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Weaving a new beginning in Launceston
Posted February 29, 2008 10:03:00
Map: Launceston 7250
Launceston's James Nelson weaving mill re-opens today, with the former management and workers now owning the business.
Contracts for the buyout were only finalised yesterday.
40 workers lost their jobs just before Christmas when the mill's Victorian owners of 25 years wanted to retire.
24 of them return today, many as shareholders after investing their payout entitlements.
The State Government chipped in $250,000 to help secure the buyout.
James Nelson's former manager and major shareholder, Wendy Langridge, says the future is bright with plenty of domestic orders for curtain and upholstery fabrics, as well as two or three potential overseas buyers.
"These are just still in the initial stages but we do hope that something will come of those," she said.
Ms Langridge says the workforce should increase as the business builds.
"Very exciting, although it's been a long and arduous journey, we're really looking forward to everything ahead with great enthusiasm," she said.
"The staff have been very supportive and have stuck with us the whole way through which is really good.
That gives us a great confidence.
"And they would have to be one of the best workforces around."
Friday, February 29, 2008
Long Beach snubs Teamsters, drops LA to start its own clean truck plan
INSTEAD adopting the union-backed clean truck plan with Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach is taking its own course that refuses to ban owner-operator truckers from docks as demanded by the Teamsters' union.
The Long Beach scheme does include licensing requirements demanded by the Teamsters union, the Los Angeles mayor and his appointed port commissioners, which would have banned owner-operators from the waterfront.
In December, LA and Long Beach agreed to the first part of the truck scheme, reported American Shipper - a gradual plan over the years that would ban pre-1989 trucks on October 1 and by January, 2012, banning pre-2007 trucks unless upgraded to 2007 standards.
The American Trucking Association praised the Long Beach decision and said it would sue the ports if they enacted the employee-only waterfront admission rule.
The Long Beach scheme does include licensing requirements demanded by the Teamsters union, the Los Angeles mayor and his appointed port commissioners, which would have banned owner-operators from the waterfront.
In December, LA and Long Beach agreed to the first part of the truck scheme, reported American Shipper - a gradual plan over the years that would ban pre-1989 trucks on October 1 and by January, 2012, banning pre-2007 trucks unless upgraded to 2007 standards.
The American Trucking Association praised the Long Beach decision and said it would sue the ports if they enacted the employee-only waterfront admission rule.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Aus $ hurts exporters
Some Tasmanian exporters are feeling the pinch from a strengthening Australian dollar.
The dollar reached a 24 year high of US$0.94 in New York trade overnight.
Tasmanian live seafood exporter, Adrian Cuthbertson, has told ABC Local Radio he has recently taken three cancellations.
The dollar reached a 24 year high of US$0.94 in New York trade overnight.
Tasmanian live seafood exporter, Adrian Cuthbertson, has told ABC Local Radio he has recently taken three cancellations.
"Today for example we had 170 cartons of product going and it's been cut back to 70," he said.
"And whilst they don't say openly you can pretty much bet that the market's slowed because of the exchange rate."
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
New owners of Tasman Farms
Report: Eliza Wood
A New Zealand council has paid almost $48 million for a group of dairy farms in north-west Tasmania.The New Plymouth District Council now has a 74 per cent stake in Tasman Farms Limited, which owns Van Diemen's Land Company, a Royal Charter company founded in 1825.Tasman Farms general manager Colin Glass says while the settlement only came through yesterday, major changes to the twenty-three dairy farms and one beef and sheep farm are unlikely."We're going through a process, a transition process from the old boards of both Tasman Farms and the Van Diemen's Land Company to the new boards and those changes will unfold over the next week or so. So what changes and strategy emanate from that really do remain to be seen. But by and large it is business as usual for the operations in Tasmania," he said.
In this report: Colin Glass, general manager Tasman Farms
A New Zealand council has paid almost $48 million for a group of dairy farms in north-west Tasmania.The New Plymouth District Council now has a 74 per cent stake in Tasman Farms Limited, which owns Van Diemen's Land Company, a Royal Charter company founded in 1825.Tasman Farms general manager Colin Glass says while the settlement only came through yesterday, major changes to the twenty-three dairy farms and one beef and sheep farm are unlikely."We're going through a process, a transition process from the old boards of both Tasman Farms and the Van Diemen's Land Company to the new boards and those changes will unfold over the next week or so. So what changes and strategy emanate from that really do remain to be seen. But by and large it is business as usual for the operations in Tasmania," he said.
In this report: Colin Glass, general manager Tasman Farms
Eddington to fix infrastructure logjams
Adele Ferguson February 27, 2008
ROD Eddington, the former head of British Airways and Ansett, will have a key say in Australia's economic future after Kevin Rudd put him in charge of overseeing up to $200 billion worth of projects designed to end the nation's infrastructure nightmare.
Sir Rod, the Prime Minister's top business adviser, was yesterday named chairman of Infrastructure Australia, the new body that will have the power to override state governments and withhold commonwealth funding to ensure priority is given to infrastructure projects it considers most important.
IA has been charged with compiling an infrastructure priority list within 12 months, and will determine which major projects will be publicly and privately funded.
Speaking at an industry gathering in Sydney yesterday, Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese stressed the importance of fixing the problems of the nation's roads, railways and ports. He said backlogs were costing up to 0.8per cent of GDP in lost production - about $8 billion a year - and that $30 billion to $35 billion worth of investment was required in the nation's energy sector by 2020.
Mr Albanese said the new body would complete a priority list within 12 months, and would present it to the Council of Australian Governments by March next year.
The Australian understands two of the first projects on the priority list will be the completion of a four-lane motorway linking Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and a $5billion-plus Melbourne east-west transport link.
Sir Rod is already working on a project commissioned by the Victorian Government to develop a list of options for the east-west link.
Mr Rudd has set specific goals of meeting water and energy needs, saving time for commuters battling traffic congestion in the major cities, and efficiently moving freight from regional areas to ports, as well as meeting the challenge of climate change.
Mr Albanese will announce the other 11 members of the IA board when the enabling legislation goes through the Senate on March 20. The other board members will include four other private sector representatives, as well as representatives of the state and federal governments.
Perth-born Sir Rod is considered one of Australia's most respected businessmen. He was awarded a knighthood in 2005 for services to civil aviation after spending five years as chief executive of British Airways. He was also chief executive of Ansett, leaving one year before the airline's collapse, and of Cathay Pacific.
He is a director of News Corporation (owner of The Australian), mining giant Rio Tinto and investment bank JPMorgan's Australian arm. He also chairs Victoria's Major Events organisation and heads the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Council.
His reputation has been dented this year by his role as a director of Allco Finance Group, which is struggling to survive under a mountain of debt. Some of Allco's troubles stem from its infrastructure investments. He will take on the paid role of IA chair on a part-time basis. Mr Albanese said he was pleased to have someone of Sir Rod's calibre as chair. "He will bring strong leadership and formidable experience to the role, with a career in domestic and international transport and aviation stretching almost three decades." Mark Birrell, chairman of lobby group Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, said Sir Rod's appointment was an excellent choice. "He's uniquely experienced, wise and approachable, so you couldn't have a more valuable appointment," Mr Birrell said. "Sir Rod was commissioned by the British Government to undertake a landmark study into the United Kingdom's transport networks and the link between transport infrastructure and national productivity." The new position will wield enormous power as it will entail responsibility for prioritising a list of infrastructure projects, which The Australian estimates at more than $200 billion. IA will then monitor the progress of investments and report back to COAG - a process aimed at stamping out the misuse of government grants. Mr Albanese said he believed the new structure would "considerably increase private sector investment in infrastructure" by providing a steady stream of investment opportunities and standardising tendering and planning processes across the country. "Currently, there is no pipeline of projects steadily on offer to potential investors - a deficiency Infrastructure Australia will address," he said.
ROD Eddington, the former head of British Airways and Ansett, will have a key say in Australia's economic future after Kevin Rudd put him in charge of overseeing up to $200 billion worth of projects designed to end the nation's infrastructure nightmare.
Sir Rod, the Prime Minister's top business adviser, was yesterday named chairman of Infrastructure Australia, the new body that will have the power to override state governments and withhold commonwealth funding to ensure priority is given to infrastructure projects it considers most important.
IA has been charged with compiling an infrastructure priority list within 12 months, and will determine which major projects will be publicly and privately funded.
Speaking at an industry gathering in Sydney yesterday, Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese stressed the importance of fixing the problems of the nation's roads, railways and ports. He said backlogs were costing up to 0.8per cent of GDP in lost production - about $8 billion a year - and that $30 billion to $35 billion worth of investment was required in the nation's energy sector by 2020.
Mr Albanese said the new body would complete a priority list within 12 months, and would present it to the Council of Australian Governments by March next year.
The Australian understands two of the first projects on the priority list will be the completion of a four-lane motorway linking Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and a $5billion-plus Melbourne east-west transport link.
Sir Rod is already working on a project commissioned by the Victorian Government to develop a list of options for the east-west link.
Mr Rudd has set specific goals of meeting water and energy needs, saving time for commuters battling traffic congestion in the major cities, and efficiently moving freight from regional areas to ports, as well as meeting the challenge of climate change.
Mr Albanese will announce the other 11 members of the IA board when the enabling legislation goes through the Senate on March 20. The other board members will include four other private sector representatives, as well as representatives of the state and federal governments.
Perth-born Sir Rod is considered one of Australia's most respected businessmen. He was awarded a knighthood in 2005 for services to civil aviation after spending five years as chief executive of British Airways. He was also chief executive of Ansett, leaving one year before the airline's collapse, and of Cathay Pacific.
He is a director of News Corporation (owner of The Australian), mining giant Rio Tinto and investment bank JPMorgan's Australian arm. He also chairs Victoria's Major Events organisation and heads the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Council.
His reputation has been dented this year by his role as a director of Allco Finance Group, which is struggling to survive under a mountain of debt. Some of Allco's troubles stem from its infrastructure investments. He will take on the paid role of IA chair on a part-time basis. Mr Albanese said he was pleased to have someone of Sir Rod's calibre as chair. "He will bring strong leadership and formidable experience to the role, with a career in domestic and international transport and aviation stretching almost three decades." Mark Birrell, chairman of lobby group Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, said Sir Rod's appointment was an excellent choice. "He's uniquely experienced, wise and approachable, so you couldn't have a more valuable appointment," Mr Birrell said. "Sir Rod was commissioned by the British Government to undertake a landmark study into the United Kingdom's transport networks and the link between transport infrastructure and national productivity." The new position will wield enormous power as it will entail responsibility for prioritising a list of infrastructure projects, which The Australian estimates at more than $200 billion. IA will then monitor the progress of investments and report back to COAG - a process aimed at stamping out the misuse of government grants. Mr Albanese said he believed the new structure would "considerably increase private sector investment in infrastructure" by providing a steady stream of investment opportunities and standardising tendering and planning processes across the country. "Currently, there is no pipeline of projects steadily on offer to potential investors - a deficiency Infrastructure Australia will address," he said.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
North east wind farm will be built
Report: Anna Vidot
Roaring 40s has confirmed that it will build a 140 megawatt wind farm in the north east.The company mothballed their Musselroe project in 2006, citing the former federal government's lack of support for renewable energy targets.Now, Roaring 40s managing director Mark Kelleher says the election of the Rudd Government means the $350 million project is back on."Following the election outcome last year, as part of that the Rudd Government's policy was bring in a 20 per cent renewable energy requirement by 2020."This is a fantastic initiative that puts Australia back up in the front of the pack internationally with their support for clean energy and addressing climate change and this policy now pretty much assures that Musselroe will be able to proceed," he says.And Mr Kelleher says the local community is right behind the project."We've been very pleased and appreciative of how strongly Tasmanians are supporting wind farm developments. ... We've received absolutely fantastic support from the local community up where Musselroe wind farm will be built," he says."In Tasmania, I think people have seen that this is part of the modern way of providing electricity and there's certainly going to be a lot more of these sort of developments in this century than, you know, in the days of the fossil fuel plants."Mr Kelleher says the mill will be completed at in 2010.
Roaring 40s has confirmed that it will build a 140 megawatt wind farm in the north east.The company mothballed their Musselroe project in 2006, citing the former federal government's lack of support for renewable energy targets.Now, Roaring 40s managing director Mark Kelleher says the election of the Rudd Government means the $350 million project is back on."Following the election outcome last year, as part of that the Rudd Government's policy was bring in a 20 per cent renewable energy requirement by 2020."This is a fantastic initiative that puts Australia back up in the front of the pack internationally with their support for clean energy and addressing climate change and this policy now pretty much assures that Musselroe will be able to proceed," he says.And Mr Kelleher says the local community is right behind the project."We've been very pleased and appreciative of how strongly Tasmanians are supporting wind farm developments. ... We've received absolutely fantastic support from the local community up where Musselroe wind farm will be built," he says."In Tasmania, I think people have seen that this is part of the modern way of providing electricity and there's certainly going to be a lot more of these sort of developments in this century than, you know, in the days of the fossil fuel plants."Mr Kelleher says the mill will be completed at in 2010.
Zinifex on track for Allegiance takeover
Mining company Zinifex appears set to take over Allegiance Mining after a bitter nine-week struggle.
The Allegiance board has accepted an improved offer from Zinifex.
Nine weeks ago, Zinifex launched a hostile bid for Allegiance, and therefore the Avebury nickel mine at Zeehan on Tasmania's west coast.
The Allegiance board labelled the offer of $1 per share "unacceptable" and "opportunistic".
Last week it claimed fewer than 10 per cent of shareholders were selling.
But this morning, the companies have issued a joint statement saying Zinifex has increased its bid to $1.10 per share.
Allegiance has told shareholders to accept the offer, saying it reflects the value of Avebury.
Zinifex says it is delighted and will let two Allegiance directors stay on the board.
The others will resign as soon as Zinifex owns more than 50 per cent.
The offer is due to close in 11 days.
Russian Railways to build railway to Algeria and beyond
RUSSIAN Railways has won the tender to build a railway in Algeria which will be extended in future to include connections to Iran, Libya, North Korea, Venezuela, Bulgaria and Jordan.
For the time being, the project is awaiting approval from Moscow, reports the RBC Daily from Russia.
For the time being, the project is awaiting approval from Moscow, reports the RBC Daily from Russia.
The details of the tender for developing the suburban railway service near the capital of Algeria have not yet been made public, however, the government of Algeria is expected to build a railway network stretching a total of 16,000 kilometres within 15 years.
The bidding process was launched on February 11 after which RZD received an official letter inviting the company to discuss the terms and conditions of the contract, the report added
Friday, February 22, 2008
EU hopes to persuade US to relent on 100pc box scanning law
EU OFFICIALS are drafting a document to persuade the United States to relent on its law that that all US-bound containers be scanned for radiation by 2012.
