Martin Jones

theconversation.comSnowy 2.0 was never going to be cheap. But it will be much cheaper than relying on batteries for storageThe original costings for Snowy 2.0 were wildly optimistic. But the troubled scheme is close to completion – and will help power the grid as coal exits.

"Snowy 2.0 was never going to be cheap. But it will be much cheaper than relying on batteries for storage" theconversation.com/snowy-2-0-wa...

"Building grid-scale batteries with the same energy storage as Snowy 2.0 would cost three times more than the final cost ($22 billion). But batteries last 20 years, while Snowy 2.0 will last for 150 years."

abc.net.auPumped hydro project scrapped after developer deems it unviableAlinta Energy has withdrawn plans for the $1.8 billion Oven Mountain pumped hydro energy storage in northern NSW, blaming economic challenges.

'Alinta Energy has withdrawn plans to build a $1.8 billion Oven Mountain pumped hydro energy storage project in northern NSW.' www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

Tristan Edis: 'Unfortunately pumped hydro projects don't stack up financially. With costs so much lower for 4–8 hour duration batteries, the portion of the electricity market left over for pumped hydro once batteries have done their job won't cover its incredibly high capital cost.'

lnkd.inPumped Hydro Not Economical for Long Duration Energy Storage | Tristan Edis posted on the topic | LinkedInUnfortunately pumped hydro projects don't stack up financially. With battery costs so much lower for 4 to 8 hour duration megawatts, even though pumped hydro can deliver energy over long durations, th...

"It's a high capex, high construction risk solution that will only be needed for a small portion of the year, and that doesn't work economically compared to a far lower capex gas turbine, even if the gas turbine has to pay for fuel and a hefty carbon price." lnkd.in/p/gr8zUBkS

abc.net.auOne in three homicides linked to psychosis as psychiatrists fear crisisFrustrated psychiatrists and lawyers say an alarming uptick in homicides by people with psychosis is a triple tragedy for perpetrators, victims and the wider public because many of the deaths could ha...

Could we consider a bit further that some of Australia's highest-profile violence – like its lower-profile violence – has more to do with failures of mental health and other social supports than politicians being mean about each other? www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

View full thread

It's not a trade-off in action, but it's a trade-off in discourse: there's too much focus on 'turning down the temperature' and 'increasing politician's security' – an even less effective idea! – and not enough focus on improving people's material conditions.

Additionally, an uncomfortable conclusion from mental health practitioners and experts, including those interviewed for this article, is that compulsory treatment for some people – through to institutionalisation – may be the best individual and societal outcome.

A more civil political discourse would be good, yes, and would lessen the risk of violence. I am arguing that better social supports, incl. for mental health, would have a greater effect.

Martin Jones reposted

Ben Eltham

@beneltham.bsky.social

Replying to @brionykidd.bsky.social

Do something, anything in your community. Cook a community meal. Volunteer with a local org. Plant a tree. Join your union

sheppnews.com.auWorld-first energy system opens in SheppartonThe world's first commercial RockStore plant uses granite rocks to store solar energy.

'The world's first commercial-scale RockStore thermal storage system was launched at Spiral Foods in Shepparton on Tuesday, October 20, offering a new way for manufacturers to store renewable energy in granite rocks and use it when needed.' www.sheppnews.com.au/news/world-f...

"Combined with solar panels, the system can supply up to 87 per cent of Spiral Foods’ current energy demand, contributing to the company’s goal of becoming climate neutral by 2028."

premier.vic.gov.auSecuring More Gas To Back Jobs And Bring Down Costs

'Victoria has approved production the Golden Beach Gas Project off Ninety Mile Beach in Gippsland. The project will produce gas from 2028 before converting the offshore field into storage from 2029, boosting the state’s gas storage capacity by around 70%' www.premier.vic.gov.au/securing-mor...

abc.net.auUN sends warning as satellite detects greenhouse gas plumes over Gorgon plantSatellite monitoring has detected huge plumes of methane above one of Australia's largest gas complexes, triggering a United Nations alert and enquiries by state authorities.

