Nick Feik On The Great Australian Climate Policy Swindle; Pianist Sophie Hutchings And Organiser Sofia Ilyas Talk All Things Piano Day; Graham Readfearn With The Latest Environment News

Uncommon Sense

Nick Feik, former editor of The Monthly returns to speak about how federal Australian climate policy has been reverse-engineered to protect the interests of the fossil-fuel industry. He takes us through the issues with Labor's climate policy and the details of the safeguard mechanism, as outlined in his latest essay for The Monthly. After extensive negotiations, the safeguard mechanism bill is set to pass the lower house with amendments and the support of the Greens, and then go to the Senate later this week.

It's Piano Day across the world on Wednesday 29th March 2023. Composer and contemporary classical pianist Sophie Hutchings and FLOAT Founder and Piano Day organiser Sofia Ilyas speak with host Amy Mullins as they delve into their love for the piano and contemporary piano music in its many forms. An annual worldwide celebration of the piano, Piano Day is held on the 88th day of the year in reference to the 88 keys on a standard piano. Sofia explains the origins of Piano Day in her kitchen chatting with German musician Nils Frahm, while Sophie tells us about her process for composing piano works and recently how she reworked Still / Sound by Ólafur Arnalds. They reflect on their favourite pianists and the role Piano Day has in engaging the local community of Melbourne, as well as the global community – from beginners to professionals, and from casual listeners to piano aficionados. A special event is being hosted by FLOAT in Melbourne at Tempo Rubato (SOLD OUT, waiting list available) on Sunday 2 April featuring Sophie Hutchings, Grace Ferguson, and Evelyn Ida Morris, along with many other events taking place around the globe. Piano Day and LEITER have also released an official companion album, Piano Day Vol. 2. Here is Amy's Curated Contemporary Classical playlist on Spotify and Apple Music which features 88 meditative tracks of many of the artists and works mentioned.

Guardian Australia Environment Reporter Graham Readfearn joins Amy for a round-up of the latest news on the environment. Recent studies have shown that half NSW forests have been lost since 1750, plus more than 500 common species of fish, seaweed, coral and invertebrates that live on reefs around Australia have declined in the past decade with almost 300 declining at a rate that could qualify them as threatened species. Graham explains these studies as well as the latest mass fish kills in NSW and the invasive plant disease 'myrtle rust.'