Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes Australia’s opposition campaigning against the Indigenous recognition vote, PM Albanese confirming he is yet to receive an invitation to visit China, and Egypt and Australia increasing economic ties. Also in the news is Australia completed the construction of its biggest solar farm, and Australia’s transition to clean transport is being heavily undermined by dirty diesel utes.
Nation
PM Albanese has yet to receive an invitation to visit China
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would accept an invitation to visit China but has yet to receive one, WKZO has reported. Earlier, South China Morning Post reported that Beijing had issued an “in principle” invitation to Mr Albanese and his trade minister Don Farrell to visit China. The visit would likely take place in October or November, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first visit by an Australian prime minister. China has begun easing trade barriers on Australian imports, including coal, as both countries inch towards economic rapprochement more than two years after China first restricted trade in several commodities following spats over investment, trade and the origins of COVID.
https://wkzo.com/2023/04/04/australia-pm-albanese-says-has-not-received-invitation-for-china-visit/
Politics
Opposition to campaign vs. Indigenous recognition vote
Australia’s main opposition Liberal party said it would campaign against a national vote to enshrine an Indigenous consultative body in the constitution, Reuters reported. Opposition leader Peter Dutton said while the party supports recognition of Indigenous people in the constitution, it would not back the referendum because it did not support a constitutionally enshrined consultative body. “Having a Canberra Voice won’t resolve the issues on the ground for Indigenous communities,” Mr Dutton said.
Economy
Egypt and Australia to increase economic ties
Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir held a meeting with Australian Ambassador to Egypt Axel Wabenhorst on Sunday to discuss ways to strengthen economic relations between the two countries. They discussed developments in the global economic situation and issues of common interest. Samir highlighted the keenness of the two sides to intensify joint efforts to increase intra-trade rates between Egypt and Australia, and added that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached approximately $703 million in 2022, Fresh Plaza reported.
Business
Australia completes construction of its biggest solar farm
Construction has now finished on what is—at least for the moment—Australia’s biggest operating solar farm, the 400MW Western Downs project owned by Neoen in Queensland, Renew Economy has reported. The solar farm forms part of the Western Downs Green Power Hub that will also include a 200MW/400MWh big battery. The project is the biggest in Australia, although it will soon be joined by the 400MW New England solar farm being built in NSW by Acen Renewables. That project has a planned second stage that will take the total capacity to 720MW.
Health
Dirty utes are creating emissions and a health crisis
The Driven reported that emissions from light commercial vehicles, including utes, have jumped by around 20 per cent in the past decade and new ute sales have risen from 16 per cent of all new car sales in 2012, to 21 per cent in the 12 months to October 2022 (over 217,000 utes). A new report titled “Ute Beauty” from the Climate Council said that Australia’s transition to clean transport is being heavily undermined by our obsession with dirty diesel utes. “People should be encouraged to go electric even if that means the vehicle isn’t a ute,” the Climate Council said.
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