State and Fed Govt financial-reporting harmonised; AASB looks at more onerous standards for private companies, non-profits

The accounting standards-setter has agreed to harmonise Federal and State Government financial reporting and progressed talks with New Zealand to ensure the two countries’ standards were “as similar as possible”, wrote Patrick Durkin in The Australian Financial Review (8/10/2007, p.8).

Tas gets pre-election Drought Assistance Bus; travelling experts advising farmers

The Australian Government Drought Assistance Bus would be advising farmers in Tasmania in September, reported The Mercury (5/9/2007, p.22).

Aus Federal Police confirm its officers trained 20 Burmese police in in­telligence gathering; Aidwatch seeks halt to co-operation

The Australian Federal Police confirmed three of its officers trained 20 Burmese police in in­telligence gathering, as the inter­national group Aidwatch warned that such co-operation should be curtailed amid the brutal sup­pression of democracy activists, wrote Craig Skehan in The Sydney Morning Herald (5/10/2007, p.6).

Quite possible for an Australian prime minister to refuse to call an election, warns former federal attorney-general

According to Michael Lavarch, executive dean of the QUT Law Faculty and a former federal attorney-general, writing in The Australian Financial Review, (5/10/2007), p. 56, the prime minister only needs to go to the governor-general to get the house dissolved if he wants an election called before 15 November 2007.

New ‘Meretec’ recycling-process recovers 100pc of zinc coating from galvanised steel: cuts pollution, water use, mining waste

The vast majority of steel used in the automotive, building and manufacturing industries was zinc coated (galvanised), to protect against corrosion, according to a statement by Southern Rocycling (28/9/2007).

Victoria growing opposition to recent $1 billion plan for irrigation upgrades in the state’s Goulburn Murray region, including a pipeline to Melbourne

As the state government attempts to conclude six months of negotiations with the federal government, there is growing opposition to its recently announced $1 billion plan for irrigation upgrades in the state’s Goulburn Murray region, including a pipeline to Melbourne reported The Australian Financial Review (13/7/2007, p. 19).

Tax-incentive legislation will assist major corporations, take rural land out of agricultural production, says Greens Party MP

Christine Milne MP (Greens Party Senator) speaking against proposed tax incentive legislation, stated that the legislation would result in water and land being removed from agricultural production.

Eco-Carbons to convert cereal-grain ‘seconds’, husks, fruit stones, nut shells, even straw, into renewable energy

A pilot factory based in Gunnedah, NSW, and perhaps a second unit in Toowoomba, Queensland, could spearhead the emergence of an industrial process able to turn farm wastes into charcoal beads, providing a new source of renewable energy, wrote Graham Fuller in Queensland Country Life (4/10/2007, p.23).

Universal pump jack can replace normal windmill function when mill not working

Universal pump jacks were lightweight, fully portable and could be installed in about 15 minutes, with their purpose being to replace a normal windmill function when the mill was out of service, or there was a lack of wind, reported Farm Weekly (27/9/2007, p. 20).

Milk-powder prices soar 70pc in 2007; wheat, other grains at near-record: growing China, India demand

The prices of dairy products, especially milk powder, have led other soft commodities with gains of up to 70 per cent so far this year, and wheat and other grain prices were also at a near record, wrote David Potts in The Australian Financial Review (10/10/2007, p.31).

Changing climate allows less agriculture, altering patterns of agricultural investment says Adelaide professor

According to renowned expert on water and farming, Mike Young of the University of Adelaide, it looked as if Australia had shifted to a drier climate, similar to that experienced in the 1920s to the early 1940s, wrote rural writer Asa Wahlquist in The Australian (6/10/2007, p. 23).

SA govt go ahead for water-saving $4.7m Virginia Pipeline extension; govt to pump funds, scheme to pump 35pc treated wastewater for use of irrigators

Ending years of uncertainty for Angle Vale irrigators and almost two years of delays after its announcement, the $4.7 million Virginia Pipeline Scheme Extension, a major water-saving project was given the green light by the State Government with the Government set to match federal funding for extension, announced by Prime Minister John Howard in October 2005, reported The Advertiser, (06/09/2007, p.7).