Not only is such a demand expensive and discriminatory, says EU officials, it may well be useless too, said officials, according to Lloyd's List.
"How on earth would they afford to implement such a system in Africa?" said Patrick Verhoeven, secretary general of the Brussels-based European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), which represents EU port authorities.
Said ESPO chairman Giuliano Gallanti: "Radiating material is usually transported in special containments not allowing radiation to leave. This can be used to hide dirty bombs."
Expensive radiation detectors has to be operated manually because radiation comes from non-hazardous cargo like granite and tiles, said an ESPO statement.
"Given that US exporters are not required to have export cargo screened, this will discriminate against exporters based outside the US," said ESPO, which is contributing arguments to the European Commission brief to be presented to US authorities.
The EC "massive" estimate of costs of compliance is being built in talks with ports, and the process itself is part of a lobbying campaign to persuade Americans to revamp their anti-terror law and adopt a "mutual recognition of maritime security regimes" instead.
ESPO also said the US law will distort trade. Non-US ports will have to separate out US-bound containers, which will mean finding new storage areas at a time capacity shortages. Also separate loadings were bound to lead to delays, ESPO said, adding that a single scanner can only cope 130 containers a day.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Climate report calls for 2008 commitment to target
Jane Holroyd February 21, 2008 - 5:52PM
Greens leader Bob Brown has described a report that urges action on global warming as "spot on" but says he is worried the Federal Government will back away from adopting its recommendations.
Economist Ross Garnaut's interim report on climate change, released today after being commissioned by Kevin Rudd and his colleagues while in opposition last year, has recommended Australia commit to a 2020 greenhouse target this year.
So far the Rudd Government has only adopted a long-term goal of cutting greenhouse emissions by 60% by 2050, but Professor Garnaut's report says action needs to be taken immediately because recent scientific data indicates the global climate is changing faster than expected.
Along with recommending short-term targets, he said Australia should attempt to exceed the current 2050 target for cutting emissions.
He said Australia was relatively well placed to be a world leader on climate change, but warned faster emissions growth meant policies to mitigate global warming were now more urgent but also likely to come at a higher than expected cost.
In Parliament today Mr Rudd said the Garnaut report was intended to encourage further debate across Australia about the best ways to tackle climate change.
Senator Brown said he was concerned the Government would cherry-pick from the report's recommendations and continue to support non-renewable industries by providing incentives for technologies such as clean coal.
"Prime Minister Rudd is an economic conservative," Senator Brown told Sky News. "There's a real worry there that he's already setting himself up to - on behalf of the coal industry, the aluminium industry, the logging industry - to say we're not going to follow the prescription, which is not going to suit those vested interests."
"I'll be looking at the budget this year," said Senator Brown. "We want to see a green budget that tackles climate change (and prompts) economic action and environmental action in the next 12 months."
Professor Garnaut was asked to report on the likely costs to the Australian economy of tackling climate change and to recommend medium- to long-term policies that would help the nation meet the costs.
Following today's release, Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, said the Garnaut report was one of a number of inputs the Government would consider in formulating a response to global warming.
"We welcome Professor Garnaut's input," Senator Wong told reporters.
"Of course, we will also be looking at other inputs, such as modelling from the Australian Treasury.''
Senator Wong said the Government was mindful of the economic cost of taking steps to combat climate change.
"We have stated we will ensure that the reduction of greenhouse gases occurs at lowest cost possible to the economy and households, that is why we are putting in place a market mechanism, which is the emissions trading scheme.
"We are conscious of the impact on the Australian economy and we will ensure that the scheme addresses the impacts on households and also on industry."
Earlier today opposition MPs raised concerns about the cost of greenhouse gas cuts to consumers and business.
Liberal MP Barry Haase said consumers would bear the brunt of costs if the Government adopted Professor Garnaut's recommendations, saying a carbon-credit scheme would add to the cost of living.
"(Prime Minister Kevin) Rudd's already gone too far on climate change,'' Mr Haase said.
Liberal MP Don Randall said the interim report would put the Rudd Government under pressure.
Nationals MP Paul Neville said industry would suffer if the Government set unrealistic targets that did not require the rest of the world to jump on board.
"If we rush into things and don't do it in a balanced way, with all major countries in the world coming on board, what we're doing to (mining) communities like Gladstone (Queensland) is tying their hands behind their backs,'' he said.
"We shouldn't make Australia a crucible for experimentation for the rest of the world."
Greens leader Bob Brown has described a report that urges action on global warming as "spot on" but says he is worried the Federal Government will back away from adopting its recommendations.
Economist Ross Garnaut's interim report on climate change, released today after being commissioned by Kevin Rudd and his colleagues while in opposition last year, has recommended Australia commit to a 2020 greenhouse target this year.
So far the Rudd Government has only adopted a long-term goal of cutting greenhouse emissions by 60% by 2050, but Professor Garnaut's report says action needs to be taken immediately because recent scientific data indicates the global climate is changing faster than expected.
Along with recommending short-term targets, he said Australia should attempt to exceed the current 2050 target for cutting emissions.
He said Australia was relatively well placed to be a world leader on climate change, but warned faster emissions growth meant policies to mitigate global warming were now more urgent but also likely to come at a higher than expected cost.
In Parliament today Mr Rudd said the Garnaut report was intended to encourage further debate across Australia about the best ways to tackle climate change.
Senator Brown said he was concerned the Government would cherry-pick from the report's recommendations and continue to support non-renewable industries by providing incentives for technologies such as clean coal.
"Prime Minister Rudd is an economic conservative," Senator Brown told Sky News. "There's a real worry there that he's already setting himself up to - on behalf of the coal industry, the aluminium industry, the logging industry - to say we're not going to follow the prescription, which is not going to suit those vested interests."
"I'll be looking at the budget this year," said Senator Brown. "We want to see a green budget that tackles climate change (and prompts) economic action and environmental action in the next 12 months."
Professor Garnaut was asked to report on the likely costs to the Australian economy of tackling climate change and to recommend medium- to long-term policies that would help the nation meet the costs.
Following today's release, Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, said the Garnaut report was one of a number of inputs the Government would consider in formulating a response to global warming.
"We welcome Professor Garnaut's input," Senator Wong told reporters.
"Of course, we will also be looking at other inputs, such as modelling from the Australian Treasury.''
Senator Wong said the Government was mindful of the economic cost of taking steps to combat climate change.
"We have stated we will ensure that the reduction of greenhouse gases occurs at lowest cost possible to the economy and households, that is why we are putting in place a market mechanism, which is the emissions trading scheme.
"We are conscious of the impact on the Australian economy and we will ensure that the scheme addresses the impacts on households and also on industry."
Earlier today opposition MPs raised concerns about the cost of greenhouse gas cuts to consumers and business.
Liberal MP Barry Haase said consumers would bear the brunt of costs if the Government adopted Professor Garnaut's recommendations, saying a carbon-credit scheme would add to the cost of living.
"(Prime Minister Kevin) Rudd's already gone too far on climate change,'' Mr Haase said.
Liberal MP Don Randall said the interim report would put the Rudd Government under pressure.
Nationals MP Paul Neville said industry would suffer if the Government set unrealistic targets that did not require the rest of the world to jump on board.
"If we rush into things and don't do it in a balanced way, with all major countries in the world coming on board, what we're doing to (mining) communities like Gladstone (Queensland) is tying their hands behind their backs,'' he said.
"We shouldn't make Australia a crucible for experimentation for the rest of the world."
Quarantine review 'may be rushed'
Report: Jane Bardon
As an isolated island state, Australia is in one of the best quarantine situations in the world.So the chaos caused by citrus canker, sugar cane smut and horse flu haven't been a good look for our quarantine agencies.The Federal Government's launched a review it hopes will fix the problem.In Senate Estimates hearings this week the head of quarantine for AQIS Jenni Gordon was among officers forced to admit there are gaps in the armour telling Greens Senator Christine Milne "its a risk management business, Senator, we can't guarantee that we are capturing 100% of quarantine risk items coming into the country".The Federal Government's investigation into the whole system will be carried out by an independent panel including a former department staffer, a farmer and a chicken industry leader. It will probe how decisions are made to allow products and animals in, and how ready we are to respond to outbreaks.The panel will also look at what's been done since the last major review by Malcolm Nairn in 1996.Professor Nairn now chairs the Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre.He had 12 months to do his review and is questioning the July deadline."It strikes me as a bit short, if you want to give plenty of time for people to give in submissions and for consultation, and we also found overseas trips very valuable as well, so I expect the panel will want to do that too."Professor Nairn says there have been some improvements in assessing risks, but other problems haven't been addressed.He says post border work picking up and stopping diseases and pests spreading when they have got in needs to be improved with a nationally coordinated surveillance system.There needs to be more development of a risk-based approach to make sure work done at borders is targeted at the highest risk areas.Malcolm Nairn says its not just enough to fix the system for now.There must be regular audit of decisions to make sure they're flexible enough to deal with changing trade and climate conditions, so that farmers and others in the community regain confidence that the system will safeguard their interests over time, rather than measures being diluted by changing circumstances over time.
In this report: Malcolm Nairn, chairman Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre; Jenni Gordon, AQIS
As an isolated island state, Australia is in one of the best quarantine situations in the world.So the chaos caused by citrus canker, sugar cane smut and horse flu haven't been a good look for our quarantine agencies.The Federal Government's launched a review it hopes will fix the problem.In Senate Estimates hearings this week the head of quarantine for AQIS Jenni Gordon was among officers forced to admit there are gaps in the armour telling Greens Senator Christine Milne "its a risk management business, Senator, we can't guarantee that we are capturing 100% of quarantine risk items coming into the country".The Federal Government's investigation into the whole system will be carried out by an independent panel including a former department staffer, a farmer and a chicken industry leader. It will probe how decisions are made to allow products and animals in, and how ready we are to respond to outbreaks.The panel will also look at what's been done since the last major review by Malcolm Nairn in 1996.Professor Nairn now chairs the Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre.He had 12 months to do his review and is questioning the July deadline."It strikes me as a bit short, if you want to give plenty of time for people to give in submissions and for consultation, and we also found overseas trips very valuable as well, so I expect the panel will want to do that too."Professor Nairn says there have been some improvements in assessing risks, but other problems haven't been addressed.He says post border work picking up and stopping diseases and pests spreading when they have got in needs to be improved with a nationally coordinated surveillance system.There needs to be more development of a risk-based approach to make sure work done at borders is targeted at the highest risk areas.Malcolm Nairn says its not just enough to fix the system for now.There must be regular audit of decisions to make sure they're flexible enough to deal with changing trade and climate conditions, so that farmers and others in the community regain confidence that the system will safeguard their interests over time, rather than measures being diluted by changing circumstances over time.
In this report: Malcolm Nairn, chairman Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre; Jenni Gordon, AQIS
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Five of Hong Kong’s Finest Chefs Visit Tasmania
Five of Hong Kong’s leading executive chefs are visiting Tasmania to sample our superb natural produce, with a view to using it in their restaurants.
Minister for Economic Development and Tourism Paula Wriedt met and joined the chefs for a tour of the Tassal facility at Huonville today.
“This is a great coup for the state to have five of Hong Kong’s finest chefs visiting Tasmania to experience firsthand what we have to offer,” Ms Wriedt said.
“The visit builds on the relationships formed at the HOFEX and Hong Kong Food Expos in 2007, where Tasmanian produce was on display to a large Asian market.
“Hong Kong is famous for its food and restaurants and these visits are priceless for opening up new markets and selling Tasmanian produce.
“Hong Kong is Tasmania’s second largest export destination and this tour has the potential to grow further export markets.
“Approximately 13 million people visit Hong Kong each year so we are thrilled that our produce is exposed to such a huge market.
“Tasmania’s natural produce is renown around the world and trips such as these are invaluable for marketing Tasmanian products and our brand.
“All this promotion builds on the fabulous work that Tasmanian food ambassador, Tetsuya Wakuda, has done over the last few years.
“We believe the chefs coming to Tasmania will lead to even more Asian restaurants cooking with our superb natural products and boost our profile in the region,” Ms Wriedt said.
The visiting chefs are Brett Patterson, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong; Laurent Andre, Intercontinental Hotel Hong Kong; Richard Ekkebus, Landmark Mandarin Oriental; Florian Trento, The Peninsula Hong Kong and Rudolf Muller, Hong Kong Disneyland and President of the Hong Kong Chefs Association.
The chefs have toured Cressy to taste Aurora Produce, Strahan to experience the ocean trout farm in Petuna, enjoyed Tasmanian wine at Estelle Rosevears Estate, visited Abalone Farms Australia and Spring Bay Seafoods and experienced the value adding salmon processing facility in Huonville.
Ms Wriedt said the visit by the chefs coincided with the airing in Asia of a four-part documentary featuring Tasmania, which will be seen by 2.1 million viewers in Hong Kong and 60 million households worldwide.
“Tasmania is the only Australian state featured in the series entitled ‘The Last Paradise’ which focuses on Tasmania’s natural environment and our enviable lifestyle,” Ms Wriedt said.
Minister for Economic Development and Tourism Paula Wriedt met and joined the chefs for a tour of the Tassal facility at Huonville today.
“This is a great coup for the state to have five of Hong Kong’s finest chefs visiting Tasmania to experience firsthand what we have to offer,” Ms Wriedt said.
“The visit builds on the relationships formed at the HOFEX and Hong Kong Food Expos in 2007, where Tasmanian produce was on display to a large Asian market.
“Hong Kong is famous for its food and restaurants and these visits are priceless for opening up new markets and selling Tasmanian produce.
“Hong Kong is Tasmania’s second largest export destination and this tour has the potential to grow further export markets.
“Approximately 13 million people visit Hong Kong each year so we are thrilled that our produce is exposed to such a huge market.
“Tasmania’s natural produce is renown around the world and trips such as these are invaluable for marketing Tasmanian products and our brand.
“All this promotion builds on the fabulous work that Tasmanian food ambassador, Tetsuya Wakuda, has done over the last few years.
“We believe the chefs coming to Tasmania will lead to even more Asian restaurants cooking with our superb natural products and boost our profile in the region,” Ms Wriedt said.
The visiting chefs are Brett Patterson, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong; Laurent Andre, Intercontinental Hotel Hong Kong; Richard Ekkebus, Landmark Mandarin Oriental; Florian Trento, The Peninsula Hong Kong and Rudolf Muller, Hong Kong Disneyland and President of the Hong Kong Chefs Association.
The chefs have toured Cressy to taste Aurora Produce, Strahan to experience the ocean trout farm in Petuna, enjoyed Tasmanian wine at Estelle Rosevears Estate, visited Abalone Farms Australia and Spring Bay Seafoods and experienced the value adding salmon processing facility in Huonville.
Ms Wriedt said the visit by the chefs coincided with the airing in Asia of a four-part documentary featuring Tasmania, which will be seen by 2.1 million viewers in Hong Kong and 60 million households worldwide.
