New commercial building disclosure scheme will drive energy efficiency in buildings
23 June, 2010The Green Building Council of Australia says the new federal commercial office building disclosure scheme will help drive the transition to energy-efficient buildings.
Increasing support for business R&D
14 May, 2010Australian businesses will receive a significant boost in support for research and development, under new R&D tax incentive legislation introduced into Parliament.
Government will negotiate on passage of renewable energy targets
05 May, 2010The Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Penny Wong, told a packed house at Australia’s biggest ever clean energy conference that the federal government will negotiate with major parties on the passage of amendments to the Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation.
NABERS ratings - the next generation
28 April, 2010 byIn the 10 years since it began operations, the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) has become a leader in assessing the environmental performance of buildings. Adding even more significance to NABERS, coming of age is the federal government’s scheme requiring office building energy efficiency to be disclosed at sale or lease, which is expected to commence in the second half of this year.
ETS shelved
28 April, 2010Prime Minister Kevin Rudd confirmed yesterday that the implementation of the federal government's carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS) will be delayed until the end of 2012 when the current Kyoto commitment period ends. If there had been “sufficient international action” an ETS would have been legislated by 2013.
Comparing carbon policies made easy
10 February, 2010As major debate now envelops Federal Parliament on climate change and how Australia will respond to the threat, a Charles Sturt University expert on climate change policy has developed a simple comparison between the two policies.
Standard for the production and use of waste-derived fill
10 February, 2010The SA Environment Protection Authority's Standard for the production and use of waste-derived fill has been finalised after extensive consultation with the waste industry.
All major parties now ready to solve renewable energy issues
04 February, 2010The Clean Energy Council has warned that specific measures in the Coalition’s new climate change policy, to assist some clean energy technologies, will not work unless the national Renewable Energy Target is fixed.
CPRS defeated again
07 December, 2009It came as no surprise last week that the Labor government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) was defeated for the second time in the Senate. Under the new coalition rule of Tony Abbott, only two liberal senators crossed the floor and voted with their opposition for the ETS legislation - they were Senators Sue Boyce and Judith Troeth. At 33 votes for to 41 against, their votes were not enough to pass the bill.
ETS defeated
03 December, 2009It came as no surprise today that the Labor government’s emissions trading scheme was defeated for the second time in the Senate. Under the new coalition rule of Tony Abbott, only two liberal senators crossed the floor and voted for the ETS legislation. They were Senators Sue Boyce and Judith Troeth. At 33 votes for to 41 against, their votes were not enough. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren said the defeat was a lost chance to start the transition to a low-carbon economy.
E-waste solution and action
06 November, 2009In a national first, a new waste policy and recycling schemes for TVs, computers and tyres was endorsed by environment ministers at the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) meeting in Perth on 5 November.
Legislation strengthens future of automotive industry
17 September, 2009The Rudd government today welcomed the passage through Parliament of a key component of its $6.2 billion New Car Plan for a Greener Future - the Automotive Transformation Scheme Bill 2009.
RET legislation passed
21 August, 2009The Senate has passed the federal government's renewable energy target legislation.
RET scheme closer to reality
18 August, 2009The Renewable Energy Target scheme has been decoupled from the defeated Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) and the bill was passed in the House of Representatives on Monday night. The Senate will vote on the bill before the end of the week.
ETS defeated today
13 August, 2009As expected, federal parliament has voted against the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) today. Senator Wong said it will be brought back into parliament before the end of the year. If defeated again, this could trigger an election.
