Economy can sustain carbon price, but political motives getting in the way: Denniss
Fears that a carbon price will be detrimental to the Australian economy are unnecessary, according to a leading Australian economist. However, he believes that political rhetoric is clouding the public’s views on the carbon policy. The Australia Institute’s Executive Director, Dr Richard Denniss spoke at the Transforming Australia conference in Wollongong, and stated his belief [...]
Climate Commission hosts community forum
Having launched The Critical Decade: Illawarra/NSW South Coast Impacts report in Wollongong yesterday, the Climate Commission held a community forum at the Town Hall last night. The forum culminated the commission’s tour of the Illawarra that included a visit to the University of Wollongong, Bluescope Steel and the Transforming Australia conference. Part of a series of [...]
The highlights of Transforming Australia
As the Transforming Australia conference came to a close this evening some participants reflect on what they have learnt over the past two days and what advice they will use in the future. Some participants have learnt the role that all three governments play in the transformation process and others have focussed on issues closer [...]
Rorris: Transforming Australia conference may have a sequel
As day two of the Transforming Australia conference at the Wollongong Novotel wraps up, Green Jobs Illawarra Chairman, Arthur Rorris, reflects on the highlights of the informative seminar. “The last two days have been fantastic. We’ve had people from all over the country coming to Wollongong with their ideas and their enthusiasm and their preparedness [...]
Community Concerns Take Centre Stage
Community concerns took centre stage as the Transforming Australia conference drew to a close. Keynote speakers from the event such as Tim Flannery from The Climate Commission and Arthur Rorris, Chairman of Green Jobs Illawarra were panelists for a final discussion, where audience members could ask their environmental questions. An overwhelming question from the audience [...]
Sandon Point still a talking point
Community anger surrounding the Sandon Point development has reared its head at a lecture on creating sustainable communities. Question time during a presentation for the Transforming Australia conference turned heated when a community member asked Michael Braithwaite, Senior Development Manager of Residential Development for Stocklands about the controversial project. “I’m interested in your talk about [...]
Designing the future
Caroline Pidcock, director from Pidcock- Architecture + Sustainability talks with The Current about working with industries, the future design of communities and her vision of the Illawarra. Video by RACHAEL MICALLEF
The Current speaks with Allan Jones, MBE
The Current spoke to Allan Jones, MBE, after his presentation to the Transforming Australia conference today. The chief development officer for climate change and energy for Sydney City Council, Mr Jones outlined the city’s plans to cut carbon emissions by 70% by 2030, through a range of innovative measures including decentralised power generation, underground waste [...]
Education institutions outline green approaches to teaching
Education providers from Wollongong and Sydney have discussed ways to incorporate “green thinking” into teaching methods. The ‘Training For The Green Economy’ session at the Transforming Australia conference heard remarks from Western Sydney University’s Professor Geoff Scott, and TAFE Illawarra’s Marty Burgess, on the ways in which their separate institutions had responded, adapted and evolved [...]
CFMEU boss Tony Maher speaks with The Current
CFMEU Mining & Energy Division President Tony Maher speaks with The Current’s Jordan Glancy at the Transforming Australia conference in Wollongong.
Sydney energy expert outlines plan for city’s green future
The Transforming Australia conference has heard how Sydney City Council is planning to cut its carbon footprint, sparking ideas and innovations that can be equally applied to regional centres, like Wollongong. Allan Jones, Chief Development Officer for Climate Change and Energy for the City of Sydney, presented an exciting and innovative vision for Sydney’s energy [...]
Illawarra particularly vulnerable says Climate Commission
The Illawarra and South Coast will face more frequent bushfires, rising sea levels, increased rainfall and severe flooding according to a new report released by the Climate Commission today. The report, The Critical Decade: Illawarra/NSW South Coast Impacts, outlines the ways in which the region will be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. [...]
Chief Climate Commissioner speaks to The Current
The Chief Climate Commissioner, Professor Tim Flannery has spoken to The Current’s Robert Virtue about the environmental situation in the Illawarra and how Australia can reduce the impact of climate change through responsible action. Video by ROBERT VIRTUE
Critical decade lies ahead for the Illawarra
The Climate Commission has unveiled its report into the environmental future of the Illawarra and South Coast regions- and it shows that this decade will be crucial for reacting to environmental sustainability. Speaking at the Transforming Australia conference, the Commission’s Chief Climate Commissioner, Professor Tim Flannery said that this report shows the science behind some [...]
Flannery launches Illawarra climate change report
Chief Climate Commissioner Prof. Tim Flannery has launched the Critical Decade: Illawarra/NSW South Coast Impact report in Wollongong this morning. Prof Flannery and his fellow Climate Commissoners Will Steffen and Lesley Hughes are addressing the Tranforming Australia conference. Photograph by JORDAN GLANCY
Delegates reflect on day 1 of Transforming Australia
At the close of day 1 of the Transforming Australia, delegates were given the opportunity to network with industry professionals and speakers. MP’s Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones also reflected on how the conference will assist the region.
Council supports sustainable future
Wollongong City Council’s General Manager, David Farmer, discusses the importance of the Transforming Australia Conference and how the nation needs to adapt to the changing carbon future. Mr. Farmer talks about what his presentation will be focusing on for day two of the conference at the Wollongong Novotel tomorrow. Mr. Farmer highlights way in which [...]
Building the future
The future of Wollongong’s new sustainable buildings industry will be created by looking at its past. Refitting existing structures will be one of many targets of the new Sustainable Building Research Centre (SBRC) constructed as part of the federal government’s Education Investment Fund (EIF). Details of proposed building and the future of structural technologies emerged [...]
Winds of change blowing into town
The discussion of renewable energy was a popular topic at the Transforming Australia Conference at the Wollongong Novotel today. Two leading experts talk to The Current about the positive impacts of wind turbine energy and wave energy. Both technologies are relatively new and offer extreme benefits for regions looking for alternatives to their current energy [...]
David Farmer and Sharon Bird welcome delegates to Wollongong
Transforming Australia conference delegates were officially welcomed to Wollongong this evening, with a lavish reception in the Novotel ballroom. Emceed by Green Jobs Illawarra chairman Arthur Rorris, delegates were welcomed to the region and to the conference by Wollongong Council general manager David Farmer, and federal member for Cunningham, Sharon Bird. The reception allowed attendees [...]
ACTU welcomes carbon response
ACTU President Ged Kearney told The Current that while they still had concerns over elements of the proposed carbon tax, overall they were pleased with the response. Video by RACHAEL MICALLEF
Sustainable resource management an option for business
The Illawarra region is being presented with new opportunities and ideas about how to maximise ecological sustainability in business, and reduce its negative environmental impact. Speaking at the Transforming Australia conference in Wollongong, delegates from environmental agencies advocated the benefits of moving into a sustainable resource management model for business. Sharon Makin, Chair of the [...]
Dreyfus spruiks carbon tax benefits for Illawarra industry
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus has told the Transforming Australia conference the Illawarra is better placed than most regions when it comes to reaping potential benefits of the proposed carbon tax. Speaking at the “jobs, industry and the green economy” session, Mr Dreyfus assured conference delegates that Illawarra coal, steel [...]
ClimateWorks present real solutions to reducing emissions
ClimateWorks Australia Executive Director, Anna Skarbek presented an award-winning Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia, to delegates at the Transforming Australia conference. Ms Skarbec says the plan, which was awarded the Eureka Prize for ‘Innovative Solutions to Climate Change’ in 2010, outlines the least cost ways we can reduce our emissions using existing technology. “The [...]
