The final day of the G20 meeting in Brisbane

Catching up with the final day of talks at the G20.

What could be more appropriate. Floods as they try to leave would be even more so.

Heatwave to hit Brisbane on final day of G20 summit

Given climate change dominated debate about the G20 on Saturday, it would seem apt that Brisbane will bake in blistering heat on Sunday.

Brisbane will sweat through searing heat on Sunday

Brisbane Times,

16 November, 2014

The G20 world leaders will get a taste of the intense Australian sun if they dare venture into the open, with a top of 40 degrees predicted. Brisbane's November record of 41.2 degrees dates back to 1913. Sunday's temperature is expected to fall just short of that.

It will be even worse at Ipswich to Brisbane's west, where the Bureau of Meteorology is expecting a top of 43 degrees.

But forecasters say there will be reprieve from the humidity, with dry and windy conditions expected.


Abbott, on the back foot gives an impassioned defence of his own backers - the coal and mining industries that put him into power

Climate change in G20 communique after 'trench warfare'

The final G20 communique will include a significant passage on climate change after "difficult discussions" among leaders on Sunday, despite an impassioned defence of coal and fossil fuel industry by prime minister Tony Abbott.

US President Barack Obama called for global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions during at speech at the University of Queensland on Saturday. Photo: Getty Images

Brisbane Times,

16 November, 2014

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After much wrangling, it is understood the final leaders' communique will include a recommendation for nations to commit funds to the UN's Green Climate Fund that Prime Minister Tony Abbott opposes.

According to sources, a clear majority of leaders - including US president Barack Obama - argued for stronger language in the communique on climate change, to the apparent chagrin of Mr Abbott.

Mr Abbott gave an impassioned defence of coal and, reportedly, argued against inserting a line in the communique recommending the abolition of fossil fuel subsidies, an objective of the G20 for many years.

Coal-fired power stations are the biggest contributor to rising global carbon emissions that are warming the planet.

Mr Obama is understood to have spoken forcefully against Mr Abbott's position on fossil fuel subsidies.

Mr Abbott had support from Saudi Arabia and Canada, but countries led by the US and Europe remained steadfast.

"The most difficult discussion was on climate change," an EU official told reporters on condition of anonymity, Reuters reported.

"This was really trench warfare, this was really step by step by step. In the end we have references to most of the things we wanted."

The communique included references to taking practical measures to combat global warming and an explicit endorsement of the climate fund.

One source intimate with discussions told Fairfax Media the communique includes a line: "We reaffirm our support for mobilising finance for adaptation and mitigation such as the Green Climate Fund."

The inclusion of a detailed passage on climate change comes despite the issue not being on the formal agenda of the G20 summit and Mr Abbott's insistence that the focus of discussions should be on economic reform.

Mr Abbott has said previously he opposed any financial contribution to the climate fund, which he has described as "socialism masquerading as environmentalism".

The Green Climate Fund aims to assist developing nations combat climate change. US president Barack Obama announced the US would devote $US3 billion to the fund, before he made a rallying call on Saturday for global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Japan pledged it would contribute $US1.5 billion to the climate fund on Sunday, taking the total commitment of nations so far to about $US8 billion. The fund wants to raise $US10-15 billion by the end of the month.

Last week, the US and China jointly unveiled an historic commitment, albeit non-binding, to curb carbon emissions that scientists say are primarily responsible for raising the globe's temperature.

While Treasurer Joe Hockey said the first draft of the communique mentioned the dangers of climate change, it is likely the reference will be far more extensive than Australia originally wanted.

The EU official also said China had also been persuaded to back a key anti-corruption measure for members to co-operate to uncover the beneficial ownership of companies and bank accounts, Reuters reported.

G20 protesters burn Australian flag

A group of protesters has burned the Australian flag as part of a G20 demonstration at the Roma Street Parklands.

Brisbane Times,

16 November, 2014

The group of about 50, which gathered in Emma Miller Place in Brisbane, has been enraged by comments from Prime Minister Tony Abbott about Australia's history.

"He refers to this country as desolate [prior to the arrival of the first fleet]," activist Wayne Wharton said.

A protester holds the Australian flag over a fire. Photo: Faith Valencia

"He welcomes the world leaders and tells them there was nothing.