"Huge clouds of methane have been detected by satellite over Chevron's Gorgon LNG project in northern WA, prompting a warning from the United Nations. The WA government is investigating the reports 'to understand what compliance or regulatory measures may be required'" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

Martin Jones reposted

Kate Mackenzie

@katemac.bsky.social

All the spare car-making capacity in the world right now is just absurd. People want to buy cars less than countries are determined to make them. h/t Liam Denning - www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

theguardian.comJust what damage can the emissions from a new fossil fuel facility cause? A new tool has estimatesFrom crop failures to coral bleaching, a new tool developed by climate scientists aims to predict in detail the impacts of each megatonne of carbon emissions

"A group of climate scientists have released a new tool that shows the possible consequences of [GHG] emissions in detail. The Carbon Impacts Tracer uses peer-reviewed studies to estimate the impact of every megatonne of emissions on people and the environment." www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

For instance, "a coalmine extension just approved in Australia’s Hunter Valley is forecast to be responsible for 809m tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 20 years." 'Predicted impacts of these emissions include 107 deaths in Europe and 41,800 additional people put into extreme poverty'

theguardian.comOnline ads weaponised to deliver ‘zero-click’ spyware, researchers sayDiscover-Tech’s Controlium software lets clients mass-profile internet users then covertly hack targets, say researchers at University of Toronto

"An Israeli advertising agency has been serving millions of online adverts that allow “zero-click” spyware to be used against targets, researchers at a Canadian university have said." www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Martin Jones reposted

Tennant Reed

@tennantreed.bsky.social

I have done some spreadsheet noodling on possible scenarios for gas use in Australian data centres and I think this might calm people down a little ( @ketanjoshi.co see what you think), but via alarmingly enormous numbers that are only calming because they are simply not feasible in eastern 🇦🇺.

KetAnthropic JoshAI@ketanjoshi.co

who could have possibly predicted this

'Character.ai bankruptcy filing said that its finances had improved to only be losing $8-9 million per month by taking “significant actions to reduce operational costs and improve revenues” by spending less on compute by simplifying its AI model, laying off staff, and injecting ads into its chats.'

404media.coCharacter.ai's Bankruptcy Documents Show the Economics of AI Don't WorkCharacter.ai enshittified its product but was still burning tons of cash, its bankruptcy documents say.

"It’s not clear whether AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic, or the AI industry in general have gotten too big or too important to fail, but Character’s bankruptcy shows that the runway for second-tier players is over." www.404media.co/character-ai...

theage.com.auWarnings over Russian ‘blood oil’ as Asian fuel imports increaseLabor’s diplomatic mission to shore up Australia’s supply is under fire, with warnings the dash for fuel is funnelling billions into Russia’s “war machine”.

Except Russian fuel that first passes through, say, Singapore, India, or Brunei www.theage.com.au/business/mar...

Guardian Australia@australia.theguardian.com

Australia does not ‘need or want Russian fuel’, Chris Bowen says, after Trump deal to buy diesel from Putin

theguardian.comAustralia does not ‘need or want Russian fuel’, Chris Bowen says, after Trump deal to buy diesel from PutinEnergy and climate change minister says Russia should not be rewarded for ‘illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine’ * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australia’s energy minister has said Russia “should not be rewarded for their illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine” after US President Donald Trump struck a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy diesel from the country. The energy and climate change minister, Chris Bowen, said on Saturday Australia did not “need or want Russian fuel” while updating reporters on the country’s fuel reserves. Trump wrote on social media on Saturday morning Australian time that after a “highly successful discussion” with Putin, Russia had agreed to immediately supply “300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel” to US and global markets, which would be followed by half a million tons in November rising later to three million tons, depending on “the condition of [Russia’s] diesel refineries.” Continue reading...

divagations.substack.comThe Invention of PolicyOn the perils of apolitical bureacracy

Fascinating piece: "On the Invention of Policy". Argues that the (Western) civil service falsely believes it can be apolitical, despite existing entirely to serve the executive government, and invented "policy" as a concept to hide behind. divagations.substack.com/p/the-invent...

Further argues this distinction harms the effectiveness of both politicians and the public service and should be abandoned.

theguardian.comOverseas, Albanese sees ‘the very definition of climate injustice’ – but at home, he still wants coalIt isn’t hard to see a contradiction between the PM’s message in Fiji and his opposition to legal action to stop a NSW coalmine

A thoughtful and considered piece

Adam Morton@adammorton.bsky.social

Been in Fiji for pre-Cop. Piece from a couple of days ago. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Martin Jones reposted

NBER

@nber.org

Norway's controversial 2021–2024 reforms nearly doubled the tax on business wealth. Firms of affected owners did not invest less, and outmigration was limited to the very top, from Marius A. K. Ring www.nber.org/papers/w35854

Martin Jones reposted

The Cathy Wilcox

@cathywilcox.bsky.social

Hey guess what everybody? We’re doing a climate cartoon award again and we’re naming it in our dear, late friend Jon Kudelka’s honour!

