The category three system has moved further over the Timor Sea, and is now sitting about 80km away from Darwin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Charles Point, around a 90-minute drive from Darwin, saw 265.4mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am, while Middle Point was hit with 430mm.<\/p>\n An emergency warning in Darwin, Wurrumiyanga, Wagait Beach and Dundee Beach remains in place, with residents told to remain inside.<\/p>\n While the cyclone left a trail of destruction, there have been no injuries or deaths reported.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.53 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Firefighting operations continue in Tasmania\u2019s north-east<\/strong><\/p>\n A large fire continues to burn in Lefroy in Tasmania\u2019s north-east since it was reported yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n Tasmania Fire Service incident controller Paul Beechy<\/strong> said that crews from Tasmania Fire Services, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, and Sustainable Timbers Tasmania were responding to a large vegetation bushfire.<\/p>\n The fire has burnt approximately 660 hectares, and there are several firefighting appliances currently being used including fire trucks, five aircraft and machinery.<\/p>\n Firefighting crews have worked through the night and are continuing to work to contain the fire today. To date, no structures have been lost but as usual, resources will be positioned to protect assets in the area.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Beechy said that conditions were expected to be changeable today, and urged residents in the vicinity of the fire to stay informed and be ready for any changes in the fire threat.<\/p>\n A watch and act warning is in place for people in Lefroy to monitor conditions as they are changing, as well as a bushfire smoke alert for George Town and surrounds to avoid smoke.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some Telstra services in Darwin<\/a> and surrounds may not be restored until Tuesday<\/strong><\/p>\n Telstra\u2019s website is showing several locations in the Top End are experiencing outages and the estimated restoration won\u2019t be until Tuesday evening in some locations.<\/p>\n Telstra\u2019s map states:<\/p>\n A severe weather event is affecting some mobile, nbn, landline services in NT. We\u2019re on the case and working to get you back online ASAP.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For some locations in Darwin and surrounds such as Humpty Doo, Weddell, <\/strong>Fly Creek, Daly, <\/strong>Berry Springs and Mcminns Lagoon, Telstra states the estimated restoration won\u2019t be until 7:30 pm on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.06 EST<\/p>\n Coalition not signing up to EPBC changes yet<\/strong><\/p>\n James Paterson<\/strong> also said the Coalition would not support the government\u2019s environmental laws in their current form, setting up a major standoff in the last week of parliament.<\/p>\n As we brought you earlier, the Greens are still hesitating in backing the laws, saying they don\u2019t do enough to protect the environment and would pave the way for new fossil fuel projects. Paterson, the shadow finance minister, says the opposition is still not signing up either. He told Sky:<\/p>\n Where it stands today, we certainly couldn\u2019t support the proposed legislation. It is deficient in a number of areas, and the business community has been very vocal about that.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Paterson said the Coalition was still sticking to its previous position of seeking seven changes to the legislation, in line with what the business community has requested.<\/p>\n So the ball is in the government\u2019s court. If they\u2019re willing to compromise, if they\u2019re willing to deal with the concerns of the business community, then we are up for acting in a bipartisan way in the national interest. But if they\u2019re pursuing ideology over Australia\u2019s national interest, then they are welcome to go and do a deal with the Greens and they will wear the consequences of that.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.44 EST<\/p>\n Coalition accuses Bowen of \u201chobnobbing\u201d in COP president role<\/strong><\/p>\n The Coalition is already critical of Chris Bowen<\/strong>\u2019s new job as COP president of negotiations, with senior shadow frontbencher James Paterson<\/strong> claiming the energy minister was focused on \u201chobnobbing\u201d at global conferences.<\/p>\n As detailed earlier, the UN climate conference will be hosted in Turkey, but after negotiations with Australia, Bowen will be the negotiations president and the Pacific will host a meeting in the lead-up. Bowen\u2019s role is likely to include lots of international travel, meetings with world leaders, and negotiations with overseas governments to make more ambitious climate agreements.<\/p>\n On Sky News, Paterson, the opposition finance spokesperson, was less than welcoming of the news. He claimed:<\/p>\n Chris Bowen should do two things when he heads overseas, particularly when he goes over to Turkey. He should thank President Erdogan<\/strong> for saving Australian taxpayers $2bn by not having to host Cop. And secondly, I think he should probably stay there, because that\u2019s where his priorities are.<\/p>\n He wants to be on the international circuit, he wants to be hobnobbing and negotiating at climate conferences. He has no interest in lowering energy prices for Australians.<\/p>\n I think actually the energy minister\u2019s job is to get energy prices affordable so we\u2019re not driving jobs and industry offshore.