Australian Politics
Thursday, May 04, 2023
'Father' of Inland Rail calls for project to end in Toowoomba amid cost blowouts
The whole thing is a vast boondoggle. There appears to have been no comprehensive cost-benefit study of the idea. Judging by the similar Adelaide to Darwin link, it will remain largely unused and will not even cover the cost of its maintenance.
Rail is yesterday's idea. Only the huge output of mines needs it. Road transport is usually so much more convenient that rail will very rarely supplant it. Better roads are what is really needed
As the federal government seeks to rein in the multi-billion-dollar cost blowouts from the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project, some are asking: Will it ever be completed?
The man who is sometimes described as the "father" of the Inland Rail, Everald Compton, believes the government should cut its losses and finish the line at Toowoomba, 100km short of its original destination.
"It will never get to Brisbane — I reckon hell will freeze over quicker than this railway gets to Brisbane," the retired corporate fundraiser told ABC's 7.30. "The cost of getting down the Toowoomba range is extortionate."
An independent review of the Inland Rail has already recommended the line finish earlier in Queensland than originally planned.
Review author Kerry Schott said the double-stacked freight line should finish at a locality called Ebenezer, about 50 kilometres west of Brisbane, with connections to the Brisbane port through road and single-stack freight networks.
The freight and logistics industry has accepted this.
"It's understandable, because of urban encroachment, because of the cost of building new rail through existing urban areas," says Hermione Parsons from the Australian Logistics Council.
But the council warns against cutting out any more sections, saying it is important to get rail freight as close to the port as possible.
"The Port of Brisbane serves a very large hinterland – Queensland, parts of the Northern Territory, parts of northern New South Wales," Dr Parsons said.
"And that port is an important part of Queensland's resilience."
The proposed Ebenezer terminal was not part of the original plan for the Inland Rail, and it's still in the very early stage of planning.
"A preliminary evaluation for an intermodal terminal has been completed," a spokesman for the Queensland Transport Department told 7.30.
"We are working across government and with our federal colleagues towards the completion of the business case."
Liberal Party MP Garth Hamilton says this will inevitably mean further delays for a project already years behind schedule.
"Every day that we're delaying, if we go through more reviews, we're going to see more cost blowouts," the member for the federal seat of Groom said. "There is no way that Ebenezer stands up.
"I'm calling for a pause here – I'm calling for a pause at Toowoomba while this is worked out."
Progress in Queensland 'behind the eight ball'
The Australian Logistics Council says the Queensland government should become more actively involved in the debate.
"I'd be worried if I was the Queensland government about the staging of the Inland Rail project from Melbourne all the way up to Brisbane as the last leg, because that means the freight only has one way to go, which is south," Dr Parsons said.
"The Queensland government needs to be working on this and it's a bit behind the eight ball."
ABC's 7.30 sought comment from Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey. His department provided a written statement saying: "The state government is reviewing the Inland Rail's recommendations."
The project proponent, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), originally proposed to finish construction of all four Queensland sections of the Inland Rail by 2025. However, it has yet to complete any of its Queensland environmental assessments. "There has been lengthy delays in his process, particularly in Queensland," the independent review found.
"[This was] caused in part by immature design and poor environmental impact statements that need numerous changes and resubmissions."
The Australian Logistics Council says the fundamental problem was that construction started on the whole project before the endpoint was decided, but it is pleased the Albanese government remains committed to finishing the project.
"This project potentially takes 200,000 trucks a year out of the equation of freight transport — that's important — [and] 750,000 tonnes of carbon reduction," Dr Parsons said.
"We need rail; our country lags behind terribly in terms of rail investment, yet it is an incredibly important mode and we don't have enough of it."
Everald Compton's original vision back in the 1990s was for the line to continue north to the central Queensland Port of Gladstone — and he's still a keen advocate for this future extension.
"We've simply got to say let's get rid of the nonsense, let's do some nation-building," he said.
But Dr Parsons is more cautious. "That's an extra. We need to get back to the fundamentals of the intercity rail link between Melbourne and Brisbane."
