Mexico earthquake leaves at least 119 dead, others trapped in collapsed buildings

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Melbourne recycling plant fire: Dallas homes evacuated as smoke poses health threat

Residents of more than 100 homes in Melbourne’s north are advised to evacuate as a fire continues to burn at a recycling plant, producing hazardous smoke.

More than 40 people attended a relief centre at a local swimming pool overnight, after police doorknocked 120 homes in neighbouring Dallas when the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) detected a deterioration in air quality.

About nine people were treated by ambulance crews for breathing difficulties, and two men were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

The fire broke out about 9:00am on Thursday, sending smoke billowing across Melbourne’s north and west, and ash onto properties more than 15 kilometres away.

MFB Commander Brendan Angwin said it was continuing to burn through thousands of tonnes of plastics, cardboard and paper.

He said it was a difficult fire to extinguish and was likely to continue burning “for at least another couple of days”.

“There are huge volumes of fuel in there burning. It is extremely difficult to gain access to the fire. We’re really concerned for firefighter safety,” he said.

Victorian MP for Broadmeadows Frank McGuire said some of the mounds of rubbish were four to five metres high.

Source: Coolaroo recycling plant fire: Dallas homes evacuated as smoke poses health threat – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Cyclone Debbie: Three people remain missing as SES urges people to heed safety warnings

Residents of flood-ravaged Logan in south-east Queensland ready for the big clean-up after what has been the worst inundation in the region’s history.

Three people remain missing in Queensland as flood-ravaged Logan in the state’s south-east ready to clean-up after what has been the worst inundation in the region’s history.

Thousands were forced to flee low-lying parts of Logan, Beaudesert and the northern Gold Coast on Friday after hundreds of millimetres of rain caused unprecedented river rises and flooding.

Logan Mayor Luke Smith said Albert River had started to recede and the area was working on clean-up plan.

“We are starting to get the impact of the damage that river caused from Mundoolun through to Beenleigh, so we are now in a process of working on our clean-up plan and what that will mean over the next 48 hours,” he said.

Source: Cyclone Debbie: Residents prepare to clean up storm-ravaged areas, as SES urges people to heed safety warnings – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

One Nation strike over sugarcane dispute to derail Government agenda

One Nation senators say they will effectively go on strike until a dispute involving Queensland sugarcane growers is resolved.

It is the final sitting week before the May budget, but the Coalition’s attempts to pass legislation could be derailed because of an unrelated dispute involving Queensland sugarcane growers.

One Nation senators say they will effectively go on strike until a dispute involving Queensland sugarcane growers, sugar mill Wilmar and sugar marketer QSL is resolved.

Arriving in Canberra, Pauline Hanson said she was just standing up for the people who voted for her.

Source: One Nation strike over sugarcane dispute to derail Government agenda – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Electricity transmission networks could soon be required to invest in big batteries…

Electricity transmission networks could soon be required to invest in big batteries or other heavy duty equipment to help stabilise the nation’s increasingly fragile power grid.

The national body responsible for setting rules in the national electricity market, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) said the system had been weakened by the rapid take-up of wind and solar generation and the retirement of thermal generators.

What’s going wrong?

The transition to a lower emissions power system is presenting a few different challenges for the electricity grid — not least the problem of system security…

Source: Australia’s power grid weakened by wind, solar generation, AEMC calls for plan for security – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

One Nation: Signs voters don’t like Pauline Hanson’s Liberal preference deal

There are signs One Nation voters do not like the preference deal Pauline Hanson has struck with the West Australian Liberals.

Senator Hanson has made several visits to WA ahead of Saturday’s state election and each time voters have warmly welcomed her.

But this is the first trip since she struck a deal to swap preferences with the Liberals and some of her supporters do not like it.

At Ladies Day at the York race track on Monday, WA voter Les Eather said he was considering voting for One Nation but had been put off by the deal.

MORE: One Nation: Signs voters don’t like Pauline Hanson’s Liberal preference deal – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)