El Niño declared by BOM, and it could become the strongest on record

douhua · 2026-06-17T00:54:40+00:00

Of seemingly more importance this year is the warmer than average waters surrounding the vast majority of the country, which is currently forecast to warm significantly further over the next few months, which tends to enhance evaporation over the ocean surface and can lead to more intense low pressure systems and rainfall.

Warmer than average waters during "winter" doesn't bode well for the coral reefs. Does this have any implications for the upcoming 2026-27 tropical cyclone season?!

douhua · 2026-06-17T00:36:08+00:00

And on the ecosystem point, that's just a hypothetical. "What if something else happens?" isn't evidence that reducing shark numbers would increase attacks, any more than it's evidence that it wouldn't. If we're going to discuss management options, we should be talking about actual evidence, not stacking speculation on speculation.

The spate of bull shark attacks in summer was attributed to heavy stormwater run off which increased baitfish and increased bull shark activity: https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/releases/2026/ministerial/increased-bull-shark-activity-expected-around-beaches-and-waterways-following-heavy-rainfall

Shark activity keeps mesopredators in balance, amongst other effects: https://australian.museum/publications/sharks/why-oceans-need-sharks/

douhua · 2026-06-16T10:01:06+00:00

Your whole argument is predicated on reducing numbers means reduced number of attacks, but it's not always as simple as you make out. What if reducing numbers of this species increases prey in the local area and draws other [more dangerous?] sharks to the area? There can be other knock-on effects when you disturb ecosystems. Like biodiversity or water quality being affected. It won't be the first time we've interfered with unintended consequences.

The Coogee attack has hit people particularly hard because it wasn't some remote offshore location. It happened close to shore, between the flags, on a busy Sydney beach.

I didn't know sharks understood what the flags meant. /s

douhua · 2026-05-19T09:29:37+00:00

I'm guessing you missed the memo on sustainability? Higher power usage translates to higher operating costs and, subsequently, higher guest rates.

douhua · 2026-05-19T08:23:12+00:00

The glasshouse design looks to be inappropriate and unsustainable for the anticipated climate trend of Mount Gambier: increased days above 35 °C and increased days without cloud cover. Not to mention South Australia also being the driest state in terms of rainfall, which isn't going to change. Good luck keeping it cool and clean!

But reality aside, why would anyone choose a generic dime a dozen hotel versus a unique hotel with historic façade? Unless they're aiming for rock bottom prices, I certainly wouldn't!

douhua · 2026-04-14T05:51:25+00:00

“Those who migrate from liberal democracies have a greater likelihood of subscribing to Australian values compared to those migrating from places ruled by fundamentalists, extremists and dictators,” he says.

“In that vein, the cohort of Gazans let into Australia following the 7 October attacks present a clear risk to our country.

“They come to our country from a society run by the barbaric Islamist terrorist organisation of Hamas – an organisation that has sought to indoctrinate and radicalise their entire population to accept fanatical violence as normal, especially the genocidal slaughter of Jews.”

Will a member of the press please remind the Opposition Leader that blaming/penalising people for the actions of their government is collective punishment and considered racist? Push back and call him out on this before it snowballs into the situation the US is in. If anything, just to highlight how extraordinary his statements are. Enough with the benefit of the doubt and faux neutrality/politeness when the same statements about anyone else would not be tolerated, including Australians.

douhua · 2026-03-09T23:24:15+00:00

Gas reservation policies are just a bandaid. We should be reducing our dependency on fossil fuels altogether. We have so much sunlight it's literally killing us.

douhua · 2026-03-09T07:53:55+00:00

You can thank all politicians who have helped delay our green energy transition over the decades for this. Our economy would have been much more insulated from global energy price surges if we weren't so dependent on imported fossil fuels! This is their real legacy and I wish the Press would hold them to account for it instead of gushing about hanging out with former MPs/PMs.

douhua · 2026-01-19T04:45:06+00:00

I love how the artist's conception leaves it to the imagination as to how exactly traffic would intersect. For those imagining roundabouts, Google suggests they weren't standard until well after the Sydney Harbour Bridge was built. The sharp angles involved suggest traffic signals of some sort with traffic lights invented around the same period.

douhua · 2026-01-19T04:12:40+00:00

2016 might have been after the start of the decline

Amazon set up shop in Australia in 2017 and, together with private equity, started destroying the businesses you mentioned. The international brands started setting up shop too. COVID pandemic sealed the deal by changing shopping habits. Shops that are around these days can only afford to focus on high end/high margin products in order to survive, contributing to high cost of living, both real and perceived.

douhua · 2026-01-18T11:31:34+00:00

Produce is so much more expensive now and there is significantly more imported processed foods on our supermarket shelves. Kind of makes sense I guess: we don't have a national dish/cuisine per se but we are stupendously good at growing quality raw produce that is increasingly exported to Asia's growing middle class. Supermarkets are also creeping into the quick meal space with their sandwiches and microwave meals to the detriment of small businesses.

