This paper is a response to the Federal Government's criticism of an Australia Institute report that examined conflicting estimates of carbon emissions. This paper argues that the Federal Government's National Carbon Accounting System (NCAS) is not transparent. Members of the public cannot gain access to crucial NCAS data (for example, maps of identified Kyoto forests...

If the Federal Government decided to promote the establishment of a nuclear energy industry in Australia, the siting of the power plants is likely to be one of the most politically contentious issues. Overseas evidence suggests that even in countries that rely on nuclear power for a large proportion of their electricity needs, there is...

Queensland government estimates of land clearing in Queensland between 1990 and 2001 are approximately 50 per cent higher than the Federal Government’s estimates. If the Queensland government figures are correct, Australia’s total greenhouse emissions may be well above the Kyoto target. Without the decline in land clearing claimed by the Federal Government, total emissions would...

In recent times, concerns have been raised about the growing number of wind farms and their impacts on communities and the environment. Many of these concerns have been fuelled by well-organised anti-wind groups modelled on similar establishments in the US and UK. By spreading disinformation about wind energy, these groups have successfully persuaded many people...

As previously identified by the Democratic Audit of Australia, the making of politically tainted appointments to non-departmental public agencies can undermine the public value of these institutions and obstruct democratic processes.1 In most cases, independence from government is one of the major reasons for the establishment of these agencies. Parliament has decided that certain functions...