“Tasmania is the only Australian state featured in the series entitled ‘The Last Paradise’ which focuses on Tasmania’s natural environment and our enviable lifestyle,” Ms Wriedt said.
Residents protest against truck traffic
Residents are worried about the additional traffic that will result from an increase in container movement through the Port of Melbourne. (ABC TV)
About 200 protesters caused traffic chaos at Yarraville in Melbourne's west this morning by blockading a busy truck route to the Port of Melbourne.
The morning peak hour protest by the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group closed the intersection of Francis Street and Williamstown Road for half an hour.
The group says at least 8,000 trucks pass through the intersection each day, most carrying shipping containers.
The protesters are concerned truck traffic will increase by 25% after the Port of Melbourne's shipping channels are deepened.
They say the Victorian Government has not planned for the impact of Port expansion on traffic congestion.
Protest spokesman, Peter Knight says the trucks are causing health problems, road accidents and stress to residents.
"In the last 10 years you've got to realise that this truck traffic has increased by about double since the completion of Bolte Bridge and Ring Road and people's houses are literally falling apart," Mr Knight said.
Oil hits record $US100 a barrel
From correspondents in New York
February 20, 2008 07:11am
Article from: Agence France-Presse
THE price of oil in New York has spiked to a record $US100.10 a barrel in the wake of supply concerns.
The price for a barrel of light, sweet crude, eclipsed the record set in January of $US100.09 a barrel.
The market rallied amid speculation that OPEC, which supplies about 40 per cent of the world's oil, would cut output at its March 5 meeting in Vienna, analysts said.
Another factor was the ongoing row between Venezuela and ExxonMobil over nationalised assets of the US giant.
"Oil futures surged higher amid technical buying underpinned by the ongoing saga between Venezuela and Exxon and on speculation surrounding OPEC's next move when they meet in March," said Sucden analyst Nimit Khamar.
"There is clear evidence that speculators are coming back in to the oil market."
Iran has declined to rule out that OPEC would cut production next month.
"Over the last week we have seen numerous suggestions from OPEC members that they will either keep output steady or cut during the next meeting," said Sucden's Mr Khamar.
"However, at current prices OPEC my find it difficult to justify a cut in production."
Earlier this month, OPEC left its official daily output ceiling at 29.67 million barrels of oil.
The last time the New York benchmark contract hit the previous record of $US100.09 was on January 3, amid worries about tight supplies and US currency weakness.
OPEC had frozen its oil output levels in December, resisting calls for an increase to help cool sky-high prices that threaten to dampen global economic growth.
February 20, 2008 07:11am
Article from: Agence France-Presse
THE price of oil in New York has spiked to a record $US100.10 a barrel in the wake of supply concerns.
The price for a barrel of light, sweet crude, eclipsed the record set in January of $US100.09 a barrel.
The market rallied amid speculation that OPEC, which supplies about 40 per cent of the world's oil, would cut output at its March 5 meeting in Vienna, analysts said.
Another factor was the ongoing row between Venezuela and ExxonMobil over nationalised assets of the US giant.
"Oil futures surged higher amid technical buying underpinned by the ongoing saga between Venezuela and Exxon and on speculation surrounding OPEC's next move when they meet in March," said Sucden analyst Nimit Khamar.
"There is clear evidence that speculators are coming back in to the oil market."
Iran has declined to rule out that OPEC would cut production next month.
"Over the last week we have seen numerous suggestions from OPEC members that they will either keep output steady or cut during the next meeting," said Sucden's Mr Khamar.
"However, at current prices OPEC my find it difficult to justify a cut in production."
Earlier this month, OPEC left its official daily output ceiling at 29.67 million barrels of oil.
The last time the New York benchmark contract hit the previous record of $US100.09 was on January 3, amid worries about tight supplies and US currency weakness.
OPEC had frozen its oil output levels in December, resisting calls for an increase to help cool sky-high prices that threaten to dampen global economic growth.
Dollar firms on greenback selloff
February 20, 2008 07:29am
THE dollar opened marginally firmer today, punching above US92 cents in overnight trade on the back of a fresh bout of US dollar weakness.
At 7am AEDT, the dollar was trading at $US0.9204/07, up from yesterday's close of 0.9199/03.
During the overnight session, the domestic currency traded between a low of $US0.9137 and a high of 0.9237.
The dollar had been edging up towards 92 US cents over the past three days, supported by expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may raise interest rates again when it meets on March 4.
The release yesterday of minutes from the RBA's February 5 meeting boosted those expectations after it was revealed the bank had come close to raising rates by 50 basis points, over the 25 basis points it eventually decided upon to 7.00 per cent.
OzForex corporate dealer Darren Richardson said the dollar's progress overnight had been driven mainly by a surge in oil prices.
The US dollar slipped lower against most of the major currencies after oil futures rose above $US100 ($109.55) a barrel for the first time since January 3.
The spike came as expectations that OPEC would keep production flat, or even reduce output, when it meets in March, stirred supply concerns.
Mr Richardson said the dollar also benefited from a boost in investor appetite for risk, demonstrated by a rally overnight in US equities. <
THE dollar opened marginally firmer today, punching above US92 cents in overnight trade on the back of a fresh bout of US dollar weakness.
At 7am AEDT, the dollar was trading at $US0.9204/07, up from yesterday's close of 0.9199/03.
During the overnight session, the domestic currency traded between a low of $US0.9137 and a high of 0.9237.
The dollar had been edging up towards 92 US cents over the past three days, supported by expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may raise interest rates again when it meets on March 4.
The release yesterday of minutes from the RBA's February 5 meeting boosted those expectations after it was revealed the bank had come close to raising rates by 50 basis points, over the 25 basis points it eventually decided upon to 7.00 per cent.
OzForex corporate dealer Darren Richardson said the dollar's progress overnight had been driven mainly by a surge in oil prices.
The US dollar slipped lower against most of the major currencies after oil futures rose above $US100 ($109.55) a barrel for the first time since January 3.
The spike came as expectations that OPEC would keep production flat, or even reduce output, when it meets in March, stirred supply concerns.
Mr Richardson said the dollar also benefited from a boost in investor appetite for risk, demonstrated by a rally overnight in US equities. <
Don't compare us to aviation. Shipping is carbon-friendly
Our industry carries 80% of world trade. To switch to air freight would be a disaster, says Mark
Mark Brownrigg
The Guardian,
Tuesday February 19 2008
Mark Brownrigg
The Guardian,
Tuesday February 19 2008
This article appeared in the Guardian on Tuesday February 19 2008 on p33 of the Leaders & reply section. It was last updated at 00:04 on February 19 2008. It is a reply to an article.
Readers of your front-page story would be forgiven for thinking that shipping is inefficient in terms of CO2 emissions and should be targeted in efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions (True scale of CO2 emissions from shipping revealed, February 13). Even aviation is only "responsible for about 650m tonnes of CO2 emissions a year, just over half that from shipping", you report.
Perhaps we should park all the ships and send the trade by air? That would be a catastrophe for the environment - as well as a physical impossibility! Air freight produces 100 times as much CO2 per tonne kilometre. Such a move would quadruple total man-made CO2 emissions. This is a measure of the carbon-friendly nature of the shipping industry - although the industry is far from complacent and continues to work to reduce CO2 output.
Shipping carries 80% of world trade and 92% of British trade. It is a vastly bigger industry than aviation and performs a completely different role. The well-established multiplier effect of emissions at high altitude also makes comparisons difficult.
Last year the Guardian reported that shipping contributed 5% of total CO2 emissions (CO2 output from shipping twice as much as airlines, March 3, 2007); now, describing it as "three times higher than previously thought", it claims the figure is 4.5%. In truth, the shipping industry is so complex and international that there will probably always be a range of estimates for fuel usage and CO2 emissions. But the figures in the report submitted to the International Maritime Organisation (the UN body for shipping) make a valuable contribution to the development of a baseline figure on which to assess industry efforts to reduce emissions.
Shipping has already vastly improved its carbon performance - through efficiencies of scale and engine consumption. Today's container ships emit about a quarter of the CO2 that they did in the 70s - while carrying up to 10 times more cargo.
The real focus of the IMO report, however, was the reduction of air pollution from ships (CO2 is not classed as a pollutant but as a greenhouse gas). The report itself was not concerned with carbon emissions per se, except in terms of assessment of whether efforts to reduce air pollution from ships may actually raise their carbon footprint.
It is a pity that your article missed the main thrust of the report - the evaluation of the impact of practical options to reduce emissions of air pollutants (sulphur oxides and particulate matter) from ships. The report made a major contribution to the revision of air emission legislation by the IMO. This should see a considerable lowering of global emissions of air pollutants worldwide by 2009. This is good news for the environment and for the health of those people affected by these emissions, and the shipping industry contributed positively and substantively to the debate.
· Mark Brownrigg is director-general of the Chamber of Shipping press@british-shipping.org
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Green light for Tasmanian biofuels expansion
Report: Cameron Wilson
Construction on Tasmania's first biodiesel plant to process poppy seed is expected to start within a month, after the project was approved overnight. The Macquarie Oil plant at Cressy in the Northern Midlands will ultimately create more than five million litres of fuel each yearThe environmentally friendly fuel will be sold in Tasmania, potentially for use in the marine industry, power or transport sector. Director of Macquarie Oil Rob Henry says he hopes the operation will benefit the environment and local farmers."There are people lining up to use it." " We've had initial talks with some big companies in relation to power generation in remote areas, Metro in Hobart are interested. It's of interest to the marine industry because of it's environmentally friendly nature" Mr Henry says.Due to the high price of canola, Rob Henry says the plant will be able to operate on range of feedstock's, including tallow, used cooking oil, poppy, canola, linseed and mustard oil."Because of what's happened because of the drought in Australia and the world situation with biofuels, the price of canola has gone through the roof, but at the moment Canola is not on our list to use as biodiesel, so that limits us a little bit so thats why we are looking at other crops, possibly a crop like mustard or linseed, or something like that."Northern Midlands Mayor Kim Polly says the project had councils unanimous support because the benefits are wide reaching."It's going to produce something like 40 tonnes of biodiesel per week, and it's going to be a reuse of a waste product."
In this report: Rob Henry farmer and director of Macquarie Oil; Kim Polley, Northern Midlands Mayor.
Threat to vegetable exports
Report: Eliza Wood
Taiwan is trying to restrict Australian root vegetables entering the country because of disease concerns.They're planning to prohibit root crops that can be affected by a disease called burrowing nematode, and to impose certification for a number of other pests and diseases.Carrot exports out of Western Australia, potato exports out of South Australia, and onion exports out of Tasmania are expected to be affected. Ausveg economist Ian James says Australia has three weeks to put together a technical argument against the restrictions."They argue that they're tightening up all their phytosanitary requirements and that they are doing it in regard to World Trade Organisation rules," he said."We have some concerns about this because we're not sure whether this is actually the case or whether it's a trade barrier against Australia and exports of vegetables."
In this report: Ian James, Ausveg economist.
Taiwan is trying to restrict Australian root vegetables entering the country because of disease concerns.They're planning to prohibit root crops that can be affected by a disease called burrowing nematode, and to impose certification for a number of other pests and diseases.Carrot exports out of Western Australia, potato exports out of South Australia, and onion exports out of Tasmania are expected to be affected. Ausveg economist Ian James says Australia has three weeks to put together a technical argument against the restrictions."They argue that they're tightening up all their phytosanitary requirements and that they are doing it in regard to World Trade Organisation rules," he said."We have some concerns about this because we're not sure whether this is actually the case or whether it's a trade barrier against Australia and exports of vegetables."
In this report: Ian James, Ausveg economist.
Bottled water 'bad as smoking'
Just a quick example of philosophy change (could be compared to what the Europeans are doing to discourage imports from Australia / Asia with "food miles").
By Brian Williams
February 19, 2008 01:20am
Drinking bottle of water same as driving car 1km
Full environmental footprint "frightening"
DRINKING bottled water is so anti-environment that it should be made as unfashionable as smoking.
A British study has found that drinking a bottle of water has the same impact on the environment as driving a car a kilometre. Its production generated up to 600 times more CO2 than tap water. The research was backed strongly yesterday by Clean Up Australia chairman Ian Kiernan, who said using the product was destructive to the environment and users should suffer from social taboos. "Anyone buying this stuff needs to have their head examined," Mr Kiernan said. "It works out that for those buying water shipped in from overseas, they are paying something like $9000 to $10,000 a tonne for water that's worth about a dollar here. "The full environmental footprint is frightening when you take into account the greenhouse gases produced in bottling, trucking and shipping. And do people realise the bottle is made from oil anyway?" Mr Kiernan said the product had been well marketed to young people from a dietary perspective but bottled water was like plastic bags – yesterday's product. The bottles also are becoming a major litter problem, with a Clean Up Australia survey finding plastic beverage and other containers account for about half of the top 10 litter items. Mr Kiernan called on state Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara to introduce a deposit system on drink containers which would drastically lift recycling rates. Mr McNamara rejected the call, saying a deposit scheme was not being considered. Queensland instead would pursue re-use of a greater proportion of waste. A Newspoll survey commissioned by Clean Up Australia found that 87 per cent of people supported a deposit system and that a 10c refund on a container would drastically reduce rubbish.
By Brian Williams
February 19, 2008 01:20am
Drinking bottle of water same as driving car 1km
Full environmental footprint "frightening"
DRINKING bottled water is so anti-environment that it should be made as unfashionable as smoking.
A British study has found that drinking a bottle of water has the same impact on the environment as driving a car a kilometre. Its production generated up to 600 times more CO2 than tap water. The research was backed strongly yesterday by Clean Up Australia chairman Ian Kiernan, who said using the product was destructive to the environment and users should suffer from social taboos. "Anyone buying this stuff needs to have their head examined," Mr Kiernan said. "It works out that for those buying water shipped in from overseas, they are paying something like $9000 to $10,000 a tonne for water that's worth about a dollar here. "The full environmental footprint is frightening when you take into account the greenhouse gases produced in bottling, trucking and shipping. And do people realise the bottle is made from oil anyway?" Mr Kiernan said the product had been well marketed to young people from a dietary perspective but bottled water was like plastic bags – yesterday's product. The bottles also are becoming a major litter problem, with a Clean Up Australia survey finding plastic beverage and other containers account for about half of the top 10 litter items. Mr Kiernan called on state Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara to introduce a deposit system on drink containers which would drastically lift recycling rates. Mr McNamara rejected the call, saying a deposit scheme was not being considered. Queensland instead would pursue re-use of a greater proportion of waste. A Newspoll survey commissioned by Clean Up Australia found that 87 per cent of people supported a deposit system and that a 10c refund on a container would drastically reduce rubbish.