The Cathy Wilcox@cathywilcox.bsky.social

thepoint.com.au/new/261009-k...

thepoint.com.auKudelka Climate Cartoon Award announces 2026 longlistThe annual Stanley Awards, Australia’s premier awards for cartoonists, has announced its long list for best climate cartoon honours. Born out of a boycott of fossil fuel sponsorship, from this year th...

Martin Jones reposted

The Age (unofficial)

@theage.nzcow.com

📢 The Matildas star’s absence from this month’s friendlies exposes a tension between the demands of international soccer and individual autonomy to decide what matters most in a player’s life.

theage.com.auMary Fowler’s latest decision tells us something we should already know about her

abc.net.auNSW coalmine climate ruling a massive shake-up to Australia's oil and gasAustralia's High Court rules in favour of a Hunter Valley community group in a landmark climate ruling that could redraw how fossil fuel projects are approved in Australia.

'The High Court has found planning authorities are required to consider Scope 3 emissions when approving projects, in a case expected to have national implications for the way fossil fuel project approvals take global emissions into account.' www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

hcourt.gov.auhcourt.gov.au

High Court judgement here www.hcourt.gov.au/cases-and-ju...

premier.vic.gov.auCheaper Insulation To Bring Down Energy Bills

The Victorian Energy Upgrades program now includes subsidies for residential ceiling insultation . "Victorians can access discounts of up to $1,500 in metropolitan Melbourne and $2,100 in regional Victoria." www.premier.vic.gov.au/cheaper-insu...

Martin Jones reposted

Hannah Daly

@hannahdaly.ie

The best explanation I've read on AI misalignment, and how it could be a structural issue that can't be patched.

Trish Greenhalgh@trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social

Good blog on AI cheating. yoshuabengio.org/en/blog/why-...

yoshuabengio.orgYoshua Bengio | Why are AI agents lying, cheating and coordinating?A lot has been written about the incidents of the last few months in which AI agents misbehaved in serious ways. They took actions that would be considered as crimes if a human took them, escaped thei...

crikey.com.auDon't think Australia is immune to authoritarianismNobody wakes up to sudden authoritarianism. We relinquish ourselves to it by allowing our favoured government to get away with bending norms and rules. Over time, these bends become clean breaks.

Good piece by @squigglyrick.bsky.social: "Nobody wakes up to sudden authoritarianism. We relinquish ourselves to it by allowing our favoured government to get away with bending norms and rules. Over time, these bends become clean breaks." www.crikey.com.au/2026/09/28/r...

Martin Jones reposted

Kon Karapanagiotidis

@kkarapanagiotidis.bsky.social

I’m devastated this morning. We have just had two of our @asrc1 social enterprise catering vans stolen. Roller door smashed. Food stolen. Safe destroyed. Staff distressed. TWO VANS LICENSE PLATES - mini vans with ASRC Catering on them Renault is 1UO2YV Peugeot is 2DW4TB

Martin Jones reposted

Megan Herbert

@meganjherbert.bsky.social

Ready to go. My cartoon in today's @theageaustralia.bsky.social and @sydmorningherald.bsky.social

Martin Jones reposted

John Muller

@johnspacemuller.com

Shouldn't have overturned a goal for this guy's team

Martin Jones reposted

JosimarFootball

@josimarfootball.bsky.social

We have taken down our paywall for 48 hours - for you to enjoy some of our reporting about Manchester City. First up - The men behind Manchester City: The dark side By @ncgeehan.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2018/08/10/t...

josimarfootball.comThe men behind Manchester City: The dark side - josimarfootball.comOn the pitch, Manchester City impressed everybody last season. Now let’s take a look behind the scenes – on the men who own the club.

"Hypernormalisation in the online realm describes the process by which we grow increasingly stylised (paradoxically, by attempting to sound increasingly like ourselves) through the act of conforming with “correct” beliefs and “correct” communication norms." cracksinpomo.substack.com/p/living-in-...

Okay I realise I have provided two snippets of text that use the term "Hypernormalisation" in different ways, but it's a wide-ranging piece. Super interesting!