Graham Readfearn

Modelling based on global outbreaks suggests Australia could face large-scale bird and mammal deaths after H5N1 bird flu arrived in migratory seabirds. Nearly 400 Australian species are considered at high risk or worse, with gannets, boobies, cranes, darters, waterfowl, gulls and terns among the most vulnerable. Seals and sea lions are also at very high risk because they live in dense colonies and share coastal habitats with infected birds. Experts expect the virus to spread across Australia within a year, potentially threatening unique species and increasing the risk of extinctions. Experiences in the UK and South America show the severity of possible outbreaks, while conservation cooperation and the resilience of long-lived species offer limited hope.

A federal government assessment of more than 2,000 Australian native species found that nearly 400 birds and mammals face high, very high or extreme risk from H5N1 bird flu. Five island-breeding bird species are considered unlikely to survive where the virus occurs, while more than 80 endangered or critically endangered species—including penguins, parrots, seals, quolls, dolphins and the Tasmanian devil—face at least high risk. Experts and conservation groups warn that the outbreak could intensify Australia’s extinction crisis and criticise the government for delaying action, while the government points to $113m in preparedness funding, including $47m for threatened species and biodiversity protection. H5N1 has already been detected in several Australian states and caused a mass mortality event in South Australia.

A purported net zero debate featuring Karl Stefanovic, Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan is described as a one-sided platform for Coalition criticism of renewable energy. Canavan’s claim that renewable projects would occupy 12 million hectares—equivalent to two Tasmanias—is challenged using Net Zero Australia and Australian National University estimates, which distinguish total project areas from the much smaller direct land footprint. The article also disputes claims that renewables drive up electricity prices or reduce grid reliability, citing falling wholesale prices associated with renewable generation and batteries, and evidence that reliability risks are more closely linked to aging power-station retirements and network failures.

More than 80 dead or sick greater crested terns found off South Australia are suspected to represent Australia’s first H5N1 bird flu mass mortality event, only six weeks after the virus arrived in the country. Cases have now been detected across five states and are increasing rapidly, including in silver gulls, which experts fear could carry the virus inland and into urban areas. Authorities have identified infections in regions near poultry farms and on Kangaroo Island, raising concerns for endangered Australian sea lions. Conservation groups warn that Australia’s unique native species may be highly vulnerable and that the outbreak could follow the rapid escalation seen elsewhere in the world.

An Australian survey found that deep support for home batteries, rooftop solar and electric vehicles remains strong, but public backing for onshore wind and solar farms has declined amid highly effective anti-renewables campaigns. Researcher Rebecca Huntley said Australians overestimate opposition to the energy transition, creating a perception gap that threatens rapid decarbonisation. The Clean Energy Council said the industry faces a fundamental lack of trust in regional and rural communities and called for a national legislated scheme requiring renewable-energy companies to share project revenues with host councils.

The Australian and Western Australian governments have announced a $4m feasibility study for a proposed oil refinery in the Pilbara. Climate and energy experts say the project is unlikely to be commercially viable, would probably require government subsidies and could signal a retreat from Australia’s clean energy transition. Declining domestic crude production means the refinery would likely rely on imported oil, while Australia’s smaller refining scale would leave it competing with more efficient facilities in Singapore and elsewhere in Asia. Analysts argue public funding would be better directed toward renewable technologies and zero-emissions liquid fuels, particularly because a new refinery would do little to improve fuel security for mining and agriculture.

Adelaide Airport removed or rejected advertisements from the Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance, Bob Brown Foundation and Adelaide Park Lands Association while gas and mining-related advertisements continued to appear during the Australian Labor Party national conference. The airport said advertisements deemed political and inconsistent with its billboard guidelines would be removed, while campaigners and senators David Pocock and Sarah Hanson-Young accused it of applying the rules selectively. Pocock said an advertisement promoting his proposed gas export tax was also rejected, forcing him to use mobile billboards. The dispute has prompted calls for the airport to explain who made the decisions and how its political-advertising rules are applied.

Environmental and Indigenous heritage groups are challenging the Albanese government’s approval of the North West Shelf gas project extension, arguing the minister failed to properly assess climate impacts, economic claims and risks to Murujuga rock art. A UN special rapporteur has intervened to outline Australia’s international climate obligations, citing recent ICJ findings. Woodside maintains the project passed comprehensive regulatory assessment. The federal court case is expected to run through the week.