Qingdao's cargo volume becomes second largest in China
QINGDAO customs handled 282 million tons of foreign trade cargo last year, which was the second largest volume among all cities in China, Logistics Week reported.
Customs collected CNY60.1 billion (US$8.4 billion) in duties, which was the fourth largest in China.
The report said the growth in trade cargo volume was a result of Qingdao customs efforts in cooperating with hinterland city customs to offer one-stop clearance services to facilitate trade, which has won more transshipments from inland areas.
The Qingdao customs has been cooperating with 10 hinterland customs on one-stop clearance service. Last year, transshipments from hinterland regions in surrounding Shandong province came to 110 million tons and amounted to 39 per cent of total provincial trade volume.
Customs collected CNY60.1 billion (US$8.4 billion) in duties, which was the fourth largest in China.
The report said the growth in trade cargo volume was a result of Qingdao customs efforts in cooperating with hinterland city customs to offer one-stop clearance services to facilitate trade, which has won more transshipments from inland areas.
The Qingdao customs has been cooperating with 10 hinterland customs on one-stop clearance service. Last year, transshipments from hinterland regions in surrounding Shandong province came to 110 million tons and amounted to 39 per cent of total provincial trade volume.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Government 'risks billions in quarantine claims'
Report: Jane Bardon
After years of criticism from farmers the Federal Government will shortly launch an inquiry into the quarantine system.Farmers say very little has improved since the last major review ten years ago.And with several damaging disease and pest outbreaks they want action now.New South Wales Farmers Association exotic pests and diseases committee chairman Peter Carter says the horse flu outbreak has been the last straw in quarantine failures."There's been the Brazilian beef affair, we've had incursions of things like fire ants and fruit fly, and it was only a matter of time before the equine influenza outbreak was inevitable."A former vet and now beef farmer, Peter Carter says the inquiry should be carried out by a small independent team including legal and animal or plant health experts and a farmer. "We have to look at the way AQIS is structured. The Nairn report back in 1996 suggested that and the former government rejected that."And the Callinan Inquiry has also identified that it is being run like a corporation, and that you have very few people with expertise in animal and plant diseases working at the coal face, and the big decisions about how and where to spend money, and what should be done are being taken by people managers."And they have milestones to achieve which are not keeping pests and diseases out of Australia, they are things like keeping within your budget. And you can't run a quarantine system like a show manufacturers and expect it to work."Peter Carter says the quarantine agencies are also spending too much time reacting after outbreaks, rather than preparing for them.Mark Burgman from the Australian Centre for Risk Analysis agrees more preparation for potential risks is needed."We can explore different types of tools which make forecasts, we can make better use of existing knowledge, we can collect data more effectively."And we can use hypotheticals to explore what might happen, if for example, a hypothetical orange came in from a country under free trade rules with a bug and we can use the tools to predict the probably path of entry, the likelihood of entry and the way the bug would spread and the consequences when that happens."Horse flu is the first outbreak to raise the prospect of major compensation claims against the Government.Peter Carter says if the Government doesn't fix the system, taxpayers could be asked to pay billions of dollars in future claims."If the lawyers can see the slightest crack in the armour they will be suing the Federal Government."Then that opens the way for farmers to do something about loss of trade if we get something like foot-and-mouth. Equine influenza will be a watershed. It's changing things in quarantine forever."
In this report: Jane Bardon
After years of criticism from farmers the Federal Government will shortly launch an inquiry into the quarantine system.Farmers say very little has improved since the last major review ten years ago.And with several damaging disease and pest outbreaks they want action now.New South Wales Farmers Association exotic pests and diseases committee chairman Peter Carter says the horse flu outbreak has been the last straw in quarantine failures."There's been the Brazilian beef affair, we've had incursions of things like fire ants and fruit fly, and it was only a matter of time before the equine influenza outbreak was inevitable."A former vet and now beef farmer, Peter Carter says the inquiry should be carried out by a small independent team including legal and animal or plant health experts and a farmer. "We have to look at the way AQIS is structured. The Nairn report back in 1996 suggested that and the former government rejected that."And the Callinan Inquiry has also identified that it is being run like a corporation, and that you have very few people with expertise in animal and plant diseases working at the coal face, and the big decisions about how and where to spend money, and what should be done are being taken by people managers."And they have milestones to achieve which are not keeping pests and diseases out of Australia, they are things like keeping within your budget. And you can't run a quarantine system like a show manufacturers and expect it to work."Peter Carter says the quarantine agencies are also spending too much time reacting after outbreaks, rather than preparing for them.Mark Burgman from the Australian Centre for Risk Analysis agrees more preparation for potential risks is needed."We can explore different types of tools which make forecasts, we can make better use of existing knowledge, we can collect data more effectively."And we can use hypotheticals to explore what might happen, if for example, a hypothetical orange came in from a country under free trade rules with a bug and we can use the tools to predict the probably path of entry, the likelihood of entry and the way the bug would spread and the consequences when that happens."Horse flu is the first outbreak to raise the prospect of major compensation claims against the Government.Peter Carter says if the Government doesn't fix the system, taxpayers could be asked to pay billions of dollars in future claims."If the lawyers can see the slightest crack in the armour they will be suing the Federal Government."Then that opens the way for farmers to do something about loss of trade if we get something like foot-and-mouth. Equine influenza will be a watershed. It's changing things in quarantine forever."
In this report: Jane Bardon
Climate change strategy preparations
The Tasmanian Government says it is still gathering information needed to finalise a climate change strategy for the state.
Both opposition parties have accused the government of neglecting the issue by failing to include climate change in its priorities for 2008.
But the Premier, Paul Lennon, says a new Climate Change Office will soon be operating and provide recommendations on climate change to Cabinet.
Mr Lennon says the State Government also plans to lead by example by conducting an audit to see how it can reduce its own emissions.
"I intend for the Government to take real action so to do that we need to get all the information together first, and we'll have the audit done," he said.
The Premier says there are also things government can do to cut emissions immediately.
The Opposition Leader, Will Hodgman, says business-owners and householders should be given incentives for putting environmentally friendly practices in place.
"We need to see this Government supporting business, industry and indeed Tasmanian householders in adopting practices that are globally friendly that are environmentally conscious," he said.
"(Ones) that will allow Tasmanians, in their own way, to contribute to what a nationwide, indeed global problem."
Both opposition parties have accused the government of neglecting the issue by failing to include climate change in its priorities for 2008.
But the Premier, Paul Lennon, says a new Climate Change Office will soon be operating and provide recommendations on climate change to Cabinet.
Mr Lennon says the State Government also plans to lead by example by conducting an audit to see how it can reduce its own emissions.
"I intend for the Government to take real action so to do that we need to get all the information together first, and we'll have the audit done," he said.
The Premier says there are also things government can do to cut emissions immediately.
The Opposition Leader, Will Hodgman, says business-owners and householders should be given incentives for putting environmentally friendly practices in place.
"We need to see this Government supporting business, industry and indeed Tasmanian householders in adopting practices that are globally friendly that are environmentally conscious," he said.
"(Ones) that will allow Tasmanians, in their own way, to contribute to what a nationwide, indeed global problem."
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Major clothing retailer boycotts Australian wool
The Australian Wool Growers Association says mulesing practices in Australia have improved
The Australian Wool Growers Association (AWGA) says it is surprised a major international clothing chain is boycotting Australian wool because of the practice of mulesing.
Swedish clothing retailer H&M, which has 1,500 stores worldwide, has issued a boycott of Australian wool because it says mulesing is not being phased out fast enough.
The practice involves cutting the skin from a sheep's rear to prevent flystrike.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) spokesman Jason Baker says the practice is cruel and alternatives exist.
"Really H&M will really just be the beginning of retailers who are frustrated, when they can go to any other country and get wool that's not mulesed," he said.
AWGA spokesman Martin Oppenheimer says the boycott is surprising and that mulesing practices in Australia have improved.
"We have pain relief that's being widely used in the Australian merino industry, so it's quite surprising that this sort of decision would be taken," he said.
"There's a lot of money and effort being put into finding alternatives."
The Australian Wool Growers Association (AWGA) says it is surprised a major international clothing chain is boycotting Australian wool because of the practice of mulesing.
Swedish clothing retailer H&M, which has 1,500 stores worldwide, has issued a boycott of Australian wool because it says mulesing is not being phased out fast enough.
The practice involves cutting the skin from a sheep's rear to prevent flystrike.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) spokesman Jason Baker says the practice is cruel and alternatives exist.
"Really H&M will really just be the beginning of retailers who are frustrated, when they can go to any other country and get wool that's not mulesed," he said.
AWGA spokesman Martin Oppenheimer says the boycott is surprising and that mulesing practices in Australia have improved.
"We have pain relief that's being widely used in the Australian merino industry, so it's quite surprising that this sort of decision would be taken," he said.
"There's a lot of money and effort being put into finding alternatives."
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Toll to delist HK's BALtrans, to make it integrated subsidiary
AUSTRALIA transport giant Toll has fully acquired Hong Kong's big forwarder BALtrans. Toll plans to delist the company and make it a wholly owned subsidiary after acceptances of Toll's takeover offer gave the new owner 95 per cent of the issued share capital, enabling it to fully merge it with its existing operations.
Toll managing director Paul Little said BALtrans would play a key role in Toll's forwarding strategy, reported the UK's Transport Intelligence. "This is a great outcome for Toll - the integration of BALtrans with Toll's existing freight forwarding operations is a key plank in our strategy to become the Asia's only truly integrated logistics provider," he said.
Toll said it would delist BALtrans following its acquisition of the remaining shares. "Toll's priority now is to work with the management team on an aggressive growth strategy for the global freight forwarding business," Mr Little said.
Toll managing director Paul Little said BALtrans would play a key role in Toll's forwarding strategy, reported the UK's Transport Intelligence. "This is a great outcome for Toll - the integration of BALtrans with Toll's existing freight forwarding operations is a key plank in our strategy to become the Asia's only truly integrated logistics provider," he said.
Toll said it would delist BALtrans following its acquisition of the remaining shares. "Toll's priority now is to work with the management team on an aggressive growth strategy for the global freight forwarding business," Mr Little said.
UN bulk liquids. gas panel devise tough ship air pollution rules
TOUGH new air pollution rules have been ratified by the UN's International Maritime Organisation's sub-committee on bulk liquids and gases (BLG).
According to a communique from the world body, it is agreed that changes to the MARPOL (short for "marine pollution") Convention NOx Technical Code. These will be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)to be passed at its March 31 meeting.
MEPC is expected to approve the rules before formal adoption on October 10, at which time the rules will come into force under the "tacit acceptance procedure" and 16 months (March, 2010) later, made permanent.
The working group was tasked with reviewing the six options, which the BLG committee narrowed to three.
Option 1: Global: 1 per cent (10,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) fuel standard applied in 2012. Global: 0.50 per cent (5,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) fuel standard applied in 2015.
Option 2: Global/Regional: Global cap remains unchanged at 4.50 per cent (45,000 ppm maximum sulphur content). Emission Control Areas require 0.10 per cent (1,000 ppm) standard in 2012.
Option 3: Global/Regional with Micro-Areas: Global cap is lowered to 3 per cent (30,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) in 2012. Emission Control Area standard lowered to 1 per cent (10,000 ppm) in 2010.
The Emission Control Area standard to be lowered to 0.50 per cent (5,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) in 2015.
Micro-Emission Control Areas may be established at a distance no more than 24 nautical miles from the baseline with a 0.10 per cent (1,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) standard.
The committee developed a three-tier structure for new engines, which would set tighter nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission standards. Tier I represents the 17 g/kW standard. Tier II, would see NOx levels for new engines installed from January 1, 2011 reduced 15.5 - 21.8 per cent. Geographically based Tier III would require major reductions in designated Emission Control Areas (ECAs) - a reduction of 80 per cent from Tier I levels for new builds by 2016.
The working group reviewed the issue of whether it was right to establish a standard for pre-2000 marine diesel engines and agreed to further study.
According to a communique from the world body, it is agreed that changes to the MARPOL (short for "marine pollution") Convention NOx Technical Code. These will be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)to be passed at its March 31 meeting.
MEPC is expected to approve the rules before formal adoption on October 10, at which time the rules will come into force under the "tacit acceptance procedure" and 16 months (March, 2010) later, made permanent.
The working group was tasked with reviewing the six options, which the BLG committee narrowed to three.
Option 1: Global: 1 per cent (10,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) fuel standard applied in 2012. Global: 0.50 per cent (5,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) fuel standard applied in 2015.
Option 2: Global/Regional: Global cap remains unchanged at 4.50 per cent (45,000 ppm maximum sulphur content). Emission Control Areas require 0.10 per cent (1,000 ppm) standard in 2012.
Option 3: Global/Regional with Micro-Areas: Global cap is lowered to 3 per cent (30,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) in 2012. Emission Control Area standard lowered to 1 per cent (10,000 ppm) in 2010.
The Emission Control Area standard to be lowered to 0.50 per cent (5,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) in 2015.
Micro-Emission Control Areas may be established at a distance no more than 24 nautical miles from the baseline with a 0.10 per cent (1,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) standard.
The committee developed a three-tier structure for new engines, which would set tighter nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission standards. Tier I represents the 17 g/kW standard. Tier II, would see NOx levels for new engines installed from January 1, 2011 reduced 15.5 - 21.8 per cent. Geographically based Tier III would require major reductions in designated Emission Control Areas (ECAs) - a reduction of 80 per cent from Tier I levels for new builds by 2016.
The working group reviewed the issue of whether it was right to establish a standard for pre-2000 marine diesel engines and agreed to further study.
Colombo ideal as mega containership hub, says Brussels expert
COLOMBO's location makes Sri Lanka ideal as a regional container transshipment centre, says Stefaan Vermeire, director general of the International Container Security Organisation in Brussels.
"The coming of mega-ships of 13,500 TEU means the number of ports that can handle them will be few," Mr Vermeire told a seminar on Colombo's future.
Colombo meets super ship needs, he said, and could be like the hub at Malta, but on a much larger scale because of its advantage of having a hinterland that generates cargo, reported Lanka Business Online.
"Sri Lanka's position is crucial in terms of efficiency, especially fuel efficiency," he said.
The island nation's compliance with new global maritime security programmes led by the US, also means it can offer safe and fast transshipment services for cargo flowing from Asia to the US, he said.
Mr Vermeire also reminded listeners that Colombo has achieved ISPS, CSI and MPI certification. The International Ship and Port facility Security (ISPS) is an International Maritime Organisation code meant to improve port and ship security while the Container Security Initiative and the Megaport Initiative are US security programmes designed to enhance container security and prevent smuggling of nuclear bomb making material.
"The coming of mega-ships of 13,500 TEU means the number of ports that can handle them will be few," Mr Vermeire told a seminar on Colombo's future.