Turnbull plays different tunes on Chaffey upgrade grant issue – calls fed grant for Chaffey upgrade ‘contingent’ in parliament but changes tune to ‘all clear’ after angry response from local electorate

According to Lenore Taylor, in The Australian Financial Review, (26/09/2007, p.11), the federal government appeared to be saying one thing in Canberra about its tough stance on protecting the Murray Darling and another to voters in the NSW electorate of New England over the issue of federal grant for work to increase the capacity of the Chaffey Dam near Tamworth, where the Nationals were seeking to win back from long-serving independent Tony Windsor.

Health, water and drought the election issues for farmers; only 5.1pc view climate change as important election factor, Qld poll shows

A special farmer-only poll revealed they believed Kevin Rudd would be the next Prime Minister of Australia, even though most said they would vote for the Coalition, wrote Lucy Skuthorp in Queensland Country Life (4/10/2007, p.11).

Greens MP Milne criticises Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 6) Bill 2007: insufficiently considered; threat to farming, biodiversity; advantageous to emitters

Christine Milne MP (Greens Party, Senator) stated she was appalled that the Selection of Bills Committee had decided not to refer the Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 6) Bill 2007 to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport for appropriate consideration.

October emergency: dry, hot Murray Darling: no irrigation water, maybe no town or stock water, either – crisis conditions extend, levels lower than 1957

Storages lowest since 1957: At September 30, the total volume of water stored in River Murray System storages was 2130 GL (23 per cent ), which is the lowest for this time of year since 1957, before the construction of Dartmouth Reservoir and Menindee Lakes storage, and the expansion of Hume Dam. At this time last year storage totalled 3350 GL.

October Murray Darling Report South Australia water to get saltier and saltier as rising seawater splashes over the end-of-river barrages: Lake Alexandrina undrinkable at 2300 to 2500 EC

South Australia water to get saltier and saltier as rising seawater splashes over the end-of-river barrages: Lake Alexandrina undrinkable at 2300 to 2500 EC
Salinity in South Australia’s Lower Lakes was now in the range of 2300 to 2500 EC, with much higher levels immediately upstream of the barrages, where leakage over, under or through the structures had resulted in seawater mixing with the much fresher water of Lake Alexandrina, warned the River Murray System Drought Update No. 10 October 2007.

Monitoring will warn of problems: “Considerable efforts have gone into minimising leakage, but seepage under, and storm waves over, the barrages cannot be prevented and will continue to bring salt in to the lake. Regular water quality monitoring undertaken along the entire River Murray will provide early indications of salinity increases or any other problems, such as algal blooms.

Salted water now a part of life: “All people using the waters of the River Murray should be aware of the increased potential for water quality problems and the difficulty dealing with these issues while flows remain very low. Since May there has been very little flow beyond Wellington into Lake Alexandrina. The lake level was steady over winter due to local rain and low rates of evaporation, but has now begun to gradually fall.

Between Lock 1 and Wellington OK, but to get worse: The water in the reach between Lock 1 and Wellington has been of reasonably good quality, with salinities of less than 500 EC. As water from this reach evaporates or is pumped to Adelaide and other urban centres in South Australia, it is slowly replaced with poorer quality water from upstream,” warned the River Murray System Drought Update No. 10 October 2007.

What’s ahead: Under continuing dry conditions, salinities are forecast to rise, and flows to South Australia will be aimed at maintaining the water quality within levels suitable for human consumption. In isolated areas of the lakes salinity levels may also be higher due to local groundwater inflows.

MDBC will provide further drought updates in coming months. Additional information is available at http://www.mdbc.gov.au and from the relevant Australian and State Government Agencies.

Water wizards tell Ministers how to ensure enough Murray Darling water for critical needs in 2008-09

The Murray-Darling Basin Dry Inflow Contingency Planning; Overview Report to First Ministers, September 2007 was a report in which the Senior Officials’ Group listed five principles to underpin measures (including the possibility of a reserve) to ensure there is enough water available to run the river and for critical needs in 2008-09.

Fed plan to take water from irrigators to keep in reserve for SA next year is “scandalous and unacceptable”, says Vic Premier

The Howard Government was facing a revolt from Victoria over a radical plan to take water from irrigators to keep in reserve for South Australia next year, wrote Jewel Topsfield in The Age (20/9/2007, p.6).

