The 2017 ORRCA Whale Census
A Further $6 Million For 20 Million Trees Available For Community Projects
Legislation To Phase Out HFCs To Lower Emissions Passes Parliament
Proposed Pesticides Regulation 2017
New CEO To Lead Australian Institute Of Marine Science
Department Seeks Community Input On Hume Coal Project Proposal
Call For Public Comment On Draft Seabird Threat Abatement Plan
15th March 2017
Public comment is now being sought on the draft Threat abatement plan for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations (Threat abatement plan for incidental catch of seabirds). The public consultation period is open until 30 June 2017.
The draft Threat abatement plan for incidental catch of seabirds provides a national strategy to guide the activities of government, industry and research organisations in abating the impact of oceanic longline fishing operations on seabirds in Commonwealth fisheries.
The consultation paper and related documents are available on theDepartment of the Environment and Energy website. Your comments on this consultation paper are welcome.
Further information about the existing Threat abatement plan 2014 for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations is available at the Threat Abatement Plan – seabirds page
A black-browed albatross with chick, on Macquarie Island. (Photo: Kim Kliska)
15th March 2017
Public comment is now being sought on the draft Threat abatement plan for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations (Threat abatement plan for incidental catch of seabirds). The public consultation period is open until 30 June 2017.
The draft Threat abatement plan for incidental catch of seabirds provides a national strategy to guide the activities of government, industry and research organisations in abating the impact of oceanic longline fishing operations on seabirds in Commonwealth fisheries.
The consultation paper and related documents are available on theDepartment of the Environment and Energy website. Your comments on this consultation paper are welcome.
Further information about the existing Threat abatement plan 2014 for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations is available at the Threat Abatement Plan – seabirds page
A black-browed albatross with chick, on Macquarie Island. (Photo: Kim Kliska)
NSW Tags 100th White Shark
New Catalyst Paves Way For Carbon Neutral Fuel
It’s Time To Shine And Lead The World In Shark Management
EPA Invites Comments On NSW Noise Control Regulation Changes
Battle For Bulga
Launch Of Publication Of Framework For A National Strategy On Climate, Health And Wellbeing
World First: Leading Health Experts Launch A Framework For A National Climate AndHealth Strategy
June 22, 2017: Climate and Health Alliance
“Climate change is the defining health issue of the 21st Century.”Dr. Margaret ChanDirector GeneralWorld Health Organization
In a world first initiative, a coalition of leading health experts and organisations, along with federal parliamentarians, today launched a Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia.
The Framework has been developed on behalf of a coalition of over thirty health and medical organisations, and follows a year-long national consultation to identify stakeholders’ priorities and concerns regarding the health impacts of climate change.
Executive Director of the Climate and Health Alliance Fiona Armstrong said: “The Framework provides a comprehensive roadmap to assist Australia in addressing the significant risks that climate change poses to the health and well-being of the community, and in meeting its obligations to citizen’s ‘right to health’ under the Paris Agreement.”
Nobel Laureate for Medicine and Our Climate Our Health campaign ambassador, Professor Peter Doherty said:“Australia must develop policy to address the health impacts from global warming on its citizen now, and take decisive action to reduce emissions as part of the global effort to limit the worst effects of climate change on current and future generations. We are currently conducting a planetary scale experiment with uncontrolled dumping of CO2 at a rate that is truly frightening. No university ethics committee would ever sanction such a study for mice, let alone humans. We have to stop.”
President of Health Care Without Harm (USA) Gary Cohen said: “In many parts of the world, hospitals and health services are increasingly showing the way toward a low-carbon future. A national policy framework, such as the one proposed for Australia, can help support these efforts, and help accelerate the roll out of low-carbon healthcare while supporting community resilience and well-being. Transitioning away from fossil fuels is preventative medicine on a grand scale.”
Executive Director at Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change, Dr Nick Watts:“This policy framework provides a coordinated and comprehensive approach to supporting Australia to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The implementation of a national strategy on climate change and health could put Australia in a leadership position globally and go a long way to ensuring the protection of community health and well-being while reducing carbon emissions.”
Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association CEO Alison Verhoeven said: “Our hospitals and health services are already under pressure. Climate change is a threat multiplier, so we must make sure our hospitals and the health workforce are supported with coordinated national policy approaches to ensure they are prepared and able to respond to climateinduced health impacts.”
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President, Dr Bastian Seidel said: “As GPs, we are witnessing the impacts of climate change on our patients. Heatwaves such as those in Victoria in 2014 contributed to 167 avoidable deaths. Without climate action, global warming could contribute to several thousand additional deaths nationwide by 2050. Governments must work with the health sector to prioritise climate-health policy to prevent these predicted public health consequences.”
BACKGROUNDOrganisations including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), the Public Health Association Australia (PHAA), Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), Australian College of Health Service Managers (ACHSM), and the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) have supported the development of the Framework over the last 18 months.
The Framework entails seven Areas of Policy Action, some of which include phasing out coal, greening hospitals, and a coordinated approach to managing the health consequences of extreme weather events, such as heat stress and thunderstorm asthma. Implementation of a national strategy will require federal, state/territory and local government actions, and cross-portfolio cooperation, involving health, energy and climate/environment portfoliosworking together.
The Framework is set to support Australia in reporting against a set of global climate and health indicators, published in the leading international medical journal, The Lancet, which will report each year on the progress of nations in addressing the health impacts of climate change, with the first report due in November 2017
Read or download Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia. (PDF: 1.74MB)
- Heatwaves in Victoria in 2009 and 2014 contributed to 374 and 167 excess deaths, respectively
- The increased incidence and severity of heatwaves from global warming could contribute to several thousand additional deaths nationwide by 2050
- Climate change is contributing to health risks posed by allergenic pollens and fungi, increasing the likelihood of events such as the 2016 thunderstorm asthma event in Victoria, which caused a 3,000% increase in asthma related admissions to intensive care and is thought to have contributed to the death of nine people
- Air pollution from coal-fired electricity generation is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths globally each year, and thehealth impacts of coal-fired power generation is estimated to cost Australia AUD$2.6 billion annually (I)
- The health and social costs of climate mediated events represent a significant economic burden, with the health and social costs of the Black Saturday bushfires and 2011 Queensland floods totalling AUD$3.9 and $7.4 billion respectively
- Reduced productivity due to extreme heat already costs the Australian economy over AUD$8 billion annually and the economic losses and health risks will increase significantly due to climate change
- Many climate change mitigation and adaptation policies offer significant cobenefits for health. For example, the health benefits from climate mitigation policies which reduce air pollution can offset the cost of implementation by up to 10 times
Key Policy Recommendations:- Establish national emissions reduction targets consistent with the recommendations of the Climate Change Authority and based on Australia’s fair share of the global task to reduce emissions
- Evaluate the economic savings from additional health benefits associated with a range of emissions reductions strategies through a national study
- Reduce deaths from air pollution by phasing out coal and strengthening national emissions standards for motor vehicles
- Prevent poor health associated with inadequate building standards by including climate resilience measures in the National Construction Code
- Avoid adverse health impacts from industry and infrastructure projects by incorporating health impact assessments in the evaluation of project applications
- Promote healthy, low emissions diets and lifestyles through provision of funding for public education programs
- Ensure health professionals are able to recognise, prepare for and respond to the health impacts of climate change through establishing a national education and training framework
- Monitor health impacts through the establishment of a national environmental health surveillance system which includes climate-related indicators
- Provide national leadership through the establishment of a Ministerial Health and Climate Change Forum consisting of Commonwealth and State/Territory Ministers with responsibility for Health, Environment and Energy. This Forum would oversee the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the National Strategy for Climate, Health and Well-being and report to the Council of Australian Governments on the progress of the Strategy’s objectives, initiatives and policies
June 22, 2017: Climate and Health Alliance
“Climate change is the defining health issue of the 21st Century.”
Dr. Margaret Chan
Director General
World Health Organization
In a world first initiative, a coalition of leading health experts and organisations, along with federal parliamentarians, today launched a Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia. The Framework has been developed on behalf of a coalition of over thirty health and medical organisations, and follows a year-long national consultation to identify stakeholders’ priorities and concerns regarding the health impacts of climate change.
