Australia sweats through hottest spring on record as temperatures soar 2.5C above pre-industrial levels.

 Extract from ABC News

By ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders

• Topic:Extreme Weather Events

13 hours ago

Spring was not only hot this year, but also wet. (Supplied: Beth Bunn)

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Another heatwave is predicted across Australia this week, as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) confirms the nation just sizzled through its hottest spring on record.

The country's mean temperature in spring was estimated at 2.08 degrees Celsius above the baseline 1961–1990 average, which equates to a temperature around 2.5C above pre-industrial levels.

This is only the second time the 2.5C barrier has been breached for an entire season, going back to 1910 when reliable national averages were first available.

While spring 2024 was only 0.05C warmer than the old record of +2.03C from 2020, it was at least 1C warmer than any spring from last century — an indication of the climate acceleration during the past few decades.

The season was not only hot, but also wet, with a mean national rainfall of 92mm, 28 per cent above average — mostly due to record falls through northern Western Australia.

The whole of Australia was warmer than average this spring. (ABC News)

Top 10 hottest for all states

The record warmth was consistent through all months, with September the fourth-warmest on record and October the second-warmest, while November came in fifth.

Spring's heat was also relatively evenly distributed geographically, as warmer-than-normal temperatures were observed across every district and all states and territories landed in the top 10 on record.

The stand-out anomaly was south-west Queensland, where the seasonal mean exceeded 3C above the long-term average, while most of Tasmania, the tropical Queensland coast and WA's south coast were less than 1C above average.

The abnormal heat for spring also followed a record warm August, leading to a year-to-date anomaly that is now also the highest since 1910 at 1.42C above the 1961-1990 base, which just eclipses the previous January-to-November record anomaly of 1.35C from 2019.

While 2024 is therefore in pole position to become the hottest year on record, December 2019, the start of Black Summer, was more than 3C above average, meaning this December would need to be at least 2.5C above average to overtake 2019's annual record.

Warmer-than-normal temperatures were observed across every district. (Supplied: Julie Smith)

Another scorching, thundery week

The hot finish to spring has rolled effortlessly into summer and another heatwave is predicted this week, starting across the western interior before spreading east to the NSW coast.

Midweek temperatures over eastern WA could even reach around 47C, only a few degrees below Australia's December record of 49.9C at Nullarbor in 2019.

A heatwave will traverse Australia this week and become severe to extreme over the western interior. (ABC News)

One of the causes of the ongoing high temperatures is the exceptionally warm seas surrounding Australia, a pattern that should ensure summer also brings uncomfortable heat and humidity.

Off the north coast of WA, the water temperature is currently as high as 32C, as much as 3C above normal, not only raising the near-surface air temperatures but also providing a source of moisture for rain.

Oceans surrounding Australia are simmering up to 3C above average, a source of moisture and heat. (ABC News)

And in a repeat of last week, an influx of moisture off these warm tropical waters will lead to further widespread rain and storms for Australia this week.

Thunderstorms already fired up over the central outback on Monday and should be widespread and severe across eastern states on Tuesday.

Severe storms are possible on Tuesday from Victoria through to western Queensland, with a primary risk of flash flooding that the BOM warns could be life-threatening across the NSW southern slopes and eastern Riverina.

The thundery skies will then continue from Wednesday, including another burst of likely severe storms over south-east states on Friday and Saturday.

The result of the prevailing summer storms is a second consecutive week where rain totals up to 100mm will soak multiple states, enough to prompt a flood watch in NSW and Victoria.

Most of Australia can expect rain this week, with heavy falls from the tropics to Victoria. (ABC News)

Global copper shortage looms but Australia could help to fill the gap.

 Extract from ABC News

• By Abbey Halter

• ABC Rural

• Topic:Copper

1 hours ago

Copper demand is increasing with growth in renewable energy and a global supply crunch. (ABC Rural: Babs McHugh)

In short: 

Copper is an essential critical mineral in everyday life and renewable energy construction.

Demand for copper is rising but a global shortage looms.