Colombo meets super ship needs, he said, and could be like the hub at Malta, but on a much larger scale because of its advantage of having a hinterland that generates cargo, reported Lanka Business Online.
"Sri Lanka's position is crucial in terms of efficiency, especially fuel efficiency," he said.
The island nation's compliance with new global maritime security programmes led by the US, also means it can offer safe and fast transshipment services for cargo flowing from Asia to the US, he said.
Mr Vermeire also reminded listeners that Colombo has achieved ISPS, CSI and MPI certification. The International Ship and Port facility Security (ISPS) is an International Maritime Organisation code meant to improve port and ship security while the Container Security Initiative and the Megaport Initiative are US security programmes designed to enhance container security and prevent smuggling of nuclear bomb making material.
Land-Locked Swiss Invent Underwater Car
By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER – 1 day ago
GENEVA (AP) — OK, so the Swiss have invented a car that runs on land and underwater. But did they REALLY have to make it a convertible?
It's called the "sQuba," and conjures up memories of James Bond's amphibious Lotus Esprit from "The Spy Who Loved Me." That fictional vehicle traveled on land and, when chased by bad guys in a helicopter, plunged into the water and became an airtight submarine — complete with "torpedoes" and "depth charges."
But "Q" isn't responsible for this one.
The concept car — which unlike Bond's is not armed — was developed by Swiss designer Rinspeed Inc. and is set to make a splash at the Geneva Auto Show next month.
Company CEO Frank Rinderknecht, a self-professed Bond fan, said he has been waiting 30 years to recreate the car he saw Roger Moore use to drive off of a dock.
The sQuba can plow through the water at a depth of 30 feet and has electrical motors to turn the underwater screw.
You'll have to break out the wetsuit, however.
The car has an open top, meaning that the two passengers are exposed to the elements.
"For safety reasons, we have built the vehicle as an open car so that the occupants can get out quickly in an emergency," said Rinderknecht, 52.
Passengers will be able to keep breathing underwater through an integrated tank of compressed air similar to what is used in scuba diving.
The sQuba's top speed on land is about 77 mph, but it slows down to 3 mph on the surface of the water, and 1.8 mph underwater.
Working with engineering specialists, Rinspeed removed the combustion engine from a sports car and replaced it with several electrical motors. Three are located in the rear — er, aft — with one providing propulsion on land and the other two driving the screw for underwater driving.
"We always want to do cars that are outrageous, which nobody has done before. So we thought, 'Let's make a car dive,'" said Rinderknecht, whose innovative company has made transparent, flying and voice-activated cars in previous attention-grabbing displays at the Geneva Auto Show.
The company calls the sQuba the first real submersible car. Unlike military amphibious vehicles, which can only drive slowly on a lakebed, the sQuba travels like a submarine — either on the surface or submerged.
The interior is resistant to salt water, allowing the skipper to drive into a lake or the sea.
"Many concept cars introduce important new technology," said John Cabaniss at the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers in Washington. "Anything to improve the efficiency of a vehicle, streamlining or reducing the weight of materials, while maintaining strength ... is put into concept cars first."
Cabaniss said the lithium-ion batteries in Rinspeed's car were "state-of-the-art" and added that the car industry in general would be looking for more ways to make things work electronically. But he was skeptical of the overriding idea.
"Other than some kind of a movie situation, for Bond-like stuff with lots of gimmicks, I can't imagine it will have any practical value," Cabaniss said. "Maybe people will need to go from land to water, and traverse a body of water, but underwater? Especially as it gets your suit wet."
Rinderknecht said it cost more than $1.5 million to make the sole sQuba in existence, and that it was difficult to make a car watertight and pressure-resistant enough to be maneuverable underwater.
"The real challenge, however, was to create a submersible car that moves like a fish in water," he added.
Rinspeed is in discussion with commercial manufacturers about making a limited number of the cars. The price? "It would be cheaper than a Rolls-Royce," he said. A 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe has a sticker price of more than $400,000.
Rinderknecht said it was unlikely that people would soon spot the sQuba tolling down the highway or popping up in your nearby lake.
"They might sell as toys for rich people, perhaps," he said. "I don't see mass transportation switching to cars that dive."
GENEVA (AP) — OK, so the Swiss have invented a car that runs on land and underwater. But did they REALLY have to make it a convertible?
It's called the "sQuba," and conjures up memories of James Bond's amphibious Lotus Esprit from "The Spy Who Loved Me." That fictional vehicle traveled on land and, when chased by bad guys in a helicopter, plunged into the water and became an airtight submarine — complete with "torpedoes" and "depth charges."
But "Q" isn't responsible for this one.
The concept car — which unlike Bond's is not armed — was developed by Swiss designer Rinspeed Inc. and is set to make a splash at the Geneva Auto Show next month.
Company CEO Frank Rinderknecht, a self-professed Bond fan, said he has been waiting 30 years to recreate the car he saw Roger Moore use to drive off of a dock.
The sQuba can plow through the water at a depth of 30 feet and has electrical motors to turn the underwater screw.
You'll have to break out the wetsuit, however.
The car has an open top, meaning that the two passengers are exposed to the elements.
"For safety reasons, we have built the vehicle as an open car so that the occupants can get out quickly in an emergency," said Rinderknecht, 52.
Passengers will be able to keep breathing underwater through an integrated tank of compressed air similar to what is used in scuba diving.
The sQuba's top speed on land is about 77 mph, but it slows down to 3 mph on the surface of the water, and 1.8 mph underwater.
Working with engineering specialists, Rinspeed removed the combustion engine from a sports car and replaced it with several electrical motors. Three are located in the rear — er, aft — with one providing propulsion on land and the other two driving the screw for underwater driving.
"We always want to do cars that are outrageous, which nobody has done before. So we thought, 'Let's make a car dive,'" said Rinderknecht, whose innovative company has made transparent, flying and voice-activated cars in previous attention-grabbing displays at the Geneva Auto Show.
The company calls the sQuba the first real submersible car. Unlike military amphibious vehicles, which can only drive slowly on a lakebed, the sQuba travels like a submarine — either on the surface or submerged.
The interior is resistant to salt water, allowing the skipper to drive into a lake or the sea.
"Many concept cars introduce important new technology," said John Cabaniss at the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers in Washington. "Anything to improve the efficiency of a vehicle, streamlining or reducing the weight of materials, while maintaining strength ... is put into concept cars first."
Cabaniss said the lithium-ion batteries in Rinspeed's car were "state-of-the-art" and added that the car industry in general would be looking for more ways to make things work electronically. But he was skeptical of the overriding idea.
"Other than some kind of a movie situation, for Bond-like stuff with lots of gimmicks, I can't imagine it will have any practical value," Cabaniss said. "Maybe people will need to go from land to water, and traverse a body of water, but underwater? Especially as it gets your suit wet."
Rinderknecht said it cost more than $1.5 million to make the sole sQuba in existence, and that it was difficult to make a car watertight and pressure-resistant enough to be maneuverable underwater.
"The real challenge, however, was to create a submersible car that moves like a fish in water," he added.
Rinspeed is in discussion with commercial manufacturers about making a limited number of the cars. The price? "It would be cheaper than a Rolls-Royce," he said. A 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe has a sticker price of more than $400,000.
Rinderknecht said it was unlikely that people would soon spot the sQuba tolling down the highway or popping up in your nearby lake.
"They might sell as toys for rich people, perhaps," he said. "I don't see mass transportation switching to cars that dive."
Australia, U.S. Air Accord Opens Long-Haul Routes
By RACHEL PANNETT and BILL LINDSAYFebruary 16, 2008
CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia and the U.S. signed an aviation agreement that clears the way for increased competition on one of the world's most lucrative and protected long-haul routes, though in practice the pact isn't likely to have a profound effect on the market.
The deal, announced Friday, will allow all Australian and U.S. airlines to freely select routes, destinations and frequency of flights between the two countries and to other nations.
Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. and Chicago's UAL Corp.'s United Airlines are the only airlines flying nonstop between Australia and the continental U.S. The agreement will allow Australian carrier Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd. to push ahead with its plans to begin flights to the U.S. by the end of this year.
Virgin Blue, Australia's second-largest airline by revenue behind Qantas, wants to fly to the U.S. West Coast using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and would operate the service through its new international arm, V Australia. Virgin Blue Chief Executive Brett Godfrey called the deal a "great outcome" for Australian travelers and said it would usher in a new era of competition for air services between the countries.
Qantas operates 43 flights a week between Australia and Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, while its budget offshoot, Jetstar, flies five times weekly to Honolulu.
--Bruce Stanley in Hong Kong contributed to this article.
CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia and the U.S. signed an aviation agreement that clears the way for increased competition on one of the world's most lucrative and protected long-haul routes, though in practice the pact isn't likely to have a profound effect on the market.
The deal, announced Friday, will allow all Australian and U.S. airlines to freely select routes, destinations and frequency of flights between the two countries and to other nations.
Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. and Chicago's UAL Corp.'s United Airlines are the only airlines flying nonstop between Australia and the continental U.S. The agreement will allow Australian carrier Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd. to push ahead with its plans to begin flights to the U.S. by the end of this year.
Virgin Blue, Australia's second-largest airline by revenue behind Qantas, wants to fly to the U.S. West Coast using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and would operate the service through its new international arm, V Australia. Virgin Blue Chief Executive Brett Godfrey called the deal a "great outcome" for Australian travelers and said it would usher in a new era of competition for air services between the countries.
Qantas operates 43 flights a week between Australia and Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, while its budget offshoot, Jetstar, flies five times weekly to Honolulu.
--Bruce Stanley in Hong Kong contributed to this article.
Major funding boost to drought proof Tasmania
The Tasmanian Premier has announced $80 million in funding to drought proof the State.
5 major water projects around the State will get a share of the funding.
Paul Lennon announced the funding package at the opening of the Meander Dam in northern tasmania today.
The Premier says over the next 3 years he wants to focus on drought proofing the state.
Money will now pour into the Poatina Channel project to build pipelines to take water into the Midlands.
Large dams will be built in the north east and pipelines will be built to take irrigation water to the Mersey Forth region.
The Central Highlands water security will also improve.
Mr Lennon says the project has the potential to increase irrigation water supplies by 250,000 megalitres every year.
5 major water projects around the State will get a share of the funding.
Paul Lennon announced the funding package at the opening of the Meander Dam in northern tasmania today.
The Premier says over the next 3 years he wants to focus on drought proofing the state.
Money will now pour into the Poatina Channel project to build pipelines to take water into the Midlands.
Large dams will be built in the north east and pipelines will be built to take irrigation water to the Mersey Forth region.
The Central Highlands water security will also improve.
Mr Lennon says the project has the potential to increase irrigation water supplies by 250,000 megalitres every year.
Friday, February 15, 2008
U.S. Officials Say Broken Satellite Will Be Shot Down
By DAVID STOUT and THOM SHANKER
Published: February 14, 2008
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon plans to shoot down a disabled 5,000-pound spy satellite before it enters the atmosphere in early March, a senior Pentagon official said Thursday.
The official said the operation was expected to be carried out from a Navy cruiser that would fire a missile specially fitted for the mission. Other details on the timing and location of the operation were not available, pending a Thursday afternoon briefing at the Defense Department. Navy ships routinely carry missiles to shoot down aircraft.
It was not immediately known if the operation was prompted by fears that the satellite’s debris would pose a danger if the satellite were allowed to tumble back into the atmosphere on its own; by reasons of secrecy, or by some combination of factors.
Many satellites have fallen harmlessly out of orbit during the space age, in part because they often break apart and the pieces generally burn upon re-entry. And when pieces do survive re-entry, they have usually landed in remote areas or in an ocean, simply because the Earth’s surface has more remote regions and seas than it does heavily populated areas.
The operation, which was first reported on Thursday by The Associated Press, involves the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department and other agencies in addition to the Defense Department.
The ramifications of the operation are diplomatic as well as military and scientific, in part because the United States criticized China last year when Beijing used a defunct weather satellite as a target in a test of an antisatellite system.
After their test, the Chinese said that they had no intention of getting involved in a “space race,” and that their test had not been designed to intimidate. Under the Bush administration, the United States has asserted its need to protect its interests in space.
The United States shot down a satellite in September 1985, as a test of an antisatellite system under development. In that experiment, an F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft fired a missile armed with a “kill” vehicle that collided with the U.S. Solwind satellite.
The impending demise of the American spy satellite has been of some concern to rocket experts, who have speculated that the object may contain hydrazine fuel, which is typically used in thrusters for rocket maneuvers in space and would be hazardous to anyone who came into contact with it on the ground, should any of the substance not be consumed by the fierce heat of re-entry.
“Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation,” Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a statement in late January, when the problem satellite was moving in a circular orbit about 170 miles above the Earth. In the previous month, its orbit had declined as much as 12 miles.
Specialists who follow spy satellite operations have speculated that the problem satellite is an experimental imagery device built by Lockheed Martin and launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard a Delta II rocket. Shortly after it reached orbit, ground controllers lost the ability to control it and were unable to regain communication.
“Not necessarily dead, but deaf,” as Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian center for Astrophysics, put it in late January.
John E. Pike, the director of Globalsecurity.org in Alexandria, Va., said in January that assuming the satellite in question was indeed a spy satellite, it would probably not contain any nuclear fuel, but that it could contain toxins, including beryllium, often used as a rigid frame for optical components. Moreover, it is possible that any surviving debris could be scattered over several hundred square miles.
If the satellite is destroyed before plummeting to earth, there would be less chance of sensitive American technology being compromised, Mr. Pike said. “We are worried about something showing up on e-Bay,” he told The A.P.
As for the possibility that debris could strike a population center, Mr. McDowell said in January that “one could say we’ve been lucky so far.”
The largest uncontrolled re-entry by an American spacecraft was that of Skylab in 1979. Controllers changed the 78-ton abandoned space station’s orientation to vary atmospheric drag to shift its entry point. Much of the craft fell into the Indian Ocean, as predicted, but some pieces traveled farther than expected, falling harmlessly in Western Australia
Published: February 14, 2008
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon plans to shoot down a disabled 5,000-pound spy satellite before it enters the atmosphere in early March, a senior Pentagon official said Thursday.
The official said the operation was expected to be carried out from a Navy cruiser that would fire a missile specially fitted for the mission. Other details on the timing and location of the operation were not available, pending a Thursday afternoon briefing at the Defense Department. Navy ships routinely carry missiles to shoot down aircraft.
It was not immediately known if the operation was prompted by fears that the satellite’s debris would pose a danger if the satellite were allowed to tumble back into the atmosphere on its own; by reasons of secrecy, or by some combination of factors.
Many satellites have fallen harmlessly out of orbit during the space age, in part because they often break apart and the pieces generally burn upon re-entry. And when pieces do survive re-entry, they have usually landed in remote areas or in an ocean, simply because the Earth’s surface has more remote regions and seas than it does heavily populated areas.
