This blog is open to any who wish to comment on Australian society, the state of the environment or political shenanigans at Federal, State and Local Government level.
16
dead, 40 injured following public place shooting - Bondi
Police
are continuing to investigate a mass shooting that resulted in 16
people dying and 40 people being injured in Sydney’s east yesterday
evening.
About
6.40pm (Sunday 14 December 2025), emergency services were called to
Bondi Beach, following reports of a public place shooting.
Officers
attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, surrounding commands
and specialist police immediately responded and located two men using
long arms to fire into crowds of people.
Multiple
officers exchanged fire with the two men with two officers – a
constable and probationary constable – suffering gunshot wounds.
During
the incident one shooter – a 50-year-old man – was shot by police
and died at the scene.
The
other shooter – a 24-year-old man – suffered critical injuries
and was taken to hospital under police guard.
As
a result of the incident 14 people died at the scene and 42 people –
including four children – were taken to hospitals across Sydney.
Police
have since been told two other people – a 10-year-old girl and a
40-year-old man – have since died in hospital.
Those
who died are yet to be formally identified; however, police believe
their ages range between 10 and 87-years-old.
Five
people remain in critical conditions with the others remaining in
serious and stable conditions.
Both
officers remain in serious but stable conditions.
A
significant crime scene has been established closing Bondi Beach and
surrounding roads, and detectives from the Joint Counter Terrorism
Team have commenced an investigation into the incident.
Following
initial inquiries, detectives have located and seized three firearms
from the scene. They will all undergo forensic examination.
Investigations
are continuing.
Anyone
with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime
Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au
Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is
reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
Ahmed, you are an Australian hero.
You put yourself at risk to save others, running towards danger on Bondi Beach and disarming a terrorist.
In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians. And that's exactly what we saw on Sunday night.
Well
this last week of November 2025 certainly brought a reminder that
heatwaves are not just a feature of an Australian summer, they are
also a definite health hazard for many in our communities.
Particularly those with pre-existing health conditions, as well as the very young and those in older age brackets. People
who work outdoors are also at increased risk.
During
those same four years the annual heatwave-related attributable
mortality rate (per 100,000 residents per year) was 1.08 nationally.
While New South Wales had an annual heatwave-related attributable
mortality rate (per 100,000 residents per year) of 1.38.
By
way of examples closer to home, when it came to the annual
heatwave-related attributable mortality rate in North East NSW during
2016-2019:
From
2019 to 2022, there were 2,143 hospital admissions related to extreme
heat, including 717 patients from Queensland, 410 from Victoria, 348
from NSW, 266 from South Australia, 267 from Western Australia, 73
from the Northern Territory, 23 from the ACT and 19 from Tasmania.
In 2025 it is not only Gaza and its people being starved to death and its infrastructure destroyed by malice aforethought.
Just
16 days days into his term as 47th US president Donald J Trump issued
a presidential action document titled WITHDRAWING THE UNITED
STATES FROM AND ENDING FUNDING TO CERTAIN UNITED NATIONS
ORGANIZATIONS AND REVIEWING UNITED STATES
SUPPORT TO ALL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Historically
the United States of America had been the largest
member state contributor to the UN annual budget.
In
2025 its financial support was intended to contribute est. 31
percent, with its funding meeting est. 22 percent of the UN regular
budget and approximately 26 percent of the UN peacekeeping budget,
with the other 193 UN member states contributing an est. 69% of the
total annual financial support required.
The
intent of this presidential action document appears to be the
systematic starvation of the peak United Nations organisation and its
agencies, by way of not meeting its obligations as set out in the UN2025 Budget assessment of 8 January 2025and refusing to pay
existing U.S. membership arrears in order to bend this international
peak body to his will.
At
Day 65 of this second Trump presidency the UN carried state member
nation contribution arrears totalling US$2.4 billion of which the
United States owed US$1.5 billion.
By
Day 180 of this second presidency Trump had not revoked the 4
February 2025 decision, but he had not broken the resolve of the UN
to protect its independence. Nor had he managed to shutdown all UN
debates
& resolutions on the Question of Gaza.
On Day 247, Tuesday 23 September 2025, Trump delivered a speech to the United Nations
General Assembly. Like other member states he was allotted 15 minutes
but he spoke for 57 minutes. During which time his audience politely
laughed at his barbed humour as he attempted to blame UN staff for
the problems caused by his own security and communications teams on
his way into the assembly hall and up to the lectern and I suspect
many, battered by Trump's global trade war, worried by incessant
belligerent/ threatening tweets against their governments or hoping to
pour oil on Trump's resentment of the United Nations, sat stoically
though the better part of an hour of barefaced falsehoods, boasting
and arrogant insults, then clapped him enthusiastically.