What's next? 

Australia could play a role in filling the gap by increasing production.

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When you check your phone, turn on your kitchen tap or drive your car to work, you're using copper, a crucial mineral found in all these devices.

Copper is also a necessity for renewable energy construction — think electric cars, solar panels, and wind turbines.

Yet the world is headed towards a global copper shortage, and an expert says Australia could play a role in meeting the rising demand.

There will be no shortage in the immediate future, but demand is predicted to soar in the next decade. (Supplied: True North Copper)

Is Australia's copper globally significant?

According to the World Economic Forum, Australia produces 4 per cent of the international copper supply and is the sixth largest producer in the world.

Copper weighing more than 17 Sydney Harbour Bridges, or 0.9 million tonnes, is produced by Australia per year.

Rick Valenta says demand for copper in the future will put supply into deficit.  (Supplied: Rick Valenta)

Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland (UQ) Rick Valenta said the Australian industry, particularly in North West Queensland and South Australia, could significantly contribute to meeting the expected supply gap for copper. 

"And more importantly, cementing its position as a responsible and reliable supplier of copper concentrates, refined metals, and ideally, downstream products into the future," Professor Valenta said.

He said the future relied on copper production, so industry growth was needed to combat falling supply, including within the Australian mining industry.

Copper is a necessary mineral to produce solar panels. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)

Creeping copper demand

Professor Valenta said while there would be no global copper shortage in the immediate future, long-term supply was uncertain.

This has critical implications for the renewable energy sector — for which copper is essential — and he said the international market might enter a deficit by 2028.

Copper concentrate is smelted in Mount Isa. (Supplied: Glencore Australia)

"[The world] will have to produce approximately a billion tonnes of copper metal in the next 25 years to meet net zero targets," he said.

That is more copper than has ever been produced.

Outback potential

Professor Valenta said North West Queensland could contribute to Australia's role in reducing the international copper shortage.

Although the closure of the third-largest copper mine, Glencore's Mount Isa Copper Operation (MICO), looms in the near future, he said the industry would survive in the region.

Professor Valenta says the world will need to produce more copper in the next 25 years than ever before. (ABC News: Stuart Stansfield)

Within 200 kilometres of the site, there are nearly 7 million tonnes of copper metal and 28 projects pending production.

Professor Valenta said a conservative but realistic estimate would be that 60 per cent of the copper would be mined, representing another 20 years of production.

While these developments are good news for the industry, he said there was a disparity between those who reaped the benefits, and those who lived and worked in mining regions.

"People who live in big cities with lighting and infrastructure are the main beneficiaries of mining copper and critical metals for the energy transition," he said.

"But the people who are bearing the burden of that production, who are at the front lines of actually getting that material out, are in regions in some of the most economically disadvantaged parts of our country."

The Mount Isa Copper Mine is set to close mid-2025. (Supplied: Mount Isa Mines)

Global industry eyeing off Queensland

North West Queensland's rich mining potential has also attracted international interest.

British Deputy Consul General for Queensland and the Northern Territory Lucy Monaghan says the potential for the region's decarbonisation plans aligns with the UK's net zero ambitions.

Lucy Monaghan sees potential in Queensland's mineral sector. (Supplied: Lucy Monaghan)

"Critical minerals are more and more important … and this part of the world holds those minerals that are important for Australia, for the UK and globally," she said.

"I feel like Australia, and particularly perhaps this part of Australia, is in a really exciting position to be able to really take full advantage of [international supply chains]."

Israeli military says it was targeting Hamas 'terrorist' in strike that reportedly killed three World Central Kitchen aid workers.

Extract from ABC News

By Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran

• Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War

Sunday 1 December

Israel military bombs charity vehicle in Gaza killing five

In short:

The Israeli military has reportedly killed three workers with the charity World Central Kitchen in an air strike on a vehicle in Gaza, as well as two bystanders.

The military says it was targeting a "terrorist" who had participated in Hamas's October 7 terror attacks on Israel and worked for WCK.

