Dr Ted Christie: Environmental Dispute Resolution and Sustainable Solutions

            Divergent public opinion and controversy has arisen in Australia over a referendum the Federal Government intends to hold later this year. Specifically, that an advisory body known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (“ the Voice ”) may make representations to Parliament and the Executive on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. However, the available information to facilitate voting  about the “ the Voice process ”  at the referendum has been an issue.     A conflict management framework  was applied to address this issue. The focus was on the  “interests”  (or  needs and concerns ) about the Voice process that the public have in relation to the referendum question –  rather than the voting   “position”  they may hold . The features of “ the Voice process ” were compared with public participation processes for resolving public interest conflicts: Processes which already exist and are equally available to all Australi

  T h e challenge for stable electricity   on an energy grid, powered primarily by renewables, is to   ensure continuous energy when the sun isn't shining, or the wind isn't blowing; or even if there is a sudden spike in demand i.e., Firming capacity. As renewables replace coal, significant issues over energy security   have ignited public concern and controversy whether renewables, such as wind and solar energy, ensure stable electricity power . Public concern resonates with the following opinion by the former Energy Security Board of Australia chairwoman, Dr Kerry Schott, as reported in the Australian Financial Review   (28 February 2023): ‘Former energy tsar,  Kerry Schott,  has criticised State governments, especially Victoria, for “demonising” gas, saying the fuel was crucial to shift the electricity grid from coal to renewable energy as part of the net zero transition… gas has to be part of the solution in the transition to renewable energy”.       The divergent o

      T he media coverage that followed a protest by a group of climate activists in Brisbane on 01 February focussed more on the “general overreach” of government in silencing protesters - rather than on understanding activist concerns: Whether “we are acting appropriately or urgently enough on climate change”. Whilst there may be divided public opinion on rights to protest, there should be no dispute that the activist’s concerns drew attention to serious issues related to action for climate change. Australia’s new Climate Change Act 2022 came into force on 15 September 2022. GHG emissions are to be reduced   by 43% on 2005 levels by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050. But the legislation does not as yet provide a national plan on how these targets are to be achieved. In the absence of any national plan for action for climate change, climate activist concerns about what the future holds for our children and grandchildren are real and warrant wider conversation. Concern for future