Sunday, 4 February 2024

Please drive carefully on Clarence Valley roads as endangered Coastal Emus are moving about in the Lower Clarence

 

Clarence Valley Independent, 31 January 2024:




Locals and visitors to the Clarence Valley are urged to keep an eye out for endangered Coastal Emus. Image: contributed



Residents of the Clarence Valley and visitors to the area are being asked to keep a close lookout for endangered Coastal Emus on local roads following the recent death of a Coastal Emu on Brooms Head Road and the sighting of what appeared to be a family of the flightless birds at Palmers Island last Tuesday.


When the Coastal Emu count was done in October 2023, fewer than 50 of these critically endangered birds, that were once widespread across north-eastern NSW, were spotted in their remaining habitat from Corindi to Evans Head.


Coastal Emus are genetically different from all other Emus in Australia, and their loss would have a serious environmental impact because they eat and spread fruits and seeds across large areas which helps keep north-eastern NSW forests healthy and able to support many different threatened plants and animals.


Attacks from feral animals including pigs, dogs, and foxes can cause emu injury or death, particularly in chicks, and you can reduce the risks of attack by keeping your pets secured during the day and reporting sightings of wild dogs, feral pigs and foxes to Local Land Services on 1300 795 299.


The recent tragic death of a Coastal Emu on Brooms Head Road this month prompted Clarence Valley Council to issue the following warning to locals.


The Coastal Emu is a protected animal, both alive and dead.


Please leave remains where they are for the appropriate authority to deal with and to allow cultural repatriation.


You can help save Coastal Emus by reporting sightings of emus in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area via Clarence Valley Council’s online sightings register; installing emu-friendly fencing if you own land where emus roam; and by being on high alert for emus on local roads, following animal warning signs, slowing down and driving to the speed limit.


If you see an emu, log your sighting online at www.clarenceconversations.com.au/coastalemus


Saturday, 3 February 2024

Saturday's Mood: HOT!


Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Rivers Forecast, issued at 4:30 pm EDT on Friday 2 February 2024:


Weather Situation

A high pressure system over the Bight extends a ridge into southern and western New South Wales today, while a trough of low pressure lies over the northeast. This trough will decay early Saturday as the high moves to the Tasman Sea, although a new trough is forecast to develop in the west during the weekend. This pattern will direct hot air from central Australia across New South Wales, peaking in many areas during Sunday. The remnants of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily look set to be drawn into the inland trough during Monday, potentially bringing significant rain to some western areas, before the whole system weakens and shifts to the state's east on Tuesday.


Heatwave Situation for 3 days starting Saturday 3rd February 2024 

Click on image to enlarge

NOTE: Heatwave mapping for this cycle commenced Wednesday 31 January 2024.


Cartoons of the Week

 

Peter Broelman


Cathy Wilcox


Friday, 2 February 2024

Live and work in the NSW Northern River Region? Want to know how much less tax you will pay under the Albanese Government 's changes to former Morrison Government Stage 3 tax cuts?


The Australian Government Treasury has kindly created a an online Tax Cut Calculator which those who pay personal income tax on their wages or salaries can use to calculate how much less in tax liabilities they will have in 2024-25. 

Calculation are based on an individual's annual taxable income and, starts showing varying degrees of tax relief at taxable incomes of $21,887 per annum all the way up to taxable incomes of $1,000,000 per annum.

It will also supply a comparison with this financial year's estimated annual tax liability and an individual's estimated annual tax liability in 2024-25 if the proposed amendments are passed by the House of Representatives this month.

Go to: https://treasury.gov.au/tax-cuts/calculator 


Why did the Albanese Labor Government make the decision to amend the former Morrison Coalition Government tax cuts due to come into effect on 1 July 2024?  


Treasury Advice on Stage 3 Tax Cuts


Overview

  The upcoming Stage 3 tax cuts were designed and legislated when dramatically different circumstances were expected to unfold. Since they were legislated, the global economy has been impacted by several significant, unanticipated shocks. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and saw the rollout of unprecedented government support. More recently, ongoing global conflicts have led to rapid increases in energy and food prices, which are rippling through domestic prices and have contributed to inflation reaching 30-year highs. 