The charity says it had "no knowledge that anyone in the vehicle had alleged ties to the attacks and is seeking more details".

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An Israeli air strike on a vehicle in Gaza has reportedly killed five people, including staff from aid organisation World Central Kitchen (WCK), with Israel's military claiming it was targeting a Hamas "terrorist" involved in the October 7 terrorist attacks.

But the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they could not link Hazmi Kadih, one of the aid workers with WCF, with any specific attempt to take Israeli hostages.

WCK said it had "no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack", and Saturday's strike had forced it to suspend its operations in Gaza — the second time it has done so this year.

Earlier this year, an Israeli attack on a WCK convoy killed seven people, including Australian woman Zomi Frankcom.

The incident forced an internal investigation within the IDF — which said it was a result of a "misidentification" of a convoy — and a probe by the Australian government into the circumstances leading to the strike and the Israeli response to the incident.

'Misidentification' was behind Gaza air strike that killed Australian aid worker, Israeli military says

Photo shows A woman wearing a black cap and a khaki vest smiles at the camera

The Israeli air strike that killed seven aid workers in Gaza, including Australian Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom, was a "mistake that followed a misidentification," the Israeli military says.

This time, the IDF said it was specifically targeting the vehicle that was hit.

"The terrorist, Hazmi Kadih, infiltrated Israel and took part in the murderous October 7th massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz," the IDF said in a statement.

"The IDF and [Israel Security Agency] will continue to operate to locate and eliminate terrorists who conduct terrorist activities against the civilians of Israel and those involved in the murderous October 7th massacre.

"We emphasize that according to current information, it is not possible to link the terrorist to a specific abduction attempt."

The Israeli government agency which coordinates operations in Gaza, COGAT, said it would be asking WCK to investigate how it hired staff it alleged were involved in the attacks on Israel, which were the catalyst for the war against Hamas in Gaza.

"The COGAT repeatedly calls for the international organizations that operate in the Gaza Strip to provide the Israeli authorities with details of the local employees that are hired by them in the Gaza Strip, to ensure that terrorists are not making use of the Humanitarian realm," the IDF said in a statement.

World Central Kitchen says it has paused operations in Gaza after a vehicle carrying its members was hit in an Israeli strike.  (Reuters)

WCK said it was "heartbroken" as a result of its staff being killed in an Israeli air strike.

"At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details," the organisation said in a statement.

"World Central Kitchen is pausing operations in Gaza at this time.

"Our hearts are with our colleagues and their families in this unimaginable moment."

Mr Kadih's family said the Israeli allegations were false and meant to justify his unlawful killing. They said he was an engineer who dedicated his life to charitable work.

Unverified video circulating on social media shows the wreckage of a white SUV in Gaza, which is said to be the vehicle hit by the Israeli strike.

Local journalists said WCK staff and two bystanders were killed in the attack.

Israeli authorities have been criticised for their dealings with aid agencies in Gaza.

Among the concerns, humanitarian organisations have accused the IDF of failing to halt air strikes in areas where aid workers have been operating and failing to protect convoys distributing aid into the hardest hit parts of Gaza.

In September, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for a new United Nations declaration for the protection of aid workers, describing Gaza as the "deadliest place on earth to be an aid worker."

Story of Ballarat's Eureka Rebellion and Southern Cross flag remembered.

 Extract from ABC News

By Alexander Darling

• ABC Ballarat

• Topic:History

1 hours ago

Ballarat Trades Hall secretary Brett Edgington with the unions' Eureka flag, also known as the Southern Cross flag. (ABC Ballarat: Alexander Darling)

In short: 

The Eureka Rebellion was a battle fought between gold miners and government soldiers at Ballarat in 1854.

While the miners were defeated quickly, they won favour with the public and eventually earned more rights, including the right to vote.

What's next?

The 170th anniversary will take place tomorrow and Ballarat locals are watching to see if it is again misappropriated by far-right groups.

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On December 3 last year, white supremacists marched through Ballarat displaying Nazi symbols.

