This Month
WA government, business warn against environment law deal with Greens
The WA Labor government, business and miners argue demands by the Greens could jeopardise future investment in resources.
- Tom Rabe and Phillip Coorey
June
Twiggy’s hot air always seems to pass muster
The wind farm Apple walked away from now has environmental approval, having promised to destroy a little less of a koala habitat.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
- Exclusive
- Water buyback controversy
$300m for river communities as Plibersek moves to save the Murray
The government has pledged $300 million to support regional communities that will be affected by sending an extra 450 gigalitres of water down the Murray
- Phillip Coorey
May
Plibersek’s new environment laws friendless
Business, conservationists, the Greens and key crossbenchers have all criticised Labor’s plans for a new Environment Protection Agency.
- Tom McIlroy
PM’s pension now in the hands of Stephen Jones
Five still-serving Labor parliamentarians will have their pension schemes tweaked by the financial services minister. As will all the nation’s senior judges.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
April
Federal contract bidders will need to hit sustainability targets
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said government departments would use their purchasing power to reduce waste and promote recycling, part of new reporting rules.
- Tom McIlroy
‘Take a chill pill’: Graeme Samuel urges calm on environment law delay
Former competition tsar Graeme Samuel has urged conservation groups to “take a chill pill”, and for miners to stop talking “rubbish” on plans to overhaul federal environment laws.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
Environment revamp on hold after WA alarm
The Albanese government has delayed indefinitely the overhaul of laws designed to protect the environment after lobbying from WA Premier Roger Cook.
- Phillip Coorey and Tom Rabe
- Exclusive
- Environmental protection
Internal Labor group chides Plibersek on nature-positive ‘vacuum’
A Labor green group says reforms to environmental laws are an Albanese “election commitment” on an issue Labor members have campaigned for nearly a decade.
- Jacob Greber and Tom Rabe
WA warns Albanese’s ‘nature positive’ will extend far beyond mining
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook says a wide range of industries in his state have raised major concerns with him over the planned reforms.
- Tom Rabe
March
The bizoids learning to rev at the Grand Prix
Corporate types flocked bright and early to Albert Park’s Paddock Club, which by 2pm on Sunday was full to heaving for Melbourne’s Grand Prix.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
- Opinion
- Carbon challenge
Green policy car crash complicates Labor’s election outlook
A series of competing and interlinked priorities are colliding in Labor’s Senate, where all eyes are turning to the next election.
- Jacob Greber
- Opinion
- Mining
Why miners are alarmed by Labor’s ‘nature-positive’ agenda
Miners worry proposed laws will not produce the environmental benefits suggested and will only delay good, environmentally focused projects.
- Jennifer Hewett
February
Plibersek says fashion industry must act on environment, or she will
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek delivers a call to arms for fashion brands to rethink volume and speed of manufacturing.
- Lauren Sams
Probe ordered into gas project confected evidence claim
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has told her department to investigate whether the EDO is meeting an agreement for federal grant money.
- Tracey Ferrier
January
Plibersek puts Environmental Defenders Office on notice
After Opposition vowed to strip the group’s funding, the government urged the EDO to act with integrity following its failed attempt to stop a Santos gas project.
- Tom Rabe and Jacob Greber
Victoria won’t explain how it could stop wind hub wrecking wetlands
Victorian Environment Steve Dimopoulos accused the Commonwealth of creating a “binary” choice between biodiversity protection and the energy transition.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
Teals back Plibersek, urge Vic to find alternative to Port of Hastings
Teal MP Zoe Daniel says Victoria should consider alternatives in Geelong and Tasmania that would have less environment impact than the Port of Hastings.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- The AFR View
When a green future means some tough choices
The wetland versus wind farm dilemma in Victoria will become common in our energy transition. We must make choices that don’t trash our prosperity.
- The AFR View
- Analysis
- Renewables
Tanya Plibersek’s wind farm veto explained
The federal environment minister said the dredging and drilling to build the hub would cause irreparable harm to threatened sea creatures, plants and ecosystems in Western Port Bay.
- Ben Potter