| | | 11/03/2024 Morning Mail: why NSW is our renewables laggard; Australia’s 10 million extra cows; ‘school shopping’ reveals biases |
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| | | Good morning. A new report reveals that New South Wales has the largest gap of any of the states between its 2030 emissions reduction goals and the present pace of renewables rollout. NSW is less than halfway to its goal, the Green Energy Markers report suggests, a performance that will make it harder for Australia to meet the federal government’s 82% renewable energy target for the national grid by the end of the decade. We also report the climate implications of a huge new figure for the number of Australia’s cows, and overseas US senator Katie Britt is under fire over claims she made in her widely mocked State of the Union reply. Plus – it’s Oscars day! Keep your eye on Guardian Australia for all the news, frocks and surprises. |
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 | Australia | | Energy | NSW’s legislated electricity infrastructure roadmap indicates the state would need to generate 33,600 gigawatt hours of renewable energy from projects in place by the end of 2029 to meet its targets. However, only about 12,911 gigawatt hours are committed or contracted so far. | Cows | Australia has underestimated how many cattle it has by about 10 million, with significant implications for tracking greenhouse gas emissions, a Queensland researcher has said. | School shopping | Melbourne’s most popular public schools are overflowing – while schools in neighbouring suburbs struggle to draw enrolments. It’s the result of middle-class parents trying to avoid low-income families, one analyst said. | Universities | Thousands of Australian uni students sacrifice their studies, income and health to take on unpaid, compulsory placements as part of their courses. A new federal government proposal would ensure they get paid. | Climate | Extreme heat is forecast to continue across Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and NSW for several days, as record temperatures forced the cancellation of long weekend events. |
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| Full Story | | In the witness box: former police officer Zachary Rolfe testifies After months of delays and disruptions, the former Northern Territory police officer Zachary Rolfe testified at the inquest into Warlpiri teenager Kumanjayi Walker’s death. In 2022, Rolfe was found not guilty of murdering the 19-year-old, who he shot three times during a violent arrest. Courts and justice reporter Nino Bucci attended the inquest and explains how racist language and a mock award raised questions about the culture within the NT police. | |
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| In-depth | | In the south Italian coastal city of Taranto, a steel factory has been spewing toxic iron ore dust since 1965. It once again presents a dilemma: its noxious fumes have caused thousands of cancer deaths over the past six decades. But it’s a major employer in the country’s underdeveloped south. The long beleaguered plant is back in the news after the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, appointed a special commissioner to temporarily take it over. Some locals told the Guardian it shouldn’t be saved. |
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| Not the news | | Former sheep farmer Derek Gow is on a mission to rewild Britain, one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet. Having switched sides from team sheep, he wants to reintroduce its mortal enemy: the wolf. It’s not without precedent; the much-traduced carnivore has loped back into western Europe and is thriving in densely populated countries including the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Gow knows it’s not such a simple matter in Britain, but he’s persisting. |
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| What’s happening today | Oscars | The award ceremony starts at 1oam AEDT. Follow along on the Guardian’s website. | Public holidays | Tasmania, SA, ACT and Victoria are all enjoying a day off. | State politics | Tasmanian Labor is due to launch its state election campaign in Launceston. |
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| Brain teaser | And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. | |
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| | | Lenore Taylor | | Editor, Guardian Australia |
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| | I hope you appreciated this newsletter. Before you move on, I wonder if you would consider supporting Guardian Australia. As we look ahead to the challenges of 2024, we’re aiming to power more rigorous, independent reporting.
In 2023, our journalism held the powerful to account and gave a voice to the marginalised. It cut through misinformation to arm Australians with facts about the referendum and exposed corporate greed amid the cost-of-living crunch. It sparked government inquiries and investigations, and continued to treat the climate crisis with the urgency it deserves.
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