The "unplanned demonstration" coincided with the 169th anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion, and is one of the more recent examples of the historic uprising, and its iconic Southern Cross flag, being co-opted by the far-right.

The Eureka flag has also become a symbol of the labour movement in Australia. (ABC Ballarat: Christopher Testa)

While left-wing groups value the rebellion as representing the ongoing struggle for workers' rights, it has also found favour with groups on the other side of the political spectrum, keen to show their anti-establishment values as being in the same spirit as the goldminers' fight against Victoria's colonial government.

If they return for this year's commemorations, experts say the far-right groups will be continuing their misunderstanding — or deliberate ignoring — of what actually happened in Ballarat in 1854.

What was the Eureka Stockade?

December 3, 1854 was a defining moment in Australian history, with some considering it the birth of the nation's democracy.

After years of protests over the heavy-handed policing of gold-mining licences, and a lack of political representation, miners fought a bloody battle against government soldiers at a flimsy makeshift fort, which came to be known as Eureka Stockade.

The outmatched miners were quickly defeated — with at least 22 miners and five soldiers killed — but the battle drew attention to their grievances, swaying public opinion in their favour.

Eventually the miners won the rights they had been fighting for, and some of the rebellion's leaders were even elected to Victorian parliament after being cleared of high treason by a jury.

Respecting the original intentions

Unions Ballarat's outgoing secretary Brett Edgington said it made him angry to see the Eureka Rebellion and its Southern Cross flag used "against its original purpose".

"The first time the flag was hoisted in Ballarat on November 29, 1854 … Raffaello Carboni, an Italian who helped create the flag, gets up in front of all the miners, and he very importantly says, 'I call upon all diggers, irrespective of colour, religion or creed, to salute the Southern Cross as a refuge for all the oppressed from all nations on earth'," Mr Edgington said.

"We have to go back to those initial intentions of the creators.

"Anybody these days who is using this flag for white supremacy or racism, or to put down any group, is not respecting the original intention of the people who created it."

Mr Edgington said The Ballarat Trades Hall first carried the flag in 1942 on a Labor Day march, at a time when many Australians had forgotten its history.

He said the flag was sometimes confused for the flag of the Lambing Flat Riots, a series of anti-Chinese attacks on New South Wales' goldfields a few years after the battle at the Eureka Stockade.

The Roll Up Banner was flown at the Lambing Flat riots, where Chinese goldminers were attacked. (Supplied: International Conservation Services)

Anthony Camm, the manager of the Eureka Centre which hosts the actual original Eureka flag, said many parts of the rebellion story remained unknown or contested, including exactly where in Ballarat the stockade was.

But he said the museum was dedicated to clearly articulating the facts that were known — including of the rebellion leaders who were eventually tried for treason.

"What we do know about Eureka is that among the 13 men that were tried for treason, two were of black African descent and one was Jewish — certainly not the forebears that a white nationalist group would align themselves to," Mr Camm said.

Mr Camm wants to help people find their own meaning in the true rebellion story. (ABC Ballarat: Alexander Darling)

"We try to share the story of Eureka and clarify some of that misinformation.

"When Eureka's story was written initially it was told as a story of Irish nationalists against British colonial forces, but people from many different nationalities were fighting for their rights and liberties, bringing with them the struggles from their own countries of origin."

Discrimination still took place on the goldfields even after the miners' successes, with Chinese gold miners protesting a tax they had to pay upon arriving in Victoria, aimed at stopping them from coming.

Eureka tower, Australia's third tallest building, is named after and had its design inspired by the Eureka Stockade. (Flickr: George Bayliss)

Why it still matters

Ceremonies and talks are taking place across Ballarat this month to mark the 170^th anniversary.

But Mr Camm said the lasting impact of Eureka was under-appreciated across the rest of Australia.

Following the rebellion some of the miners' demands were met, including their right to vote.

"In Victoria, we had really early male suffrage [voting] — one of the first examples in the world," he said.

"That came directly out of Eureka and the several years of protests leading up."

Mr Edgington agreed, saying it shaped Victoria and Australia's democratic system and constitution, as well as its union movement.

