Senator Pauline Hanson’s in depth analysis of the Great Barrier Reef gleaned during a strenuous “surface snorkel” during her first ever outing in a wetsuit, has brought the spectacular peculiarities of our times into stark relief  this week.

Senator Hanson was able to fall back on years of ignorance when she announced that the reef is fine, it’s “our tourism industry” which “untruths” generated by Green groups are destroying. It was a carefully constructed insight worthy of her dear friend, President Presumptive of the USA, Donald Trump, given that the senator for reasons known best to herself, did not choose to snorkel in the vicinity of the worst affected reefs which have seen coral losses of  83-99%. Even as marine scientists with decades of training and field research warned that the damage to the reef from recent bleaching events is worse than first thought,  Senator Hanson chose instead to rinse her wetsuit 1000kms to the South of the crisis, where severe heat stress did not strike in February and March this year, and only minor bleaching has occurred.  For more info written by marine experts about the state of the reef read this report, in The Conversation.

In a similar vein our featured guest this week, Dr Linda Broadhurst, a senior scientist at the CSIRO specialising in soil and seed research, gently contradicted the “agenda” of the NSW Government’s recent changes to the state’s biodiversity protection laws which passed through parliament two weeks ago. Linda shared her 15 year passion for native plants, and explained how crucial they are to the fertility of our entire ecosystem, supporting vital pollinators, feeding mammals and insects, and maintaining moisture and nutrients in Australia’s depleted soils. “If one native plant goes extinct we lose a whole range of other plants and animals as well,” she explained. So clearing them is definitely not smart.

Only three weeks ago, Professor Hugh Possingham, a Queensland University conservation biologist and one of four authors of the 2014 report the NSW government claims it is implementing, quit in protest, warning that the new legislation will lead to hundreds of hectares of land clearing, destroying native species, degrading soil, water and biodiversity. “I didn’t just have a hissy fit and resign,” the Professor said, “but tried to warn officials of the impact.” With the crisp, confident double speak we have come to expect from our politicians, Environment Minister Mark Speakman promised “a wider range of checks and balances” from the legislation, which has effectively removed them. Interesting times. Check out Stand Up For Nature for info about the continuing campaign to reverse this significant reverse in the fortunes of our national treasure trove. And here for the Total Environment Centre’s campaign, SOS Green Spaces.

Fortunately, “Australian farmers are some of the cleverest in the world,” Dr Broadhurst told us, “and many are so attached to their native vegetation they are working it into their production systems. A shelter belt can provide stock protection during times of stress. So it’s not a bad news story. Urban groups are propagating their patch. We have seed banks and a wealth of important genes here that work in this dry environment. We are centres of diversity for wild rice, macadamia nuts, ancient cotton…. Indigenous Australia has been using our fabulous food resource for thousands of years and we are just tapping the edge of that now. We have amazing wealth. It’s up to all of us to pitch in where we can.”

While Tony Abbott kindly assured the Australian electorate last week that Malcom Turnbull’s talk of “innovation” and “agility” is a waste of time, Australian farmers apparently beg to differ.

A new report by advocacy group Farmers for Climate Action with the co-operation of the National Farmers Federation, found 88 per cent of respondents want rural and regional politicians to start advocating for stronger climate change action – ie innovation and agility. Two thirds have seen changes in rainfall over their time on the land and half have seen an increase in droughts and floods. Nine in 10 are concerned about damage to the climate and eight in 10 support Australia moving towards 100 per cent renewable energy.

Which brings us to all the people fighting to stop the Baird government destroying Sydney’s tree canopy, the best protection we can get from rising temperatures and the urban heat island effect which is making our cities increasingly hot and bad for our health. Our final guest on the show this week, John Bellamy, shared the journey of the last 12 months which saw him transformed from your average Sydney-sider busy with work and play, to a single minded activist determined to save Sydney’s trees and animals. John has organised a massive rally this Sunday December 4th at Belmore Park near Central Station, beginning at 2pm and moving to Hyde Park North for more music and inspirational oratory between 4pm and 8pm. Why not join him? More info here.

We also had a chat about the fact that QLD has decided to ban the plastic bag but after years of talking about it, NSW has once again baulked, despite the research released by the Boomerang Alliance this week showing that plastic pollution is hitting Sydney where it hurts – in the property market – read more here or watch this video.

So that was it for Monday Drive. Catch the podcasts of recent interviews later this week, and wrap your ears around us next week, same time (4-6pm), same fabulous radio station!

Ruth, Riley, Cassie,

Your Monday Drive Team