Concern about the climate crisis was the No 1 issue that prompted Australians to switch their vote to an independent candidate at this year’s federal election, according to in-depth social research.
Dozens of the nation’s top emergency chiefs, who spoke out in the wake of the devastating bushfires two years ago, have now criticised the Morrison government’s “fumbling” response to the floods disaster.
A re-elected Coalition would pour $1bn into Great Barrier Reef conservation projects over the next decade, the government says, just months after campaigning to prevent the reef being listed as “in danger” by the world heritage committee.
Australia's National party has exited a marathon meeting where they discussed the Morrison government's climate policy without coming to an agreement – with discussions to continue into the parliamentary sitting week.
A senior UN official has warned the climate crisis will "wreak havoc" across the Australian economy if coal is not rapidly phased out, and joined those explicitly calling for the Morrison government to adopt more ambitious emissions reduction goals.
Claims by the Morrison government that Australia has done more to cut greenhouse gas emissions than other countries have been challenged by an analysis that found it has gone backwards compared to similar countries over the past 15 years.
The Morrison government is under increasing pressure to act on the climate crisis, with a new poll showing seven in 10 Australians want the Coalition to lock in stronger commitments in the lead-up to this year's Glasgow summit.
