At the North Sydney by-election held yesterday, the Liberals won 47.5% of the vote (down 13.5% on the 2013 election), Independent Stephen Ruff won 18.8%, and the Greens won 16.1% (up 0.8%). The remaining 17.6% was split between ten candidates, none of whom reached the 4% required to regain their deposit. Palmer United was dead last with just...

“Investors are running ahead of governments.”

This is arguably the most striking and encouraging statement heard so far at the Paris climate conference. It was made in a remarkable speech at a forum on private financing by Martin Skancke, chair...

Hopes are high that a strong climate treaty can be hammered out here in Paris, amid a groundswell of climate action around the world.

But there is little sign of this urgency inside the negotiating halls themselves, and the talks have fallen into many of...