On or about 30 September 2025 Trump held a press conference with the alleged war criminal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at which he announced that he would head the Board of Peace. This announcement comes at 2:22 mins into the video below
On Day 302, Monday 17 November 2025 the UN Security Council announced the following in a
press
release which began:
The
Security Council today endorsed the United States-backed
“Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict”, welcomed its
establishment of the Board of Peace and authorised the Board and
Member States working with it to establish a temporary International
Stabilization Force in Gaza.
Adopting
resolution 2803 (2025) (to be issued as document S/RES/2803(2025)) by
a vote of 13 in favour to none against, with 2 abstentions (China,
Russian Federation), the Council also authorized the Board and Member
States participating therein to enter arrangements necessary to
achieve the Comprehensive Plan’s objectives and to establish
operational entities to this end. Such entities will operate under
the Board’s transitional authority and oversight.
The
Council also underscored the importance of the full resumption of
humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in cooperation with the Board,
in a manner consistent with relevant international legal principles,
through cooperating organizations — including the United Nations —
and ensuring such aid is not diverted by armed groups.
Further,
the text states that, as the Force establishes control and stability,
the Israel Defense Forces will withdraw from the Gaza Strip based on
standards, milestones and timeframes linked to demilitarization that
will be agreed between specified parties — “save for a security
perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure
from any resurgent terror threat”.
Additionally,
the Council decided that the Board, along with international civil
and security presences authorized by today’s resolution, shall
remain authorized until 31 December 2027, subject to further Council
action. The organ also requested the Board to provide it with a
written progress report every six months......
Those
member states on the Security Council who voted in favour of this
resolution, which both what remains of the Palestinian government in
Gaza and the State of Israel are believed to object to for different
reasons, were Algeria, Demark,
France, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone,
and Slovenia.
It
would seem the United Nations Security Council remains dominated by
the United States of America and, by a U.S. president who could be
suspected of being predominately focussed on seeking both the Nobel Peace Prize and his family's
enrichment through land/property development deals on the ground in
Gaza.
As
of 3:30am AEDST a UN direct link to Resolution 2803 (2025) so
an alternate source for this resolution was sought.
Full
transcript of Resolution 2803 (2025) can
be found at end of an article with title & lede; "Full
text of the US resolution for Gaza approved by the UN Security
Council: UN Resolution 2803 places Donald Trump in control of Gaza
and, using vague language, says if certain targets are met there
could be a pathway to the creation of a Palestinian state"
"Adopted
by the Security Council at its 10046th meeting, on 17 November 2025
The
Security Council,
Welcoming
the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict of 29 September 2025
(“Comprehensive Plan”), and applauding the states that have
signed, accepted, or endorsed it, and further welcoming the historic
Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity of 13 October
2025 and the constructive role played by the United States of
America, the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the
Republic of Türkiye, in having facilitated the ceasefire in the Gaza
Strip,
Determining
that the situation in the Gaza Strip threatens the regional peace and
the security of neighboring states and noting prior relevant Security
Council resolutions relating to the situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian question,
1.
Endorses the Comprehensive Plan, acknowledges the parties have
accepted it, and calls on all parties to implement it in its
entirety, including maintenance of the ceasefire, in good faith and
without delay;
2.
Welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace (BoP) as a
transitional administration with international legal personality that
will set the framework, and coordinate funding, for the redevelopment
of Gaza pursuant to the Comprehensive Plan, and in a manner
consistent with relevant international legal principles, until such
time as the Palestinian Authority (PA) has satisfactorily completed
its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including
President Trump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French Proposal,
and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. After the
PA reform program is faithfully carried out and Gaza redevelopment
has advanced, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible
pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood. The United
States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians
to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous
coexistence;
3.
Underscores the importance of the full resumption of humanitarian aid
in cooperation with the BoP into the Gaza Strip in a manner
consistent with relevant international legal principles and through
cooperating organizations, including the United Nations, the
International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent, and
ensuring such aid is used solely for peaceful uses and not diverted
by armed groups;
4.