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Northern Territory clears way for fracking to begin in Beetaloo Basin
The Northern Territory government says it is satisfied the recommendations of an independent inquiry into fracking have been met, clearing the way for gas production and the expansion of wells across the Beetaloo basin.
The NT chief minister, Natasha Fyles, announced Wednesday morning her government was giving a green light for gas production in the region between Katherine and Tennant Creek, a move environment organisations and scientists have warned will have an unacceptable impact on the climate.
Wednesday’s announcement means gas companies can apply for production licences and environmental impact assessments.
“Along with our world class renewable resources, our highly prospective onshore gas resources will support the energy transition to renewables not only for the Northern Territory, but for Australia and the world,” Fyles said.
The territory’s deputy chief minister, Nicole Manison, said “we want nations to be able to decarbonise the economy in a safe and sustainable way and gas will be that important fuel of transition, the onshore gas industry will also be good for the territory’s economy.”
Companies will still need to make financial decisions about whether to proceed, but if the Beetaloo did reach full production it could see thousands of wells across the landscape.
Analysis by Reputex in 2021 estimated a high production scenario in the Beetaloo could lead to an additional 1.4 billion tonnes of life cycle emissions - which includes emissions from when the gas is sold and used - over 20 years.
On Wednesday, 96 scientists published an open letter calling for the Northern Territory government to ban unconventional gas projects because of their effects on the climate.
The International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have said no new coal and gas projects can proceed if the world is to limit global heating to 1.5C.
“This is a profoundly sad day for the Northern Territory. As we look down the barrel of unliveability here in the Northern Territory due to climate change, the Chief Minister has today given the green light for a carbon bomb that will hurtle us towards climate collapse,” Kirsty Howey, the executive director of the Environment Centre NT, said.
Environmental groups said that despite the government’s announcement, several of the 135 recommendations from the Pepper inquiry in 2018 had not been fulfilled, which Howey said was a broken promise to Territorians and an “unacceptable capitulation” to the gas industry.
They include an expansion of the water trigger, which the Albanese government has proposed but not yet made law, comprehensive assessment of likely cultural impacts of fracking on First Nations people and cultural rights, and provision of “reliable, accessible, trusted and accurate” to Aboriginal people about fracking.
They said recommendation 9.8 – which requires the NT and federal governments to ensure there will be no net increase in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in Australia from gas projects in the Beetaloo – had also not been met.
Traditional owner and chair of the Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation Johnny Wilson said “the government has broken its promise to us that it would implement all recommendations of the Pepper Inquiry before fracking starts”.
“Fracking companies are still not listening to the wishes of Traditional Owners who do not want thousands of flaring wells that will destroy our country,” he said.
Lock the Gate Alliance National Coordinator Carmel Flint urged the Albanese government to meet commitments on water and climate and “step in and stop the NT government jumping the gun with a dangerous rush to fracking”.
Flint said while an expansion of the water trigger to all forms of unconventional gas had been promised it was not yet law, with reforms to Australia’s environmental laws still to be drafted.
She said the issue of how to implement greenhouse gas controls in the Beetaloo had also only been referred to Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council a month ago.
Changes to the safeguard mechanism that passed the federal parliament last month require scope 1 – direct onsite emissions – for Beetaloo projects to be net zero.
Environment groups said this did not address all of recommendation 9.8 which requires that domestic scope 2 – the energy used by gas companies - and scope 3 emissions – when the gas is sold and burnt – also be net zero.
Fyles disagreed on Wednesday that 9.8 had not been met, telling a media conference “we have absolutely met the recommendation”. She later said she acknowledged work needed to be done with the Commonwealth government on scope 2 and 3 emissions.
A spokesperson for the environment and water minister Tanya Plibersek said expanding the water trigger was part of the government’s environment reforms and draft legislation would be released for consultation later this year.