  Low- and middle-income households have been under significant pressure from unanticipated cost-of-living increases associated with the lift in prices. It is challenging to provide support to these households without unduly adding to inflationary pressures and perpetuating cost-of-living challenges. 

  Treasury expects inflation to return to the target band over the coming 18 months and built into this profile are the Stage 3 tax cuts. One way to provide further relief to those households most affected by cost-of-living increases and not impact inflation is to redesign the Stage 3 tax cuts. 

  It remains important to deliver an overall tax cut around the size of the Stage 3 tax cuts to unwind bracket creep and lower average income tax rates. This case is supported by the ongoing improvement in the budget position and adverse impacts of rising average income tax rates. 

  A redesign of the Stage 3 tax cuts presents other opportunities, including enhancing the participation benefits of the tax cuts, especially for women, and distributing the future impact of bracket creep more evenly. This can be achieved with the same budgetary cost as the Stage 3 tax cuts. 

  The redesign of the Stage 3 tax cuts outlined in this document is estimated to provide cost-of-living relief to 13.6 million taxpayers. This option is broadly revenue neutral, will not add to inflationary pressures and will support labour supply......


Read the full advice at:

https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-01/tax-cuts-treasury-advice.pdf 


IMAGE: Australian Treasury






By way of example.....


Using the 2021 Census &.id informed decisions data as guidelines for Northern Rivers Region stated annual individual incomes and relying on figures produced by Treasury's tax calculator:


in the 2024-25 financial year an est. 8.7% of all Northern Rivers local workers should see an annual tax cut somewhere between $234-$513;


with roughly 23% of local workers expected to find their annual tax liability reduced by between $468-$700;


around 14.5% can expect to have their tax liability drop by somewhere between $700-$978;


another 14.5% of local workers have annual incomes which should see their tax cut come in between $978-$1,303;


an est. 9.5% of local workers are calculated to receive a tax cut of between $1,304-$1,629;


while 7.7% of all local workers are estimated to fall within the range of between $2,279-$ 3,729 less in annual tax liability; and


est. 3.7% of all workers may see their annual tax liability cut by between $3,729-$3,889 or higher.  


Note: this is not an exhaustive list of Northern Rivers local workers' expected tax cuts in 2024-05 should the House of Representatives pass the Albanese Government proposed amendments to the former Morrison Government Stage 3 tax cuts.


BACKGROUND

Northern Rivers Regional Area

IMAGE: .id informed decisions


At the 2021 Census est. 116, 851 people were working part-time or full-time for a wage or salary in the seven local government areas within the NSW Northern Rivers region. [.id informed decisions, Northern Rivers Region economic profile]


In 2021 the taxable gross income of these workers ranged from est. $351 up to $3,500 and over per week.


Overall, 15.4% of the local workers earned a high income, and 16.0% earned a low income, compared with 24.6% and 11.5% respectively for NSW.


The major differences between the weekly income of the local workers in the Northern Rivers Region and NSW were:


  • A smaller percentage of local workers who earned $2,000 - $2,999 (7.7% compared to 13.3%)

  • A smaller percentage of local workers who earned $3,500 or more (2.4% compared to 6.2%)

  • A larger percentage of local workers who earned $800 - $999 (14.5% compared to 10.9%)

  • A larger percentage of local workers who earned $650 - $799 (11.5% compared to 8.1%) [.id informed decisions, Northern Rivers Region economic profile]


Thursday, 1 February 2024

In the global response to the War on Gaza words matter.....

 

Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, posting in English via @netanyahu on 27 January 2024, a day after the International Court of Justice published its Order binding the State of Israel:


"Israel's commitment to international law is unwavering. Equally unwavering is our sacred commitment to continue to defend our country and defend our people.


Like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself.


The vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state, and it was justly rejected.


The charge of genocide leveled [sic] against Israel is not only false, it’s outrageous, and decent people everywhere should reject it."


The disconnect between those words, along with other recent statements made by the Likud Party leader, and the words found in the International Court of Justice Order of 26 January 2024 are being noticed.