Executive Director of the Climate and Health Alliance Fiona Armstrong said: “The Framework provides a comprehensive roadmap to assist Australia in addressing the significant risks that climate change poses to the health and well-being of the community, and in meeting its obligations to citizen’s ‘right to health’ under the Paris Agreement.”
Nobel Laureate for Medicine and Our Climate Our Health campaign ambassador, Professor Peter Doherty said:“Australia must develop policy to address the health impacts from global warming on its citizen now, and take decisive action to reduce emissions as part of the global effort to limit the worst effects of climate change on current and future generations. We are currently conducting a planetary scale experiment with uncontrolled dumping of CO2 at a rate that is truly frightening. No university ethics committee would ever sanction such a study for mice, let alone humans. We have to stop.”
President of Health Care Without Harm (USA) Gary Cohen said: “In many parts of the world, hospitals and health services are increasingly showing the way toward a low-carbon future. A national policy framework, such as the one proposed for Australia, can help support these efforts, and help accelerate the roll out of low-carbon healthcare while supporting community resilience and well-being. Transitioning away from fossil fuels is preventative medicine on a grand scale.”
Executive Director at Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change, Dr Nick Watts:“This policy framework provides a coordinated and comprehensive approach to supporting Australia to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The implementation of a national strategy on climate change and health could put Australia in a leadership position globally and go a long way to ensuring the protection of community health and well-being while reducing carbon emissions.”
Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association CEO Alison Verhoeven said: “Our hospitals and health services are already under pressure. Climate change is a threat multiplier, so we must make sure our hospitals and the health workforce are supported with coordinated national policy approaches to ensure they are prepared and able to respond to climateinduced health impacts.”
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President, Dr Bastian Seidel said: “As GPs, we are witnessing the impacts of climate change on our patients. Heatwaves such as those in Victoria in 2014 contributed to 167 avoidable deaths. Without climate action, global warming could contribute to several thousand additional deaths nationwide by 2050. Governments must work with the health sector to prioritise climate-health policy to prevent these predicted public health consequences.”
BACKGROUND
Organisations including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), the Public Health Association Australia (PHAA), Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), Australian College of Health Service Managers (ACHSM), and the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) have supported the development of the Framework over the last 18 months.
The Framework entails seven Areas of Policy Action, some of which include phasing out coal, greening hospitals, and a coordinated approach to managing the health consequences of extreme weather events, such as heat stress and thunderstorm asthma. Implementation of a national strategy will require federal, state/territory and local government actions, and cross-portfolio cooperation, involving health, energy and climate/environment portfolios
working together.
The Framework is set to support Australia in reporting against a set of global climate and health indicators, published in the leading international medical journal, The Lancet, which will report each year on the progress of nations in addressing the health impacts of climate change, with the first report due in November 2017
Read or download Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia. (PDF: 1.74MB)
- Heatwaves in Victoria in 2009 and 2014contributed to 374 and 167 excess deaths, respectively
- The increased incidence and severity of heatwaves from global warming could contribute to several thousand additionaldeaths nationwide by 2050
- Climate change is contributing to health risks posed by allergenic pollens and fungi, increasing the likelihood of events such as the 2016 thunderstorm asthma event in Victoria, which caused a 3,000% increase in asthma relatedadmissions to intensive care and is thought to have contributed to the death of nine people
- Air pollution from coal-fired electricitygeneration is responsible for hundredsof thousands of deaths globally each year, and thehealth impacts of coal-fired powergeneration is estimated to cost AustraliaAUD$2.6 billion annually (I)
- The health and social costs of climate mediated events represent a significant economic burden, with the health and social costs of the Black Saturday bushfires and 2011 Queensland floods totalling AUD$3.9 and$7.4 billion respectively
- Reduced productivity due to extreme heat already costs the Australian economy over AUD$8 billion annually and the economic losses and health risks will increase significantly due to climate change
- Many climate change mitigation and adaptation policies offer significant cobenefits for health. For example, the health benefits from climate mitigation policies which reduce air pollution can offset the cost of implementation by up to 10 times
Key Policy Recommendations:
- Establish national emissions reduction targets consistent with the recommendations of the Climate Change Authority and based on Australia’s fair share of the global task to reduce emissions
- Evaluate the economic savings from additional health benefits associated with a range of emissions reductions strategies through a national study
- Reduce deaths from air pollution by phasing out coal and strengthening national emissions standards for motor vehicles
- Prevent poor health associated with inadequate building standards by including climate resilience measures in the National Construction Code
- Avoid adverse health impacts from industry and infrastructure projects by incorporating health impact assessments in the evaluation of project applications
- Promote healthy, low emissions diets and lifestyles through provision of funding for public education programs
- Ensure health professionals are able to recognise, prepare for and respond to the health impacts of climate change through establishing a national education and training framework
- Monitor health impacts through the establishment of a national environmental health surveillance system which includes climate-related indicators
- Provide national leadership through the establishment of a Ministerial Health and Climate Change Forum consisting of Commonwealth and State/Territory Ministers with responsibility for Health, Environment and Energy. This Forum would oversee the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the National Strategy for Climate, Health and Well-being and report to the Council of Australian Governments on the progress of the Strategy’s objectives, initiatives and policies
Jai Dee Meaning 'Good Heart'
The newest member of the Asian elephant family at Taronga Zoo has been named Jai Dee meaning 'good heart'.The four-week-old calf was blessed in a ceremony on Friday with Thai Buddhist monks and Royal Thai Consul General Nathapol Khantahiran in attendance.
