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Australia finally has a 2035 emissions target: a 62–70% cut below 2005 levels. The Albanese government says the target strikes the right balance between climate urgency and economic pragmatism. By setting a range rather than a specific target, the government has given itself room to move as technology, politics and the climate itself evolve.
But as the Grattan Institute’s Tony Woods writes, meeting the goal – even the lower end – requires a serious policy step-up. Australia is already sweating to meet its 2030 emissions target – and most low-hanging fruit has already been picked. Meeting the new target means the hard policy work must begin in earnest.
To sweeten the long-awaited targets, the government also announced new funding to help decarbonise Australia’s economy. The University of Melbourne’s Rod Sims argues the money will be spent on largely inefficient interventions – and the best way to rapidly cut emissions is to bring back a policy we’ve famously already tried.
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Nicole Hasham
Energy + Environment Editor
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Tony Wood, Grattan Institute
The target seeks to balance positive action with pragmatism. Achieving it will requires a major policy step-up.
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Rod Sims, The University of Melbourne
To cut emissions fast, the Australian government will have to dial back its command-and-control approach – and put a price on carbon.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The Albanese government will hope its new 2035 target will be well received internationally as it seeks to balance its global relationships.
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Emma Shortis, RMIT University
Under the Trump administration, the widespread, coordinated suppression of dissent is ripping apart the fabric of American political life.
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Margarita Vladimirova, Deakin University
The Privacy Commissioner found Kmart should have tried other options before facial recognition systems – and told customers what it was doing.
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Kyle Peyton, The University of Melbourne
Whether or not people can retire comfortably increasingly depends on one thing: whether you’re a homeowner or a renter.
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Roger Wilkins, The University of Melbourne
Full-time workers’ average tax rates have also been steadily rising – with much of the tax burden falling on people in their mid-30s to 50s.
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Ferdi Botha, The University of Melbourne
The number of Australians who say they experience bodily pain has risen over the past two decades. Gender, age and income all make a difference.
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Politics + Society
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Katie Pickles, University of Canterbury
On the anniversary of New Zealand women gaining the vote in 1893, a recipe for Spanish cream gives a glimpse into the personal world of suffrage leader Kate Sheppard.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The Albanese government has announced Australia will commit to cutting emissions by between 62% and 70% on 2005 levels by 2035.
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Vincent Hurley, Macquarie University
If police eventually have to downgrade the search for Dezi Freeman, how will the victims’ families react, and what message will it send to the community?
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Health + Medicine
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Rachel Neale, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute; Briony Duarte Romero, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute; Vu Tran, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
New research suggests yes, you may need to take a vitamin D supplement.
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Ritu Trivedi, University of Sydney; Dean Picone, University of Sydney; Tammy Brady, Johns Hopkins University
A sensor on the back of the watch detects changes in blood volume as your heart beats
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Environment + Energy
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Paul Hume, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
As the uptake of solar power accelerates, New Zealand should develop policy that requires recycling of panels and supports installations on rental properties.
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Science + Technology
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Tatsuya Amano, The University of Queensland
Everyone, no matter their background, should have an equal chance to work in science – but there are huge systemic barriers.
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Arts + Culture
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Garritt C. Van Dyk, University of Waikato
The origin story behind instant ramen reveals working-class roots and innovative cooking techniques.
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Elizabeth Reid Boyd, Edith Cowan University
The lady and legend has been endlessly remixed, from appearances in art, to music – including Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now – and even chocolate.
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Books + Ideas
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Liz Evans, University of Tasmania
Liz Evans met and interviewed all her favourite bands in a whirl of parties, clubs and gigs. Her review of books by Kate Mossman and John Harris is woven with her memories.
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Carolyn Holbrook, Deakin University
Chris Masters’ book on Ben Roberts-Smith was chosen to win the Australian War Memorial’s Les Carlyon Prize for Military History. But the prize wasn’t awarded. Why?
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Up in smoke
"Increasing the price of cigarettes to about $25 a packet with health warnings on the packets was good policy to discourage smoking. Increasing the price to $40–$50 was counterproductive. It created a financial opportunity for criminal gangs to make big profits selling $20 packets without health warnings. As a result we have less government revenue, a big subsidy for criminal gangs, and more work for the police while cigarettes are now cheaper and without health warnings. Sensible policy will reduce the tax on a packet and increase penalties for illegal selling of cigarettes. I have 50 years legal experience and I can tell you that prohibition subsidises
criminal gangs."
Dr Andrew Cannon, SA
Get serious
"If there is to be anything left of a liveable planet for our younger generations, the time to act is NOW!!!! Go to the Museum of the Future in Dubai and see examples of amazing technology being developed to aid in addressing climate change, including innovative food and crop production, weather technology including in areas such as sea & water management, wind technologies, among others – all aimed at trying to address the increasingly urgent needs triggered by ongoing climate change. Victoria can barely get a functioning underground rail system up and running!"
Oriana J Collins, Hawthorn VIC
Stash in the roof
"Thank you for the history of Bella Ciao. My late wife was from northern Italy, and brought to our marriage a vinyl recording of the song, which I still have. She was brought up by her Nonna, and her uncles fought in the anti-fascist forces in northern Italy. Decades after the end of the war, when the roof of an out-building on the family property was being repaired, a cache of rifles was discovered. The family story was that Nonna knew of the cache, but kept their presence a secret, just in case they were ever needed again."
Andrew Nelson
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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Auckland University of Technology
Auckland, New Zealand
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