The Coalition’s decision to axe funding to a climate change adaptation research body in 2017 has left Australia “not well positioned” to deal with fires, the “silent killer” of drought and other global heating impacts, its director has said.

Jean Palutikof, the director of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), told Guardian Australia the decision to discontinue funding in 2017 – when Scott Morrison was treasurer – had hollowed out the research community and “the capacity to take action on climate change is smaller than it was decade ago”.

Read more:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/16/coalitions-axing-...

Although we don't remember much in our old age, as memory is fading fast, like a dry brook during a drought, we've still got access to the massive reference library that is this little site YD:

Here are a few articles to remind us:

http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/9900

and plenty more...

The destructive hailstorm that tore through the national capital damaging cars and property on Monday has been labelled a "catastrophe". 

• Hail as big as golf balls blanketed Canberra on Monday
• Damage to cars, windows and buildings is extensive, with more than 1,900 calls for help to emergency services and 15,000 insurance claims already lodged
• The CSIRO was among the worst-hit institutions, with 65 glasshouses damaged and years of research lost

The ACT Emergency Services Agency received a record number of more than 1,900 calls for help when the storm swept through, taking out power to more than 1,000 homes across the territory.

A spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Australia this morning called the storm a "catastrophe" and said 15,000 claims have been made in the wake of Monday's storms, which also includes claims from the storm in Sydney's Sutherland Shire.

Throughout Canberra, cars still line the streets in areas where the storm had been most ferocious, prompting lenience overnight from the ACT Government's parking inspectors.

"Access Canberra is aware that [the] thunderstorm and hail activity has led to a large number of damaged vehicles remaining in government-controlled car parks and roadside parking," a statement from the department said.

Read more:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-21/years-of-scientific-research-lost...

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Here's what you need to know this morning.

Power has been restored to some suburbs in Sydney's south following severe storms yesterday afternoon.

Wind, hail and heavy rain caused trees to fall onto powerlines, leaving about 13,000 homes without power in parts of the Sutherland Shire.

Ausgrid said power had been mostly restored aside from about 3,700 customers in Kirrawee, Miranda, Caringbah, Cronulla and surrounding suburbs.

Yesterday afternoon, three people were trapped in a car in Sydney's south and trains between Cronulla and Sutherland were halted because of falling trees.

An inquiry begins today into James Packer's sale of his stake in Crown Resorts to a Hong Kong-based casino operator.

The NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) will probe the sale, after questions were raised over ownership restrictions on Crown's casino project at Barangaroo.

The sale of $1.76 billion in shareholdings from Mr Packer's CPH Crown Holdings to Lawrence Ho's Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited was announced in May last year.

It represents almost half of Mr Packer's stake in the casino giant, leaving CPH with about 26 per cent of Crown.

The ILGA has said the inquiry will ensure the management of the casino remains free from criminal influence or exploitation, that gaming is conducted honestly and harm to the public is minimised.

Authorities are hoping this week's forecast rain could provide a reprieve for drought-affected farmers in NSW.

Figures from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) show 100 per cent of the state is back in drought, with almost two-thirds experiencing intense conditions.

The weather bureau is expecting rain across much of the state from Wednesday night.

The DPI's Scott Wallace said many would be hoping the forecast eventuated.

"We do need consecutive months and consistent months of above-average rainfall, but it is nice to see that the outlook is slightly improved from what we were hearing about in late 2019," he said. 

Read more:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-21/sydney-morning-briefing-tuesday-j...

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pictures supplied via the grapevine:

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