Jai Dee was watched by his mum Pak Boon, his sister Tukta and aunt Tang Mo.
The name was chosen by the late philanthropist Janis Salisbury who is considered 'the elephant grandma' due to her generous donations towards Taronga's Asian elephant breeding program.
This precious calf and the other Asian Elephants at Taronga play a vital role as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. The surviving population of Asian Elephants is estimated to be between 30,000–50,000 individuals, with numbers continuing to decline due to habitat loss and poaching.
Taronga is working hard to secure a future for Asian Elephants and has had a Breeding Program in place for more than 10 years thanks to the partnership with ANZ Australia who support our conservation efforts. Commencing the partnership in 2006, the breeding program has seen the successful births of five elephants across both Sydney and Dubbo, including the newest arrival here at Taronga Zoo Sydney.
Jai Dee - photo courtesy Taronga Zoo
For mums and dads: if you're thinking of taking your littlies to see this littlie, Taronga is offering up to 20% off family tickets when purchased online.Find out more here about this offer
Also: Visit Taronga Zoo for $1 On Your Birthday in 2017This offer is also valid at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo. Find out more here.
Elephant Calf Facts- Elephants have the longest pregnancy of all mammals with a gestation of 22 months
- When born the calf weighed about about 130kg's
- Immediately after birth, the calf is helped by its mother and other females to stand on their feet
- Calves can't see very well at first, but they can recognize their mother by touch, scent, and sound
- The calf will drink up to 12 litres of milk each day. At about four months old, they also begin eating some plants, but still need as much milk from their mother
- At first, baby elephants don't really know what to do with their trunks. They swing them to and fro and sometimes even step on them
- Female elephants help look after each others calves. Babysitting other female's calves is important for an elephants development
The newest member of the Asian elephant family at Taronga Zoo has been named Jai Dee meaning 'good heart'.
The four-week-old calf was blessed in a ceremony on Friday with Thai Buddhist monks and Royal Thai Consul General Nathapol Khantahiran in attendance.
Jai Dee was watched by his mum Pak Boon, his sister Tukta and aunt Tang Mo.
The name was chosen by the late philanthropist Janis Salisbury who is considered 'the elephant grandma' due to her generous donations towards Taronga's Asian elephant breeding program.
This precious calf and the other Asian Elephants at Taronga play a vital role as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. The surviving population of Asian Elephants is estimated to be between 30,000–50,000 individuals, with numbers continuing to decline due to habitat loss and poaching.
Taronga is working hard to secure a future for Asian Elephants and has had a Breeding Program in place for more than 10 years thanks to the partnership with ANZ Australia who support our conservation efforts. Commencing the partnership in 2006, the breeding program has seen the successful births of five elephants across both Sydney and Dubbo, including the newest arrival here at Taronga Zoo Sydney.
Jai Dee - photo courtesy Taronga Zoo
For mums and dads: if you're thinking of taking your littlies to see this littlie, Taronga is offering up to 20% off family tickets when purchased online.Find out more here about this offer
Also: Visit Taronga Zoo for $1 On Your Birthday in 2017
This offer is also valid at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo. Find out more here.