The operation, which was first reported on Thursday by The Associated Press, involves the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department and other agencies in addition to the Defense Department.
The ramifications of the operation are diplomatic as well as military and scientific, in part because the United States criticized China last year when Beijing used a defunct weather satellite as a target in a test of an antisatellite system.
After their test, the Chinese said that they had no intention of getting involved in a “space race,” and that their test had not been designed to intimidate. Under the Bush administration, the United States has asserted its need to protect its interests in space.
The United States shot down a satellite in September 1985, as a test of an antisatellite system under development. In that experiment, an F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft fired a missile armed with a “kill” vehicle that collided with the U.S. Solwind satellite.
The impending demise of the American spy satellite has been of some concern to rocket experts, who have speculated that the object may contain hydrazine fuel, which is typically used in thrusters for rocket maneuvers in space and would be hazardous to anyone who came into contact with it on the ground, should any of the substance not be consumed by the fierce heat of re-entry.
“Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation,” Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a statement in late January, when the problem satellite was moving in a circular orbit about 170 miles above the Earth. In the previous month, its orbit had declined as much as 12 miles.
Specialists who follow spy satellite operations have speculated that the problem satellite is an experimental imagery device built by Lockheed Martin and launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard a Delta II rocket. Shortly after it reached orbit, ground controllers lost the ability to control it and were unable to regain communication.
“Not necessarily dead, but deaf,” as Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian center for Astrophysics, put it in late January.
John E. Pike, the director of Globalsecurity.org in Alexandria, Va., said in January that assuming the satellite in question was indeed a spy satellite, it would probably not contain any nuclear fuel, but that it could contain toxins, including beryllium, often used as a rigid frame for optical components. Moreover, it is possible that any surviving debris could be scattered over several hundred square miles.
If the satellite is destroyed before plummeting to earth, there would be less chance of sensitive American technology being compromised, Mr. Pike said. “We are worried about something showing up on e-Bay,” he told The A.P.
As for the possibility that debris could strike a population center, Mr. McDowell said in January that “one could say we’ve been lucky so far.”
The largest uncontrolled re-entry by an American spacecraft was that of Skylab in 1979. Controllers changed the 78-ton abandoned space station’s orientation to vary atmospheric drag to shift its entry point. Much of the craft fell into the Indian Ocean, as predicted, but some pieces traveled farther than expected, falling harmlessly in Western Australia
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Dip in wine exports
Posted February 14, 2008 12:04:00 Updated February 14, 2008 12:05:00
Wine exports have declined in volume for the first time in 12 years (file photo). (AFP: Frederic J Brown)
The volume of Australian wine exports has declined for the first time in 12 years.
The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation says 770-million litres of wine were exported in the latest year, slightly down on the year before.
There was a poor season in 2007 and this year's harvest is also drought-affected.
The Corporation reported an increase of 3 per cent in the value of exports, to just under $3 billion.
Wine exports have declined in volume for the first time in 12 years (file photo). (AFP: Frederic J Brown)
The volume of Australian wine exports has declined for the first time in 12 years.
The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation says 770-million litres of wine were exported in the latest year, slightly down on the year before.
There was a poor season in 2007 and this year's harvest is also drought-affected.
The Corporation reported an increase of 3 per cent in the value of exports, to just under $3 billion.
GE grain segregation possible
Report: Cameron Wilson
A major mainland grain trader says there will not be a problem segregating non-GM canola from GM varieties in the short term. Rural Logic Australia ships canola meal from Victorian crushing plants to Tasmania for use in the dairy, poultry and pig industries. The crushed canola is historically sourced from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, but those state's now have differing rules on GM crops.South Australia will maintain it's GM moratorium while Victoria and New South Wales are allowing farmers to grow GM canola. It remains to be seen what decision the Tasmanian government will make.Director of Rural Logic Bill Baxter says in the immediate future it will be easy for Tasmanian farmers to confirm the origin of any imported canola meal."All of the grains we do have, or that are grown in Victoria for example, barley has 5 or 6 segregation's, wheat would have 3 segregation's, so already the bulk handling companies are experts about segregating product in certain areas and that can be done on an individual silo basis, or one silo will be for gm canola and the next silo will be for non-gm canola.""There is expertise in doing these things and I'm sure we will have a plan developed prior to the next harvest" Bill Baxter said.
In this report: Bill Baxter, director of Rural Logic.
A major mainland grain trader says there will not be a problem segregating non-GM canola from GM varieties in the short term. Rural Logic Australia ships canola meal from Victorian crushing plants to Tasmania for use in the dairy, poultry and pig industries. The crushed canola is historically sourced from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, but those state's now have differing rules on GM crops.South Australia will maintain it's GM moratorium while Victoria and New South Wales are allowing farmers to grow GM canola. It remains to be seen what decision the Tasmanian government will make.Director of Rural Logic Bill Baxter says in the immediate future it will be easy for Tasmanian farmers to confirm the origin of any imported canola meal."All of the grains we do have, or that are grown in Victoria for example, barley has 5 or 6 segregation's, wheat would have 3 segregation's, so already the bulk handling companies are experts about segregating product in certain areas and that can be done on an individual silo basis, or one silo will be for gm canola and the next silo will be for non-gm canola.""There is expertise in doing these things and I'm sure we will have a plan developed prior to the next harvest" Bill Baxter said.
In this report: Bill Baxter, director of Rural Logic.
Carbon offset claims—issues paper
Consumer concerns about understanding and verifying carbon offset claims have led the ACCC to consider the Trade Practices Act issues associated with this emerging market.
The ACCC has begun consulting broadly with stakeholders from across the industry including consumer groups, accreditation agencies, offset providers and corporate participants in carbon offsets schemes.
The issues paper The Trade Practices Act and carbon offset claims provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment upon the preliminary issues identified by the ACCC.
Submissions can be made orally or in writing by February 15, 2008. Written submissions should be made as briefly as possible (limited to approximately 10 pages).
Submissions can be emailed to carbonclaims@accc.gov.au
To make an oral submission please contact Ebony McNally on 02 6243 1176.
The ACCC has begun consulting broadly with stakeholders from across the industry including consumer groups, accreditation agencies, offset providers and corporate participants in carbon offsets schemes.
The issues paper The Trade Practices Act and carbon offset claims provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment upon the preliminary issues identified by the ACCC.
Submissions can be made orally or in writing by February 15, 2008. Written submissions should be made as briefly as possible (limited to approximately 10 pages).
Submissions can be emailed to carbonclaims@accc.gov.au
To make an oral submission please contact Ebony McNally on 02 6243 1176.
Follow this link: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/807902
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Apology
TODAY we honour the indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations – this blemished chapter in our nations history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart, resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, indigenous and non-indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations – this blemished chapter in our nations history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart, resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, indigenous and non-indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Good results for rural businesses
A new survey has found Tasmania's agri-businesses are doing better than those in other states.
The December quarter Economic Performance Index released by Westpac Bank and Charles Sturt University went up by .08 of 1 p.c., slightly higher than the national average.
Each region of Tasmania recorded gains, with the biggest in the south.
Westpac senior economist, Justin Smirk, says business confidence in agriculture has been low across the country for some time but Tasmania has done well because of demand for its exports.
"Conditions have been quite dry in Tasmania
"It's probably more of a demand story than an overall good rain performance story and so, if the rain comes things could become even better."
The December quarter Economic Performance Index released by Westpac Bank and Charles Sturt University went up by .08 of 1 p.c., slightly higher than the national average.
Each region of Tasmania recorded gains, with the biggest in the south.
Westpac senior economist, Justin Smirk, says business confidence in agriculture has been low across the country for some time but Tasmania has done well because of demand for its exports.
"Conditions have been quite dry in Tasmania
WHEN WILL THE NEXT SOLARas they have been over much of Australia," Mr Smirk said.
ECLIPSE BE VISIBLE IN NORTHERN TASMANIA?
"It's probably more of a demand story than an overall good rain performance story and so, if the rain comes things could become even better."
Monday, February 11, 2008
Global container capacity rises 13pc against 11pc for the trade overall in 2007: UN
GLOBAL growth in world container carrying capacity in 2007 is estimated at 13.4 per cent, 2.4 per cent higher than the estimated growth in demand, says a UN agency.
India's Hindu daily newspaper report cited the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development (Unctad) which calculated figures from order books for containerships in September 2007 that stood at 6.2 million TEU, representing 60 per cent of the existing fleet.
In 2006, containership fleet growth surpassed that of the container trade itself for the first time since 2001. With an increase in the fleet of 1.4 million TEU, capacity rose 13. 5 per cent in 2006 (a 2.5 per cent increase), which was more than the growth of the overall trade that only increased 11 per cent.
In 2006, said Unctad, throughput of the container handling ports increased by 13.4 per cent to reach 440 million TEU. The developing countries handled 65 per cent of the total, up from 62.1 per cent in 2005, said the Unctad report.
Asia exports grew 18 per cent and imports by 11 per cent, according to the Unctad Review, whose report also said global terminal operators in Asia handled 50 per cent of the world's container volume.
As 2007 began, the world's merchant fleet totalled more than one billion tonnes for the first time to reach 1.04 billion after growing 8.6 per cent, according to Unctad's Maritime Transport 2007 report, which examined sea trades, comparing regions and countries.
Developed countries controlled 65.9 per cent of the world tonnage, with developing countries and economies in transition accounting for 31.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively, the Unctad report noted.
The operational productivity of the world fleet decreased slightly during 2006, reaching 7.1 tonnes carried per dead weight tonne from 7.4 tonnes in 2005 and 29.4 thousand tonne miles per tonne (30.3). This reflects faster rate of fleet expansion relative to cargo carried. The world surplus tonnage in 2006 increased to 10.1 million tonnes or one per cent of the world merchant fleet. The corresponding figures for 2005 were 7.1 million tons and 0.7 per cent respectively, said the report.
World rail freight coverage also expanded in 2006, led by growth in China and India at 11 per cent and 8 per cent respectively.
The growing world economy, led by mounting demand in Asia, led to an increase in sea-borne international trade to 7.4 billion tonnes in 2006 - up 4.3 per cent. According to the latest data available for 2005, global freight costs represented 5.9 per cent of the value of world imports, a jump from 5.1 per cent in 2004. The cost of transport came to 7.7 per cent of import value for developing nations, and to 7.6 per cent for countries with economies in transition. Developing countries and the economies in transition continued to bear the brunt of high transport costs.
India's Hindu daily newspaper report cited the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development (Unctad) which calculated figures from order books for containerships in September 2007 that stood at 6.2 million TEU, representing 60 per cent of the existing fleet.
In 2006, containership fleet growth surpassed that of the container trade itself for the first time since 2001. With an increase in the fleet of 1.4 million TEU, capacity rose 13. 5 per cent in 2006 (a 2.5 per cent increase), which was more than the growth of the overall trade that only increased 11 per cent.
In 2006, said Unctad, throughput of the container handling ports increased by 13.4 per cent to reach 440 million TEU. The developing countries handled 65 per cent of the total, up from 62.1 per cent in 2005, said the Unctad report.
Asia exports grew 18 per cent and imports by 11 per cent, according to the Unctad Review, whose report also said global terminal operators in Asia handled 50 per cent of the world's container volume.
As 2007 began, the world's merchant fleet totalled more than one billion tonnes for the first time to reach 1.04 billion after growing 8.6 per cent, according to Unctad's Maritime Transport 2007 report, which examined sea trades, comparing regions and countries.
Developed countries controlled 65.9 per cent of the world tonnage, with developing countries and economies in transition accounting for 31.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively, the Unctad report noted.
The operational productivity of the world fleet decreased slightly during 2006, reaching 7.1 tonnes carried per dead weight tonne from 7.4 tonnes in 2005 and 29.4 thousand tonne miles per tonne (30.3). This reflects faster rate of fleet expansion relative to cargo carried. The world surplus tonnage in 2006 increased to 10.1 million tonnes or one per cent of the world merchant fleet. The corresponding figures for 2005 were 7.1 million tons and 0.7 per cent respectively, said the report.
World rail freight coverage also expanded in 2006, led by growth in China and India at 11 per cent and 8 per cent respectively.
The growing world economy, led by mounting demand in Asia, led to an increase in sea-borne international trade to 7.4 billion tonnes in 2006 - up 4.3 per cent. According to the latest data available for 2005, global freight costs represented 5.9 per cent of the value of world imports, a jump from 5.1 per cent in 2004. The cost of transport came to 7.7 per cent of import value for developing nations, and to 7.6 per cent for countries with economies in transition. Developing countries and the economies in transition continued to bear the brunt of high transport costs.
Wheat prices soar on supply forecast
Report: Liz Rodway
Wheat prices have soared to a record $450 a tonne.The latest increase is due to America's wheat stocks dropping to a sixty year low.The report has revised wheat stocks lower - down 40 per cent on last year to seven and a half million tonnes and now, for the first time in history, wheat is trading above 10 US dollars a bushel.Richard Koch managing director from ProFarmer says there are some real benefits for Australian grain growers. "It's very positive for Australian grain growers," he says. "They should benefit through increased pool prices for the 07/08 crop and through another lift in the domestic prices via high prices for the container trade and on wheat that will be sourced to fill the bulk export licenses recently issued by the Minister."Also the big rally has carried through for new crop pricing which augers well for prices in the coming year," he says. Temora grain grower Angus McLaren is planning to put in 2200 hectares of wheat this year.While the good returns on wheat will be offset slightly by high input costs, he's hoping the prices will remain high. "Oh look I'm feeling very bullish actually," he says."Obviously those figures are being reflected in the current prices for wheat. "We're seeing Chicago wheat trade over $10 a bushel which is the first time that's ever happened in history. "I guess there's a little bit of nervousness that those prices won't be around when it comes to harvest for us this year because obviously it's going to encourage wall to wall wheat right around the world but fingers are crossed. "I think the situation has never been more positive and if we can get a crop this year and good prices are maintained then it will make up for the two disappointing years we've had." While the higher grain prices have been welcomed by one of Tasmania's largest grain producers, Ian McKinnon, he warns that the Tasmanian drought, combined with higher input prices will erode the returns."You are actually looking at farmers with very low yields, in some cases, no yields at all, so I think it's got to be looked at in that context.....so it's not all good news" he said.
In this report: Richard Koch, managing director, ProFarmer; Angus McLaren, grain grower, Temora, NSW, Ian McKinnon, grain grower from northern Tasmania.