Authorizes Member States participating in the BoP and the BoP to: (A)
enter into such arrangements as may be necessary to achieve the
objectives of the Comprehensive Plan, including those addressing
privileges and immunities of personnel of the force established in
paragraph 7 below; and (B) establish operational entities with, as
necessary, international legal personality and transactional
authorities for the performance of its functions, including: (1) the
implementation of a transitional governance administration, including
the supervising and supporting of a Palestinian technocratic,
apolitical committee of competent Palestinians from the Strip, as
championed by the Arab League, which shall be responsible for
day-to-day operations of Gaza’s civil service and administration;
(2) the reconstruction of Gaza and of economic recovery programs; (3)
the coordination and supporting of and delivery of public services
and humanitarian assistance in Gaza; (4) any measures to facilitate
the movement of persons in and out of Gaza, in a manner consistent
with the Comprehensive Plan; and (5) any such additional tasks as may
be necessary to support and implement the Comprehensive Plan;
5.
Understands that the operational entities referred to in paragraph 4
above will operate under the transitional authority and oversight of
the BoP and are to be funded through voluntary contributions from
donors and BoP funding vehicles and governments;
6.
Calls upon the World Bank and other financial institutions to
facilitate and provide financial resources to support the
reconstruction and development of Gaza , including through the
establishment of a dedicated trust fund for this purpose and governed
by donors;
7.
Authorizes Member States working with the BoP and the BoP to
establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza
to deploy under unified command acceptable to the BoP, with forces
contributed by participating States, in close consultation and
cooperation with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel,
and to use all necessary measures to carry out its mandate consistent
with international law, including international humanitarian law. The
ISF shall work with Israel and Egypt, without prejudice to their
existing agreements, along with the newly trained and vetted
Palestinian police force, to help secure border areas; stabilize the
security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of
demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, including the destruction and
prevention of rebuilding of the military, terror, and offensive
infrastructure, as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons
from non-state armed groups; protect civilians, including
humanitarian operations; train and provide support to the vetted
Palestinian police forces; coordinate with relevant States to secure
humanitarian corridors; and undertake such additional tasks as may be
necessary in support of the Comprehensive Plan. As the ISF
establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
will withdraw from the Gaza Strip based on standards, milestones, and
timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed between the
IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the United States, save for a security
perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure
from any resurgent terror threat. The ISF shall, (A) assist the BoP
in monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza, and enter
into such arrangements as may be necessary to achieve the objectives
of the Comprehensive Plan; and (B) operate under the strategic
guidance of the BoP and will be funded through voluntary
contributions from donors and BoP funding vehicles and governments;
8.
Decides the BoP and international civil and security presences
authorized by this resolution shall remain authorized until Dec. 31,
2027, subject to further action by the Council, and any further
reauthorization of the ISF be in full cooperation and coordination
with Egypt and Israel and other Member States continuing to work with
the ISF;
9.
Calls upon Member States and international organizations to work with
the BoP to identify opportunities to contribute personnel, equipment,
and financial resources to its operating entities and the ISF, to
provide technical assistance to its operating entities and the ISF,
and to give full recognition to its acts and documents;
10.
Requests the BoP provide a written report on progress related to the
above to the UN Security Council every six months;
On
Friday, 12 September 2025 the United Nations issued a media
release which stated in part:
Applause
rang out in the UN General Assembly Hall on Friday as countries
endorsed a declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of
Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel.
The
New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference
held in July at UN Headquarters, organized by France and Saudi
Arabia, which resumes later this month.
The
General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and 142 countries
voted in favour of a resolution backing the document.
Israel
voted against it, alongside nine other countries – Argentina,
Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga
and the United States – while 12 nations abstained..... [See: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165835]
The
full vote as displayed in the UN General Assembly on Friday, 12
September 2025. Australia clearly voted in favour of the resolution
Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of
the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State
Solution [See:
https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/ltd/n25/239/44/pdf/n2523944.pdf]
On
Thursday 18 September 2025 the United Nations issued another media
release which began:
The
United States once again vetoed a UN resolution demanding an
immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,
following a vote in the Security Council on Thursday.
The
negative vote was cast as the 15-member Council held its 10,000th
meeting against the backdrop of famine spreading in the besieged
enclave and an ongoing Israeli offensive to take full control of Gaza
City.
The
draft also demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas and for
Israel to lift all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and
ensure that it is safely distributed to the population – in
particular by UN agencies and partners.....
