restored, buy the Friday assembly at Hay Public School will continue as normal at 9.30am in the school hall. 8.30am 2257 residents in the Hay district are without electricityEssential Energy has advised they are aware of the outage but do not yet know the cause.Updates will be provided as they become available.

“Water buybacks is a lazy, uncaring method of taking enormous amounts of water for the environment,” Sussan Ley MP. Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley has attacked the Albanese Government for greenlighting new water buybacks from the southern Murray Darling Basin just weeks out from a federal election. Ms Ley said Labor’s sneaky and secretive move to rip a further 100GL of water from farming proves, yet again, this Labor government was completely unworthy of representing rural Australia. “Water buybacks is a lazy, uncaring method of taking enormous amounts of water for the environment. “If you want to divide farms, split communities, add to the nation’s debt level and stop growing Australian produce, then this is the way to go about it. “And it’s only happening because Anthony Albanese collaborated with the Greens and crossbenchers in late 2023, legislating for the removal of more water from farmers over a shorter period of time. “The Coalition is committed to stopping Labor’s ideological destruction of prime agricultural land; we simply cannot afford to hand back power to Anthony Albanese and a bunch of CIimate 200 Independents. “The Environment Minister must put a halt to this latest round of buybacks, and every single candidate at this election needs to be honest with their views on water policy, so voters in Farrer can have a say on their region’s future.”

Roy Butler MP has moved a notice of motion in NSW ParliamentMember for Barwon Roy Butler MP has moved a notice of motion at the most recent sitting of NSW Parliament. In a statement made on social media Mr Barwon said weirs are integral in Western NSW.“Weirs are an integral part of water security for Western NSW,” Mr Butler said. “That's why in the Parliament of NSW, I moved a notice of motion asking the House to:Notes the review of Western Weirs and subsequent connectivity reports have been running for 3 years now with considerable community concern.Acknowledges weirs are a vital component to water security in Western NSW, many precede licencing requirements being in place between 50 and 90 years without question.Asks the Government to provide a full list of weirs in Barwon where they have any plan to remove or reduce the height and if they have an agreement with the Commonwealth to do so.”

A third man has faced court charged after fleeing a vehicle stop in Broken Hill.The alleged proceeds of a home invasion in South Australia were seized during the vehicle stop.About 8.45am on Monday February 24, an officer from Broken Hill Highway Patrol stopped a white Hyundai van on the Barrier Highway near Broken Hill.A front seat passenger from the van ran off, while the driver, a 49-year-old man, was arrested by police.Following a forensic search of the vehicle at Broken Hill Police Station, police allegedly located 14 firearms, a further semi-automatic loaded shotgun and a large quantity of collectable coins and other related cash located.Inquiries by detectives linked the items found inside the vehicle to an aggravated break, enter and steal offence at Yorketown in South Australia, which occurred about 1.00am on February 24, where a 74-year-old man was allegedly assaulted by three armed men who broke into his home.3.00pm the same day, officers from Central North Police District stopped a white van on the outskirts of Cobar, which police suspected had been travelling with the first van.The two men, aged 49 and 35, were charged and remain before the courts.Following extensive inquiries to locate the passenger, a 50-year-old man was arrested in Sturt Park, Broken Hill just before midday on Saturday February 1.He was taken to Broken Hill Police Station where the outstanding warrant was executed.He was charged with a slew of offences; knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, receive etc property stolen outside NSW, possess loaded firearm public place, not keep firearm safely - not pistol/prohibited and 15 counts of possess unauthorised firearm.The man appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday February 2, where he was formally refused bail to appear at Broken Hill Local Court on Tuesday April 29.

