Martin Jones
@martincjones.com
🇦🇺/🇩🇪 climate change/energy economist and policy wonk; former academic (CEEM) and consumer advocate (CUAC); amateur footballer. Personal views. He/him.
Reposted by Martin Jones
Here we are.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
February 5, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Here we are.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
"The administrative review tribunal this week reversed a 2024 ruling by the Australian privacy commissioner that had found Bunnings breached the privacy of store visitors by scanning and checking their faces."
Bunnings given green light to use facial recognition tech on customers to combat crime
Bunnings given green light to use facial recognition tech on customers to combat crime
Tribunal heard Bunnings store managers’ evidence of regular threatening or abusive behaviour from some customers
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Hardware giant Bunnings has been given the green light to use facial recognition technology on customers in order to prevent crime.
The administrative review tribunal this week reversed a 2024 ruling by the Australian privacy commissioner that had found Bunnings breached the privacy of store visitors by scanning and checking their faces. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:09 AM
"The administrative review tribunal this week reversed a 2024 ruling by the Australian privacy commissioner that had found Bunnings breached the privacy of store visitors by scanning and checking their faces."
"Two months since the social media ban began and teens say it isn't working" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02... What a surprise!
Two months into the social media ban, a teenager says it's 'useless'
Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s is two months old, but teenagers say they have found ways around it.
www.abc.net.au
February 5, 2026 at 12:04 AM
"Two months since the social media ban began and teens say it isn't working" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02... What a surprise!
Great 'long read' on Adam Tooze www.theguardian.com/business/202...
The crisis whisperer: how Adam Tooze makes sense of our bewildering age
The long read: Whether it’s the financial crash, the climate emergency or the breakdown of the international order, historian Adam Tooze has become the go-to guide to the radical new world we’ve enter...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:27 AM
Great 'long read' on Adam Tooze www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Martin Jones
DOCTOR: I told him he needed to get out to a show, that was how he would cure his depression.
CHOTINER: So you learned this technique in school?
DR: No, not— listen it was good advice. Pagliacci was in town.
C: Right. Is it standard to give advice before learning a patient’s name?
DR: Now look
CHOTINER: So you learned this technique in school?
DR: No, not— listen it was good advice. Pagliacci was in town.
C: Right. Is it standard to give advice before learning a patient’s name?
DR: Now look
February 2, 2026 at 3:58 AM
DOCTOR: I told him he needed to get out to a show, that was how he would cure his depression.
CHOTINER: So you learned this technique in school?
DR: No, not— listen it was good advice. Pagliacci was in town.
C: Right. Is it standard to give advice before learning a patient’s name?
DR: Now look
CHOTINER: So you learned this technique in school?
DR: No, not— listen it was good advice. Pagliacci was in town.
C: Right. Is it standard to give advice before learning a patient’s name?
DR: Now look
Reposted by Martin Jones
I cannot tell you how much doubt was consistently directed at the Gaza Health Ministry’s casualty numbers and how much pressure was put on news organizations to couch those numbers as unreliable.
Biden himself said they were fabricated!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Biden himself said they were fabricated!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
IDF accepts Gaza Health Ministry death toll of over 71,000 Palestinians killed in the war
Although Many International Experts Have Accepted the Health Ministry's Data as Reliable, and Even Conservative Relative to the True Death Toll, Israel Had Refused to Accept the Health Ministry's Coun...
www.haaretz.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I cannot tell you how much doubt was consistently directed at the Gaza Health Ministry’s casualty numbers and how much pressure was put on news organizations to couch those numbers as unreliable.