Elephant Calf Facts
- Elephants have the longest pregnancy of all mammals with a gestation of 22 months
- When born the calf weighed about about 130kg's
- Immediately after birth, the calf is helped by its mother and other females to stand on their feet
- Calves can't see very well at first, but they can recognize their mother by touch, scent, and sound
- The calf will drink up to 12 litres of milk each day. At about four months old, they also begin eating some plants, but still need as much milk from their mother
- At first, baby elephants don't really know what to do with their trunks. They swing them to and fro and sometimes even step on them
- Female elephants help look after each others calves. Babysitting other female's calves is important for an elephants development
Taronga's Newest Arrival
Jupiter’s Bands Of Clouds
ARC Centre Of Excellence To Examine Australia’s Unique Biodiversity And Heritage
Top Students Going For Aussie Gold In International Olympiads
Upward Trend In Girls Making The Australian Science Olympiads Team
Seclusion, Restraint And Observation Review Open For Public Submissions
22 June 2017: Media Release - Minister for Mental Health, The Hon. Tanya Davies
The public are invited to share their experiences of mental health care at NSW Health facilities, as part of the review into seclusion, restraint and observation practices.
Minister for Mental Health Tanya Davies said the review, led by NSW Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright, is now open for written submissions, and soon community consultation would begin across Sydney and several regional locations.
“We want to hear about the personal experiences of current and former patients living with mental illness, from their families, their carers, mental health workers and other members of the community,” Mrs Davies said.
“I recognise people want to be heard and I cannot stress enough how vitally important their experiences are to this review.”
Community consultations will take place in Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Orange, Queanbeyan, Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Western Sydney and Wollongong.
Mrs Davies said the exact dates and venues for community consultations will be published on the NSW Health website soon.
“An independent expert panel, led by Dr Wright, will use all the information gathered to examine legislation, policy, clinical governance and practice standards, as well as make recommendations to support staff and implement change,” Mrs Davies said.
Written submissions can be made via post or email.
For more information, to lodge a submission or express interest in the community consultations visit
For concerns related to other aspects of the NSW mental health system, members of the public are invited to contribute to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Management of Health Care Delivery in NSW via the Parliament of NSW website or contact pac@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Specialist Care For Veterans And Their Families
June 20, 2017: NSW Government
Australia’s first comprehensive care centre for returned servicemen and women will help veterans with mental health and wellbeing, drug and alcohol support, specialist pain management services, and rehabilitation services.
The new Defence Force Centre of Excellence is part of the NSW Government’s upgrade of Sydney’s Concord Hospital.
Specialist services for veterans and their families at the new Defence Force Centre of Excellence include:
- substance and alcohol misuse programs
- mild traumatic brain injury services
- specialist pain management services
- rehabilitation services
- psychological wellbeing services
- family support services.
The Concord Hospital upgrade will also include:
- a new comprehensive cancer centre
- enhancement and co-location of the ANZAC clinical research centre
- additional inpatient capacity
- enhanced ambulatory services
- new ward accommodation for aged care, psychogeriatric and rehabilitation services
- associated rehabilitation facilities such as gymnasiums
The upgrades will be funded by $341 million in the 2017-18 NSW Budget.
Early and enabling works are due to begin in the second half of 2017.
Work will be managed carefully and in a staged way to minimise disruption to patients and staff and keep the hospital operating during construction.
Humanitarian Response To Conflict In Mindanao
20 June 2017: Media release - Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Hon Julie Bishop MP
Today I announce that the Australian Government is providing humanitarian assistance to civilians displaced by the conflict in Marawi City in the southern Philippines.
The Australian Government is providing food and other supplies valued at $920,000 to help meet the urgent needs of more than 320,000 displaced people.
Our support includes the provision of tarpaulins, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, and water and sanitation kits through the Philippine Red Cross to assist 1000 displaced families.
We are providing over 500 tonnes of pre-positioned rice through the World Food Programme, which will help feed 60,000 children over the next three months.
We are also providing hygiene items, torches and whistles for protection, sanitary supplies and clothes, and clean birthing kits through the United Nations Population Fund, to assist over 6,400 women and girls.