On
19 September 2025 twelve Republican members of the US House of
Representatives and thirteen Republican senators in the US Senate,
came together in issuing a joint letter containing a clear threat to
take punitive measures against the Commonwealth of
Australia, Canada, the French Republic and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in that
order of precedence.
The
Albanese Government quite rightly did not take that letter
into consideration in continuing to fulfil its pledge to the
Australian people based on a long-held bi-partisan policy with regard
to the question of Palestine.
The
Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister Of Australia
21
September 2025
Effective
today, Sunday the 21st of September 2025, the Commonwealth of
Australia formally recognises the independent and sovereign State of
Palestine.
In
doing so, Australia recognises the legitimate and long held
aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own.
Australia's
recognition of Palestine today, alongside Canada and the United
Kingdom, is part of a co-ordinated international effort to build new
momentum for a two-state solution, starting with a ceasefire in Gaza
and the release of the hostages taken in the atrocities of October 7,
2023.
Today's
act of recognition reflects Australia's longstanding commitment to a
two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring
peace and security for the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples.
The
international community has set out clear requirements for the
Palestinian Authority.
The
President of the Palestinian Authority has restated its recognition
of Israel's right to exist, and given direct undertakings to
Australia, including commitments to hold democratic elections and
enact significant reform to finance, governance and education.
The
terrorist organisation Hamas must have no role in Palestine.
Further
steps, including the establishment of diplomatic relations and
opening of embassies, will be considered as the Palestinian Authority
makes progress on its commitments to reform.
Already,
crucial work is underway across the international community to
develop a credible peace plan that enables the reconstruction of
Gaza, builds the capacity of the state of Palestine and guarantees
the security of Israel.
The
leadership of the countries of the Arab League and the United States
is vital to this task.
Australia
will continue to work with our international partners to help build
on today's act of recognition and to bring the Middle East closer to
the lasting peace and security that is the hope, and the right, of
all humanity.
It
should be noted that Australia was a founding member of the United
Nations having signed the United Nations Charterand
Statute of the International Court of Justice on 26 June 1945 (on
the same day as the United States) and, in 1947 gave its formal
support for the partitioning of Palestine into two independent
states.
So
it is somewhat of a puzzle as to why anyone in the Trump
Administration could believe that the Australian Government should or would blindly do their bidding in the face of alleged war crimes and crimes
against humanity being committed by the State
of Israel and the Likud Government
As
Australian mainstream media reported that letter.....
Australian
Financial Review,
22 September 2025:
New
York | Australia has brushed aside last-minute threats of retaliation
from United States Republicans, and protests by the federal
opposition and the global Jewish community, to join like-minded
allies in formally recognising the State of Palestine, effective
immediately at 11pm on Sunday night (AEST).
Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese officially implemented the policy change at
the same time as the United Kingdom and Canada, one day before a
special summit on Palestine convened by France and Saudi Arabia to be
held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New
York.
Albanese
and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is also in New York, announced
that, subject to the Palestinian Authority adhering to the terms of
recognition, Australia would establish diplomatic ties and open an
embassy.
Conditions
include recognising Israel’s right to exist, a commitment to hold
democratic elections and “enact significant reform to finance,
governance and education”.
As
well, “terrorist organisation Hamas must have no role in
Palestine”.
The
government argues recognition was the best hope to bring to a head a
two-state solution rather than waiting for a peace deal – which has
remained elusive for almost 80 years – before beginning
negotiations.
“We
are seeing the Israeli government continue to provide support for
illegal settlements and expansion in the West Bank, we’re seeing a
catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfold in Gaza. The idea that Israel
is just sitting back waiting to negotiate is not what is happening
here. This is about the world saying enough is enough,” said
Albanese.
But
as Albanese arrived in New York early Sunday morning AEST, a letter
co-signed by 25 Republican members of Congress accused Australia and
the others of “legitimising a Palestinian terror state” and
threatened repercussions.
“Proceeding
with recognition will put your country at odds with longstanding US
policy and interests and may invite punitive measures in response,”
it says.
The
letter was addressed to Albanese as well as French President Emmanuel
Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Prime
Minister Keir Starmer.
Copies
were sent to US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco
Rubio.
Trump
tried to derail the recognition process by denying US visas to
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 officials. Australia
voted in the UN on Saturday AEST to allow Abbas to address the
special summit by video link. The vote passed by 145 votes to five,
with six abstentions.
