Tag: Ted O’Brien

Snowy Hydro 2.0 Faces Another 2 Year Delay

Australia’s largest renewable energy project, Snowy Hydro 2.0, has been hit by another delay pushing out its timeline by another one to two years. Dennis Barnes, the CEO and managing director of Snowy Hydro 2.0 has provided an update on the progress of the multi-billion dollar project, whose completion date has been extended several times….


Australian Greens Open to Striking Deal With Labor on New Carbon Credit, Climate Change Laws

The left-wing Australian Greens say they will soften their demands for a proposed fossil fuel ban to shake hands with the centre-left Labor government to pass its carbon credit reforms in an effort to tackle climate change. The so-called “Safeguard Mechanism Reforms (Crediting) Amendment bill,” which the Labor government is looking to pass through the…


Energy Minister Dismisses Concerns Over Gas Price Cap, Opposition Says Plan Doesn’t Address Supply Shortfall

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has dismissed criticism from power companies following government plans to cap the price of gas and coal, but the opposition warned the centre-left Labor government’s plan will restrict supplies. National cabinet on Friday agreed to cap gas at $12 a gigajoule and coal at $125 a tonne for 12 months, as…


Australian Parliament Committee Formally Backs Taiwan Over China for Pacific Trade Pact

An Australian parliamentary body has called for Taiwan to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership over China, issuing an ultimatum to the communist regime to end coercive trade measures and re-establish engagement with Australia before it can enter the trade bloc. Ted O’Brien, chair of the trade subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence,…


Australia Changes Tack, Focuses on Sport to Win the Pacific From Beijing

Australia is considering an ambitious sporting diplomacy mission to deepen engagement in the South Pacific region, amid increasing competition with Beijing’s encroaching hegemony. “Team AusPac” is an initiative being recommended to the federal government following an extensive inquiry into improving trade and relations with Pacific Island nations. The proposal would see an expansion of existing…