By Ross Garnaut, The Australian National University and The University of Melbourne.The start of a second Trump presidency has led many to question the future outlook for energy in Australia and around the world, and what impact the new US administration will have on the move towards net zero.Economist Ross Garnaut AC, who is Professor Emeritus at both The Australian National University and The University of Melbourne, spoke to Andrew Jaspan, Editor-in-Chief of 360info, about where things now stand.Last November, you seemed to think there were real prospects for renewables in the world and the move towards net zero. You thought that the political and international settings for the environment were favorable. What’s your feeling today?Oh, I certainly thought there were prospects of moving forward. A number of aspects of the international settings were favourable.China is not only the world’s main producer of capital goods for the new economy, but also by far the world’s biggest user of renewables. Last year China produced more renewable energy than the rest of the world combined. Europe and other economies of Northeast Asia are also making good progress.And that creates a huge opportunity for Australia to use some of our renewable energy resources to support new industries exporting goods, especially to Europe and Northeast Asia — countries that can’t generate the renewable energy to do it themselves.The election of Trump doesn’t change the physics [of climate change] one bit. Atmospheric physics doesn’t care who wins American elections or what commentators are saying on Fox News.Climate change is getting more severe and that will require a response, even though that may be an ignorant response. If it turns out to be an ignorant response, that would undermine our social and political order.But it may also engender a positive response. I certainly think [Trump’s election] will have a negative effect on the US’s interaction with the international community. It may not have such a big negative effect in the United States, because Trump may not find it easy to repeal all the Biden measures.One of the first executive orders President Trump signed was to withdraw from the Paris Agreement again. How do you see the impact of that decision on the rest of the world?Well, that’s up to the rest of the world. It will be influential. But, the rest of the world can choose to resist that influence. If the rest of the world bows to the influence, that could seriously affect commitments towards net zero in major economies generating a large amount of greenhouse gases, such as China, Japan, Korea, the European countries, and India. That would certainly have a big negative effect on international development towards net zero.But it’s not certain that will be the case. China sees a geopolitical opportunity in America’s withdrawal from Paris. It’s already actively promoting its own decarbonisation. China is a huge ship to turn around, but it’s turning around. And it has momentum now in moving its industries towards a zero-carbon economy.It will use its industrial strength to enhance cooperation with other countries wanting to move to net zero. And the speed of that move depends on their domestic politics and whether governments of the centre right or centre left, remain in power in the big European countries, such as Germany, France, and the UK. If they do, there is every prospect of the Paris commitments surviving, despite the change in US.But if the US developments become instrumental in changing political direction in the rest of the world, then that will have a big negative effect on the world’s action on climate change.For big carbon-emitting businesses will that now mean they can do whatever they want in terms of gas and oil exploration in the US? Do you expect that to follow in the rest of the world as well?We still have a lot of business commitments to taking action on climate [change]. But for some businesses those commitments are only skin deep, dollar deep, and we’ve already seen some reversals in the rest of the world. Macquarie Bank, for example, headquartered in Australia has retreated on Paris commitments. Many companies around the world will use the US changes to pull back on those commitments.We can’t rely on voluntary action by business to deliver good outcomes. You need policy and incentives because most businesses will only do what is profitable. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for businesses that are prepared to stay the course on climate commitments and they will be in a strong position when America comes back to the Paris agreements, as it may.What about business decisions in Australia, particularly for gas and oil exploration?The mood has certainly moved. The barriers to Australia increasing its emissions and not meeting emissions targets has been weakened. However, both the government and opposition remain committed to net zero.If we in Australia allow too much gas development, it will become impossible for us to achieve net zero by 2050. The outcome depends on our own political choices and the decisions that Australian governments make over the next few years, at a time that Trump is signalling that he has little to no interest in renewables.How do you see the opportunities for renewable development in Australia? I’m thinking particularly of opportunities for rural Australia.Renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy. There’s lots of smokescreens around that but serious people in business know that you wouldn’t invest now in a coal-based power station because it would not be as cheap as investing in the best renewables backed by storage.Renewable energy has got a life of its own because it’s become cheaper. That wasn’t inevitable. I did not presume that was the case in my 2008 Climate Change Review, but it’s turned out to be a much lower cost than the alternatives. That’s a great boon to Australia.If we get it right, we’ve got the lowest cost renewable energy of any large country. And that could be the basis of strong competitiveness in a wide range of industries that use a lot of energy. Most of these — and the jobs in them— are based in rural and provincial Australia.In fact, the economic growth in the next half century in Australia will be disproportionately in rural and provincial areas because that’s where the zero-carbon industrial growth will be.South Australia is one of the world’s great regions for renewable energy. Energy-based industries in the Mid-West, Western Australia and the central west of Queensland will also do very well in the future.So there will continue to be good progress towards renewables but it will not be fast enough without active policy support.Renewables in the United States got a big boost from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The biggest beneficiaries were Republican states that voted for Trump and whose votes he needs to get anything through Congress. Trump won’t get any law through to repeal the act without Texas votes. Texas is now much bigger than California in renewable energy.The boom in renewable energy from Biden’s IRA has been great for development in west Texas. I wouldn’t back Donald Trump to get those Texans to vote to end their economic boom.The same goes for Australia. The central west of Queensland shares with the central west of Texas great strengths in renewable energy.If we play our cards right, and if the rest of the world moves towards net zero, we can be a great exporter of energy-intensive goods. Probably the world’s biggest renewables exporter.For the Australian economy, there will be many more jobs than in coal and gas.Given the case for renewables, why do you think the Coalition is pushing so hard on the need for nuclear energy?I don’t know why. I am not in the Opposition’s head.What I know is that with our very rich renewable energy resources, nuclear is an expensive option. It is also an option in the far distant future, long after a lot of our coal plants start falling apart.No one wants to build a new coal plant. It’s obviously uneconomic in competition with renewables.Some people say: “Well, France and China are using nuclear energy, so why not Australia?”Those countries do not have Australia’s renewable energy opportunities. And often their nuclear programs are being cross-subsidised with their nuclear weapons programs.That is the case with France, where nuclear weapons and nuclear power generation are developed side by side. For Australia, the economics wouldn’t take you in that direction.In the run up to the election with cost of living one of the critical issues along with energy prices, what should Australian voters think about when they turn their minds to the cost of energy?We will not lower the cost of energy by slowing down progress on renewable energy.Is electricity storage and batteries a key issue in Australia?Yes, that’s part of the story. With batteries we will get reliable power from renewable energy “when the winds aren’t blowing and the sun is not shining”. Battery storage is one of the untold success stories of Australia. We are having a great battery boom. We are putting more large grid scale batteries to stabilise the grid into Australia than in any other country. What’s going on in Australia is transformational. Its an important part, but not all of what is required and what can be provided, to make an electricity system with very high proportions of solar and wind power both secure and reliable.This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.Professor Ross Garnaut AC is a Professor Emeritus at The Australian National University and a Professor Emeritus in Economics at The University of Melbourne. His latest book Let’s Tax Carbon: And Other Ideas for a Better Australia was published in October 2024.Professor Garnaut is a Director of the Superpower Institute, and a Director of Zen Energy.Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.

