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The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Nostalgia and political beef cap first sitting period
A sense of nostalgia has pervaded the nation's capital as the 48th parliament's first sitting fortnight drew to a close. After two weeks of political beef over US cattle, battles between and within parties, and the passage of major election promises, Australia's MPs and senators have patted themselves on the back as they jet out of Canberra. Labor used the period to celebrate its post-election parliamentary dominance, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrating the plethora of first speeches from his party's freshest faces and achievements of the previous fortnight. But as his Question Time victory lap was interrupted by the coalition, Mr Albanese drew from the words of Joni Mitchell's 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi to lament the coalition's departures from the previous government, specifically the former Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. "Joni Mitchell was right, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," he told the lower chamber on Thursday. "We have a clear agenda of helping Australians, they have an agenda of fighting amongst themselves." For the past two weeks, much of opposition's schedule has been dominated by in-fighting instigated by a handful of Nationals MPs that have brought forward a private member's bill to repeal Australia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. The opposition's leaders have kept the door open on the issue while others within the coalition support the target, but Nationals boss David Littleproud said the opposition would soon reach a position and maintained it had been a productive sitting period. "I will never knock anybody from putting forward a private member's bill - that would subvert our democratic principles and what this place is all about," he told reporters in Canberra. "(But) once you join the Labor team, you can't have a voice outside of it." Labor has been forced to reckon with dissent as the prime minister stared down an internal push to recognise Palestinian statehood, and insisting Australia would not be rushed on the issue. Instead, the government focused on implementing major commitments including a 20 per cent cut to student debt, which was promised at the election, and reforms to cut funding from childcare centres that fail to meet safety and quality standards. Education Minister Jason Clare thanked the coalition for helping pass both bills. "This is a different parliament and a different opposition leader," he told reporters. "Australians I think want us to work together on the big things that matter to help Australians." But both major parties maintained their disagreements, with Labor and the Greens opposing a coalition attempt to take US beef imports to an inquiry. Eyebrows have been raised at Australia's decision to lift restrictions on the product as the government attempts to negotiate a US tariff carve-out. A sense of nostalgia has pervaded the nation's capital as the 48th parliament's first sitting fortnight drew to a close. After two weeks of political beef over US cattle, battles between and within parties, and the passage of major election promises, Australia's MPs and senators have patted themselves on the back as they jet out of Canberra. Labor used the period to celebrate its post-election parliamentary dominance, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrating the plethora of first speeches from his party's freshest faces and achievements of the previous fortnight. But as his Question Time victory lap was interrupted by the coalition, Mr Albanese drew from the words of Joni Mitchell's 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi to lament the coalition's departures from the previous government, specifically the former Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. "Joni Mitchell was right, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," he told the lower chamber on Thursday. "We have a clear agenda of helping Australians, they have an agenda of fighting amongst themselves." For the past two weeks, much of opposition's schedule has been dominated by in-fighting instigated by a handful of Nationals MPs that have brought forward a private member's bill to repeal Australia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. The opposition's leaders have kept the door open on the issue while others within the coalition support the target, but Nationals boss David Littleproud said the opposition would soon reach a position and maintained it had been a productive sitting period. "I will never knock anybody from putting forward a private member's bill - that would subvert our democratic principles and what this place is all about," he told reporters in Canberra. "(But) once you join the Labor team, you can't have a voice outside of it." Labor has been forced to reckon with dissent as the prime minister stared down an internal push to recognise Palestinian statehood, and insisting Australia would not be rushed on the issue. Instead, the government focused on implementing major commitments including a 20 per cent cut to student debt, which was promised at the election, and reforms to cut funding from childcare centres that fail to meet safety and quality standards. Education Minister Jason Clare thanked the coalition for helping pass both bills. "This is a different parliament and a different opposition leader," he told reporters. "Australians I think want us to work together on the big things that matter to help Australians." But both major parties maintained their disagreements, with Labor and the Greens opposing a coalition attempt to take US beef imports to an inquiry. Eyebrows have been raised at Australia's decision to lift restrictions