Zedlines: 14 April 2009

The Northern Territory Government says it wants to trial the hunting of 25 animals over the next five years, acting on its proposed five-year saltwater crocodile management program.

Environment Minister Alison Anderson said to The Australian that the plan was not intended as a measure to control crocodile numbers, but to foster indigenous employment and enterprise.

Although animal welfare groups have condemned the plan, some Aborigines, professional hunting groups and pastoralists strongly support it.

Out of the groups that support it, some have criticized the quota of 25 animals over five years, saying it’s much too low to generate any genuine business for anyone.


Prime Minister Rudd opened the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute in Canberra this morning.

The Rudd Government has begun a $100 bn research effort to prove that 'clean-coal' technology works in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

80 per cent of Australia's energy is conducted using coal, so the interest in proving clean coal technology is environmentally and economically viable is huge.


Simultaneous press conferences have been held across seven African countries to warn that millions of people in Darfur face death and disease, if aid agencies remain frozen out of Sudan.

African NGOs and Amnesty International joined forces to call on the Sudanese Government to allow agencies to work freely in the country.

13 international and three national aid agencies were shut down on March 4 by the government of Sudan, in retaliation to the arrest warrant out on President Omar Al Beshir.


A $1 billion deal to allow a gas mine to set up at James Price Point north of Broome was settled yesterday, by Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.

Mr Barnett says the deal with traditional land owners will provide unprecedented opportunities in housing, health and education, while providing thousands of jobs to Australians.

Opposition group Save the Kimberley has been fighting to save the pristine environment from the heavy industrialisation they say will occur when the gas plant goes ahead.

They say the area is the last remaining untouched wilderness areas and are fighting to let it remain that way.


An inquiry into the Federal government's greenhouse emissions targets has found them “weak and inadequate”.

The Australian Greens and Opposition established the Senate Select Committee on Climate Policy, which has received over 13,000 submissions from a deeply concerned public demanding stronger action on climate change.

Scientists told the inquiry panel yesterday Australia's emissions need to be 25 to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 to prevent climate catastrophes.


Fines will be introduced to prevent developers and others from damaging Aboriginal artefacts who claim they were unaware they were committing an offence.

The Government will introduce fines of up to $1.1 million and a "strict liability" offence due to a decision made in cabinet this week.

The proposals were made by the Environment Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, after the Sydney Morning Herald earlier this month revealed a lack of action under laws which were supposed to protect items and places of Aboriginal heritage.


49 Afghani asylum seekers are headed for Christmas Island, after their boat was intercepted off the north-western Australian coast yesterday.

The boat arrived as Federal Ministers for Immigration, Foreign and Home Affairs, attended a forum in Bali to discuss ways of combating human trafficking and people smuggling in the region.

In the past year, 428 asylum seekers have reached Australia's northern waters.


A Qantas flight was forced to ground this week when four baby pythons went missing from the cargo.

When the staff who were flying from Alice Springs to Melbourne on Tuesday realised the snakes had escaped from their cage, the aircraft was taken out of service and fumigated, causing delays for passengers.

At this point, two days later, the snakes remain missing.

Reported by Sophie, Isabel, Danielle and Ez
Blogged by Ellie