 


CDU EXPERT: The ICJ’s order rebuts denials and is binding with its “Israel must”

 
 
Charles Darwin university
 
 


Hard facts, semantically clear landmark verdict

31 JANUARY, 2024


Who: Charles Darwin University forensic linguistics expert Dr Awni Etaywe is a lecturer in linguistics and a forensic linguistics researcher focusing on terrorism, incitement to hatred, radicalisation and genocide, and digital deviance. He is a former United Nations Expert on Mission and Observer of human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with training on the law of armed conflict and the protection of civilians and children.


Topics:

  • Israel’s response to South Africa’s case and the International Court of Justice's order.

  • The International Court of Justice rebuts Israel’s denials and claims, and decides it is a plausible case of genocide.

  • The UCJ’s order is legally binding, and the Court sees that “Israel must” conform.

  • Predictably, language is a main part of evidence to decode a genocidal intent and determine a plausible case of genocide.

  • Violence in Gaza is a form of “genocidal moments” and placed within a broader settler-colonial context.

 

Quotes attributable to Dr Awni Etaywe:


“The Court issued its binding evidence-based order, using the 'Israel must' phrase where Israel not only 'must' 'take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related to allegations…' but also 'must submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month, as from the date of this Order. The report so provided shall then be communicated to South Africa, which shall be given the opportunity to submit to the Court its comments thereon.'"


“The Court enacts tenor through high modality – 'must' – a linguistic means through which the Court expresses the highest level of intensity of obligation.”


“What are these must-take measures? The Court considers that:


  • “Israel must […] take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of […]: (a) killing members of the group; (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.

  • “…Israel must ensure with immediate effect that its military forces do not commit any of the above-described acts.”

  • “…Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”

“As predicted, speech function and dehumanising language was under the microscope of the Court to establish evidence of encoded genocidal intent.


"Judge Nolte adds that '…certain statements by Israeli State officials, including members of its military, give rise to a real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice to the rights of Palestinians under the Genocide Convention.' In response to this genocidal language, the Court orders Israel to do the following:


  • “…Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip.”

“Netanyahu politically (again, not legally) labelled the ‘crime of crimes’ charge as 'outrageous', while Yoav Gallant countered by characterising South Africa’s case as 'antisemitic'."


"In the face of political dynamics and the framework of international law, nations worldwide are confronted with a critical choice.”     

ENDS                                           




Note

Judge Georg Nolte is a German jurist, former Professor of Public and International Law, a former member of the International Law Commission and a current Member of the International Court of Justice since 2021.


Wednesday, 31 January 2024

Magistrate finds guilty climate activists to have ‘muscular good character due to their strong records of community service ’

 

Echo, 30 January 2024:


More than thirty climate activists controversially charged under NSW laws are free to continue life without penalty after their matters were heard in the Newcastle Local Court last week.


Police arrested 109 activists at the 12th Rising Tide anti-coal blockade of Newcastle Port late last year when the protest continued past the officially permitted time.


Officers said afterward they would allege in court some protesters deliberately entered the harbour channel after the permitted end time for the protest at 4pm on the Sunday, after three days of protests, despite police warnings and directions.


Protestors this week said police had subsequently charged 99 people with s14a of the Maritime Safety Act, Unreasonable interference by operation or use of vessel.


Twenty-one activists reportedly received convictions in the first related court hearing on 11 January while no convictions were recorded for another 40.


Last Friday, charges against 36 protestors were heard in the Newcastle Local Court, with the case against one, who was pleading not guilty, adjourned until 15 February.


Magistrate finds guilty climate activists to have ‘muscular good character’


Byron Shire climate and housing advocate Chels Hood-Withey on Monday said the other 35 protestors pleaded guilty, with five receiving convictions.


Many had their charges handled under a ‘Section 10A’ in NSW law effectively allowing for groups of people facing similar or the same minor charges to receive the one judicial finding.


Ms Hood-Withey said neither she, nor many of the other protestors pleading guilty in Newcastle Local Court, received a penalty or recording of the offence.


Magistrate John Chicken told the court protestors had ‘noble intentions, albeit they ended up in an infraction of the law,’ Ms Hood-Withey told The Echo.