on the product as the government attempts to negotiate a US tariff carve-out. A sense of nostalgia has pervaded the nation's capital as the 48th parliament's first sitting fortnight drew to a close. After two weeks of political beef over US cattle, battles between and within parties, and the passage of major election promises, Australia's MPs and senators have patted themselves on the back as they jet out of Canberra. Labor used the period to celebrate its post-election parliamentary dominance, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrating the plethora of first speeches from his party's freshest faces and achievements of the previous fortnight. But as his Question Time victory lap was interrupted by the coalition, Mr Albanese drew from the words of Joni Mitchell's 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi to lament the coalition's departures from the previous government, specifically the former Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. "Joni Mitchell was right, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," he told the lower chamber on Thursday. "We have a clear agenda of helping Australians, they have an agenda of fighting amongst themselves." For the past two weeks, much of opposition's schedule has been dominated by in-fighting instigated by a handful of Nationals MPs that have brought forward a private member's bill to repeal Australia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. The opposition's leaders have kept the door open on the issue while others within the coalition support the target, but Nationals boss David Littleproud said the opposition would soon reach a position and maintained it had been a productive sitting period. "I will never knock anybody from putting forward a private member's bill - that would subvert our democratic principles and what this place is all about," he told reporters in Canberra. "(But) once you join the Labor team, you can't have a voice outside of it." Labor has been forced to reckon with dissent as the prime minister stared down an internal push to recognise Palestinian statehood, and insisting Australia would not be rushed on the issue. Instead, the government focused on implementing major commitments including a 20 per cent cut to student debt, which was promised at the election, and reforms to cut funding from childcare centres that fail to meet safety and quality standards. Education Minister Jason Clare thanked the coalition for helping pass both bills. "This is a different parliament and a different opposition leader," he told reporters. "Australians I think want us to work together on the big things that matter to help Australians." But both major parties maintained their disagreements, with Labor and the Greens opposing a coalition attempt to take US beef imports to an inquiry. Eyebrows have been raised at Australia's decision to lift restrictions on the product as the government attempts to negotiate a US tariff carve-out. A sense of nostalgia has pervaded the nation's capital as the 48th parliament's first sitting fortnight drew to a close. After two weeks of political beef over US cattle, battles between and within parties, and the passage of major election promises, Australia's MPs and senators have patted themselves on the back as they jet out of Canberra. Labor used the period to celebrate its post-election parliamentary dominance, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrating the plethora of first speeches from his party's freshest faces and achievements of the previous fortnight. But as his Question Time victory lap was interrupted by the coalition, Mr Albanese drew from the words of Joni Mitchell's 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi to lament the coalition's departures from the previous government, specifically the former Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. "Joni Mitchell was right, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," he told the lower chamber on Thursday. "We have a clear agenda of helping Australians, they have an agenda of fighting amongst themselves." For the past two weeks, much of opposition's schedule has been dominated by in-fighting instigated by a handful of Nationals MPs that have brought forward a private member's bill to repeal Australia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. The opposition's leaders have kept the door open on the issue while others within the coalition support the target, but Nationals boss David Littleproud said the opposition would soon reach a position and maintained it had been a productive sitting period. "I will never knock anybody from putting forward a private member's bill - that would subvert our democratic principles and what this place is all about," he told reporters in Canberra. "(But) once you join the Labor team, you can't have a voice outside of it." Labor has been forced to reckon with dissent as the prime minister stared down an internal push to recognise Palestinian statehood, and insisting Australia would not be rushed on the issue. Instead, the government focused on implementing major commitments including a 20 per cent cut to student debt, which was promised at the election, and reforms to cut funding from childcare centres that fail to meet safety and quality standards. Education Minister Jason Clare thanked the coalition for helping pass both bills. "This is a different parliament and a different opposition leader," he told reporters. "Australians I think want us to work together on the big things that matter to help Australians." But both major parties maintained their disagreements, with Labor and the Greens opposing a coalition attempt to take US beef imports to an inquiry. Eyebrows have been raised at Australia's decision to lift restrictions on the product as the government attempts to negotiate a US tariff carve-out.
