Issue 107: 15,000 words later

There is a point at which you run out of words. For me, that point was reached about 11.14am on Friday, 17th July.

Back in June, I announced I had been contracted to put together an essay looking at Pauline Hanson in the context of carbon politics. It was a good essay that has allowed me to correct some of what I wrote in my book, Rogue Nation, about the last time a surge brought he close to power. It has also given me an opportunity to present this moment with a slightly different emphasis than more run-of-the-mil Hanson analysis by arguing that climate change is playing a much lager role in the politics than most recognise. If you listen carefully to Hanson, an exercise in self-harm that I do not recommend, she seems way more excited talking about climate change and her plans to give hand-outs to heavy industry than she does when repeating the same, tired lines about immigration. That, however, is a conversation for the future.

In recent weeks, however, an issue emerged surrounding that essay that has taken me sometime to respond to and sort out. Given that things appear to have worked out quite well, I am not able to go into detail about what happened. What matters is that, as part of sorting it all out, I have had to produce a second long-form essay on quick turnaround. It is too early to get into the detail of that project for contractual reasons, but I am quietly excited. As a case study in how industry sought to shape Australia's policy response to climate change, this second essay has allowed me to present a significant amount of archival research that has been made possible by Raising Hell's paying subscribers. Once the process advances far enough, I plan to share an early draft of an excerpt with Raising Hell's paying subscribers as a sneak peek.

What this means in practice is that I am in a situation now where I will have two significant publications go live this year. Though they are not full-length books, I'm still excited for the opportunity they offer. For a start, they are shorter, more responsive and they mark the expansion of my offering into the world of essays. This is somewhat different to the straight journalism, literary journalism or narrative non-fiction which I am normally known for, so it'll be interesting to see how it goes. More than anything, I hope they are good reads, that I'm not entirely off base, and that people learn something by the end. I also hope they offer something different, or unique, than the usual offerings in Australian political discussion or writing.

Needless to say that after producing 15,000 words in the space of a week—an absolute marathon—effort, I am pretty spent. I'll be taking it easy for the next couple of days to avoid burnout before picking up the tools again as the next six months are shaping up to be big ones—speaking of, if you're in or around the Northern Rivers over the next few weeks, get a ticket to the Byron Writers Festival, where I'll be on several events, including speaking to Marian Wilkinson about her fantastic work. You can check out the program here.

Good Reads

Because we here at Raising Hell know how much you love homework…

• The New Yorker has published a damning account of the delusion among Biden administration officials regarding their handling of Israel's destruction of Gaza by David D. Kirkpatrick. Contrary to the attempt to rewrite history, the details in this story speak to how a generation that sat by while a people was targeted for annihilation.
• A sometimes collaborator of mine, Rebecca John, has helped produce a new report for the Centre for Climate Integrity looking at how gas has been turned into a "climate solution" despite still being a fossil fuel.
• If you haven't heard, Byron Writers Festival is the latest in a long-string to become the target in right-wing culture war campaigns. Lamestream took a look at what makes the self-proclaimed professor tick—and it is hilarious.

"Many books about climate change are worthy but dull. Slick, however, is as readable as it is shocking." - Richard Denniss, The Australia Institute, writing in The Conversation.

Reporting In

Where I recap what I’ve been doing this last fortnight so you know I’m not just using your money to stimulate the local economy …

• ‘"It's by Stealth, Isn't it?" The Multi-Million Dollar Effort by Australian Fossil Fuel Companies to Get Into Schools" (Drilled, 7 July 2026).

“It’s By Stealth, Isn’t It?” The Multi-Million Dollar Effort by Australia Fossil Fuel Companies To Get Into Schools

Australian oil, gas and coal companies want to get into school to shape what kids learn about their industry and climate change. One group has been trying to map the scale of the problem.

Drilled

• 'Canefields to ocean to rolling hills: vision of splendid 135km northern NSW rail trail short-changed' (Guardian AU, 19 July 2026).

Canefields to ocean to rolling hills: vision splendid of 135km northern NSW rail trail short-changed

Despite the backing of councils in a region in dire need of support, the federal government has rejected a $42m grant request to complete the trail’s 54km missing link

The GuardianRoyce Kurmelovs

• 'Woodside's three-year-war on a music teacher' (Dropsite, 13 July 2026).

Woodside’s three-year-war on a music teacher

Woodside Energy spent three years branding community campaigners ‘extremists’. Now they’re dragging them back to court.

Deepcut NewsRoyce Kurmelovs

Before You Go (Go)…

• Want to get in touch? Message me on Signal at username RoyceK.11. Alternatively you can send hard copies to: PO Box 134, Welland SA 5007
• And if you’ve come this far, consider supporting me further by picking up one of my books, leaving a review or by just telling a friend about Raising Hell!