New Research

No quick fix for Australia’s future energy challenge

06 February 2012This report sets out the findings of the technology assessments and reviews the implications for government policy in terms of developing and deploying low emissions electricity technology.

Victorian bushfire recovery three year report

02 February 2012This report focuses on the progress and achievements made over the last 12 months including the delivery of programs, funding and support to communities and individuals affected by the 2009 bushfires.

Murray Valley encephalitis: a review of clinical features, diagnosis and treatment

24 January 2012The aftermarth of Queensland and NSW floods are beginning to effect areas of Victoria and South East Australia, with numbers in mosquito prone diseases rapidly on the rise.

Olympic dam making a two-speed economy in a manufacturing state

21 January 2012The massive Olympic Dam mine, now fully approved, threatens by itself to shift the centre of gravity of the future South Australian economy away from its traditional base in manufacturing.

#qldfloods and @QPSMedia: crisis communication on Twitter in the 2011 South East Queensland floods

#qldfloods and @QPSMedia: crisis communication on Twitter in the 2011 South East Queensland floods

12 January 2012Social media sites Twitter and Facebook played a crucial role in disseminating information during the 2011 Queensland floods.

Victorian Government response to the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations 27 and 32

03 January 2012This paper details how the Victorian Government will implement the recommendations of the Bushfires Royal Commission.

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Climate change

Carbon policy assistance reviews: the Commission's tasks

24 January 2012This consultation paper sets out the nature of each of the tasks assigned to the Commission for the Government's Clean Energy Future Package.

Fossil fuel taxes

10 January 2012This paper identifies the fuels that are taxed, the forms that the taxes take and, where possible, quantifies the amounts collected.

Urban planning

The role of informal community resources in supporting independent housing for young people recovering from mental illness

30 January 2012This project looks at the housing issues facing young independant people with mental illness.

What are the benefits and risks of home ownership for low-moderate income households?

30 January 2012The study emanated from a concern that popular and political support for home ownership is such that critical questions about the degree to which all home owners realise the projected financial and non-financial benefits of home ownership are rarely asked.

Exploring the use of residual measures of housing affordability in Australia: methodologies and concepts

30 January 2012This essay argues that new approaches to measuring housing affordability are needed and are possible in Australia.

Commentary

Stirring the sediment in the Murray Darling Basin

05 December 2011For APO, Annie Bolitho looks at more creative ways into the Murray Darling Basin quagmire.

Olegas Truchanas's Lake Pedder

15 November 2011In Inside Story, Ian McShane reviews Natasha Cica's account of the life of wilderness photographer Olegas Truchanas and his role in the campaign to save Lake Pedder.

Koalas, people and climate change: not a good mix

22 September 2011Proactive koala conservation is necessary, writes Christine Adams-Hosking at The Conversation.

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Topic Guides

Climate change science 'top ten' sources to build your personal knowledge

  • Stefanie Pillora
  • Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government

07 November 2011Acknowledging the importance of drawing from credible sources, this guide provides advice on ten reliable and easily accessible sources of research written for non-specialist readers.

The clean energy plan

  • Clean Energy Future

11 July 2011Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan, and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet announced the Australian Government’s comprehensive plan for tackling climate change, ‘Securing a clean energy future’.

Guideline on the application of the premises standards - 2011

  • Australian Human Rights Commission

04 April 2011This guide has been issued to help designers, architects, builders and clients to better understand the Disability (Access to Premises - buildings) Standards 2010  which will commence on 1 May 2011.

Audio

Reaping what we sow: agriculture's role in climate change

Listen to audio
03 February 2012Richard Eckard examines how modern agriculture contributes to global warming and discusses ways of mitigating the problem. Presented by Dr Dyani Lewis.

Peak fish: Rising human consumption of seafood, and its implications

Listen to audio
16 January 2012Fisheries scientists Dr Tim Dempster and Dr Reg Watson discuss the pressures on wild fish stocks and debate the role of aquaculture in feeding an increasingly populous world.

Sustainability

Victorian Food and Fibre Export Performance: 2010-11 Financial Year

30 January 2012This report is prepared to provide information on the value of Victorian and Australian food and fibre exports.

How do we regenerate middle suburban ‘greyfield’ areas?

30 January 2012This bulletin reveals areas of the country which require major regeneration of residential, energy, water and communications infastructure, better known as 'grey fields'.

Video

Seven billion: it's getting crowded in here!

Listen to audio
31 October 2011High density living is great for the environment, right? But what does it do to our heads and hearts? The Australian psyche was moulded by the myth of the ‘wide brown land’, so what might life packed like sardines look and feel like?

Paul Cleary on Australia's mining boom

Listen to audio
22 September 2011In this Lunchbox/Soapbox, journalist Paul Cleary expands on his polemic on the insidious effects of Australia’s mining boom. He takes on our dependence on digging stuff out of the ground and sending it overseas, labelling it “generational theft”.

Housing

Caring for country: Australian natural and cultural resource management

30 January 2012This issue presents work and ideas from a diverse range of Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners, researchers and collaborators who work in central and northern Australia in a range of environments, from local to regional scales.

Websites

Community Water Planner

04 November 2011Remote and Indigenous communities can look forward to cleaner, safer drinking water, thanks to an enhanced Community Water Planner tool, developed to help assess and manage the risks in remote Australian community water supplies.

Harden Up Queensland

20 October 2011Harden Up is a Green Cross Australia led partnership that aims to empower Queenslanders to become self-reliant during natural disasters.

Emergency 2.0 Wiki Project

25 August 2011The Emergency 2.0 Wiki will be a new collaborative model for sharing and advancing knowledge on utilising web2.0 and social media in emergency management.

Most viewed: This week

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Can Germany go green?
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Climate change and public health in Indonesia: impacts and adaptation
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Mining the truth: The rhetoric and reality of the commodities boom
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Coal seam gas royalties in Australian States and Territories

Books

Cold light

Cold light

  • Frank Moorhouse
  • Random House Australia
Cold Light is about power, secrecy, the mortal struggle between capitalism and communism, – and urban planning. This compelling story is set in the still largely empty spaces of Canberra, a mere 23 years after its founding.
The rational optimist

The rational optimist

  • Matt Ridley
  • Fourth Estate
Predicting disaster has always sold well. But, over the last 10,000 years, things have usually turned out much better than expected.

Noticeboard

Topic Guides

Climate change science 'top ten' sources to build your personal knowledge

  • Stefanie Pillora
  • Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government

07 November 2011Acknowledging the importance of drawing from credible sources, this guide provides advice on ten reliable and easily accessible sources of research written for non-specialist readers.

Topics

APO