Biden himself said they were fabricated!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Biden himself said they were fabricated!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
The Superpower Institute (Ross Garnaut, Rod Sims, et al) are having another tilt at recommending carbon pricing (with revenue redistribution to households). The novelty: not just a "polluter pays" levy on fossil fuel use, but also a "fair share" resource levy.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Not radical, it’s fair’: Australian households would receive compensation in proposed ‘polluter pays’ levy scheme
Superpower Institute report fleshes out 2024 call from Labor heavyweight Ross Garnaut to re-embrace carbon pricing 12 years after Tony Abbott axed it
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:00 PM
The Superpower Institute (Ross Garnaut, Rod Sims, et al) are having another tilt at recommending carbon pricing (with revenue redistribution to households). The novelty: not just a "polluter pays" levy on fossil fuel use, but also a "fair share" resource levy.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Martin Jones
With respect to the *early* Jan heat in SE Australia (shorter heatwave than now)
* climate change made the event about 1.6°C hotter
* 5 times more likely to occur now than in preindustrial climate
* Return period of every 5 years in current climate
www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-chan...
* climate change made the event about 1.6°C hotter
* 5 times more likely to occur now than in preindustrial climate
* Return period of every 5 years in current climate
www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-chan...
Climate change eclipses La Niña cooling in Australia to drive extreme heatwave and heightened fire risk – World Weather Attribution
www.worldweatherattribution.org
January 28, 2026 at 11:11 PM
With respect to the *early* Jan heat in SE Australia (shorter heatwave than now)
* climate change made the event about 1.6°C hotter
* 5 times more likely to occur now than in preindustrial climate
* Return period of every 5 years in current climate
www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-chan...
* climate change made the event about 1.6°C hotter
* 5 times more likely to occur now than in preindustrial climate
* Return period of every 5 years in current climate
www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-chan...
"Figures from [AEMO] to be released on Thursday, confirm renewables and batteries powered more than 50% of the [NEM] grid in the December qtr for the first time in history, crunching coal to its lowest-ever seasonal share of the mix and gas to its lowest since 2000" www.theage.com.au/business/con...
‘Landmark moment’: Renewables’ record surge sends power prices tumbling
Electricity prices in eastern Australia have fallen sharply amid record-breaking contributions from renewables and large-scale batteries.
www.theage.com.au
January 29, 2026 at 7:49 AM
"Figures from [AEMO] to be released on Thursday, confirm renewables and batteries powered more than 50% of the [NEM] grid in the December qtr for the first time in history, crunching coal to its lowest-ever seasonal share of the mix and gas to its lowest since 2000" www.theage.com.au/business/con...
"Victorian consumers could end up footing the bill for expensive imported LNG under a controversial proposal that assumes the additional gas would lower the cost of domestic gas rather than increase it, as many expect." www.afr.com/companies/en...
Fears Victorian consumers will pay for gas imports under ‘last resort’ plan
Gas producers in Victoria say the government should act to streamline gas project approvals before considering plans for underwriting LNG import terminals.
www.afr.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:03 AM
"Victorian consumers could end up footing the bill for expensive imported LNG under a controversial proposal that assumes the additional gas would lower the cost of domestic gas rather than increase it, as many expect." www.afr.com/companies/en...
"On Tuesday in India, the two powerhouses [the EU and India] signed what the EU Commission’s president ... described as the “mother of all deals” – a free trade agreement that creates a market of nearly two billion consumers and a quarter of the world’s GDP." www.theage.com.au/business/the...
The ‘mother of all deals’ that will infuriate Trump
After two decades of negotiations, the European Union and India have reached an agreement that risks the ire of the US president. He has no one to blame but himself.
www.theage.com.au
January 28, 2026 at 2:20 AM
"On Tuesday in India, the two powerhouses [the EU and India] signed what the EU Commission’s president ... described as the “mother of all deals” – a free trade agreement that creates a market of nearly two billion consumers and a quarter of the world’s GDP." www.theage.com.au/business/the...
What to do with your solar system during a bushfire envirogroup.com.au/industry-new...
January 28, 2026 at 1:48 AM
What to do with your solar system during a bushfire envirogroup.com.au/industry-new...
"The Victoria state government has announced that it now plans to hold the long awaited but delayed first auction for offshore wind farms in Australia in August this year ... for 2 GW of capacity" reneweconomy.com.au/australias-f...