The Yoogali development will have the storage capacity to serve over 88 percent of daily electricity demand from the city of Griffith.Eku Energy announced today that it has been awarded a NSW Long Duration Storage Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LDS LTESA) from AEMO Services, for a 100 MW/800 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Yoogali, within the Griffith Local Government Area (LGA) of New South Wales.Eku Energy is jointly owned by a fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management and the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI).The LDS LTESA agreement represents an important milestone for Eku Energy’s Griffith BESS, which will provide an eight-hour duration storage capacity to store excess renewable energy and dispatch it during periods of high demand. When it is operational, the BESS will balance supply and demand, reduce energy price volatility, and contribute to the stability of the electricity grid in the National Electricity Market (NEM).Located approximately 500 metres from the Griffith Substation, the Griffith BESS will provide efficient integration into the existing electricity network. The Griffith BESS has the storage capacity to serve over 88 percent of daily electricity demand from the Griffith LGA. This strategic location will enhance grid reliability, unlocking more renewable energy from solar energy generators that would otherwise be curtailed in the region.“Securing the Long Duration Storage Long-Term Energy Service Agreement for our Griffith BESS is a significant milestone for Eku Energy,” Daniel Burrows, Chief Executive Officer, Eku Energy, said:“This project underscores our commitment to accelerating the energy transition by delivering safe and reliable energy storage solutions, through providing cost-effective clean energy to existing and future generations, whilst also supporting New South Wales' transition to a sustainable energy future.”Griffith BESS will directly support the local community with local procurement commitments and benefits sharing programs. These commitments include embedding First Nations subcontracting targets in delivery, local Benefits Sharing Programs that will be delivered during both the construction and operations phases and deploying funding towards local workforce development and education facilities within the region.Eku Energy's success in this tender aligns with its broader strategy to develop and manage a diversified portfolio of energy storage assets globally. The company continues to collaborate with governments, developers, and local communities to deliver projects that facilitate the energy transition and provide long-term value.The Griffith BESS is expected to be operational in 2028. Eku Energy is dedicated to engaging with the local community throughout the project's development to ensure it delivers economic, social, and environmental benefits to the region. Valuable feedback was gathered at the most recent community drop-in session on 30 January. Residents across Griffith LGA are invited to find out more and provide input on the project through ekuenergy.com/griffith.