“The
State of Palestine may submit a prerecorded statement of its
president, which will be played in the General Assembly Hall,” the
resolution says.....
The
Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales had an estimated
resident population in 2024 of 318,848 men, women and children,
spread across 20,758 square kilometres with a population density of
15.36 persons per square kilometre.
[https://profile.id.com.au/northern-rivers/]
The
region's residents live in est. 252,350 households of which 29,314 —
or est.11.6 per cent of all resident households — contain lone
parents with their child/ren.
This
percentage is higher than the total percentage for the state's entire
regional zone and, represents an increase in Northern Rivers lone
parent households of 15,535 over the five years between the 2016 &
2021 national censuses.
In
March 2025 the University of Melbourne issued a media
release covering aspects of the 20th Annual Statistical
Report of the HILDA Survey.
An annual report funded by the Australian Government through the Dept. of Social Services, based
on data collected in a longitudinal study over more than two
decades, with the same 17,000 people interviewed year-on-year.
That
media release stated three uncomfortable facts:
inequality
is at a 20 year high in Australia, with higher incomes having grown
faster relative to middle incomes. While at the same time, the
relative growth of lower incomes has declined;
more
than half (51.2%) of survey respondents reported that their real
income decreased between 2021 and 2022; and
single
parents remain the hardest hit by negative outcomes:
Across
the broad spectrum of the survey and the report’s analysis, single
parents are often the demographic that is the most negatively
impacted by economic factors.
Single
parents have seen a 76% increase in child care costs per child since
2006, compared to a 48% increase for couple parents.
Over
the 2001-2022 period, single parents were not only the most likely
family type to have poor mental health but also took the longest to
recover from poor mental health.
With
a poverty rate of 25%, single-parent families were significantly more
likely to experience poverty, more thanfour times the
rate for couple-parent families (6.2%). They also had the lowest
average wealth levels.
The
media release also confirmed that floods across Australia are causing
spikes in household damage:
In
2022, the percentage of Australians that reported weather-related
damage to their house reached a level not seen before in the HILDA
survey.
Since
2009, the annual survey has asked participants whether “a
weather-related disaster (e.g., flood, bushfire, cyclone)” had
damaged or destroyed their home in the last 12 months. The 2022
results therefore included respondents impacted by the various floods
across Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria during late
2021 and 2022.
As
such, this latest wave saw much larger rates of home damage from
weather-related disasters, jumping from 1.3% in 2021, to 4.5% the
following year. This eclipses any rate seen before, almost 2
percentage points higher than the previous nationwide peak of 2.7% in
2011. This recent rise in weather damage hit those in the northeast
of the country the most, with roughly 9% of respondents in New South
Wales and 6% of Queenslanders affected.
This
month the 20th statistical analysis, The Household, Income and
Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey: Selected Findings from Waves 1
to 23, September 2025 was released. It can be found at:
This
report presents select findings from Waves 1 to 23 of the HILDA
Survey and explores 10 topics:
Households
and family life
Household
economic wellbeing
The
labour market
Retirement
Housing
insurance
Bodily
pain
Psychological
distress
Blood
donation
Friendships
Time
stress
Following release of the 20th annual report Barnardos Australia issued the following media release.
Media
Release, 19 September 2025:
HILDA
report reveals children trapped in poverty as inequality reaches
crisis point
Australian
children are being robbed of their childhood, Barnardos Australia
says, as new research reveals that more than one in three children in
single-parent families live in poverty.
Today’s
landmark Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)
Survey shows more than one in three (36.2%) children in single-parent
families are living below the poverty line, the highest level
recorded since the survey began in 2001.
Research
found 30 per cent of children in single-parent families have lived in
poverty for more than two decades, but in 2022 the figure reached its
peak at 36.2 per cent.
Single-parent
households are almost three times more likely to be in poverty than
households with two parents.
“This
research reflects what Barnardos is seeing in the community. Housing
costs are pushing children deeper into poverty, with many
single-parent families living below the poverty line,” Barnardos
Family Connect and Support team leader Michaela Bestwick said.
“When
more than one in three children in single-parent families can’t
afford basic necessities after paying rent, it is clear we’re
facing a national housing and child poverty emergency that demands
immediate action.”
Single-parent
families have experienced a 76 per cent spike in childcare costs
since 2006, the research shows, leaving many children without access
to early learning opportunities.
“How
can we break the cycles of poverty and disadvantage when families
can’t afford to send their children to daycare?” Ms Bestwick
said.