"We have school groups through the hall, and I always tell them that the whole concept of a weekend, the whole concept of being off on Sunday — playing football and netball or sleeping in — would not have been possible without the conditions of Eureka and the eight-hour movement," he said.

Home affairs minister says he denied Israeli politician Ayelet Shaked's visa over social cohesion concerns.

 Extract from ABC News

By political reporter Maani Truu

• Topic:Foreign Affairs

17 hours ago

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has explained why he rejected a former Israeli minister's visa application.  (AAP: Mick Tsikas)

In short: 

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has explained his decision to refuse a former Israeli minister's visa application.

Right-wing politician Ayelet Shaked accused the Australian government of anti-Semitism after she was barred from travelling to Australia last month.

Mr Burke said his department had refused visas for people planning to speak about the war in the Middle East if there was a belief they would seriously undermine social cohesion.

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Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says he denied a former Israeli government minister a visa to come to Australia over concerns she would threaten social cohesion, in his first public comments on the matter.

Ayelet Shaked, a right-wing politician who left parliament in 2022, accused the Australian government of anti-Semitism after her visa was rejected last month, sparking backlash from the Israeli government.

The former justice minister had applied to attend a security conference in Canberra and other events organised by the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC).

Mr Burke on Sunday said Ms Shaked had not sought a visa on behalf of the Israeli government and was planning to travel to Australia for a public speaking tour. 

He added that the former head of the Israeli Air Force had also sought a visa to attend the same conference, which was approved. 

"My department has been refusing visas of people who want to come here and talk about the conflict if we think that they are going to seriously undermine social cohesion when they're here," he said in an interview with Sky News. 

"Let me put it in these terms, if somebody came here … wanting to make public statements and their previous public statements had included that they wanted all the Jews to leave Israel … I would not give them a visa.

"Ms Shaked has said that all the Palestinians should leave Gaza."

Ayelet Shaked accused the Australian government of anti-Semitism after her visa application was rejected.  (Reuters: Ronen Zvulun)

Mr Burke referenced a series of Ms Shaked's past comments, including an interview last year in which she said the Gazan city of Khan Younis should be turned into a soccer field.

"My view is really simple: If you're simply coming here to demean people, we can do without you," Mr Burke said.

"Whether those hatreds are demeaning of Israelis or demeaning of Palestinians, I'm going to have the exact same hard line."

Last month, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the decision to reject Ms Shaked's visa applications as "deeply offensive and troubling", while the former minister alleged that it had been refused because she opposes a Palestinian state.

"The issue here is not that I didn't get a visa. The issue here is that the current Australian government has become anti-Semitic," Ms Shaked said on the social media platform X in November.

Burke questioned about ICC arrest warrant

During the long and wide-ranging interview, Mr Burke was also asked about the arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court.

In November, the court issued warrants against Mr Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as senior Hamas official Mohammed Deif, for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the Israel-Gaza war.

Israel challenged the legality of the ICC prosecutor's request to issue arrest warrants and Mr Netanyahu has said he will appeal them. 

Asked if the Israeli prime minister would be arrested if he travelled to Australia, Mr Burke pointed to Foreign Minister Penny Wong's previous comments, in which she said Australia respected the ICC's independence and the importance of international law. 

"Our support for international law used to be bipartisan, she's made that simple statement about an institution that we signed up to under the Howard government and Penny hasn't elaborated further and neither will I," he said.

Israel is not a member state of the ICC and therefore does not recognise its jurisdiction in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Australia is one of the 124 member states but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to comment on the matter earlier this year when the warrant applications were made. 

Concerns more Australians at risk of heat-related injuries as people do it tough in cost-of-living crisis.

 Extract from ABC News

• By Rachael Merritt

• Topic:Heatwaves

2 hours ago

Chris Burns is the CEO of Hutt St Centre which provides to support for people experiencing homelessness in Adelaide. (ABC News: Carl Saville)

In short: 

Heatwaves have killed more Australians than any other natural disasters combined.