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Nostalgia and political beef cap first sitting period
A sense of nostalgia has pervaded the nation's capital as the 48th parliament's first sitting fortnight drew to a close. After two weeks of political beef over US cattle, battles between and within parties, and the passage of major election promises, Australia's MPs and senators have patted themselves on the back as they jet out of Canberra. Labor used the period to celebrate its post-election parliamentary dominance, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrating the plethora of first speeches from his party's freshest faces and achievements of the previous fortnight. But as his Question Time victory lap was interrupted by the coalition, Mr Albanese drew from the words of Joni Mitchell's 1970 hit Big Yellow Taxi to lament the coalition's departures from the previous government, specifically the former Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. "Joni Mitchell was right, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," he told the lower chamber on Thursday. "We have a clear agenda of helping Australians, they have an agenda of fighting amongst themselves." For the past two weeks, much of opposition's schedule has been dominated by in-fighting instigated by a handful of Nationals MPs that have brought forward a private member's bill to repeal Australia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. The opposition's leaders have kept the door open on the issue while others within the coalition support the target, but Nationals boss David Littleproud said the opposition would soon reach a position and maintained it had been a productive sitting period. "I will never knock anybody from putting forward a private member's bill - that would subvert our democratic principles and what this place is all about," he told reporters in Canberra. "(But) once you join the Labor team, you can't have a voice outside of it." Labor has been forced to reckon with dissent as the prime minister stared down an internal push to recognise Palestinian statehood, and insisting Australia would not be rushed on the issue. Instead, the government focused on implementing major commitments including a 20 per cent cut to student debt, which was promised at the election, and reforms to cut funding from childcare centres that fail to meet safety and quality standards. Education Minister Jason Clare thanked the coalition for helping pass both bills. "This is a different parliament and a different opposition leader," he told reporters. "Australians I think want us to work together on the big things that matter to help Australians." But both major parties maintained their disagreements, with Labor and the Greens opposing a coalition attempt to take US beef imports to an inquiry. Eyebrows have been raised at Australia's decision to lift restrictions on the product as the government attempts to negotiate a US tariff carve-out.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Fireflies make dazzling comeback in NYC area for this surprising reason
It turns out the gloomy spring was good for something. The metro area's once-dimming firefly population has made a dazzling comeback this summer thanks to the abnormal amount of rain dumped on the region in the past few months. 'They need to have moist, wet environments. They do really well when there's a lot of rainfall,' explained Dr. Jessica Ware, an entomologist and curator at the American Museum of Natural History. Advertisement 3 Fireflies are making a comeback in the metro area this summer thanks to the abnormal amount of rainfall. Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images 'The extra rain, that extra moisture, that is really good for the juvenile [fireflies] — the juveniles develop into adults, and those are the adults that are moving around and flashing.' While the wet stuff may have foiled plenty of human-made plans, it made for an all-out buffet of snails and slugs for young lightning bugs to feast on before burrowing in the moist ground to transform from their wormlike state into the illuminated critters that are synonymous with summer. Advertisement Scientists have not yet been able to quantify just how much lightning bugs are surging across the five boroughs and New Jersey, but it's clear to anyone who takes a walk at dusk that the illuminated critters are floating around in stronger numbers than in previous years. The flood of bugs can be directly linked to the nearly double amount of rainfall that was doused on the five boroughs alone this spring, with roughly 6 inches falling in May. More than half the month — 18 days — recorded precipitation. 3 Lightening bugs thrive in moist conditions. TNS Advertisement But the surge in fireflies this summer is also a trick on the eyes, Ware said. 'In general, populations are declining, so it's not necessarily that we're seeing more. It's that we're not seeing as few,' Ware said. Fireflies are not considered to be an endangered or threatened species, but their populations have been seriously dwindling in recent years. 3 Firefly populations are overall still declining, according to experts. TNS Advertisement They face a series of hazards, including from insecticides and light pollution, the latter of which is a serious issue in the Big Apple. As with migrating birds, lightning bugs become disoriented by overwhelming lights — and if it's too bright, the fireflies are unable to see one another's flashing bulbs, an issue with mating. There also were fewer inches of rain overall in the Big Apple in the past two years, meaning fireflies were a rarer sight in the city — if anyone cared enough to notice. 'That's the Joni Mitchell song, right? 'You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone,' ' Ware said, quoting the classic 'Big Yellow Taxi.' Fortunately, New Yorkers can expect the lightning bugs to light up the rest of their summer, especially for the remainder of July. The fireflies are putting on their flashy and bright 'teenage dance' to find their mates this month, with most of the action lighting up the sky at dusk. 'This is a peak time for them — they're all going crazy with their hormones, but they're just trying to get as many copies of their genes for the next generation as possible,' explained Ware.