“Children
experiencing poverty and instability are removed from their families
not because of abuse or neglect, but because their parents simply
can’t afford to provide basic necessities.
“The
government must do more to ensure families are supported and children
are given the opportunity to thrive and enjoy their childhood.
“When
children can’t access early childhood education because a single
mother can’t afford childcare, or when they’re forced to move
schools repeatedly due to housing instability, or when they can’t
concentrate in class because they’re hungry - we’re failing them
at the most crucial time in their lives.
“Every
day of disadvantage in a child’s life will have consequences for
years to come.”
The
Southern Ocean ecosystem is undergoing unprecedented environmental
changes, which have led to shifts in the primary food source of
baleen whales, Antarctic krill. Additionally, many humpback whale
populations have rebounded from near extirpation due to historical
whaling, increasing pressure on now vulnerable krill populations.
Since humpback whales rely on energy reserves built up during their
feeding season to sustain them during migration, changes in their
food supply are likely to influence their migration strategies. In
this study, the timing of the ‘return to feeding grounds,’ or
southern migration, of the eastern Australian humpback whale
population was tracked over a 21-year period. Both land-based and
acoustic surveys were used to estimate the timing of the migratory
peak in southern Queensland, i.e., the week with the highest number
of whales sighted or recorded. Land-based surveys recorded all
whales, including females with newborn calves, while acoustic surveys
recorded singing adult males. Both datasets revealed that the peak of
the southern migration has shifted earlier by approximately three
weeks from 2003 to 2024. Although this study does not establish
causation, it highlights a strong correlation between changes in
migratory timing and sea ice coverage in the whales’ Antarctic
feeding grounds. The observed decline in sea ice area, combined with
the large increase in the humpback whale population, are discussed as
potential factors contributing to the shift in migratory timing.
The Australian east coast is one of three principal migration paths for whales travelling between Summer and Winter feeding and breeding grounds.
The Northern Rivers premier masthead expands on the subject.....
As
we near the end of the 2025 humpback whale migration, both north and
south, a University of Queensland survey has revealed the peak of the
southern migration of humpback whales down the east Australian coast
is now weeks earlier than it was 21 years ago, and a warming Southern
Ocean may be the reason.
Associate
Professor Rebecca Dunlop from UQ’s School of the Environment found
the return migration from northern breeding grounds has shifted
earlier by approximately three weeks.
‘Acoustic
and visual surveys show the peak of the southern migration in 2003
was in early October but by 2024, we observed it was in the middle of
September,’ said Dr Dunlop.
‘While
migratory timing naturally fluctuates from year to year by about two
weeks, since 2021 there has been a clear and sustained change.’
The
cues for migration are not well understood but are likely to be
influenced by ecological and environmental factors impacting summer
feeding while in the Southern Ocean.
Sea
ice and krill populations
‘A
big factor is the connection between sea ice and krill populations.’
Apart
from the odd temporary stopover, humpback whales do not eat during
the winter months when they migrate to tropical and subtropical
breeding grounds.
‘Whales
likely time their migration to ensure their stay in Antarctic waters
is long enough with adequate feed to build the fat and protein
reserves needed to fuel their journey to and from the breeding
grounds, as well as for reproductive activities,’ said Dr Dunlop.
‘The
later years of this study coincide with a pronounced decline in sea
ice coverage beyond usual annual fluctuations.’
‘Less
sea ice, or a shorter ice season, means less algae which is crucial
food for krill.’
‘Less
available krill prior to the migration could be forcing the whales
back to the feeding grounds earlier.’
Population
grown from 300 to 40,000
The
eastern Australian population of humpback whales has grown from only
300 in the 1960s after sustained hunting, to around 40,000.
‘We
did consider if an earlier departure from the northern breeding
grounds could be driven by crowding or even human activity in the
Great Barrier Reef,’ said Dr Dunlop. ‘But while the whale
population increased steadily over the 21 years of this study, a
clear shift in migration timing did not occur until after 2021 when
rising water temperatures driven by climate change affected sea ice
coverage in the Antarctic oceans.’
This
earlier return south is also being seen in other humpback populations
– along Australia’s west coast and South America.
‘I
am concerned at some point we may see a decline in birth rates
because females won’t have the energy to support migrating north,
giving birth and getting their calf back to the feeding grounds.’
A
research project is underway to determine whether the timing of the
migration north away from the feeding grounds has also shifted.