"So we have to resort to symbolism to show our disgust in your colonial leadership."

A large number of police are waiting for the protesters at Kurilpa Point. Photo: Natalie Bochenski

Australia was ruled by force and founded in bloodshed, Mr Wharton said.

He made references to the large police presence keeping watch over the rally, criticising their carrying of firearтms.

"It's no different to how you showed up in 1770," Mr Wharton said.

Protesters burn the Australian flag. Photo: Joel Dry/Nine News

Protesters formed a circle around a pile of shredded paper as the speeches continued, before six flags were paraded before the crowd.

The flags were ignited to chants of "resist, revive, decolonise" as the rally grew increasingly passionate.

No police officer intervened.

The group then burned effigies of prominent Aboriginal leaders Warren Mundine, Noel Pearson and Marcia Langton to chants of "sell out!"

In the past week, the parklands has been the staging point for a string of marches to coincide with the world leaders meeting in Brisbane.

The Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy has held a series of rallies in the Roma Street Parklands, including one on Sunday to highlight "decolonisation before profit".

The rallies preceded marches to Musgrave Park near the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre where the G20 meeting has been staged.

Shortly before 1pm, the crowd was walking down Roma Street chanting "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!", "They say suicide, we say murder!" and "Always has been, always will be Aboriginal land!".

At the same time, a large number of police gathered outside Gallery of Modern Art at Kurilpa Point waiting for the protesters to reach South Brisbane.

Paramedics have been taking no chances in Sunday's heat, getting in position on the Kurilpa Bridge ahead of the protest march.

During the protest the temperature had reached 34.7 degrees but with soupy humidity it felt like 38.2 degrees.

Police were keeping all but media and protesters off the bridge as the group made it way to Musgrave Park.

Then, despite its fiery start and a sprint along the final 100 metres, the march wrapped up peacefully in Musgrave Park.

The protesters were followed by about 100 members of Falun Gong, the Chinese meditative practitioners who claim persecution.

Police remain on street corners outside the park.

Vladimir Putin leaves G20 

summit citing a need to catch 

up on sleep

Vladimir Putin has left the G20 summit citing a need to catch up on sleep, after the Kremlin played down reports the Russian President was leaving due to the frosty reception awarded to him by other world leaders over Ukraine.

Heading off: Vladimir Putin departs the Hilton Hotel after his G20 visit to Brisbane. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Brisbane Times,

16 November, 2014

Mr Putin said the trip home would take 18 hours and he needs at least four hours' sleep before returning to work on Monday.

The Russian leader said he explained his reasons to his Australian host, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who, he said, responded with: "No problem."

Mr Abbott earlier this week sought Russian compensation and demanded Mr Putin apologise to victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which was shot down over Eastern Ukraine in July.

While Mr Abbott, as host of the 2014 G20, cuddled a koala alongside Mr Putin, conservative world leaders including Britain's David Cameron, Canada's Stephen Harper and Germany's Angela Merkel delivered stern words to the Russian leader over Ukraine.

Mr Putin praised Mr Abbott as a "specific" and "business-like person" and credited him with creating a "wonderful atmosphere" in Brisbane.

"Our host, Mr Prime Minister, I would like to say again that he created a very wonderful atmosphere for working together. Of course, our views are not the same in some issues, but we had some very substantive conversations and I think it was helpful.

"We had a very detailed and professional conversation. Very disciplined. He made sure everyone stayed on schedule, but also provided an opportunity for everyone to say something," he told Russian reporters before departing Australia.

Mr Putin held a farewell media conference at the Hilton hotel but refused to allow in any journalists who weren't from Russian state media.

The Russian leader was snubbed on arrival in Brisbane when the government sent one of the ministry's most junior members, the Assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert, to greet him.

In comparison, Governor-General Sir Peter Cogrove and Attorney-General George Brandis welcomed other leaders.

Unreported by western MSM Putin had a busy schedule in the last day of the meeting, and was probably taken up with events back home:

Putin to hold regular consultations with G20 colleagues on summit’s closing day

Putin: sanctions cause not only damage, but also have pluses for Russia

"Vladimir Vladimirovich, let me strangle him"