Perth Now
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Rick Astley won't listen to Kylie Minogue's I Should Be So Lucky
Rick Astley refuses to listen to I Should Be So Lucky by Kylie Minogue. The 59-year-old star has stopped listening to Kylie's 1987 hit single because he's been told that it sounds like him. Asked to name a song that he no longer listens to, Rick told the Observer newspaper: "I Should Be So Lucky by Kylie Minogue, because apparently when you slow it down to 33rpm, it sounds like me. "Even I nearly believed it was me when I first heard it. To clarify: I definitely did not sing the Kylie version of I Should Be So Lucky." By contrast, Ricky cited Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell as the first song he fell in love with. The singer shared: "I've got two older brothers and an older sister. My sister played the grooves out of Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell. "When I got my chance, I'd put on I Wan'na Be like You from The Jungle Book." Rick has also confessed to being a big fan of the Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro. The pop star actually finds listening to Bubbles, their 2010 hit single, to be "really powering". He said: "I like to go for a long walk in the morning, and I'm a big Biffy Clyro fan. I'll put on the Only Revolutions album, and by the time it gets to Bubbles, I'll be really powering." Rick has sold more than 40 million records during his career, but he previously described fame as his biggest disappointment. The Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker has travelled around the world with his music, yet Rick still feels underwhelmed by fame. Asked to name his biggest disappointment, Rick told the Guardian newspaper: "Fame. The upside is not worth the downside - you can't turn fame on and off, and have privacy." Despite this, Rick finds that music still has the power to lift his mood. The singer said: "I wouldn't go so far as to say I've got depression, but I wake up some days and I am just not very happy. "I have to get myself into a better mood, and music does that for me quite often."
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
‘Don't take away our paradise' – Rangers legend Graeme Souness' plans to build hundreds of houses in Scotland REJECTED
Objectors said it would ruin valuable green belt land SHOWN THE RED CARD 'Don't take away our paradise' – Rangers legend Graeme Souness' plans to build hundreds of houses in Scotland REJECTED A MULTI-MILLION pound development backed by Graeme Souness has been red-carded by councillors. The ex-Rangers and Scotland star teamed up with business partners to develop the massive EuroPark site, close to Airdrie and the M8 in Lanarkshire. Advertisement 3 A masterplan for the EuroPark site Credit: ORCHARD BRAE 3 Scottish football legend Graeme Souness was backing the development Credit: PA Their firm, Orchard Brae Limited, wanted to build hundreds of homes on land owned by daughters of the late Tory Home Secretary Willie Whitelaw. Souness, 72, is a significant shareholder in the company, while his son Fraser, is a director. The development was first introduced in 2018 but stalled after widespread opposition from people furious at the loss of greenbelt land. It was dealt a major blow after North Lanarkshire Council planners advised the 244 hectare plan should be rejected. Advertisement A committee meeting heard nine councillors withdraw after declaring a possible conflict of interest before Orchard Brae and opponents to the scheme spoke out. Councillors then voted to knock back the application with 42 against and 18 supporters backing it. Objector Dr Ann Glen called on councillors to reject the plans. She said: "Nature's condition reflects our values. Our mission should to be to foster a world where communities can flourish in harmony with nature. Not by destroying it, as the destruction of this greenbelt would imply. Advertisement "Nor should we be allowing it to be destroyed for speculative gain. That is completely unacceptable." Other objectors told the meeting the plans would destroy valuable green belt and put huge pressure on local services. Moment Ally McCoist interrupts live radio to congratulate his 'wee pal' on signing for Rangers A further objector said: "In the 70s, Joni Mitchell wrote the song Big Yellow Taxi. She said 'they paved paradise, put up a parking lot'. Please don't take away our paradise." Orchard Brae managing director Scott Gillespie said the plans had backing from community groups and would help create 2000 jobs. Advertisement He said: "This development should be the envy of every council in the country. "For example, the Scottish government and the UK government are looking to create 800 jobs in Grangemouth over a 15 year period at a cost of £1bn. This council has the opportunity to deliver two and a half times that." He added: "This will change lives. Make us put our money where our mouths are but do not miss this opportunity." Orchard Brae's planning partner Stantec said the project offered an excellent location that would be a huge boost to the area. Advertisement Earlier this month Souness revealed fears his links to the Labour Party could see the scheme scuppered by political rivals. The site had hoped to include 2600 homes but later slashed the number to 980 including a possible 245 'affordable' properties. Opponents believed the plans would destroy a historic area of greenbelt, damage wildlife and deprive residents of valuable outdoor space. 3 The location of the planned project within Lanarkshire Advertisement Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