Wheat prices have soared to a record $450 a tonne.The latest increase is due to America's wheat stocks dropping to a sixty year low.The report has revised wheat stocks lower - down 40 per cent on last year to seven and a half million tonnes and now, for the first time in history, wheat is trading above 10 US dollars a bushel.Richard Koch managing director from ProFarmer says there are some real benefits for Australian grain growers. "It's very positive for Australian grain growers," he says. "They should benefit through increased pool prices for the 07/08 crop and through another lift in the domestic prices via high prices for the container trade and on wheat that will be sourced to fill the bulk export licenses recently issued by the Minister."Also the big rally has carried through for new crop pricing which augers well for prices in the coming year," he says. Temora grain grower Angus McLaren is planning to put in 2200 hectares of wheat this year.While the good returns on wheat will be offset slightly by high input costs, he's hoping the prices will remain high. "Oh look I'm feeling very bullish actually," he says."Obviously those figures are being reflected in the current prices for wheat. "We're seeing Chicago wheat trade over $10 a bushel which is the first time that's ever happened in history. "I guess there's a little bit of nervousness that those prices won't be around when it comes to harvest for us this year because obviously it's going to encourage wall to wall wheat right around the world but fingers are crossed. "I think the situation has never been more positive and if we can get a crop this year and good prices are maintained then it will make up for the two disappointing years we've had." While the higher grain prices have been welcomed by one of Tasmania's largest grain producers, Ian McKinnon, he warns that the Tasmanian drought, combined with higher input prices will erode the returns."You are actually looking at farmers with very low yields, in some cases, no yields at all, so I think it's got to be looked at in that context.....so it's not all good news" he said.
In this report: Richard Koch, managing director, ProFarmer; Angus McLaren, grain grower, Temora, NSW, Ian McKinnon, grain grower from northern Tasmania.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Chinese weather disrupts lobster exports
Report: Anna Vidot
Today marks the start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year - and it's usually a time of celebration for Tasmania's rock lobster fishers.More than 60 per cent of Tasmania's lobster catch will end up in the Asian market, and traditionally, strong demand over the new year period drives up prices. But that effect has been dampened by severe weather in China.Chief Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fisherman's Association Rodney Trelogan says the two week cold snap has made transporting fish difficult."In some instances I've spoken to processors that have still got fish in their tanks that they had hoped to get into China in time for the holiday season and they're still holding those fish, so it will have had an impact, but hopefully it won't be too severe," he said.
In this report: Rodeny Treloggen, chief executive Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fisherman's Association
Today marks the start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year - and it's usually a time of celebration for Tasmania's rock lobster fishers.More than 60 per cent of Tasmania's lobster catch will end up in the Asian market, and traditionally, strong demand over the new year period drives up prices. But that effect has been dampened by severe weather in China.Chief Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fisherman's Association Rodney Trelogan says the two week cold snap has made transporting fish difficult."In some instances I've spoken to processors that have still got fish in their tanks that they had hoped to get into China in time for the holiday season and they're still holding those fish, so it will have had an impact, but hopefully it won't be too severe," he said.
In this report: Rodeny Treloggen, chief executive Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fisherman's Association
China storms point to export boost
Report: Liz Rodway
In China, snowstorms have destroyed millions of hectares of crops.The unusual weather could prompt China to consider securing food supplies from other countries, including Australia. Some Chinese cities have received their heaviest snow falls in 50 years. It couldn't have come at a worse time as people flock home for the Chinese New Year. It's disrupted shipping and tripled the price of meat and vegetables at an estimated cost to the economy of $7.5 billion dollars. The general manager of Elders China, Tim Leviny lives in Shianghai and says there will be export opportunities for Australia."This time of the year is one of those periods where traditionally the Chinese get together with all their families," he says. "So if you think Christmas time when we're all stocking up food in Australia, that's exactly what they're doing here as well. "The Chinese Government prior to this happening had also tried to anticipate the movement of people for the Chinese New Year and instructed a large number of the cities to increase their food reserves to 10 days supply so while they had some supplies there this weather has exacerbated this problem."Mr Leviny says over the next few weeks as the weather starts to warm up, China will get a better picture of the damage. He believes, in the bigger sense these sorts of shocks are going to have an impact on China's overall ability to have food security and food sustainability. For major exporters like Australia, the opporutnities will be there."In terms of pork, there was a major disease outbreak here call blue-ear and it had substantial impacts on pig animals which unfortuantely succumbed to the disease. "Since then I've seen other countries and other companies opening up supply of pork into China which traditionally has been self sufficient. So if that's an example of the way they're thinking by opening up supply, then the answer is yes," he says.He sees opportunities for pork, other meats and grains to China.
In this report: Tim Leviny, general manager from Elders China
In China, snowstorms have destroyed millions of hectares of crops.The unusual weather could prompt China to consider securing food supplies from other countries, including Australia. Some Chinese cities have received their heaviest snow falls in 50 years. It couldn't have come at a worse time as people flock home for the Chinese New Year. It's disrupted shipping and tripled the price of meat and vegetables at an estimated cost to the economy of $7.5 billion dollars. The general manager of Elders China, Tim Leviny lives in Shianghai and says there will be export opportunities for Australia."This time of the year is one of those periods where traditionally the Chinese get together with all their families," he says. "So if you think Christmas time when we're all stocking up food in Australia, that's exactly what they're doing here as well. "The Chinese Government prior to this happening had also tried to anticipate the movement of people for the Chinese New Year and instructed a large number of the cities to increase their food reserves to 10 days supply so while they had some supplies there this weather has exacerbated this problem."Mr Leviny says over the next few weeks as the weather starts to warm up, China will get a better picture of the damage. He believes, in the bigger sense these sorts of shocks are going to have an impact on China's overall ability to have food security and food sustainability. For major exporters like Australia, the opporutnities will be there."In terms of pork, there was a major disease outbreak here call blue-ear and it had substantial impacts on pig animals which unfortuantely succumbed to the disease. "Since then I've seen other countries and other companies opening up supply of pork into China which traditionally has been self sufficient. So if that's an example of the way they're thinking by opening up supply, then the answer is yes," he says.He sees opportunities for pork, other meats and grains to China.
In this report: Tim Leviny, general manager from Elders China
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Crisis point as big freeze hits 100m
Nation's coal reserves can sustain power plants for only six days, watchdog warns
Jane Cai and He Huifeng Feb 01, 2008
The number of people affected by the national crisis triggered by unprecedented bad weather was close to 100 million, according to figures provided by Xinhua.Many power plants have run out of coal stocks. The China Electricity Regulatory Commission said coal reserves could maintain operation of power plants for only six more days." name=artAbstract>
The number of people affected by the national crisis triggered by unprecedented bad weather was close to 100 million, according to figures provided by Xinhua.Many power plants have run out of coal stocks. The China Electricity Regulatory Commission said coal reserves could maintain operation of power plants for only six more days. The emergency was highlighted when President Hu Jintao made an unscheduled visit to a coal pit in Shanxi in an attempt to bolster miners' morale and raise production. His visit came days after Premier Wen Jiabao visited Hunan and Guangdong in a move to stabilise the situation. Authorities were last night racing against time as thousands of desperate passengers swamped the railway station in Guangzhou. With more workers expected to attempt to travel home for the Lunar New Year.
The mainland's weather crisis appeared to have reached a critical point last night as the government battled another round of snowfalls, blizzards and power failures.
The number of people affected by the national crisis triggered by unprecedented bad weather was close to 100 million, according to figures provided by Xinhua.
Many power plants have run out of coal stocks. The China Electricity Regulatory Commission said coal reserves could maintain operation of power plants for only six more days.
The emergency was highlighted when President Hu Jintao made an unscheduled visit to a coal pit in Shanxi in an attempt to bolster miners' morale and raise production. His visit came days after Premier Wen Jiabao visited Hunan and Guangdong in a move to stabilise the situation.
Authorities were last night racing against time as thousands of desperate passengers swamped the railway station in Guangzhou . With more workers expected to attempt to travel home for the Lunar New Year in the next few days, and forecasts of more bad weather, the government was counting on quick resumption of rail services to move as many as 400,000 passengers a day from the city.
Several people were injured in a scuffle under a flyover near Guangzhou station. There were widespread rumours last night that a person had been killed and several more injured in a stampede between 5pm and 6pm under the flyover. A government source last night confirmed there had been a stampede and several people had been injured but denied there had been a fatality.
Travellers waiting in the area described the situation as chaotic, with crowds pushing and shoving when police opened the gates every three hours to admit people to the station.
About 190,000 travellers were still in the area last night, in spite of being told to go home by police.
Since January 10, the worst snowstorms in 50 years for many of the 18 provinces affected have killed at least 46 people and brought economic losses of about 43 billion yuan. They have destroyed or damaged more than 750,000 homes, caused blackouts and damaged 8.3 million hectares of farmland, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.
Traffic was still stalled on the Beijing -Zhuhai highway in the southern province of Hunan , while in Chenzhou , Hunan, vehicles formed queues 80km long, while water and supplies were cut for the seventh day.
In Guizhou , power supplies resumed in the capital city Guiyang , but people elsewhere were still without electricity. In Guangxi , blackouts hit Guilin , while in Beijing candles were being supplied to people in need, CCTV reported.
Part of the Beijing-Guangzhou rail service resumed after diesel engines were mobilised to haul paralysed electric trains.
A total of 400,000 people were already heading home for the holiday, the Ministry of Railways said. A railway official said he was confident an estimated 2 million passengers in Guangzhou, mainly migrant workers, could be reunited with their families on time. "In the next five days, if we handle 400,000 passengers daily, we can send them home before the eve of the festival [on Wednesday]."
The China Meteorological Administration forecasts fresh snowfall, sleet and freezing weather to hit the southern provinces of Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui , Jiangsu, Jiangxi , Zhejiang and Guangdong from today.
Jane Cai and He Huifeng Feb 01, 2008
The number of people affected by the national crisis triggered by unprecedented bad weather was close to 100 million, according to figures provided by Xinhua.Many power plants have run out of coal stocks. The China Electricity Regulatory Commission said coal reserves could maintain operation of power plants for only six more days." name=artAbstract>
The number of people affected by the national crisis triggered by unprecedented bad weather was close to 100 million, according to figures provided by Xinhua.Many power plants have run out of coal stocks. The China Electricity Regulatory Commission said coal reserves could maintain operation of power plants for only six more days. The emergency was highlighted when President Hu Jintao made an unscheduled visit to a coal pit in Shanxi in an attempt to bolster miners' morale and raise production. His visit came days after Premier Wen Jiabao visited Hunan and Guangdong in a move to stabilise the situation. Authorities were last night racing against time as thousands of desperate passengers swamped the railway station in Guangzhou. With more workers expected to attempt to travel home for the Lunar New Year.
The mainland's weather crisis appeared to have reached a critical point last night as the government battled another round of snowfalls, blizzards and power failures.
The number of people affected by the national crisis triggered by unprecedented bad weather was close to 100 million, according to figures provided by Xinhua.
Many power plants have run out of coal stocks. The China Electricity Regulatory Commission said coal reserves could maintain operation of power plants for only six more days.
The emergency was highlighted when President Hu Jintao made an unscheduled visit to a coal pit in Shanxi in an attempt to bolster miners' morale and raise production. His visit came days after Premier Wen Jiabao visited Hunan and Guangdong in a move to stabilise the situation.
Authorities were last night racing against time as thousands of desperate passengers swamped the railway station in Guangzhou . With more workers expected to attempt to travel home for the Lunar New Year in the next few days, and forecasts of more bad weather, the government was counting on quick resumption of rail services to move as many as 400,000 passengers a day from the city.
Several people were injured in a scuffle under a flyover near Guangzhou station. There were widespread rumours last night that a person had been killed and several more injured in a stampede between 5pm and 6pm under the flyover. A government source last night confirmed there had been a stampede and several people had been injured but denied there had been a fatality.
Travellers waiting in the area described the situation as chaotic, with crowds pushing and shoving when police opened the gates every three hours to admit people to the station.
About 190,000 travellers were still in the area last night, in spite of being told to go home by police.
Since January 10, the worst snowstorms in 50 years for many of the 18 provinces affected have killed at least 46 people and brought economic losses of about 43 billion yuan. They have destroyed or damaged more than 750,000 homes, caused blackouts and damaged 8.3 million hectares of farmland, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.
Traffic was still stalled on the Beijing -Zhuhai highway in the southern province of Hunan , while in Chenzhou , Hunan, vehicles formed queues 80km long, while water and supplies were cut for the seventh day.
In Guizhou , power supplies resumed in the capital city Guiyang , but people elsewhere were still without electricity. In Guangxi , blackouts hit Guilin , while in Beijing candles were being supplied to people in need, CCTV reported.
Part of the Beijing-Guangzhou rail service resumed after diesel engines were mobilised to haul paralysed electric trains.
A total of 400,000 people were already heading home for the holiday, the Ministry of Railways said. A railway official said he was confident an estimated 2 million passengers in Guangzhou, mainly migrant workers, could be reunited with their families on time. "In the next five days, if we handle 400,000 passengers daily, we can send them home before the eve of the festival [on Wednesday]."
The China Meteorological Administration forecasts fresh snowfall, sleet and freezing weather to hit the southern provinces of Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui , Jiangsu, Jiangxi , Zhejiang and Guangdong from today.
Peter Garrett gives Port Phillip Bay dredging go ahead
Peter Mickelburough
February 06, 2008 12:00am
DREDGING is scheduled to start in Port Phillip Bay at 7am tomorrow.
Federal approval for the $1 billion project to deepen the bay's shipping channel was given yesterday. Anti-dredging group Blue Wedges is expected today to seek a court injunction to halt the work.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett said he was confident 16 extra conditions he had demanded in a revised environmental management plan would protect the bay.
"As a result of this extensive monitoring and public reporting, the people of Victoria will know more about the environmental health of Port Phillip Bay than ever before," he said.
Blue Wedges lawyer Michael Morehead said Mr Garrett's decision was outrageous.
"What he has done is approve a toxic aquatic disposal facility 60 times bigger than the abandoned toxic land dump at Nowingi," he said.
The State Government abandoned plans to build a toxic dump site at Nowingi, near Mildura, after protests by locals.
Mr Morehead refused to discuss his next move, preferring to "keep my powder dry".
Port CEO Stephen Bradford said the giant Queen of the Netherlands would begin dredging clay from the channel off St Kilda and Brighton.
The clay will be used to build a 6 sq km underwater containment facility to hold toxin-contaminated sediment dredged from the Yarra mouth.
Mr Bradford said the environmental monitoring program was the most stringent applied to a dredging project anywhere in the world.
"People can have full confidence in the levels of environmental compliance and the significant public review process the Port of Melbourne is obligated to comply with."
The new plan requires:
PUBLIC release of quarterly and annual reports by the Port of Melbourne on the achievement of set standards.
MONITORING of water and tidal currents at the containment area to assure the public that contaminated sediment dredged from the Yarra River mouth remained secure.
THE dredge to operate in non-overflow mode so that no contaminated sediment can escape the dredge hopper.
