---
title: Doctors protest against gas in Canberra
description: Doctors have converged on Canberra this morning for a protest against fossil fuel projects that risk turning Darwin and the Beetaloo Basin into hotspots for disease.
---
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)
[](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)
The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Doctors protest against gas in Canberra
Tuesday, 8 August 2023
Doctors have converged in Canberra this morning for a protest against fossil fuel projects that risk turning Darwin and the Beetaloo Basin into hotspots for disease. Hundreds of health professionals have locked in behind paediatrician Louise Woodward, pleading with politicians to acknowledge what's at stake if they don't stop fracking in the basin and axe plans to spend $1.5 billion taxpayer dollars on a gas processing and petrochemicals plant in Darwin Harbour.
A quarter of Queensland’s energy is now being generated by renewables and this figure should go up to 50% by 2030, according to the state’s energy minister Mick de Brenni. De Brenni said once renewables “dominate the wholesale electricity market” the state will see long-term reductions in wholesale power prices, which are currently being driven up by coal and gas generation.
The Coalition are questioning the Albanese government about new details of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme — that will force employers to guarantee 30 hours per week for workers from nine Pacific nations working in Australia. Some agricultural businesses say the new scheme could hamper Australia’s relationship with the Pacific, as more employers choose backpackers and students over Pacific workers.
**Top stories:**
[Doctors rally in Canberra against madness of gas expansion](https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8299540/doctors-rally-against-madness-of-gas-expansion/)
Doctors have converged in Canberra this morning for a landmark protest against fossil fuel projects that risk turning Darwin and the Beetaloo Basin into hotspots for disease. Hundreds of health professionals have locked in behind paediatrician Louise Woodward who desperately wishes she was on the job in the Northern Territory, caring for sick kids. "The health of territory kids is really being put at risk. I wish I didn't have to be here telling everyone about it," Dr Woodward said.
[A quarter of Queensland’s energy now generated from renewables](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/08/a-quarter-of-queenslands-energy-now-generated-from-renewables)
A quarter of Queensland’s energy is now being generated by renewables and this figure should go up to 50% by 2030, according to the state’s energy minister Mick de Brenni. He said the clean energy supply had jumped by 20% over the past 12 months and more than 25% of the state’s power was now generated by renewables. De Brenni said once renewables “dominate the wholesale electricity market” the state will see long-term reductions in wholesale power prices.
[Coalition to probe Labor over Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme](https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/bush-summit/unworkable-coalition-to-grill-labor-on-pacific-worker-laws/news-story/e83ddae32ce1df801ae443abdff85cf8?btr=e6a53b66f0b904143d55d4d5e9858629)
The Coalition are questioning the Albanese government upon new details of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme — that will force employers to guarantee 30 hours per week for workers from nine Pacific nations working in Australia. Some agricultural businesses say the new scheme could hamper Australia’s relationship with the Pacific as more employers choose backpackers and students over Pacific workers. Recent figures show there are almost 40,000 PALM scheme workers in Australia, many of which are supporting regional businesses.
[Big banks tighten lending access, pressuring farmers to reach climate goals](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.weeklytimesnow.com.au%2Fagribusiness%2Fnations-banks-ramp-pressure-on-farmers-to-hit-netzero-targets%2Fnews-story%2F7ff29bc5f6dc8da032319a3377d9e10c&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=FYWwNwRZ2m83I-EGUF5ZF75GrXw&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy53ZWVrbHl0aW1lc25vdy5jb20uYXUifQ.6GS2HUo6Rka4nBXJHNHgx6bCRN-tmmd-yG5MRZ8sdNn9znvQFVv-lx-ul4KBao_9L-AUixHQhO6YsFxhQTUwpQ)
Farmers not working towards climate change targets risk losing access to loans and finance, as Australia’s big banks increasingly tie lending to emissions reduction. An Australian Banking Association spokeswoman confirmed that information concerning the “physical and transition risks of agricultural customers” was being included in a lending shift by banks when making loan decisions.
[Australia may phase out dangerous forever chemicals](https://www.miragenews.com/australia-may-phase-out-controversial-forever-1061380/)
The federal government intends to stop the import, manufacture and use of some types of forever chemicals within two years. Researchers want to raise awareness and encourage industry to be proactive about finding alternatives.
[Home insurance industry 'not prepared' for more natural disasters caused by climate change](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-08/home-insurance-not-prepared-for-climate-change-disasters-choice/102698996)
Australia's insurance industry is "not prepared" for the worsening effects of climate change, with many homeowners paying higher premiums even after investing in things that make their homes more disaster proof, a new report has found.
[Australia's container deposit schemes are growing, but navigating them can be confusing](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-08/australias-container-deposit-schemes-causing-confusion/102683504)
Collecting drink containers for cash is commonplace in many states, but confusion remains for many consumers despite plans to nationalise the scheme. Here's a look at the schemes throughout the country.
[Mental health outcomes after bushfire exposure examined in new study](https://the-riotact.com/mental-health-outcomes-after-bushfire-exposure-examined-in-new-study/688515)
Authors of a study looking at the link between climate-driven disasters and mental health outcomes are calling for a re-evaluation of how we think about the impacts of those events.
[Extinction alert issued over critically endangered vaquita porpoise](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/07/extinction-alert-issued-over-critically-endangered-vaquita?utm_term=64d15999d3e66cf6946072ea55ed8f4b&utm_campaign=MorningMailAUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=morningmailau_email)
The International Whaling Commission is warning of the danger facing the vaquita, the world’s tiniest and most critically endangered marine mammal, with only 10 individuals left.
[New data reveals 2023 is on track for record heat — and next year should be even hotter](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-08/new-data-shows-2023-record-heat-2024-even-hotter/102689742)
Earth has just passed another climate milestone. For the first time, preliminary data shows global temperatures for the year-to-date are now the warmest on record.
### Will you share with your friends?
[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/doctors-protest-against-gas-in-canberra%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/doctors-protest-against-gas-in-canberra%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/doctors-protest-against-gas-in-canberra%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/doctors-protest-against-gas-in-canberra%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=)
[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
## More news
### [Which bank is still funding dirty coal?](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/which-bank-is-still-funding-dirty-coal)
As the year winds down, things are heating up for the Big 4 banks. At the NAB, ANZ and Westpac AGMs...
### [Political stoush erupting over Australia’s environment laws](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/political-stoush-erupting-over-australias-environment-laws)
A political stoush is erupting over a tweak to Australia's environment laws, with the federal...
### [Gas windfall profits tax could raise upwards of $20 billion](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/gas-windfall-profits-tax-could-raise-upwards-of-20-billion)
Following allegations of "defeat devices" installed in its diesel vehicles, Toyota has said it...
Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***
[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
Connect with us
**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)
Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.
© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)