Julian Assange - What’s going on?

Action on climate change needs good data. Wikileaks offered in 2017 to secure scientific information under threat from the new Trump Administration. Authoritarian power threatens civil liberties and needs to be opposed. Climate activists world-wide risk arrest and harassment. Julian Assange and Wikileaks should be celebrated. Written in 2019. 2 pages.

Gas and climate emergency plans - Yarra’s draft plan

I made this submission out of concern that well-directed action by councils could greatly reduce household and business use of fossil gas. Climate emergency plans of councils are great, but aren’t strong enough on mobilising action by the community and business. Their plans are strong on reducing council’s own use of gas, which is very small compared to household and business use. 2020, 9 pages).

Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act

A short submission highlighting some key issues that should be taken into account by the inquiry panel. I highlighted the need for strong regulation to achieve conservation outcomes, the limits to cost-benefit analysis, self-regulation and environmental markets. The principles proposed for guiding the inquiry are worrisome. (2020, 3 pages)

Inquiry into Register of Environmental Organisations

The Commonwealth Government set up an inquiry to attack environmental organisations. In a submission, our arguments cover:  The public interest and private economic interests  An economic perspective on legitimate public activism including civil disobedience  The role of NGOs in the public interest  Tax deductions - cost-benefit and merit goods  Relative impact on tax payers  Revealed taxpayer preferences. (co-authored. 2015. 5 pages)

Competitiveness and efficiency of the energy retail market

A short submission arguing that public ownership should be the benchmark for assessing competition and efficiency, and that the framework for the market should foster collective purchasing. (2019, 1 page).

Guideline for the use of Cost Benefit Analysis in mining and coal seam gas proposals

In this submission about appropriate guidelines, we critique current approaches, highlight the weaknesses of cost-benefit analyses while emphasising requirements for its ‘proper’ use - which would undoubtedly see many projects rejected. (Co-authored. 2012. 13 pages)