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
[Adopted and proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948]
Hi! My name is Boy. I'm a male bi-coloured tabby cat. Ever since I discovered that Malcolm Turnbull's dogs were allowed to blog, I have been pestering Clarencegirl to allow me a small space on North Coast Voices.
A false flag musing: I have noticed one particular voice on Facebook which is Pollyanna-positive on the subject of the Port of Yamba becoming a designated cruise ship destination. What this gentleman doesn’t disclose is that, as a principal of Middle Star Pty Ltd, he could be thought to have a potential pecuniary interest due to the fact that this corporation (which has had an office in Grafton since 2012) provides consultancy services and tourismbusiness development services.
A religion & local government musing: On 11 October 2017 Clarence Valley Council has the Church of Jesus Christ Development Fund Inc in Sutherland Local Court No. 6 for a small claims hearing. It would appear that there may be a little issue in rendering unto Caesar. On 19 September 2017 an ordained minister of a religion (which was named by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in relation to 40 instances of historical child sexual abuse on the NSW North Coast) read the Opening Prayer at Council’s ordinary monthly meeting. Earlier in the year an ordained minister (from a church network alleged to have supported an overseas orphanage closed because of child abuse claims in 2013) read the Opening Prayer and an ordained minister (belonging to yet another church network accused of ignoring child sexual abuse in the US and racism in South Africa) read the Opening Prayer at yet another ordinary monthly meeting. Nice one councillors - you are covering yourselves with glory!
An investigative musing: Newcastle Herald, 12 August 2017: The state’s corruption watchdog has been asked to investigate the finances of the Awabakal Aboriginal Local Land Council, less than 12 months after the troubled organisation was placed into administration by the state government. The Newcastle Herald understands accounting firm PKF Lawler made the decision to refer the land council to the Independent Commission Against Corruption after discovering a number of irregularities during an audit of its financial statements.The results of the audit were recently presented to a meeting of Awabakal members. Administrator Terry Lawler did not respond when contacted by the Herald and a PKF Lawler spokesperson said it was unable to comment on the matter. Given the intricate web of company relationships that existed with at least one former board member it is not outside the realms of possibility that, if ICAC accepts this referral, then United Land Councils Limited (registered New Zealand) and United First Peoples Syndications Pty Ltd(registered Australia) might be interviewed. North Coast Voices readers will remember that on 15 August 2015 representatives of these two companied gave evidence before NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6 INQUIRY INTO CROWN LAND. This evidence included advocating for a Yamba mega port.
A Nationals musing: Word around the traps is that NSW Nats MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has been talking up the notion of cruise ships visiting the Clarence River estuary. Fair dinkum! That man can be guaranteed to run with any bad idea put to him. I'm sure one or more cruise ships moored in the main navigation channel on a regular basis for one, two or three days is something other regular river users will really welcome. *pause for appreciation of irony* The draft of the smallest of the smaller cruise vessels is 3 metres and it would only stay safely afloat in that channel. Even the Yamba-Iluka ferry has been known to get momentarily stuck in silt/sand from time to time in Yamba Bay and even a very small cruise ship wouldn't be able to safely enter and exit Iluka Bay. You can bet your bottom dollar operators of cruise lines would soon be calling for dredging at the approach to the river mouth - and you know how well that goes down with the local residents.
A local councils musing: Which Northern Rivers council is on a low-key NSW Office of Local Government watch list courtesy of feet dragging by a past general manager?
A serial pest musing: I'm sure the Clarence Valley was thrilled to find that a well-known fantasist is active once again in the wee small hours of the morning treading a well-worn path of accusations involving police, local business owners and others.
An investigative musing: Which NSW North Coast council is batting to have the longest running code of conduct complaint investigation on record?
A which bank? musing: Despite a net profit last year of $9,227 million the Commonwealth Bank still insists on paying below Centrelink deeming rates interest on money held in Pensioner Security Accounts. One local wag says he’s waiting for the first bill from the bank charging him for the privilege of keeping his pension dollars at that bank.
A Daily Examiner musing: Just when you thought this newspaper could sink no lower under News Corp management, it continues to give column space to Andrew Bolt.
A thought to ponder musing: In case of bushfire or flood - do you have an emergency evacuation plan for the family pet?
An adoption musing: Every week on the NSW North Coast a number of cats and dogs find themselves without a home. If you want to do your bit and give one bundle of joy a new family, contact Happy Paws on 0419 404 766 or your local council pound.
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