Mr Garrett said he was satisfied the plan would protect matters of national environmental significance, including Ramsar wetlands and migratory and threatened species.
"If at any time the strict environmental limits required by the EMP are triggered, the port must report to me and dredging must stop," he said.
Opposition environment spokesman and local MP Greg Hunt said channel deepening was inevitable but dumping two million tonnes of toxic waste from the Yarra mouth in the middle of the bay was not.
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said quarterly reporting -- up to three months after any environmental breaches -- was inadequate.
A network of fixed monitoring buoys will take turbidity (water clarity) readings at fixed locations around the bay during the two-year project.
Other programs will monitor bay fish stocks, water quality, little penguins, nutrient cycling, plume intensity, contaminants in fish, algal bloom, Ramsar wetlands and seagrass.
The state Greens yesterday moved to refer the project to the new Upper House standing committee on finance and public administration.
The revised environmental management plan is on the Port of Melbourne website at www.channelproject.com
February 06, 2008 12:00am
DREDGING is scheduled to start in Port Phillip Bay at 7am tomorrow.
Federal approval for the $1 billion project to deepen the bay's shipping channel was given yesterday. Anti-dredging group Blue Wedges is expected today to seek a court injunction to halt the work.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett said he was confident 16 extra conditions he had demanded in a revised environmental management plan would protect the bay.
"As a result of this extensive monitoring and public reporting, the people of Victoria will know more about the environmental health of Port Phillip Bay than ever before," he said.
Blue Wedges lawyer Michael Morehead said Mr Garrett's decision was outrageous.
"What he has done is approve a toxic aquatic disposal facility 60 times bigger than the abandoned toxic land dump at Nowingi," he said.
The State Government abandoned plans to build a toxic dump site at Nowingi, near Mildura, after protests by locals.
Mr Morehead refused to discuss his next move, preferring to "keep my powder dry".
Port CEO Stephen Bradford said the giant Queen of the Netherlands would begin dredging clay from the channel off St Kilda and Brighton.
The clay will be used to build a 6 sq km underwater containment facility to hold toxin-contaminated sediment dredged from the Yarra mouth.
Mr Bradford said the environmental monitoring program was the most stringent applied to a dredging project anywhere in the world.
"People can have full confidence in the levels of environmental compliance and the significant public review process the Port of Melbourne is obligated to comply with."
The new plan requires:
PUBLIC release of quarterly and annual reports by the Port of Melbourne on the achievement of set standards.
MONITORING of water and tidal currents at the containment area to assure the public that contaminated sediment dredged from the Yarra River mouth remained secure.
THE dredge to operate in non-overflow mode so that no contaminated sediment can escape the dredge hopper.
Mr Garrett said he was satisfied the plan would protect matters of national environmental significance, including Ramsar wetlands and migratory and threatened species.
"If at any time the strict environmental limits required by the EMP are triggered, the port must report to me and dredging must stop," he said.
Opposition environment spokesman and local MP Greg Hunt said channel deepening was inevitable but dumping two million tonnes of toxic waste from the Yarra mouth in the middle of the bay was not.
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said quarterly reporting -- up to three months after any environmental breaches -- was inadequate.
A network of fixed monitoring buoys will take turbidity (water clarity) readings at fixed locations around the bay during the two-year project.
Other programs will monitor bay fish stocks, water quality, little penguins, nutrient cycling, plume intensity, contaminants in fish, algal bloom, Ramsar wetlands and seagrass.
The state Greens yesterday moved to refer the project to the new Upper House standing committee on finance and public administration.
The revised environmental management plan is on the Port of Melbourne website at www.channelproject.com
Solar eclipse
By CLAIRE VAN RYN
Northern Tasmania
When: 2.20-4pm, Thursday February 7 (weather permitting).
A PARTIAL eclipse of the sun tomorrow will provide a unique opportunity for people in Australia, New Zealand and areas of Antarctica to view part of the moon's orbit.
QVMAG Planetarium and Space Sciences Manager Martin George said it was very important not to look directly at the sun's disc, whether or not an eclipse was taking place.
"The next eclipse of any kind visible from Tasmania will be a partial eclipse of the moon in the early morning hours of August 17 this year. The next solar eclipse visible from here will not be until November 2011, and will be a very minor partial eclipse," Mr George said.
From Launceston, the eclipse tomorrow will begin at 2.24pm and reach its peak at 3.23pm, when the Moon will cover about 27 per cent of the sun's diameter. The eclipse will end at 4.17pm.
Northern Tasmania
When: 2.20-4pm, Thursday February 7 (weather permitting).
A PARTIAL eclipse of the sun tomorrow will provide a unique opportunity for people in Australia, New Zealand and areas of Antarctica to view part of the moon's orbit.
QVMAG Planetarium and Space Sciences Manager Martin George said it was very important not to look directly at the sun's disc, whether or not an eclipse was taking place.
"The next eclipse of any kind visible from Tasmania will be a partial eclipse of the moon in the early morning hours of August 17 this year. The next solar eclipse visible from here will not be until November 2011, and will be a very minor partial eclipse," Mr George said.
From Launceston, the eclipse tomorrow will begin at 2.24pm and reach its peak at 3.23pm, when the Moon will cover about 27 per cent of the sun's diameter. The eclipse will end at 4.17pm.
US ports must enlarge because of Panama Canal expansion, says researcher
PANAMA Canal Authority (ACP) vice president of Research and Market Analysis Rodolfo Sabonge forecasts that the new lane of traffic to be built on Panama Canal will greatly influence world trade and US ports in particular.
"These ports should be ready for larger and bigger ships that will go through the expanded Canal - anticipating infrastructure needs in the near future is key to their growth," he said.
The prediction was made during an expansion workshop held in Tampa, Florida earlier this month, co-sponsored by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the US Maritime Administration (MARAD), and hosted by the Tampa Port Authority. The event was attended by 200 US port and shipping officials, a statement from the ACP said.
The workshop entitled, "Shifting International Trade Routes - Planning for the Panama Canal Expansion," analysed the changing landscape of world trade, waterside and terminal development needs, financing opportunities and a number of other topics related to the expansion of the Panama Canal.
"These ports should be ready for larger and bigger ships that will go through the expanded Canal - anticipating infrastructure needs in the near future is key to their growth," he said.
The prediction was made during an expansion workshop held in Tampa, Florida earlier this month, co-sponsored by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the US Maritime Administration (MARAD), and hosted by the Tampa Port Authority. The event was attended by 200 US port and shipping officials, a statement from the ACP said.
The workshop entitled, "Shifting International Trade Routes - Planning for the Panama Canal Expansion," analysed the changing landscape of world trade, waterside and terminal development needs, financing opportunities and a number of other topics related to the expansion of the Panama Canal.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Mitsubishi to close
Updated: 13:04, Tuesday February 5, 2008
One thousand Mitsubishi workers in Adelaide are nervously waiting an announcement on the future of their jobs.
Sky News understands the company's board will make a decision at 1:30pm (AEDT) to close the plant.
Mitsubishi workers are expected to be informed of the shut down later this afternoon, before the company makes an official statement.
The plant has struggled for viability for years, and the launch of a new Australian model in 2005 did little to help.
Analysts say flagging vehicle sales and high petrol prices have made the Adelaide assembly line unprofitable.
There are reports the plant has been operating at only at one third capacity.
The company is reportedly planning to shift production to Russia and China.
One thousand Mitsubishi workers in Adelaide are nervously waiting an announcement on the future of their jobs.
Sky News understands the company's board will make a decision at 1:30pm (AEDT) to close the plant.
Mitsubishi workers are expected to be informed of the shut down later this afternoon, before the company makes an official statement.
The plant has struggled for viability for years, and the launch of a new Australian model in 2005 did little to help.
Analysts say flagging vehicle sales and high petrol prices have made the Adelaide assembly line unprofitable.
There are reports the plant has been operating at only at one third capacity.
The company is reportedly planning to shift production to Russia and China.
Heaven's produce eyes India and Dubai
By Eliza Wood
Monday, 04/02/2008
He might not be in parliament anymore, but former Braddon MP Mark Baker is still promoting his region.The "Produce of Heaven" campaign that Mr Baker started while in government has survived the election, and he's now running it as a commercial concern.Mark Baker says Tasmanian producers made significant inroads in the Taiwan and Hong Kong high-end markets last year, and in 2008 they're taking on Dubai and India."Up to now, the two pilots that we ran in Taiwan and Hong Kong, there's been just over $1.5 million in sales and ten new jobs have been created. For two pilots it was an outstanding success," he said."Overseas there is demand, but in Australia we judge not on quality so much, but price. We have such a great product, that has real taste, and currently in Australia it's just being used as a commodity."
In this report: Mark Baker, Produce of Heaven
Monday, 04/02/2008
He might not be in parliament anymore, but former Braddon MP Mark Baker is still promoting his region.The "Produce of Heaven" campaign that Mr Baker started while in government has survived the election, and he's now running it as a commercial concern.Mark Baker says Tasmanian producers made significant inroads in the Taiwan and Hong Kong high-end markets last year, and in 2008 they're taking on Dubai and India."Up to now, the two pilots that we ran in Taiwan and Hong Kong, there's been just over $1.5 million in sales and ten new jobs have been created. For two pilots it was an outstanding success," he said."Overseas there is demand, but in Australia we judge not on quality so much, but price. We have such a great product, that has real taste, and currently in Australia it's just being used as a commodity."
In this report: Mark Baker, Produce of Heaven
The new-look regional branding
By Sally Dakis
Monday, 04/02/2008
Do you like to know where your food comes from?In Europe, consumers want to able to trace what they eat, right back to the farm it came from.The latest in regional branding and traceability is called "origin protection" and is being used across the European Union.Slovenian chef, food writer and sommelier Thomas Srsen says all sorts of food is now origin protected, from sausages peppered with pork fat, to cheese made from a unique breed of cow from Slovenia. "Here we have th traceability which proves the purity of the taste, purity of the origin and that there are no GM materials inside."
In this report: Thomas Srsen, chef, food writer and sommelier
Monday, 04/02/2008
Do you like to know where your food comes from?In Europe, consumers want to able to trace what they eat, right back to the farm it came from.The latest in regional branding and traceability is called "origin protection" and is being used across the European Union.Slovenian chef, food writer and sommelier Thomas Srsen says all sorts of food is now origin protected, from sausages peppered with pork fat, to cheese made from a unique breed of cow from Slovenia. "Here we have th traceability which proves the purity of the taste, purity of the origin and that there are no GM materials inside."
In this report: Thomas Srsen, chef, food writer and sommelier
Monday, February 04, 2008
Controversy deepens over depth needed for Melbourne channel
DREDGING Melbourne's shipping channel is becoming controversial because figures of the numbers of fully loaded vessels needing extra depth doesn't tally with projected demands, reports The Melbourne Age.
The newspaper said the Port of Melbourne Corporation chief executive Stephen Bradford claims that "44 per cent of container vessels coming in and out of this port are draught-constrained".
But when pressed, a corporation spokesman admitted that ships were only "potentially" constrained, meaning they would have trouble docking if they were fully loaded. But experts maintain that ships are rarely full when coming to Melbourne, having mostly discharged at Sydney or Perth en route.
The newspaper said the Port of Melbourne Corporation chief executive Stephen Bradford claims that "44 per cent of container vessels coming in and out of this port are draught-constrained".
But when pressed, a corporation spokesman admitted that ships were only "potentially" constrained, meaning they would have trouble docking if they were fully loaded. But experts maintain that ships are rarely full when coming to Melbourne, having mostly discharged at Sydney or Perth en route.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Bunker Surcharge Summary February
For convenience we are including a summary of the Bunker Surcharges that will be in effect on 1st February, 2008.
Area
Bound
Level US$
Effective Date
China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea
North
US$425/20’
US$850/40’
21st Dec 2007
Taiwan
North
US$425/20’
US$850/40’
5th Jan 2008
China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea
South
US$425/20’
US$850/40’
21st Dec 2007
Taiwan
South
US$425/20’
US$850/40’
5th Jan 2008
South East Asia, Sub Continent and Middle East
North
US$225/20’
US$380/40’
30th Nov 2007
South East Asia, Sub Continent and Middle East
South
US$580/20’
US$1160/40’
1st Feb 2008
Europe/UK
North
US$360/20’
US$720/40’
11 Dec 2007
Europe/UK
South
US$510/20’
US$1020/40’
1st Feb 2008
As supplied by OOCL.
Area
Bound
Level US$
Effective Date
China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea
North
US$425/20’
US$850/40’
21st Dec 2007
Taiwan
North
US$425/20’
US$850/40’
5th Jan 2008
China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea
South
US$425/20’
US$850/40’
21st Dec 2007
Taiwan
South
US$425/20’
US$850/40’
5th Jan 2008
South East Asia, Sub Continent and Middle East
North
US$225/20’
US$380/40’
30th Nov 2007
South East Asia, Sub Continent and Middle East
South
US$580/20’
US$1160/40’
1st Feb 2008
Europe/UK
North
US$360/20’
US$720/40’
11 Dec 2007
Europe/UK
South
US$510/20’
US$1020/40’
1st Feb 2008
As supplied by OOCL.
Heavy Snow Affects Cargo Transportation in China
The snow, the worst in a decade in many places, has hit most of China since Jan. 10, leaving homes collapsed, power blackouts, highways closed and more than 77.8 million people affected. Meanwhile, freezing rain will pound some parts of Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Anhui and Zhejiang. China issued a weather alert as widespread heavy snow that has blanketed central, eastern and southern parts of the nation are forecast to continue this week.
Tas exports up by a third
Tasmanian exports grew by almost 30 per cent last year.
New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal the value of exports in 2006-2007 was $3.7 billion, an increase of 28 per cent on the previous financial year.
Tasmania's main export destination is Japan, which bought $627 million worth of goods, almost 13 per cent up on 2005-2006.
Zinc was the major single export commodity, contributing just over $1 billion or 29 per cent of total exports.
On the import side, Tasmania bought $614 million worth of goods, an increase of 19 per cent on 2005-2006.
The major source of imports was the United States, dispatching goods worth $78 million to the Tasmanian market.
Power generating machinery and equipment was the highest value imported commodity, representing $82 million or 13 per cent of total imports.
New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal the value of exports in 2006-2007 was $3.7 billion, an increase of 28 per cent on the previous financial year.
Tasmania's main export destination is Japan, which bought $627 million worth of goods, almost 13 per cent up on 2005-2006.
Zinc was the major single export commodity, contributing just over $1 billion or 29 per cent of total exports.
On the import side, Tasmania bought $614 million worth of goods, an increase of 19 per cent on 2005-2006.
The major source of imports was the United States, dispatching goods worth $78 million to the Tasmanian market.
Power generating machinery and equipment was the highest value imported commodity, representing $82 million or 13 per cent of total imports.
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