This assistance is in addition to the package of support for the peace process and education in Mindanao that I announced when I visited in March 2017.
The Government is committed to supporting the peace process and development in Mindanao, which are critical for a strong and stable Philippines.
The Australian Government continues to work with the Philippine Government to combat terrorism in our region.
Fake Building Blocks Hide Real Biosecurity Risks
June 21, 2017: Australian Border Force (ABF) - This is a joint media release with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Authorities from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) have intercepted 50 turtles and lizards, concealed in an international mail consignment from Indonesia on 9 June 2017.
The package, declared as ‘toys’, was x-rayed by ABF officers in Sydney where anomalies were found. Biosecurity officers were swiftly alerted, who confirmed that 50 turtles and lizards were concealed among the toy blocks.
Head of biosecurity operations at DAWR, Nico Padovan, said vets secured the contraband and the animals were euthanised.
“People sending lizards and turtles through the mail have no concern for the welfare of the animals or the potential biosecurity risk they present to our country and people,” Mr Padovan said.
“Importing turtles and lizards without an import permit is not only breaking the law, but it puts human health and the health of our environmental ecosystems at risk.
“It is one of the reason why the Biosecurity Act 2015 was introduced; to provide essential protection for our $59 billion agricultural industries, natural environment and the health of Australian people, animals and plants.
“It is an ongoing battle, but with the latest technology available we will catch those who do the wrong thing.”
ABF Regional Commander New South Wales, Tim Fitzgerald, said this detection is a great example of Australia’s border security processes.
“Australian Border Force Officers at the International Mail Centre in Sydney have done an outstanding job in identifying and examining a high risk package being imported from Indonesia, where numerous turtles and lizards were cruelly concealed in building blocks,” Commander Fitzgerald said.
Mr Padovan said biosecurity was not just about stopping things at the border.
“We work offshore to reduce the likelihood pests and diseases make it to Australia, at the border to stop them when they do, and onshore to detect and eradicate pests and diseases that make it here,” Mr Padovan said.
“In 2015-16 around 138 million international mail articles were sent to Australia, with 19 million international travellers coming through Australian airports.
“Managing Australia’s biosecurity system is a big job.
“We need people to do the right thing and not bring or send things to Australia that could result in pests of diseases getting here.
“That way we can concentrate our efforts on those who intentionally try to thwart our systems.”
For information about what can and can’t be sent to Australia go to www.agriculture.gov.au/travelling.
The turtle and lizard importation matter is still under investigation.
In text: one of the concealed turtles.
Top Honour For Geoscience Australia Geophysicist Richard Lane
19 June 2017
The 2017 Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) Gold Medal has been awarded to Geoscience Australia geophysicist Richard Lane.
This prestigious honour has only been awarded eight times since the Society was founded in 1970. Richard is the ninth recipient and his recognition is for "exceptional and highly significant distinguished contributions to the science and practice of geophysics by a member, resulting in wide recognition within the geoscientific community".Richard is widely recognised throughout the global geophysical community for his keen intellect and insight into geophysical methods in both mining and petroleum, and his frequent contributions at conferences both in Australia and overseas. His current role at Geoscience Australia allows him to share his knowledge widely to improve the science of exploration for Australia's hidden minerals and energy resources.
He first joined Geoscience Australia in 2001 following a distinguished career in industry and academia. Richard's expertise is wide ranging and includes the airborne electromagnetic technique, 3D inversion and modelling of magnetics and gravity as well airborne gravity and gravity gradiometry. These fields are areas of technical strength in Geoscience Australia; with much of this capability due to Richard's endeavours.
Richard was instrumental in the development of the Geomodeller 3D geological modelling package and in establishing a national rock properties database to inform regional modelling studies. He has organised numerous pertinent and timely seminars as well as mentoring many younger scientists and graduates in the application of numerical methods for geoscientific problems.
He has previously received a Geoscience Australia Individual Award for Achieving Results in Geoscience in 2004, and a Sir Harold Raggatt Award as a Distinguished Geoscience Australia Lecturer in 2004.
To read more about this well-deserved recognition for Richard, visit theASEG Honours and Awards webpage.