Australia's first offshore wind auction set for August after nearly one year delay
Updated: Victoria sets new date for its first offshore wind tender, nearly a year after the original that was delayed last year, and looks to tap into federal support scheme.
reneweconomy.com.au
January 28, 2026 at 12:09 AM
"The Victoria state government has announced that it now plans to hold the long awaited but delayed first auction for offshore wind farms in Australia in August this year ... for 2 GW of capacity" reneweconomy.com.au/australias-f...
"The Albanese government will streamline approvals to attract power-hungry data centres rather than offer subsidies, as the OECD warns the sector’s growing energy use threatens to derail Australia’s progress to net zero." www.afr.com/politics/fed...
Labor to fast-track data centre approvals as OECD flags energy strain
The global body said the cloud computing boom meant Canberra would need to make additional efforts to meet its 2050 net zero carbon emissions target.
www.afr.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:06 AM
"The Albanese government will streamline approvals to attract power-hungry data centres rather than offer subsidies, as the OECD warns the sector’s growing energy use threatens to derail Australia’s progress to net zero." www.afr.com/politics/fed...
Reposted by Martin Jones
Victoria has set a new all-time heat record at just under 49C, while Doiyh Australia has set its equal-fourth hottest day (and equal 10th nationally for January). Via BoM
January 27, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Victoria has set a new all-time heat record at just under 49C, while Doiyh Australia has set its equal-fourth hottest day (and equal 10th nationally for January). Via BoM
Reposted by Martin Jones
After 5 years I can finally share a full WP of our project conducting cognitive interviews of life satisfaction reporting.
Main findings:
1. LS scales are psychometrically valid, but...
2. Standard statistical assumptions made when analysing LS data are not credible.
osf.io/gv5e3/files/...
Main findings:
1. LS scales are psychometrically valid, but...
2. Standard statistical assumptions made when analysing LS data are not credible.
osf.io/gv5e3/files/...
January 26, 2026 at 8:39 AM
After 5 years I can finally share a full WP of our project conducting cognitive interviews of life satisfaction reporting.
Main findings:
1. LS scales are psychometrically valid, but...
2. Standard statistical assumptions made when analysing LS data are not credible.
osf.io/gv5e3/files/...
Main findings:
1. LS scales are psychometrically valid, but...
2. Standard statistical assumptions made when analysing LS data are not credible.
osf.io/gv5e3/files/...
Reposted by Martin Jones
I wasn’t much of a Tesla fan before, but our new house came with two Tesla products pre-installed.
Both of these are kinda fucked due to intentional decisions made by Tesla to screw over customers.
The EV charger will only charge Tesla EVs and the Powerwall essentially cannot ever be upgraded.
Both of these are kinda fucked due to intentional decisions made by Tesla to screw over customers.
The EV charger will only charge Tesla EVs and the Powerwall essentially cannot ever be upgraded.
January 23, 2026 at 11:29 AM
I wasn’t much of a Tesla fan before, but our new house came with two Tesla products pre-installed.
Both of these are kinda fucked due to intentional decisions made by Tesla to screw over customers.
The EV charger will only charge Tesla EVs and the Powerwall essentially cannot ever be upgraded.
Both of these are kinda fucked due to intentional decisions made by Tesla to screw over customers.
The EV charger will only charge Tesla EVs and the Powerwall essentially cannot ever be upgraded.
"The Federal Court has ruled that a move to give police officers greater powers in Melbourne's CBD for six months from last November was invalid and unlawful. ... Victoria Police revoked the designation a fortnight ago." www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Extended police stop-and-search declaration unlawful, court finds
The Federal Court has found a Victoria Police move to give officers greater powers in Melbourne's CBD for six months was invalid and unlawful.
www.abc.net.au
January 23, 2026 at 6:31 AM
"The Federal Court has ruled that a move to give police officers greater powers in Melbourne's CBD for six months from last November was invalid and unlawful. ... Victoria Police revoked the designation a fortnight ago." www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
"An overdue promise to lift standards for tradespeople and reduce the prevalence of building defects in Victoria could be delayed by as much as 14 years [to 2034]." www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
Scheme to stamp out home building defects in Victoria delayed 14 years
A registration and licensing scheme for building trades was due for completion in 2020. But it could now be delayed as far as 2034.
www.theage.com.au
January 22, 2026 at 4:13 AM
"An overdue promise to lift standards for tradespeople and reduce the prevalence of building defects in Victoria could be delayed by as much as 14 years [to 2034]." www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...