A new report has found more than half of SA is "highly vulnerable"' to extreme heat.

What's next? 

The Bureau of Meteorology says hotter than average days and nights are predicted this summer.

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It is the first week of summer and Chris Burns says he can not stock his fridge with bottled water fast enough.

The chief executive of Hutt St Centre, a homeless support service in Adelaide, said when heatwaves strike, his facility becomes a refuge for rough sleepers looking to escape the searing temperatures.

With forecasts predicting hotter-than-average temperatures in the coming months, Mr Burns is preparing to support some of the city's most vulnerable residents through the extreme weather event. 

"We would go through 200 bottles of water a day," he said.

"We are contingency planning for how we can stay open later, how can we run shifts, how can we handle that increased capacity in demand because we don't want to turn anyone away."

The Australian Council of Social Service said heatwaves kill more Australians than any other natural disaster, including bushfires, cyclones and floods.

It estimates around 36,000 deaths associated with heat occurred between 2006 and 2017.

That means on average, the weather event has claimed 3,272 lives per year, despite typically only occurring during the summer months.

Mr Burns says the centre goes through about 200 bottles of water a day during extreme heat. (ABC News: Carl Saville)

But Mr Burns is concerned more Australians could be at risk this year, as the cost-of-living crisis has hiked up energy bills and forced more people out of the rental market.

"In the last 12 months, we've seen a 30 per cent increase in demand for our services," he said.

"Rather than pay the power to have their home air conditioned, they'll come to us."

"We anticipate we will hit near the limits of our capacity over summer."

Longer and more frequent heat

Modelling from the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast warmer than average day and night temperatures across the country this summer.

Parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales have already endured heatwaves last month.

Ms Minney said the weather event is defined by three or more days of high maximum or minimum temperatures that are relative to the local climate.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a warmer than average Australian summer. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni)

 "A heatwave will look different in Darwin compared to Melbourne or Adelaide," she said.

"With the trend of increasing temperatures, we would expect summers to be warmer-than-average more often than not, including being in those record summers occurring more frequently into the future.

"We would expect there to be longer and more frequent heat waves across Australia."

'Highly vulnerable' cities

A newly released report from think tank The Australia Institute shows South Australia is the second-most vulnerable state and territory to extreme heat, behind only the Northern Territory.

The Vulnerability to extreme heat report found 57 per cent of the state is classed as "highly vulnerable" due to the high number of residents grappling with poverty, long-term illness and aged over 65.

"Vulnerable groups may lack adequate access to cooling facilities, suffer from chronic health conditions that are exacerbated by heat, or face socio-economic barriers," the report said.

"As spending on electricity, especially for cooling, has increased during the cost-of-living crisis, many people reliant on government payments are cutting back on cooling to lower their energy bills."

A new report says South Australia is the second-most vulnerable state and territory to extreme heat in the country. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

The report found Port Pirie, Whyalla and Port Augusta were deemed the top three high-risk locations.

Within Greater Adelaide, 57 per cent of the locations were considered highly vulnerable with the northern suburbs of specific concern.

"This area is inland, has sparse tree coverage and a large number of buildings, which may exacerbate the effects of extreme heat for vulnerable people," the report noted.

"In contrast, Adelaide South is the part of the city least vulnerable to extreme heat.

"It is near the coast and has better tree coverage, which help keep temperatures down."

Not a 'typical Aussie summer'

While vulnerable Australians are most at risk to the threat of extreme heat, the state's emergency services warn anyone can be affected.

"Even if you're fit and well and healthy normally, an extreme heatwave if you disregard the warnings … can impact you [and] can make you very poorly and we see that every year," Dr Sara Pullford, from the SA SES, said.

Heatwaves have already been recorded in parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales in recent weeks. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

Dr Pullford said it was a misconception to chalk up a string of hot days to "perfectly normal" summer weather.

"A run of hot days and hot nights can have serious impacts on our bodies and our lives," she said.

"We're tired, we're perhaps a little bit less inclined to pay attention to what we're doing and accidents can happen."