Australian alpine resorts recorded unprecedented July warmth, with daytime temperatures up to 12C above average and multiple records broken at Mount Hotham, Falls Creek, Thredbo and other locations. The Bureau of Meteorology attributed the heat to a slow-moving high-pressure system and temperature inversions, while El Niño and long-term climate change are contributing to warmer, drier conditions that threaten ski seasons. Resorts have relied heavily on artificial snowmaking as natural snowfall remains sporadic, and further warm weather is expected after a possible brief snow flurry.

Wildfires across the UK and continental Europe are becoming more severe as extreme heat and climate change dry out landscapes. Australia’s long experience with bushfires offers lessons in advance preparation, household evacuation plans, early warnings, property design, vegetation management and cooperation between fire services. Australian experts caution that European systems built mainly for urban fires must adapt to rapidly spreading forest and heathland fires. The experience of Jan Harris, who lost her home in a 2018 New South Wales bushfire, underscores the speed of firestorms, the importance of leaving early and the lasting emotional cost of disaster. However, Australia’s own established routines and expertise are being tested by hotter, more frequent and longer fire seasons.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says the developing El Niño could become the strongest on record, with its Niño 3.4 sea-surface temperature anomaly potentially exceeding the previous reliable peak of 2.6°C. Climate scientists say model forecasts are unprecedented and warn that El Niño, combined with ongoing global heating, could contribute to the hottest year on record in 2026 or more likely 2027. Australia’s August–October outlook gives Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth at least an 80% chance of unusually high temperatures and increased chances of low rainfall. Experts caution that the strength of El Niño does not directly determine Australian impacts, but a possible positive Indian Ocean Dipole could worsen dryness and raise concerns about conditions resembling the drought before the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires.

A CSIRO GenCost report finds that abandoning Australia’s net zero target would not reduce power prices, contradicting claims by the Coalition and One Nation. The analysis projects rising generation costs after 2030 as coal plants retire, regardless of climate policy settings, and identifies nuclear power as the most expensive generation option. Renewables and batteries continue to deliver cost improvements, while wholesale electricity prices are expected to remain below recent peaks before gradually increasing. Replacing retiring coal capacity with coal would raise emissions and shift abatement costs to other sectors.

Scientists in the UK and Germany found the Australian brown huntsman spider to be the fastest among more than 250 species studied, reaching a peak speed of 3.59 metres per second. The research suggests a potential optimal body size for maximizing spider speed and highlights that size alone does not determine running ability. Data also shows that web-building species are not necessarily slower than hunting species. Researchers note that other huntsman species may be even faster but have not yet been tested.

A greater crested tern found dead on South Australia’s Limestone Coast tested positive for H5 bird flu, marking the first detection in a local Australian seabird and indicating local transmission. Authorities increased surveillance to assess further spread, while experts warned the discovery represents a significant escalation due to the species’ interactions with other coastal birds. Conservation groups highlighted risks to vulnerable species and the potential for rapid wider spread across Australia based on international patterns.

Research from the University of Sydney analysing 720,000 hospital admissions in New South Wales shows extreme heat significantly increases the risk of young people requiring hospital care for mental health conditions, with risks doubling in warm months and tripling in cooler months. Projections indicate heat-related admissions could rise by up to 7.7% by century’s end as the climate warms. Experts suggest heat may directly affect brain function, exacerbate stress and sleep disruption, and increase impulsivity and self-harm risks. Clinicians argue mental health impacts should be integrated into heat‑health policies and public warnings to better protect children and young people.

Six spherical debris objects that washed ashore in north Queensland were identified by the Australian Space Agency as likely pressure vessels from a foreign rocket body that recently re‑entered Earth’s atmosphere. Authorities established exclusion zones amid initial concerns about hazardous materials, later confirming the objects were safe while warning that more debris may appear. Space archaeologist Alice Gorman explained that ownership of such debris is governed by the UN Outer Space Treaty, requiring Australia to consult with the launching state. Historical examples of returning space hardware were noted, and the agency urged the public not to touch suspected debris and to report any finds to emergency services.

