1 Extreme wind gust hazard in Australia and its sensitivity to climate change Chi-Hsiang Wang CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences P.O. Box 56 (37 Graham Road), Highett, Victoria 3190, Australia Phone: 61+3+9252-6221 Fax: 61+3+9252-6249 e-mail: Chi-hsiang.Wang@csiro.au Xiaoming Wang CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences P.O. Box 56 (37 Graham Road), Highett, Victoria 3190, Australia Phone: 61+3+9252-6328 Fax: 61+3+9252-6249 e-mail: Xiaoming.Wang@csiro.au Yong Bing Khoo CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences P.O. Box 56 (37 Graham Road), Highett, Victoria 3190, Australia Phone: 61+3+9252-6051 Fax: 61+3+9252-6249 e-mail: YongBing.Khoo@csiro.au