I'm back in Japan for the next five weeks and enjoying the crisp, clear weather. At Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, the last lingering traces of the autumn colours look gorgeous in the winter sunshine. It's definitely one of my happy places in Tokyo.

I’m deeply honoured to have had my contributions towards scientific research and the Australia-Japan relationship acknowledged in the Tasmanian Parliament. Tasmania and Japan have so much in common. I look forward to continuing to build bridges between them for many more years to come.

The Australia-Japan Society of Tasmania held a reception at Government House last night to celebrate its 55th anniversary. Our members and friends gathered together to celebrate not only our long and extraordinary history, but also the strength of the relationship between Tasmania and Japan.

I enjoyed a tour of the world’s largest battery-electric ferry as part of today’s open day at Incat. The China Zorrilla will enter service next year between Argentina and Uruguay. It’s wonderful to see Tasmania play a world-leading role in the transition towards zero-emissions transport.

It's been a while, but it was great to dust off my ikebana skills today.

The Australian Institute of International Affairs Tasmania held its annual Government House Lecture on Monday. We were delighted to welcome @lgflake.bsky.social, CEO of the @perthusasia.bsky.social, who spoke on the topic of "One Year of Trump Two: Implications of an Epochal Shift for Australia".

On Wednesday evening, I was deeply humbled to be presented with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, by Consul-General Tokuro Furuya. It was a beautiful ceremony that allowed me to thank my family, friends and mentors for believing in me and for supporting me over the years.

I was honoured to represent Australian Red Cross at this morning's Remembrance Day Service at Kingston Beach. Lest we forget.

The fourth South Hobart Resilience Fair took place today, celebrating community, resilience and sustainability. In a changing climate, it's more important than ever to understand the risks and prepare for extreme weather.

I'm in awe of the work done by JP Miller and countless staff and volunteers from Red Cross to care for others, exposing themselves to considerable danger in the process. Last year, 385 humanitarian personal were killed while working in areas of conflict.

I joined the monthly meeting of Guess My Accent last night. GMA began as a language exchange group in Hobart, but has gone from strength to strength and is now taking on a much broader mission of helping people of all nationalities to connect, grow and thrive. Please support them if you can!

Yesterday the City of Hobart Climate, Sustainability and Biodiversity Committee went on a guided tour of the Southern Waste Solutions Lutana Transfer Station and Recycle Smart's Montrose soft plastics consolidation depot. It was confronting to witness first-hand the volume of waste that we generate.

I was honoured to be re-elected as Senior Vice-President at the Australian Institute of International Affairs Tasmania's AGM this week. Following the meeting, Christopher Heard from the Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet spoke about how Australia can learn from Japanese disaster management.

A taste of Tokyo in Hobart. It was wonderful to see the Banksia Trio perform live last night, with Rosny Barn providing the perfect ambience.

Open day today at Heritage Bonsai Tasmania Shofu-en (in Dysart, around 45 minutes from Hobart). The passion of the owner, Chris Xepapas, really shines through. And, of course, I couldn’t resist buying one for myself.

Launceston (Tasmania) and Ikeda (Japan) will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of their sister city relationship on 1 November. Wildlife exchanges are central to the relationship, with Launceston first sending wombats to Ikeda in 1990. Two new wombats arrived at Satsukiyama Zoo earlier this month.

An inspirational day at the first-ever City of Hobart Climate Ready Hobart Forum today. It was wonderful to meet such a diverse range of passionate climate leaders, to explore our visions of a climate ready Hobart and to share our ideas for how we can create a climate resilient city together.

A sobering and yet inspirational presentation by Saul Griffith at @utas.edu.au last night. We can reduce emissions and save money by electrifying everything - and there's absolutely no time to waste. The biggest applause of the night came from a call for our politicians to make it happen.

The Australia-Japan Society of Tasmania is excited to be hosting ABC journalist Lucie Cutting for a very special dinner on the evening of 24 July. Lucie will discuss her reporting on the history of the Tasmania-Japan relationship, including the film Tasmania Story. Registrations: lnkd.in/gASvWHpH

With all the challenges that the world faces, it's more important than ever that scientists get involved in the political process. We need decision-makers that take an objective and empirical approach, that build collaboration and that take a long-term perspective.

With declining support for the major parties, minority government is the new normal in Tasmania. This event, organised by @australiainstitute.org.au, promises to be a fascinating discussion of how we can make this happen.

I’m proud to announce that I’m putting my hand up for the Tasmanian Parliament. We need more scientists to get involved in politics. We need people who will bring a collaborative, evidence-based approach to the political process, working together to find practical solutions to problems.

Happy solstice everyone!

We'll be holding our monthly Japanese-English language exchange session from 2pm on Saturday 5 July, at the State Cinema in North Hobart. Everyone is welcome, so please feel free to join us even if you're a complete beginner! Further information: www.facebook.com/events/12439...

The Australian Institute of International Affairs Tasmania was delighted to welcome His Excellency Dr Siswo Pramono, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia, this afternoon. Ambassador Pramono spoke on Australia-Indonesia relations, including collaboration on the energy transition.

The 2025 Australian Wooden Boat Festival was thrilled to welcome back their friends from Japan. Their work sparked curiosity, inspired connection, and invited all ages to experience the precision and poetry of Japanese woodworking craft. Gallery: australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au/2025-japanes...

