☕️ Chris Dawson appeals conviction

As we speak, TDA’s team is heading down to Canberra for ‘Budget lockup’ tonight!

At about 1:30pm, journalists will be locked in a room with no internet as the Federal Government presents their 2023-24 Budget for Australia. It will then be formally released to the public at 7:30pm.

Keep an eye out on TDA for our coverage!

Brace yourself for dollar signs and the word ‘delivering’ on repeat.

“The Mass General transplant team is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr Rick Slayman. We have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant. Mr Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide.”
The world’s first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney has died “suddenly,” according to a statement from Massachusetts General Hospital. MGH performed the groundbreaking surgery in March.

$US705 billion ($AU1.1 trillion)
How much money the world’s 60 biggest banks invested in fossil fuels in 2023, according to the latest Banking on Climate Chaos report.

1908
U.S. man Charles Furnas became the first person to ride as a passenger in a plane.

Chris Dawson has launched an appeal of his murder conviction.

It comes two years after the former teacher and professional rugby league player was found guilty of killing his wife Lynette in 1982. Lynette’s family has asked that she be referred to by her maiden name, Simms.

Dawson was already sentenced to serve at least 24 years in prison when he was convicted of sexual abuse last year, and sentenced to at least another two years.

Dawson was arrested in December 2018. Simms’ disappearance was the subject of the podcast ‘The Teacher’s Pet’.

Police began re-investigating Simms’ disappearance in 2015, before Dawson was arrested in 2018.

In December 2022, the 75-year-old was handed up to 24 years in jail for his wife’s murder.

Simms’ body has never been found.

In 2023, Dawson was found guilty of sexually abusing one of his students when he was a teacher on Sydney’s Northern beaches in the 1980s.

The 75-year-old is attempting to have his murder charge overturned in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.

His case is expected to be heard over three days, starting yesterday. If Dawson’s bid fails, he will be in prison until at least his early 90s.

In response to Dawson’s 2022 murder conviction, the NSW Parliament passed the ‘no body, no parole’ law. It means that a person in prison for murder, who hasn’t told police the location of their victim’s remains, cannot be released on parole.

A group of Labor MPs say they’re concerned about the environmental impacts of the Federal Government’s new energy plan.

The Government released its “Future Gas Strategy” last week, outlining how it plans to use gas for the “economy’s transition to net zero”.

However, it has divided Government MPs, with concern surrounding the potentially negative environmental impacts of the plan.

In 2022 the Australian Government legislated its plan to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

‘Net zero emissions’ refers to balancing greenhouse gas emissions produced and taken out of the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases, emitted from activities like burning fossil fuels, trap carbon in the atmosphere, causing hotter temperatures on Earth.

Experts warn Australia is not on track to reach net zero by 2050, which requires a major transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.

Gas is a non-renewable form of energy and a fossil fuel. Currently, it accounts for more than a quarter of Australia’s energy requirements.

According to the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), Australia was one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gases. The CCPI included criticism of Australia’s continued gas production.

The International Energy Agency, which helps countries develop sustainable energy policy, argues gas has a “limited role” in the transition towards renewable forms of energy.

The Government released six ‘principles’ to guide its decision-making, including “new sources of gas” to meet energy demands during the net zero transition.

Resources Minister Madeline King said: “Gas will remain an important source of energy through to 2050 and beyond.”

She added: “It is clear we will need continued exploration, investment and development in the sector to support the path to net zero… and to avoid a shortfall in gas supplies.”

The gas strategy was welcomed by some unions and business groups, including the peak industry body Australian Energy Producers.

However, some climate groups have condemned the plan for locking in fossil fuel projects. The Climate Council’s Head of Policy Dr Jennifer Rayner said: “More gas means more climate pollution and a more dangerous future”.

Independent think tank The Australia Institute’s climate director Polly Hemming said the plan is “scientifically and economically reckless”.

Victorian Labor MP Josh Burns has criticised the gas-focused plan, instead urging “more aggressive policies” on climate action.

Burns told TDA: “Instead of prolonging the fossil fuel industry, my view is that we should be transitioning to low emissions technology as quickly as possible”.

He said there are many MPs, including cabinet ministers, who want to see Australia become a “leader in climate action, not a laggard”.

At least five other Labor MPs have spoken out against the gas strategy.

Sydney MPs Sally Sitou and Jerome Laxale have both voiced concerns about the gas strategy.

Sitou said: “For the sake of generations to come, we must move quickly towards a low-carbon future”.

Laxale added: “We must move away from fossil fuels, not champion them”.

Shadow Energy spokesperson Ted O’Brien has said the gas strategy misses an opportunity to deliver a “credible gas policy”.

In a statement to TDA, O’Brien said: “Labor’s so called ‘gas strategy’... kills off any chances of Labor getting any additional gas out of the ground”.

He accused the Labor MPs speaking out against the plan for taking a purely “ideological” stance.

The Federal Govt has defended its policy.

Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen told ABC Melbourne the Government was working with those MPs who have spoken out against the gas strategy.

He said the MPs were “very active in our climate discussions“ and welcomed their contributions to improving climate policy.

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Olive ridley turtle hatchlings have been recorded on a beach in the Queensland town of Mackay. Turtle species typical of the region include flatbacks, green sea turtles and, on occasion, loggerheads.

Local authorities say the olive ridley nests come after widespread monitoring of turtle populations over the past 50 years.

World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic came prepared to sign autographs on the weekend. He wore a bicycle helmet.

This came after a spectator’s water bottle fell on him last week while he was signing autographs at the Italian Open. It looked very painful.

Djokovic posted to X after: “I am fine resting at the hotel with an ice pack. See you all on Sunday.”

But, it was during Sunday’s match against world number 32, Alejandro Tabilo, that Djokovic’s head knock became a greater concern. Djokovic lost to the Chilean player, meaning Djokovic is out of the Italian Open earlier than expected.

In a post-match interview, Djokovic said: “Today under high stress, it was quite bad – not in terms of pain, but in terms of this balance. Just no coordination.”

He said he will do some medical check ups to “see what’s going on.”

The Federal Government has announced a plan to ban the export of live sheep from Australia.

It comes after an independent panel urged the Government to introduce a ban by 2028.

In today’s podcast, we’ll discuss the issue of live exports, the government’s plan for its future, and the reaction from agriculture and animal welfare groups.