TRANSCRIPT
- Climate delegates in Dubai agree on a historic deal for a transition away from fossil fuels
- Federal and state governments announce a ban on engineered stone products from mid-2024
- Dante Exum scores a career-record with 26 points in Dallas' win over the Lakers
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A new landmark agreement has been reached by the 198 participating nations of the COP28 summit for a "transition away" from fossil fuels.
While the agreement does not enforce nations to move away from fossil fuels, it has been hailed as a significant step towards achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
Leaders of smaller nations criticised the deal for not completely phasing out the use of fossil fuels, placing the burden of climate change on them.
But COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber says this is a historic moment that will set the planet on a new trajectory.
"The world needed to find a new way. And by following our North Star, we have found that new path. We have delivered a comprehensive response to the global stocktake and all other mandates. Together, we have confronted realities and we have set the world in the right direction."
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Greenpeace Australia says it is disappointing that a more concrete action plan on the phasing out of fossil fuel emissions hasn't emerged from the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
After a marathon of negotiations, the almost 200 participating nations agreed on a final draft revealing their intent to move away from fossil fuels.
Many nations pushed for stronger wording on the draft, a move which did not come to pass.
Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Jess Panegyres has told SBS that they will continue to fight until they achieve the outcome they hope for.
"What's positive is that the world has agreed on what's needed. And that's transitioning away from fossil fuels. But what's disappointing is that there's no action plan to do this yet. So we will keep on fighting for the action that we need to keep 1.5 degrees (Celsius) alive. That's what our Pacific neighbours are asking for and that's what we need in Australia in order to avoid more catastrophic bushfires, floods and extreme heat."
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Engineered stone will be banned across the country from next year after states and territories signed off on the measure to protect workers from deadly lung diseases.
The ban will come into effect from the 1st of July, following an agreement by workplace ministers at a meeting on Wednesday.
As part of the national ban, the federal government has indicated it would put in place a compulsory customs prohibition on engineered stone being imported to Australia.
The move has been welcomed by several unions across the country, with others, such as the Public Health Association, saying more needs to be done for those who still work with silica in other contexts.
The Construction, Forestry, Maritime Employees Union's National Secretary Zach Smith has hailed the full ban on engineered stone, calling it a life-saving decision.
"Let's be clear about this. The decision that's been made by the various levels of government today will save lives. We know that as many as one in four workers that are using engineered stone, are contracting silicosis, are contracting other, life-ending dust diseases."
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Finance minister Katy Gallagher says the federal government's mid-year economic forecast is more of an update than a chance to introduce additional measures for stressed households.
The mid-year budget release has revealed a healthier bottom line, thanks to higher taxes paid by companies and individuals than first thought, as well as some wage growth.
But with real wage growth limited by inflation, groups like the Australian Council for Social Services ((ACOSS)) have expressed their disappointment that no additional measures were announced to address budget stress for low-and-middle-income earners.
Ms Gallagher told SBS News the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, or MYEFO, shows the government is on track for its May budget targets.
"Where the government can play a useful role - because we completely understand that people are doing it really tough at the moment, and that household budgets are getting really hit hard - is to make sure we're managing the budget responsibly and the decisions we take aren't adding to the inflation challenge in the economy. Because if were were to be adding to that pressure, it would have a much more serious impact on those household budgets."
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In basketball,
Dante Exum has scored a career-record with seven out of nine three-point shots, providing 26 points in the Dallas Mavericks' 127-125 win over the Los Angeles [[LA]] Lakers.
The Australian played an important part in his team victory, securing 17 of his points in the crucial final period of the match.
Dallas' Luka Doncic and LA's Lebron James tied for the most points in the game, with each scoring 33.
Exum says his improvement is a combination of the work he's done and the trust his teammates put in him.
"It started in LA. And then, a lot of teams started putting their 'five' on me. So ever since then, I've been in the gym, just working. Credit to the staff and even our players, constantly just trusting me to shoot the ball and (to) just pass it to me. But I think it was just having trusted myself, confidence to keep shooting, even if I miss my first one."