The 2025 Red Cross Oration will tackle the challenges faced by individuals displaced by violence, the protection of human dignity under extreme circumstances, and the evolving role of global institutions. When: Wednesday 4 June, 6-7.30pm Where: University of Tasmania, Hobart and online

For decades, scientists have been using the Kennaook/Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station in Tasmania to monitor baseline changes in atmospheric gases. The location was chosen because air here has travelled hundreds of kilometres over the ocean in an area unaffected by local pollution.

Please join the Australian Institute of International Affairs Tasmania for an evening with Melanie Harris. She will share lessons from her journey as Australia's first female Indigenous Trade & Investment Commissioner, from a small town in coastal NSW to the international metropolis of Kuala Lumpur.

It's great to be back in Japan again, starting with a visit to SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025.

I am deeply honoured to have been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, by the Government of Japan. Over the past decade, it’s been my enormous privilege to do whatever I can to promote mutual understanding and to further the relationship between Japan and Australia.

Please join us at the State Cinema Cafe from 2pm on Saturday 10 May for our monthly Japanese-English language exchange session. Everyone welcome! Further information and RSVPs: www.facebook.com/events/17545...

This year’s Sir James Plimsoll Lecture will be delivered by one of Australia’s most respected voices on international strategy and security, Professor Rory Medcalf AM. When: Thursday 22 May, 6-7.30pm Where: University of Tasmania, Hobart and online

Behind unassuming names lurk parties with some hair-raising and eccentric views. And others that are pretty much what they say they are.

I was honoured to represent Australian Red Cross at this morning's Anzac Day Dawn Service at Kingston Beach. Lest we forget.

Dr Emerald L King spoke at the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts today, on the subject of "How to appropriate appropriately - kimono and Japonaiserie". Afterwards, we enjoyed a viewing of 15 Japanese prints and watercolours that form part of the Allport’s historical fine art collection.

Congratulations to the crews of Alive and Magellan, who crossed the finishing line in Osaka at 2.18pm yesterday afternoon (Alive) and 5.54am this morning (Magellan). All three Tasmanian boats have now completed the race.

Now on ABC iview: Tasting Tokyo on Foreign Correspondent. Tokyo has become the number one destination for food lovers with more Michelin star restaurants than its nearest rival Paris. As record tourists numbers visit Japan, Tokyo's top chefs unveil the secrets behind their success.

A global poll of business executives shows that 97% support a transition towards renewable electricity. In Australia, 60% of executives identify the creation of new jobs as being a primary benefit of the transition to renewable energy. Full report: powering-up-business-poll.com/wp-content/u...

Congratulations to Blue Moon II, which has become the first Tasmanian boat to cross the finishing line in this year's Melbourne-Osaka Double Handed Yacht Race. As the crew were in the final stages, Tristan Gourlay shared the following poem: melbourneosakacup.com/news/finish-...

Community independents are endorsed by their community and committed to a different way of doing politics. One in four voters will have the opportunity to vote for a community independent in the upcoming election, with candidates standing in every Australian State and Territory.

Japan and Australia in Antarctic governance Thursday 1 May 2025, 6-7pm Law School, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Hobart Professor Akiho Shibata from Kobe University will unravel the ups and downs of Japan-Australia collaboration in Antarctica. Registrations: www.ajstas.org.au/event-6136474

Australia is the leading country globally for per capita solar generation capacity, and is the second country for combined solar and wind capacity. Global solar capacity is now doubling every three years, and wind every six years. Further information: www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2025/04/16/a...

Two-thirds of Australians live along the Great Southern Reef. It’s one of Australia’s most biodiverse ecosystems, spanning over 8,000km of coastline. Scott Bennett and the Great Southern Reef Foundation are working to raise awareness and protect the reef and the creatures that call it home.

One in 23 properties across Australia are already at high climate risk. The Climate Risk Map is an interactive map tool that allows you to find out the potential damage risk to properties in your local area, and to see how these risks could increase over time.

I enjoyed a screening of The Correspondent last night, followed by a Q&A with Peter Greste and Richard Roxburgh (who plays him in the film). The Australian Institute of International Affairs Tasmania was also delighted to host Peter for tea and to hear his thoughts on the threats to press freedom.

Between 2004 and 2024, the national dwelling price to income ratio climbed rapidly from five to eight. Advertised rents have climbed by more than 20% since the start of COVID. The public housing waitlist is around 170,000 households. Here are five ideas that might make a meaningful difference.

Climate Valuation lists 86 suburbs across the country where more than 80 per cent of properties are deemed "high risk". Without urgent investment into adaptation, there are more than half a million additional properties outside of these suburbs that are at risk of going the same way.

Australia’s interest in limiting climate change remains urgent. Our opportunity as a green commodity producer and exporter remains solid. However, regardless of who wins the election, Australia’s 43% emissions reduction target by 2030 will be difficult to achieve unless there is a change of pace.

Lunchtime talk by @emeraldlking.bsky.social, University of Tasmania: How to appropriate appropriately - kimono and Japonaiserie When: Thursday 24 April 2025, 1-2pm Where: Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, Hobart Further information: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/lunchtime-...