Nannas attended the Palm Sunday Peace Rally, forest activities and climate talks, and learn about the Senate report on disinformation and tax on gas exports. Nannas are having a week off for Easter.
Palm Sunday Peace Rally
Several Nannas attended the Palm Sunday Peace Rally under the Nanna standard of “Yarn not War” which can be seen easily above a crowd to bring the Nannas together. The message from the rally was yes to peace, no to the Trump agenda and to the AUKUS deal with the USA and the UK.
Forests
Forest Alliance Convergence
Nannas Cathy and Bron attended the Forest Alliance Convergence and will now join in the work of the NCC Forest Working Group.
At the convergence, plans were discussed to build on the great citizen science that’s making politicians aware that their best move forward is to protect native forests. Nanna Bron reported, “For all of the groups in the Alliance the arguments for saving native forests are clear and we’ll keep working together, as strategically as possible, to build more public momentum. The groups in the Alliance may take different approaches but we all share one big goal: to end native forest logging in NSW before the state election in March next year.”
The member groups include environmental non-government organisations like the Nature Conservation Council and Wilderness Australia, and local groups like North East Forest Alliance and the North Brooman State forest group which is involved with the Big Spotty campaign on the south coast.
BBF Forest Vigil
After the BBF rally, Richard Denniss from the Australia Institute recognised the Nanna t-shirts and came over to say “love your work”. We said we loved his, too!
Great Koala National Park
The seven sections needing inclusion in the Great Koala National Park – Facebook Reel
The Integrity Gap: Restoring Trust in the Climate and Energy Debate
On 30 July 2025, the Senate appointed a Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy, to inquire into the prevalence and impacts of misinformation and disinformation which relates to climate change and energy.
The committee’s report was published on 24 March and has 21 recommendations. Recommendation 4 is for “the Australian Government explore ways to ensure greater transparency of campaign activities, such as the creation of third parties, that are resourced by commercial/corporate interests in the lead up to a federal election.”
Senators David Pocock (Independent) and Andrew McLachlan (Liberal) teamed up to make additional comments about the need for structural reforms to address underlying problems. Their five reforms include legislating truth in political advertising laws before the next federal election, regulating bots and inauthentic accounts, algorithmic transparency and accountability, and legislation of a comprehensive overhaul of the federal lobbying regime.
Response to the report:
The Greens response here – the Committee chair was Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.
Former defence leaders outline already-present fossil fuel dependence, climate disinformation threats (ABC News)
Australia has to fight back against misinformation about climate change, Senate report says (ABC News)
How climate and renewables “disinformation networks” are fuelling a major national security threat (Renew Economy)
‘Denial machine’: climate misinformation is fuelling conflict in Australian communities, inquiry finds (The Guardian)
Fake news on everything from whales to wind farms: Australia is flooded with climate misinformation (The Conversation)
ACF backs Senate disinformation report, urges crackdown on social media giants (ACF)
Tax on gas exports
Greens and crossbench MPs are urging the federal government to introduce a flat 25% tax on gas exports, arguing the Parliament now has the numbers to pass the reform within weeks.
The evidence is clear:
- A 25% gas export tax could raise around $17 billion a year, compared to less than $2 billion from the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT)
- It would not drive-up domestic prices, reduce supply, or deter investment
- Around 75% of Australians support it – Australia Institute polling
Meanwhile, Australians paying more beer tax – and far more HECS repayments – than gas companies contribute through the PRRT.
Brisbane Climate Talk
The Climate Talks is a series of public panel discussions of climate-related issues organized in different cities across the Pacific by the German Embassy, in partnership with La Trobe’s Centre for Global Security. A quick summary of the panel discussion on multilateral partnerships addressing climate risks to security is below.
Climate change discussions should include diverse viewpoints and reflect local realities. We need cooperation and integration across local, federal and international government, and multinational financing models that allow and ensure the inclusion of all these levels. Conversations need to include
- political and economic security
- food and water security
- cultural security – connection to the land
- harmony and local inclusivity
- traditional culture and knowledge
- colonialism – extraction of resources and the exploitation of people
- human rights
- national sovereignty
It was argued that geopolitical events are likely to overshadow climate change action for the next few years, but this can be an opportunity to rewrite the rules rather than patch them up. A new order requires respect, harmony, resilience and peace.
Nannas are watching
Fighting Not Drowning: Behind the Scenes at the ICJ Climate Hearings
A documentary about an Indigenous led team of young lawyers from the Pacific make history during the first-ever climate hearings at the world’s highest court, opening the way for more ambitious climate action.
What We Owe the Water with Kumi Naidoo
Kumi Naidoo in conversation with Dr Richard Denniss as they discuss Kumi’s new essay, What We Owe the Water: It’s Time for a Fossil Fuel Treaty. (Australia Institute)
Nannas are reading
Climate Wars. Iran war speeds transition to renewable energy (Michael West Media)
Questions the PR industry should ask about Murujuga at CommsCon (and why I’ve resigned from the CommsCon Advisory Panel) (Belinda Noble)
Earth’s revenge – Santos’ Varanus Island is not producing gas. Nor are the shuttered North West Shelf and Wheatstone plants. (Boiling Cold)
Forthcoming Events