Key Points
- Climate goal costings concern raised by Sussan Ley
- Julie Bishop defends herself against ANU colleague
- Pat Cummins shares insight into recovery plan ahead of Ashes
TRANSCRIPT
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Melbourne promoting the government's climate target by 2035 and the solar battery rebate scheme.
Labor rolled out its $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program in July, cutting down the cost of a typical installed battery by 30 per cent.
Mr Albanese says the strong demand for the scheme shows Australians' determination to act on climate change.
"Look Australians have been very clear. They want action on climate change. They also want to make sure that they address their living standards and cost of living. The advantage of solar panel with batteries as it is doing both. And this is why 60 thousand people since July 1 have taken up our battery rebate policy."
The federal government has set a national target to reduce emissions by 62 to 70 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035.
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Opposition leader Sussan Ley says the Coalition is worried about the climate target, as the government isn't being transparent about how much it will cost.
She cites the government's modelling on electricity bills as an example of the government's miscalculation of costs.
"We had to dig through the paperwork and somewhere in there we found that energy costs of households are going to come down by at least $1000. Well, we heard that before, we've seen this movie before. The previous set of modellings said that your electricity bill will come down by $275 instead it's gone up by $1300. 39 per cent is the increase people are experiencing right now on their energy costs."
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Australian National University Chancellor Julie Bishop has formally rejected claims she bullied an academic, as she faces ongoing pressure to resign.
A parliamentary inquiry in August was told the university's demographer, Dr Liz Allen, accused Ms Bishop of berating her, blocking her from leaving a room and laughing when the academic became distressed.
Ms Bishop has submitted a 25-page response, saying while she can address the claims, she will only do so in broad terms because the matter is subjected to a university grievance procedure.
She also suggests the committee's decision to hear Dr Allen's evidence publicly may have constituted a psychological hazard.
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Melbourne Lord Mayor, Nicholas Reece, has begun his visit to China and Japan, the same week Victorian premier Jacinta Allan launched the state's China strategy on her own visit.
Mr Reece is reportedly travelling with three councillors, including former liberal Chisholm M-P, Gladys Liu, from September 16 to 29.
The trip is reportedly focused on business, education and investment engagement, with the council paying more than 20 thousand dollars for each councillor's attendance.
Mr Reece's first stop is Chengdu.
In a video published by state-owned local media, Mr Reece says he visited the city 25 years ago as a backpacker.
"And now, as lord mayor of Melbourne, I return to this great city to see all of the accomplishment in Chengdu, but also reflect on one of the happiest moments in my personal life as well. I think there are so much opportunity for cooperation between Melbourne and Chengdu. We are both very livable city, we are both great city for innovation and education."
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An Australian ship is about to leave Hobart for its first voyage of the Antarctic summer.
RSV Nuyina will be resupplying the Davis research station, and completing a scientific and environmental management visit to Heard and Macdonald Islands in the Southern Ocean.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says the crew will be conducting analysis on their island visit to check if the H5N1 bird flu strain has reached those locations, which are home to a range of threatened species.
Environment Minister Senator Murray Watt says the voyage is also significant because it is the first major dedicated campaign to the World Heritage-listed Island in more than 20 years.
"For those who aren't aware Heard and Macdonald Islands are Antarctic islands. They're about 4000 kilometres south-west of WA (Western Australia). So that gives you some picture of how far this vessel has to travel in the next few weeks."
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To sport and in cricket, Australian team captain Pat Cummins has given an insight into his recovery from a back injury, as he flags his intention to play in all five Ashes tests.
The Ashes series begins on the 21st of November and the 32-year-old quick says he has plenty of time to prepare.
Coach Andrew McDonald has previously said he is confident Cummins will recover to play a major role at the Ashes, while Cummins admitted today it is too soon to make a definitive call.
"Obviously bowling stirs it up, maybe even a little bit of running. So, we're just trying to go basically super light. A bit of gym work and a bit of bike and that kind of stuff. But we've got plenty of time, so once we get a little bit closer I'll be doing lots of training, lots of running, lots of ice baths, lots of bowling to make sure I'm right."