"Renewable energy use has surged to record levels across [Australia's] eastern seaboard, breaking past 50% of the electricity mix in the final three months of last year and helping the grid ride a summer of extreme heat stress & intense demand from air-conditioners" www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
For the first time, renewable energy is supplying most of our power
Renewables became the dominant energy supply for an entire quarter in the final three months of last year, helping the grid skate through the early days of a scorching summer.
www.theage.com.au
January 22, 2026 at 3:40 AM
"Renewable energy use has surged to record levels across [Australia's] eastern seaboard, breaking past 50% of the electricity mix in the final three months of last year and helping the grid ride a summer of extreme heat stress & intense demand from air-conditioners" www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
"researchers at USyd found that the additional cost to long-haul flight from using sustainable aviation fuel ranges for $68 to “hundreds of dollars” per ticket. The average traveller, meanwhile, is willing to contribute a mere $2.60 extra" www.theage.com.au/business/con...
The next cause of airfare price spikes isn’t even in your plane yet
As governments ramp up sustainable fuel mandates, travel-hungry consumers face a new cycle of price hikes. New research suggests they won’t pay.
www.theage.com.au
January 21, 2026 at 2:28 AM
"researchers at USyd found that the additional cost to long-haul flight from using sustainable aviation fuel ranges for $68 to “hundreds of dollars” per ticket. The average traveller, meanwhile, is willing to contribute a mere $2.60 extra" www.theage.com.au/business/con...
Important advice for e-bikes in very hot weather (like the current Victorian summer) cargocycles.com.au/news/electri...
January 21, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Important advice for e-bikes in very hot weather (like the current Victorian summer) cargocycles.com.au/news/electri...
Good piece by Margaret Simons: "Australians must demand that their cultural custodians uphold freedom of speech" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Australians must demand that their cultural custodians uphold freedom of speech | Margaret Simons
As we have seen after Adelaide writers’ week, defending the right of people to speak, even when we deeply disagree with them, is very, very difficult
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Good piece by Margaret Simons: "Australians must demand that their cultural custodians uphold freedom of speech" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
"Australia’s biggest coal-fired power station, Eraring, will delay its closure by another two years [to 2029] following fresh warnings that the electricity grid is under-prepared to manage its imminent retirement without worsening the threat of blackouts." www.theage.com.au/business/the...
Nation’s largest coal-fired power plant closure delayed by two more years
The massive Eraring power station on the NSW coast had already had its life extended until 2027 but will now operate until 2029, infuriating climate campaigners.
www.theage.com.au
January 20, 2026 at 5:51 AM
"Australia’s biggest coal-fired power station, Eraring, will delay its closure by another two years [to 2029] following fresh warnings that the electricity grid is under-prepared to manage its imminent retirement without worsening the threat of blackouts." www.theage.com.au/business/the...
"The number of households using gas for heating and cooking in [NSW, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT] has declined for two consecutive quarters as high prices, milder winters and increasing connection costs encourage more Australians to rely solely on electricity" www.afr.com/policy/energ...
Household gas use softens amid electrification push
The number of residential gas customers in some eastern states has ticked down for two straight quarters as more households opt to go all-electric.
www.afr.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:19 PM
"The number of households using gas for heating and cooking in [NSW, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT] has declined for two consecutive quarters as high prices, milder winters and increasing connection costs encourage more Australians to rely solely on electricity" www.afr.com/policy/energ...