“Scandalous”: Premier John Brumby said the proposal was scandalous and unacceptable, particularly when Victorian irrigators were on their lowest water allocations. Under the plan, part of irrigators’ water allocations would be held back in dams in Victoria and NSW in 2007-08 to ensure there was enough water to provide dilution flows to SA in the following irrigation year. A dilution flow releases large amounts of water from dams to improve water quality where there were high levels of salinity and algae. “You’re talking about a fair bit of water here, a lot of water,” Brumby said. “I can’t understand, for the life of me, why they would want to take water from irrigators today … to put aside for what might or might not be required.”

“Outrageous”: Sunraysia Irrigators Council chair Danny Lee said the plan was outrageous because it was doubtful that many irrigators would survive the drought. Irrigators in Victoria’s Murray irrigation system have been ensured only 10 per cent of their water allocations – their lowest ever start to a season.

The Age, 20/9/2007, p. 6

Lake Eucumbene storage levels – 2000 and 2007

New TAFE Tasmania course allows graduates to control multi-billion-dollar power stations

Designed in a partnership between Hydro Tasmania and TAFE, the Electricity Supply Industry Generation Training Package (GenTech) gives trainees hands-on experience managing massive water and power flows, reported The Mercury, (25/9/2007, p.18).

Echoes of Eisenhower in new ‘security-industrial complex’: weak Western leaders fuelling paranoia

Commentators have ascribed the chaotically belligerent aftermath of 11 Sep­tember to weak Western leaders crav­ing popularity in the glamour of war, wrote Simon Jenkins in The Sydney Morning Herald (20/9/2007, p.13).

Howard and Costello throw principles of TPA “out the window” with predatory-pricing amendment

The Federal Government was of course a team effort, so while Howard was said to be the brains of the radical change to the [Trade Practices] law, it was actually done under the name of Treasurer Peter Costello who, by definition, deserved equal condemnation, wrote John Durie in The Australian (19/9/2007, p.48).

Long road to legitimacy: Ramos-Horta once labelled a terrorist by Aus and refused visa

Jose Ramos-Horta has been one of the world’s enduring political figures, noted The Sydney Morning Herald (22/9/2007, p.25).

Rainfall in SW Tas likely to increase 10pc, taking in important Hydro catchment areas; but others areas get 10-20pc less, says new CSIRO model

According to Peter Boyer, CSIRO Division of Marine and Atmospheric Research scientists have developed a variable-resolution climate model capable of providing fine resolution over a rela­tively small area like Tasmania, reported The Mercury (2/10/2007, p.17).

SA bushfire season to start one month early, 15 October in some areas

On 2 October, South Australian Emergency Services Minister, Cannel Zollo, and CFS chief officer Euan Ferguson announced the fire season would start on 15 October in some districts, reported The Advertiser (3/10/2007, p.3).

Multinational mercenaries: Iraq private-security contractors still immune from Iraqi law

Their helicopters buzzed through the Baghdad sky, their patrols bristled with the latest weaponry and their armoured vehicles carried the latest high-tech gadgets, wrote Paul Tait in The Canberra Times (22/9/2007, p.B2).

Richest 1pc of US farmers get 72pc of govt subsidies; cotton costs $US156,000 per farmer; global fishing subsidies hurt poor nations, ruin ecology

In the US, the richest 1 per cent of farmers got 72 per cent of the government payouts, and US cotton subsidies cost nearly $US4 billion, or $US156,000 a farmer, wrote Mike Moore in The Australian Financial Review (4/10/2007, p.63).

Eucalypt plantations in NSW, Vic have important role in habitat for endangered bird species, finds DPI study

Species of woodland-dependent birds whose numbers have been declining were finding new homes in plantings of eucalypts and shrubs, reported Agriculture Today (27/10/2007, p.7).

SA Murray irrigators fear zero allocations from July 2008, as Vic Premier refuses to give up extra water

South Australian River Murray irrigators feared zero water allocations from 1 July, wrote Clare Peddie in The Advertiser (2/10/2007, p.9).