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Coalition, which has long criticised Bowen over the government\u2019s energy transition and concerns over power bills, are likely to continue criticising the energy minister over claims of misplaced priorities.<\/p>\n James Paterson. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.43 EST<\/p>\n One dead after house fire north of Brisbane<\/strong><\/p>\n One person has died in a house fire in Brisbane\u2019s northern suburbs early this morning.<\/p>\n Queensland police said that emergency services were called at about 5.30am to the property on Darcy Way in Lawnton.<\/p>\n Four other residents were treated at the scene and taken to hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cA crime scene has been declared,\u201d police said in a statement. \u201cInvestigations into the cause of the fire remain ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.06 EST<\/p>\n Tropical Cyclone Fina dumps heavy rainfall over Darwin and surrounds<\/p>\n The area around Darwin<\/a> airport was hit with 168.6mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am today as Tropical Cyclone Fina swept by the Top End.<\/p>\n The category three system has moved further over the Timor Sea, and is now sitting about 80km away from Darwin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Charles Point, around a 90-minute drive from Darwin, saw 265.4mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am, while Middle Point was hit with 430mm.<\/p>\n An emergency warning in Darwin, Wurrumiyanga, Wagait Beach and Dundee Beach remains in place, with residents told to remain inside.<\/p>\n While the cyclone left a trail of destruction, there have been no injuries or deaths reported.<\/p>\n Giant trees have been ripped from their roots in Darwin CBD as Cyclone Fina tracked just north of the NT capital. Photograph: (A)manda ParkinsonShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.53 EST<\/p>\n Bel\u00e9m declaration Australia’s ‘strongest ever statement on phasing out fossil fuels’, former climate diplomat says<\/p>\n Thom Woodroofe, <\/strong>a senior international fellow at the Smart Energy Council in Australia and a former climate diplomat said signing the Bel\u00e9m Declaration was the \u201cstrongest statement Australia has ever made on phasing out fossil fuels.\u201d<\/p>\n This is a sliding doors moment and the strongest statement Australia has ever made on phasing out fossil fuels, which requires rapidly scaling up renewable energy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n On Australia\u2019s responsibilities with the Cop31 hosting arrangements he said \u201cAustralia\u2019s hands are well and truly on the helm of the international climate negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n The important thing now is what Australia actually does with the role it has. An ambitious COP31 still means Australia doing things like championing a new global rooftop solar pledge, setting a roadmap for the Pacific to become the first region in the world to achieve 100% renewables, and ratcheting up global climate ambition, including through new frameworks to ramp up electrification. We have no time to waste.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Read more from Woodroofe and former diplomat Dean Bialek<\/strong> in their comment piece for Guardian Australia<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.36 EST<\/p>\n Australia should follow Korea\u2019s lead and phase out coal power, expert says<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr Wesley Morgan, <\/strong>research associate at the Institute of Climate Risk and Response at UNSW, says Australia should follow South Korea\u2019s example making a commitment to phase out coal-fired power:<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s surprise decision to sign the \u2018Bel\u00e9m Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels\u2019 is a positive sign. It suggests Australia may finally be ready to start grappling with its responsibilities as one of the world\u2019s largest exporters of coal and gas.<\/p>\n \u2026 Australia signed the declaration just days after one of its largest markets for thermal coal, South Korea, made an international commitment to phase out coal-fired power. Australia will be better placed \u2013 economically and strategically \u2013 if it plays a leadership role in our own region for a climate-safe future. Australia has much to gain by capitalising on green export opportunities. It should modernise its energy ties with key trading partners, including Japan and South Korea, to move collectively away from risky fossil fuels as fast as possible. Australia would go some way to restoring faith with the Pacific if it stops approving new coal and gas projects.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.51 EST<\/p>\n Experts welcome Australia signing Cop30 fossil fuel phase-out declaration but say \u2018real action\u2019 must follow<\/p>\n Experts have welcomed Australia\u2019s \u201csurprise\u201d decision at the Cop30 climate conference to sign the Bel\u00e9m Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, but called on the government to back it with real action.<\/p>\n Bill Hare, <\/strong>CEO and senior scientist at Climate Analytics, says:<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s decision to sign the declaration is welcome, but is out of step with its continued approvals of coal and gas projects, most recently the North West Shelf licence extension to 2070.<\/a><\/p>\n It is beyond belief that the government\u2019s proposed reforms to environmental assessment laws contain no explicit requirement to take into account the impact of greenhouse gas emissions when deciding on whether to approve them. The government often points to the safeguard mechanism but this has significant flaws, allowing companies to comply using offsets and avoid or minimise real emission reductions.