Butler did it, now Bowen will do it

CLIMATE CHANGE

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Labor leader Anthony Albanese is set to drop long-time climate and energy spokesperson Mark Butler for health spokesperson and Labor Right member Chris Bowen.

Butler, who served as Australia’s last climate change minister after that portfolio was abolished by Tony Abbott, would then take on the health portfolio. However it is unclear what will happen to Labor’s plans for setting interim 2030 or 2035 emissions targets, especially when the Morrison government has no plans to budge on their relatively-laughable 2030 target or plan for anything post-2030.

The portfolio swap has been welcomed by former resources spokesperson Joel Fitzgibbon — who, faced with the loss of his now-marginal Hunter Valley seat, has chosen public stunts over the party’s climate policies — but comes as even former opposition leader Bill Shorten warns the party cannot head to a potential early election with a “tiny” agenda.

In a wide-ranging interview with 7.30, Albanese has dismissed rumblings his leadership is under threat, defended his policy platform, and confirmed a “stronger” shadow cabinet will be unveiled this weekend.

Coincidentally, former deputy leader and mooted replacement Tanya Plibersek has outlined a vision of Labor governing post-pandemic in The Australian ($), in which she urges the party to recapture the legacy of wartime prime minister Ben Chifley and create a platform focused on full employment, high wages and a dignified retirement.

PS: Because replacing Butler with an eight year policy vacuum was bound to have consequences, The Age reports that the newly-created Climate Targets Panel puts Australia on track to break our Paris carbon emission commitments for an upper limit of 2 degrees increase; this would require a 50% cut by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2045, while the more ambitious, wildly-more habitable goal of 1.5 degrees would require a 2030 target of 74% and net-zero emissions by 2035. See panel member and former Liberal leader John Hewson’s op-ed for more.

STUDENT INSPIRED BY CHRISTCHURCH MASSACRE ARRESTED

Singaporean authorities have announced that last month they detained without trial a 16-year-old student who, inspired by the Australian white supremacist behind the 2019 Christchurch attack, made detailed plans and preparations to launch “terrorist attacks” on two mosques with a machete on the massacre’s anniversary.

According to The Hindu, the student was self-radicalised against Islam, watched the live-stream video of the March 15, 2019 attack on the two mosques, and read the manifesto of the Christchurch terrorist.

In related news, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that roughly 40 neo-Nazis spent the Australia Day long weekend at a camping event in the Grampians National Park.

PS: It is worth noting Sky News is still giving regular speaking slots to far-right celebrity — and former proponent of the white supremacist “great replacement” theory, a conspiracy the Christchurch terrorist shared — Lauren Southern, who just last week was platformed to claim the attempted US coup came after the left “set precedent for violence” and the media is “covering it up”.

LEIFER RETURNS TO FACE CHARGES

Former Melbourne principal Malka Leifer has returned to Victoria to face charges of child sexual abuse, nearly 13 years after leaving the country and six years after an extradition request was first lodged to Israel.

According to the ABC, Leifer is accused of abusing three sisters during her time as headmistress of Elsternwick’s Adass Israel School from 2001 to 2008.

1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732; Sexual Assault Crisis Line Victoria: 1800 806 292.

GETTING THE CLIMATE IN ORDER

Finally, Joe Biden will today sign another flurry of executive orders, with CNBC reporting that the latest crop will focus on climate action and include, among other measures, establishing climate change as a national security priority, conserving at least 30% of federal land and oceans by 2030, and canceling new oil and gas leases on public lands and waters.

On the latest from Biden’s predecessor, CNN reports that just five Republicans voted against an attempt by the GOP Senator Rand Paul to label Donald Trump’s post-presidency impeachment unconstitutional, suggesting Democrats will not be able to find the 17 opposing votes required for a final conviction.

PPS: In an exasperating reminder that a clean energy future could actually mean more, not fewer, jobs, the AFR ($) today explains how Australian rare earth and other critical mineral companies are poised to benefit from Biden’s manufacturing plan, which will replace all federal vehicles with models powered by electric motors.