New Research

Australian environmental water management report 2012

14 May 2012These two reports present a comprehensive roadmap of Australia's current environmental water management arrangements and chart progress since the publication of the Commission’s 2010 baseline report.

Coastal fisheries and climate change

07 May 2012Projected declines in coastal fisheries production due to the effects of climate change are expected to reduce the availability of food and livelihood opportunities for coastal communities.

Freshwater fisheries and climate change

Freshwater fisheries and climate change

07 May 2012The aim of this policy brief is to alert Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to the projected effects of climate change on the contributions that freshwater (and estuarine) fisheries make to food security.

Reasons for homeostatic failure in subjective wellbeing

07 May 2012Focusing on the social impacts of water reform, this paper identifies the extent of wellbeing, vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity in the Murray Darling Basin.

Water management in northern Australia

03 May 2012The National Water Commission has invested more than $20 million through the Raising National Water Standards Program to enhance knowledge and understanding of river ecology and water dependent ecosystems in northern Australia.

Water policy and climate change in Australia

03 May 2012Climate change and water management are two of the most important public policy issues facing Australia.

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Climate change

Regulation, economic instruments and sustainable energy

24 May 2012Exploring the roles of a range of policy instruments that might be introduced by governments to facilitate a transition to a low carbon economy, this paper focuses on the energy sector (as distinct from transportation or deforestation).

Regional cooperation towards green Asia: trade in low carbon goods and services

22 May 2012It is logical to argue that low carbon goods and services (LCGS) led growth is an imperative for the Asia Pacific countries, particularly for the emerging Asian economies, which are heavily dependent on imported energy and resources.

Costing global trade barriers, 1900 to 2050

22 May 2012This paper addresses that question by first reviewing evidence on the changing extent of global trade restrictions since 1900, particularly for agricultural and manufactured goods.

Urban planning

Legal and governance models for shared services in local government

24 May 2012Investigating models of shared services delivery, this report considers some varying legal options and models in use across Australia and provides a summary of those options, illustrated by five case studies.

Housing supply bonds - a suitable instrument to channel investment towards affordable housing in Australia?

23 May 2012The aim of this study is to develop a special purpose financial instrument, identified in this report as Housing Supply Bonds, to finance the supply of affordable rental housing in Australia.

Commentary

A land of (more extreme) droughts and flooding rains?

22 May 2012Communicating clearly on climate change is a struggle writes Karl Braganza for the Conversation.

Living in the lower lakes: a human experience of environmental catastrophe

08 May 2012The controversial Murray-Darling Basin Plan broken down by Johnathan Sobels for the Conversation.

Flood levees on the brink as Wagga Wagga waits

06 March 2012With water levee's on the brink of breaking point Anthony Sharwood of the Punch discusses the fate of flood ravaged NSW town Wagga Wagga.

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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

Turning the tide on reef water quality

Listen to audio
14 September 2011Evidence of coastal ecosystem degradation in the Great Barrier Reef has been linked with increased land-based runoff of suspended solids, nutrients and pesticides resulting from clearing and agricultural land use.

Social media in natural disasters – the Queensland experience

Listen to audio
15 August 2011Opening with a discussion about the best of journalism exposing the worst of journalism, Anna Bligh focuses on the role that social media, used by the police and state and local governments, played during the floods and cyclones in Queensland last summer.

Sustainability

Cost and security of electricity generated by high altitude winds

22 May 2012This paper describes a new form of automated, tethered, quad-rotor craft, which can operate gyroplane-style, while simultaneously generating electricity.

Video

Richard Denniss in conversation with Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown

Listen to audio
04 July 2011Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown joins The Australia Institute's Executive Director Dr Richard Denniss at Politics in the Pub to discuss 'Greening Government'.

Have we been conned on climate change?

Listen to audio
07 June 2010Four leading climate change thinkers address the devastating lack of political leadership on the issue of climate change in Australia.

Housing

Commonwealth Budget 2012

09 May 2012The Federal Budget of 2012-13 has managed a modest surplus of 1.5 billion dollars. For detailed breakdown of this year's budget this link includes all budget documents - including the budget speech, budgets papers, mid-year economic and fiscal outlook and ministerial statements.

Websites

National water planning report card web tool

01 March 2012A new interactive web resource will promote better practice in water planning and encourage national discussion by providing a summary of the status of water plans online.

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.

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All Aboard

Books

Designing for zero waste

Designing for zero waste

  • Steffen Lehmann, Robert Crocker
  • Routledge
Designing for Zero Waste is a timely, topical and necessary publication. Materials and resources are being depleted at an accelerating speed and rising consumption trends across the globe have placed material efficiency, waste reduction and recycling at the centre of many government policy agendas, giving them an unprecedented urgency.
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.

Noticeboard

Online conservation game wins communicator awards
17 June 2009

Mission H2o, an online game themed around water conservation and developed by Swinburne University students and staff, has received two prestigious design awards.

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