<\/p>\n I would urge the Australian government to back up its words with clear action towards phasing out fossil fuels, starting with actually stopping new fossil developments and legislating assessment of climate impacts during environmental assessments.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Chris Bowen, minister for climate change and energy of Australia, speaks during a plenary session at the Cop30 UN climate summit in Brazil. Photograph: Andr\u00e9 Penner\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.49 EST<\/p>\n Hanson-Young says under-16 social media ban risks creating \u2018false sense of protection\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Asked about the impending under-16s social media ban<\/a>, Hanson-Young<\/strong> says she is worried about the government putting in place a \u201cfalse sense of protection\u201d.<\/p>\n I\u2019m worried about the kids who fall through the cracks \u2013 either are still on there when they shouldn\u2019t be based on the age, or find themselves in even darker places on the internet.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n More effective legislation would have been to target social media companies\u2019 business models through banning advertising, Hanson-Young says:<\/p>\n I think one of the things that Australia should do is ban digital advertising for anyone under 18. These companies shouldn\u2019t be able to scrape young people\u2019s data and then target them with advertising. If that was in place, these social media companies wouldn\u2019t care about having to have young people. It hits them at their business model.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.42 EST<\/p>\n Hanson-Young criticises \u2018pretty half hearted\u2019 Cop31 bid<\/strong><\/p>\n Returning to Hanson-Young<\/strong>\u2019s interview, she said it was \u201creally disappointing\u201d Australia was not able to secure the bid to host the next Cop and that she does not believe the government tried everything.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think the diplomatic effort was put in. I think the government at a federal level was pretty half hearted about this. It seems to be an open secret amongst those close to this, that there were people within Dfat and senior members of the government who didn\u2019t want this because of the pressure that it would bear on Australia in relation to our fossil fuel exports.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.18 EST<\/p>\n Australia will have ‘unprecedented influence’ in global climate talks after Cop31 Turkey deal, PM says Australia will have \u201cunprecedented influence\u201d over the upcoming UN climate discussions at the COP conference, Anthony Albanese<\/strong> says, welcoming an agreement which would see energy minister Chris Bowen<\/strong> become the \u201cpresident of negotiations\u201d while Turkey hosts the main conference.<\/p>\n As flagged earlier in the week, Australia came up short in its bid to co-host the COP conference with the Pacific, but last-minute agreements saw Australia extract some major concessions. In a statement this morning, Albanese said Bowen would act as the president of negotiations, which will see Australia have \u201cexclusive authority in relation to the negotiations\u201d, related to shaping global decision-making and global investment in clean energy industries.<\/p>\n Albanese<\/strong> said in the statement with Bowen and the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong<\/strong>:<\/p>\n The Pacific will host a special Pre-Cop for leaders and others, bringing attention to the existential threat climate change poses to the region.<\/p>\n This will give Australia and the Pacific unprecedented influence over multilateral deliberations and actions of the global community in 2026.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Australia will also get to choose \u201cministerial and other co-facilitators for negotiations\u201d as well as identifying \u201cadditional champions\u201d for the agenda.<\/p>\n The Cop31 agenda will also include a session on the climate finance needs of small island developing nations, another concession aimed at supporting the Pacific.<\/p>\n Turkey and Australia\u2019s Cop31 partnership is announced during at the Cop30 UN climate conference in Brazil. Photograph: Pablo Porci\u00fancula\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.16 EST<\/p>\n Hanson-Young criticises contradictory offers to Greens and Coalition on nature laws: ‘What does Labor want?’<\/p>\n Hanson-Young<\/strong> pointed out Labor\u2019s contradictory offers to the Coalition and the Greens reveal a confusion in what their own objectives with the bill really are:<\/p>\n On one hand, [Labor are] saying they\u2019re willing to work get a deal done with the Coalition that fast-tracks coal and gas, that makes life easier for coal and gas, that doesn\u2019t stop rampant land clearing, that doesn\u2019t stop the destruction of our native forests, right?<\/p>\n They\u2019re happy to do that, but then, on the other hand, they\u2019re saying, \u201cwell, we\u2019ll work with the Greens to fix all these things.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Giant](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763865314_906_5000.jpg\")
Giant trees have been ripped from their roots in Darwin CBD as Cyclone Fina tracked just north of the NT capital. Photograph: (A)manda ParkinsonShare<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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