Six spherical objects suspected to be space debris washed ashore in the Forrest Beach area near Townsville, prompting investigation by the Australian Space Agency and local emergency authorities. The Queensland Fire Department secured the items after warnings that they may contain hazardous chemicals, potentially including hydrazine. Space archaeologist Alice Gorman suggested they resemble titanium alloy pressurised fuel vessels known as “space balls,” typically remnants of rocket stages, though marine origins remain possible. Authorities expect more debris could appear and advise residents to follow agency guidance amid rising global space junk linked to increased launch activity.

Unique corals around Norfolk Island face escalating threats from disease, pollution, and warming driven by El Niño, compounded by a federally approved dredging project to expand Kingston Pier. Scientists report widespread coral disease linked to runoff from cattle farming, wastewater and sediment, with up to half of the reef showing symptoms over recent years. Experts warn many corals may be undescribed species with little capacity to recover due to their isolation. The government says the dredging will follow strict environmental conditions, while local authorities work on new water quality and land management strategies.

Climate advocacy group Comms Declare reported more than 260 fossil fuel–backed programs reaching Australian children through schools, museums and sports clubs, prompting the Greens and Senator David Pocock to push for a Senate inquiry into the sector’s influence. The report accuses coal, oil and gas companies of using educational and sponsorship initiatives to build social licence while downplaying corporate responsibility for emissions. Greens spokesperson Steph Hodgins-May called for the removal of fossil fuel involvement from educational settings. Resources minister Madeleine King defended industry sponsorship of sports, while the Minerals Council of Australia argued such programs build energy awareness and support future workforce development.

Deadly H5N1 bird flu has reached Australia after spreading across all continents, raising concerns for the country’s highly endemic wildlife. Scientists returning from South Georgia and Heard Island documented mass deaths among seals and seabirds and now face the possibility that the virus could spread into Australia’s native species. More than 150 bird species and over 10 mammals are considered at high risk, with experts warning of potentially rapid and widespread transmission. Conservationists fear the disease could accelerate extinctions and erase decades of recovery efforts. Authorities have prepared response plans, but researchers argue additional measures, including establishing captive insurance populations, are urgently needed as migrating waterbirds increase the likelihood of national spread.

Shark bites globally have remained stable for decades, but incidents in Australia have risen significantly, particularly around Sydney. Experts attribute the increase to population growth, warming waters that alter shark behaviour, and recovering whale and seal populations that attract large sharks. Despite high‑profile cases prompting calls for shark culls, there is no evidence of rising shark numbers, and current mitigation measures such as nets, drones and baited lines are controversial and of uncertain effectiveness. While public fear remains high, the likelihood of a bite is extremely low compared with other beach risks, and researchers say no single clear explanation accounts for the upward trend.

Three cases of the H5N1 bird flu strain have been confirmed in Australia after a petrel tested positive in South Australia, with an additional suspected case in Western Australia that could raise the total to four. Authorities in both states are investigating dead and unwell migratory birds, while federal agencies confirmed testing and are monitoring potential spread. Officials contacted people exposed to infected birds and discussed antiviral precautions. Experts linked infections to subantarctic regions where significant wildlife losses have occurred. Papua New Guinea lifted a temporary suspension on Australian poultry imports, and conservation groups renewed calls for increased funding to support wildlife resilience against the growing threat.

More than 150 native Australian bird species and over 10 mammal species have been assessed as highly vulnerable to the H5N1 bird flu strain following its confirmed arrival in Western Australia. Black swans are considered especially susceptible due to genetic immune limitations. Experts warn that endemic species face heightened extinction risks, with migratory birds and critically endangered parrots among the most threatened. Authorities report no further spread beyond two initial cases, while scientists highlight the potential for severe regional mortalities if the virus enters wildlife populations.

Two brown skuas and giant petrels found sick on Western Australia’s southern coast tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza strain, marking the first confirmed cases in Australia. Wildlife experts and government agencies are on alert as the virus, which has caused mass deaths of birds and mammals globally, may have arrived via migratory routes from Antarctica. Scientists warn that sick pelagic birds coming ashore could spread the disease to other species, complicating containment efforts. Authorities urge the public to avoid handling affected wildlife and to report sightings to emergency hotlines.