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Why you should ALWAYS ask for a physical menu: FBI warns hackers are planting fake QR CODES in restaurants that steal your data when you click the link
Another reason for insisting on placing your order verbally with a person. I always do and have yet to be refused
QR codes have become the new default for accessing restaurant menus across the US post-Covid — but scammers are seizing upon the new practice.
The FBI warns thieves are creating fake QR codes and planting them at eateries, retail shops and even parking meters.
Instead of taking you to an online menu or checkout, the links instantly download malware onto your device, stealing your location and personal information
The FBI has urged consumers to look out for typos or misplaced letters in URLs accessed through QR codes and ask restaurants for a physical menu.
QR, which stands for 'quick response', codes are machine-readable codes made up of black and white squares that store URLs, payment options and other online services accessed by a smartphone camera.
They have been around since 1994 but made a huge comeback during the COVID pandemic to cater to the contactless society.
The FBI first sounded the alarm on QR scams in January 2022, but more reports are flowing in of people being duped by fake barcodes.
In total, 566,318 location details collected by the NSW Customer Services Department through its QR code system were made public through a government website.
A report from Marcum, a New York-based accounting and advisory service, shows that QR code scams are among the top five cybersecurity threats observed in April.
The group highlights scammers are using fake codes to carry out phishing scams in emails and social media messages.
'Scammers might also approach you through an online marketplace claiming they are trying to purchase goods that you are selling and ask you to scan a QR code,' according to Marcum.
'Avoid making payments from a website accessed via a QR code. To make the payment, manually input a recognized and trustworthy website.'
Another area seeing fake QR codes is in the cryptocurrency industry. 'Crypto transactions are often made through QR codes associated with crypto accounts… making these transactions easy marks,' according to a press release from the FBI.
'If you happen to scan a scammer’s bad code, you could end up giving him access to your device. 'He can access your contacts, download malware, or send you to a fake payment portal.
'Once there, you can inadvertently give him access to your banking and credit card accounts. If you make a payment through a bad QR code, it’s difficult if not impossible to get those funds back.'
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‘Rushed’ curriculum reforms axed, teachers told to focus on English, maths
The NSW government will delay the rollout of almost 30 syllabi in an effort to give school teachers more time to concentrate on sweeping changes to the English and maths curriculum.
An overhaul to the English and maths syllabuses for years 3 to 10 will be implemented across all schools from next year, but planned changes to multiple subjects – including commerce, music, Aboriginal studies and technologies – will be shelved to allow teachers to focus on “core learning”.
“Instead of an unworkable release of dozens of syllabuses per term this year, I’ve asked the NSW Education Standards Authority to lead with those that are core to improving learning outcomes for students,” said NSW Education Minister Prue Car.
Car said teachers – and student outcomes – were forgotten when the previous timeline was set, placing a heavy burden on them when schools were dealing with crippling staff shortages.
Plans to release 26 draft syllabuses for review this term have been scrapped, while consultation for the new years 11 and 12 history, English and maths syllabuses will be delayed to term
The revamped schedule means all new syllabi will be delivered to teachers by the end of 2027, bringing it closer in line with the 10-year timeframe outlined in the NSW Curriculum Review led by Geoff Masters in 2019.
The review – the biggest shake-up to the state curriculum in 30 years – aimed to halt an alarming two-decade slump in Australian students’ results in international tests.
The English syllabus changes will see an overhaul to the way high school students are taught grammar, punctuation and sentence structure following a decade-long decline in writing standards that has left students missing critical literacy skills. Grammar will be taught in a more prescriptive way to help students write clear sentences and express complex ideas.
A new maths syllabus will intensify focus on sequencing and reasoning skills and a core subject structure in early high school to better equip students for senior years’ calculus courses.
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Also see my other blogs. Main ones below:
http://dissectleft.blogspot.com (DISSECTING LEFTISM -- daily)
http://antigreen.blogspot.com (GREENIE WATCH)
http://pcwatch.blogspot.com (POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH)
http://edwatch.blogspot.com (EDUCATION WATCH)
http://snorphty.blogspot.com/ (TONGUE-TIED)
http://jonjayray.com/blogall.html More blogs
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