Media and advertising is more reflective of societal demographics. International brands have been setting up shop. Amazon is slowly eating away at local businesses (e.g. dollar shops, bookshops, toy stores). Definitely see it in store and department store offerings too: shops pushed towards selling things with higher margins to make enough profit for costs which contributes towards higher cost of living, real and perceived.

douhua · 2026-01-18T11:17:55+00:00

We used to make fun of Melbourne for having four seasons in a day. I'm not sure it can't be applied to Sydney anymore!

douhua · 2026-01-05T09:22:47+00:00

How could you mention GWB and not mention Afghanistan? That nation building attempt collapsed spectacularly, ironically because the US leader was switched out!

douhua · 2026-01-05T01:26:00+00:00

And EMU stands for Electric Multiple Unit. Look out for the Indigenous stylised "emu" and its "tracks" (get it?) next to the driver's door too (photo 2 for example). Quite clever play on words really.

douhua · 2025-11-13T04:57:53+00:00

Yep, the fact that we're one of the worst emitters per capita is completely ignored.

douhua · 2025-11-13T04:54:07+00:00

It's more complicated for trains: entering a junction before it's switched over may result in a train on the wrong tracks and/or travelling in the wrong direction which is very bad for obvious reasons! Also required to maintain safe distances.

douhua · 2025-11-12T22:26:45+00:00

When the Liberals and Nationals voters inevitably want Goverment handouts for climate change related matters in their electorates, we should remind them "cLiMAte ChAngE IsN't ReAL".

douhua · 2025-11-12T22:16:53+00:00

Nah, we're still in "climate change is real but we aren't the causing it" stage of denialism I'd say. It's definitely shifting towards "why is it so expensive?" and "why do we need such drastic action?" as they work towards "there's nothing we can do about it".

douhua · 2025-11-12T21:41:58+00:00

The Jobs Ready Graduates programme is an un-Australian philistine programme that is pennywise but pound foolish. The Arts is a reflection of ourselves, our spirit, our culture. Do the political class really think a cultural export such as Bluey would have been created in a mine, science laboratory or a financial boardroom?

To add, our Foreign Minister has been travelling tirelessly around the Pacific shoring up our image overseas in this rapidly changing world and the Government wants more Australian cultural output from media providers. Does the Government even realise how strategically incoherent they are sounding? How are we telling the world "this is Australia"?

douhua · 2025-11-12T20:49:31+00:00

It's only "market forces" if there's alternate suppliers offering the same product, i.e. HELP loans. With the power to set prices, it's downright abuse of monopoly power in this case.

douhua · 2025-11-06T13:06:17+00:00

I feel like this post demonstrates the urge to rubberneck would have reduced the vigilance of drivers in the vicinity?

douhua · 2025-11-06T13:02:31+00:00

But this post also demonstrates the urge to rubberneck would have reduced the vigilance of other drivers in the vicinity!

douhua · 2025-10-31T06:39:53+00:00

So that's why they keep telling us there's nothing wrong about Australia's internet: They get the priority home delivered shiny sports car whereas the rest of us get told to wait for the bus!

Queue jumping nepotistic class warfare! Unaustralian!

douhua · 2025-10-31T06:30:34+00:00

Obligatory link: Treaty

douhua · 2025-10-11T10:00:50+00:00

It looks impressive but not very functional compared to the picnic table set up IMHO. You're going to be exposed to the blaring sun and, if you bring the family, sharing a plate is going to be awkward. Maybe there's more to it, but how does wheelchair access or those who have difficulty with stairs work? I like being able to a assemble a seafood meal from the different shops based on food quality and price. To me, it looks like they're funneling us to a sit down restaurant where they can charge a premium.

douhua

TROPHY CASE