Michael Mazengarb

Jordan Baker appointed editor of the Herald as Bevan Shields steps down Baker, the chief reporter for the Herald, will start in the new role in 2026.

Bevan Shields gone from the SMH
www.smh.com.au/business/com...

The judge happens to have a "very close" friend who works for Santos.

Also her associate (clerk) was secondeed to Santos in prior work.

I wrote about the Munkara case for The Saturday Paper here: www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environ...)

The Judge who oversaw the Munkara v Santos case (which evolved into an instance of a SLAPP action) has agreed to recuse herself from a subsequent case involving Santos on the basis of apprehended bias.
www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Ju...

Pitching a version of Antiques Roadshow, but it’s for the bottles of wine that have accumulated in the back of our cupboard.

Or just obliterate them, that works too.

200-odd runs in three-and-a-bit days should be very doable.

Anti-Bazball this thing. #Ashes

CLASSIC CATCH #Ashes

David Astle: The crossword king who tortures Herald readers David Astle writes the notorious cryptic crossword which appears, reliable as an alarm, every Friday in The Sydney Morning Herald.

omg lmao
www.smh.com.au/opinion/davi...

Do I want to delve into the world of crossword authors?

jfc, when I drove to the supermarket, England was 5-down.

Driving home from the supermarket and it’s Labuschagne and Smith batting.

What’s the go with the sydney morning herald crossword using the clue ‘strange’ a eight times in today’s edition?

Turkey Beats Australia in Race to Host UN Climate Talks in 2026 Turkey is set to host the flagship United Nations climate change conference next year, beating a rival proposal from Australia following a protracted contest between the two countries.

It is deeply disappointing if Australia has missed out on COP31.

It is a missed opportunity to shine a spotlight on a major fossil fuel producer.

And it will see the Pacific region - some of the most vulnerable countries to climate impacts - yet again sidelined.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

'The cost of science has gone up': CSIRO chief defends job cuts The chief executive of the CSIRO has defended the decision to cut hundreds of jobs, arguing the organisation needs to alter its priorities to remain relevant.

You would hope that in an age of accelerating technology and environmental risks, that a government that can somehow find hundreds of billions to send on submarines, could meet this challenge by upping the funding for science, rather than firing the scientists.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Rude shock for Australia as South Korea unshackles from coal reliance In a move that has been welcomed by climate campaigners, South Korea has vowed to phase out coal, sparking a warning for Australian exporters.

Every time someone claims that if Australia didn’t export its coal and gas, other countries will just buy it elsewhere, just tap the sign:
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

In its own words, the CSIRO says "CSIRO is now facing long-term financial sustainability challenges, with funding not keeping pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency"

FYI, the science minister is Tim Ayres, and his email address is senator.ayres@aph.gov.au

CSIRO to slash hundreds of jobs in cost-saving drive The staff association at the nation’s leading scientific research organisation says the latest round of cuts marks “a sad day for publicly funded science”.

That's more than 1,100 jobs lost at the CSIRO over the last two years.

"Combined, the staff association estimates that equates to cutting the agency’s size by a third."

This is more cuts to the CSIRO than was attempted by the Abbott government.

www.smh.com.au/national/csi...

Very strong 2009 climate policy vibes today, but I still very much feel 16 years older.

Wait, apologies, it sounds like nuclear is still on the table according to Dan Tehan.

Screencap of the Guardian website featuring three headlines: Sussan Ley says net zero 'would be welcome', but Liberals won't pursue it. News Corp Australia chair says outlets not part of climate crisis 'denial machine'. World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature risk as fossil fuel emissions hit record high.

The climate-denying binferno that is Australian politics and media right now:

So, it's no emissions reduction targets, and more coal and more gas without the pretense of trying to reach net zero with nuclear.

Probably the most honest policy position the Coalition has had since the Abbott government.

According to Sussan Ley, the Albanese government is simultaneously not cutting emissions fast enough and also cutting emissions too quickly.

Summary of Sussan Ley:
- The Liberals won't have a target of net zero for 2050
- Liberals will repeal the net zero target in legislation
- Liberals will also repeal the 43% by 2030 target

Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels rise in 2025 The Global Carbon Budget is produced by leading international research organisations as part of the Global Carbon Project. It provides an overview of the global carbon budget, including both natural a...

Global emissions from fossil fuels will grow 1.1 per cent in 2025.

"For a 50 per cent likelihood to limit warming below 1.5°C, the remaining budget is 170 billion tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to four years at the 2025 emissions levels."
www.csiro.au/en/news/All/...

The Coalition really read the National Climate Risk Assessment, and its warnings of increased heat deaths, bushfires, drought and sea-level inundation and were like 'sounds good to us'.

Yet another derpy day in Australian climate policy...

Supply boom in cheaper renewables will seal end of fossil fuel era, says IEA Watchdog’s flagship report says rise in low-carbon electricity will make transition ‘inevitable’, despite Trump’s calls to carry on drilling

Important context as one of Australia's major political parties readies to abandon its commitment to net zero emissions.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Remember when they said the Climate Wars were over?

Headline in the Sydney Morning Herald “Third of voters want net zero gone as Coalition meets to decide position” by James Massola

Poll results which show between 54% of Australians supporting a net zero target. 31% say it should be abandoned.

The third option in the poll is worded “Australia should abandon the target, but still take action on emissions where it is affordable”.

Badly worded poll published by the SMH, which implies that it’s more costly overall/less affordable to reach net zero. Verging on a push poll.

Despite this, a majority of Australians still support net zero.