They were motivated by selflessness and a genuine concern for the climate and the future of the earth,’ Magistrate Chicken was quoted as saying.


He characterised the defendants, aged 24 and 71, as being of ‘muscular good character due to their strong records of community service’......















Returning to the matters heard in Newcastle last week that protestors said included five Northern Rivers residents, Ms Hood-Withey said many represented themselves.


Some had the support of the Environmental Defenders Office, she said.


Several opted to enter their guilty pleas through the court’s online system and didn’t have to face court in person.


There were no conditions placed on their release from the court matters......


Read the full article here.


Note:

John Chicken was appointed to the bench of the NSW Local Court by NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos in 2009, after practicing law in New South Wales for 21 years with a strong background in criminal law having appeared extensively as a criminal advocate in the Local, District and Supreme Court of NSW.


Tuesday, 30 January 2024

Two persistent fires in Yuraygir National Park under control


 


 Two bushfires have been burning in Yuraygir National Park on the Clarence Coast for well over a week now.

The largest which began in the Sandon River area now covers a fireground of at least 4,246ha.

The second at Lake Arragan  between Angourie and Brooms Head area has only covered 514ha to date. 

Both fires are under control and the current NSW Rural Fire Service advice for the Sandon River fire is set out below:


Advice: Sandon River Fire (Clarence Valley LGA) Monitor Conditions - Minnie Water, Diggers Camp, Wooli.

Posted: 28/01/2024 11:21


Firefighters have contained a fire burning to the east and north of Lake Hiawatha near the locations of Minnie Water, Diggers Camp to the north of Wooli township, and south of Sandon.


The fire has burnt more than 4,010ha and is contained.


Current Situation


The fire has burnt to the north of Wooli and to the north and west of Minnie Water.

Crews undertook backburning operations yesterday along the northern side of Diggers Camp Road and south west of the Minnie Water village.

Rain fell across parts of the fireground yesterday evening and overnight, further easing conditions, with minimal fire activity today.

National Parks and Wildlife crews assisted by RFS crews will continue to black out, mop up and continue to strengthen containment lines today.

A number of campgrounds in the area have been closed and people planning to visit camp grounds in the Diggers Camp area are advised to use alternate campgrounds.

Monitor conditions and stay up to date in case the situation changes. Know what you will do if the situation changes.


Minnie Water – Monitor Conditions


Firefighters conducted backburning operations yesterday south west of Minnie Water village. Crews will continue to strengthen containment lines today.

The fire continues to burn to the south west of the Minnie Water village between Lake Hiawatha and the coast.


Diggers Camp – Monitor Conditions


The fire is burning to the west of Diggers Camp between south of Lake Hiawatha and the coast.

Backburning operations were undertaken yesterday along the northern side of Diggers Camp Road. Crews will continue to mop up and patrol this area today.

People in the area are advised to monitor the situation and know what they will do if conditions change.


Wooli – Monitor Conditions


While the fire remains to the north of the Wooli village. People in the area are advised to monitor the situation and know what they will do if the situation changes.


What you need to do


  • People in the Minnie Water, Diggers Camp, and Wooli areas stay alert and monitor your surroundings.

  • Watch out for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.

  • This means looking out for burning embers, changes in wind direction and smoke. Watch for signs of fire in your area.

  • Know what you will do if the fire impacts on where you are. Identify a safer location in case the situation changes. This may include a well cleared area or a solid structure such as a home.

  • If you are not prepared to the highest level, leaving early is the safest option.


If you are threatened by fire


  • If the fire impacts, seek shelter in a solid structure such as a house to protect yourself from the heat of the fire.

  • Bring pets indoors and restrain them, close all doors and windows and turn off air conditioners, keep water running if possible.

  • Shelter in a room on the other side of the building from the approaching fire, and one that has water and a clear exit out of the house.

  • Monitor both inside and outside for small fires and burning embers and turn sprinklers on if you have them.

  • Be careful outdoors after the fire has passed as trees can be unstable and fall.

  • If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000). 


There are currently no total fires bans in the Northern Rivers region.