January
WA Labor premier calls on Dutton to find way forward on nature laws
Roger Cook says the Albanese government must ramp up engagement with the state’s mining giants over a set of divisive environmental reforms.
EDO rejects bankruptcy fears after $9m Santos court flop
The taxpayer-funded environmental law charity has secured a $6.5m interest free loan to stay afloat after costs from its case against the gas giant pushed it to the brink of collapse.
‘Nature positive’ is high risk for Labor in the west
The short-term politics are a sideshow to the bigger danger of further slowing down Australia’s already sluggish economy.
WA premier warns east coast latte sippers over ‘nature positive’ laws
Tanya Plibersek’s renewed attempt to create a federal Environment Protection Agency inflames tensions in WA, a state that will be critical at the election.
December 2024
South32 claims alumina victory as WA minister backs Worsley expansion
The Perth-based miner has received tentative approval from WA’s environment minister to extend the life of its Worsley Alumina project, overruling some objections
Emerson overstates RBA’s impact on jobs
Readers’ letters on what 4.5 per cent unemployment really means; delay of the Nature Positive Bill; Reserve Bank independence; office party activities; and South Australia’s high-voltage lines.
End RBA scapegoating and come up with policy solutions
Readers’ letters on the Reserve Bank pile-on; supermarket “discounts”; a lost opportunity to protect the environment; support for the social media age ban; and rooftop solar.
October 2024
Let Nature Positive reforms die: WA premier
West Australian Premier Roger Cook says he would prefer to see the Albanese government’s Nature Positive reforms fail than be shaped by “poison” flowing through Canberra.
‘Step up or get out’: Warning to green power developers
Rob Wheals said anti-renewables sentiment could reach a “tipping point” that stalls the transition unless developers do better on social licence.
Sydney ESG consultant EMM courts private equity; Moelis on tools
Street Talk can reveal EMM’s shareholders have mandated MA Moelis to seek a buyer for a 45 per cent stake in the business with guidance for $10 million-plus EBITDA.
September 2024
Labor’s national Environment Protection Agency explained
The proposed EPA has been described by environmentalists as too weak, while miners fear it will add to onerous approvals processes they say risk investment.
Albanese rejects Greens’ demands for a climate trigger
The prime minister has ruled out the minor party’s requests in return for legislative support, even though Tanya Plibersek says she is negotiating.
Labor bluffing over Greens EPA deal, Dutton tells miners
Peter Dutton says Labor will destroy its WA electoral prospects if it deals with the Greens on the EPA legislation.
August 2024
‘Circular economy’ to be examined by Productivity Commission
The government has asked its economic adviser to explore ways to cut waste going to landfill and encourage the more efficient use of raw materials.
Regis in $192m writedown after Plibersek call sinks gold mine
Regis Resources slashes value of NSW mining project and withdraws ore reserve in fallout from Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s intervention.
July 2024
NSW coal power stations put on notice over CO₂ limits
The new licence conditions come amid a resurgence in coal power generation in the state and across the National Electricity Market in the June quarter.
May 2024
Dutton vows to cut mining approval times, open gas fields
Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton is in Perth to win back support from the WA mining industry, promising to cut approval times for new projects.
April 2024
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.
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.
March 2024
Rinehart boss blasts Labor’s ‘nature-positive’ agenda
Gina Rinehart’s business empire has hit out over what it argues are flawed plans to rewrite national environmental laws.