Immediate changes needed for Australia’s environmental laws

Climate scientists and environmental activists are calling for an immediate change to Australia’s environmental laws, following a Federal Court decision that means that the Federal government can now ignore the risk posed by fossil fuel projects to protected plants, animals and places whilst approving or rejecting them.

EV charging infrastructure company Jet Charge has announced a groundbreaking subscription model that will help small businesses and fleet operators overcome the upfront costs and ongoing complexity of installing and operating charging EV infrastructure. This announcement was heralded by Greenpeace Australia Pacific as “an essential step in the right direction to ensure Australia isn’t left behind in the global electric vehicle transition.”

And Canadian investment giant Brookfield’s plans to buy Origin through its Brookfield Global Transition Fund (BGTF) have received the greenlight from the competition regulator, with this placing pressure on Brookfield to deliver on its bold promise of a $20-30 billion renewable energy roll-out in Australia.

Top stories:

Climate change concern after Federal Court’s decision on ministerial ruling
A new legal precedent means the federal government can ignore the risk fossil fuel projects pose to protected plants, animals and places when deciding whether or not to approve them.

Jet Charge rolls out subscription-based “charging as a service” for electric fleets
Australasia’s largest EV charging infrastructure company is rolling out a landmark subscription-based project for electric vehicle fleets, backed by $12 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

Brookfield’s $20bn-$30bn renewable energy plan for Origin
The competition regulator’s approval of the $18.7bn takeover bid for energy retailer Origin has thrown a spotlight on the bold promises of a $20bn-$30 bn renewable energy roll-out in Australia by Canadian investment giant Brookfield.

Energy providers and renewable technology companies developing 'novel' electric car charging prototypes for the bush
The NRMA's energy subsidiary and the federal government are jointly funding a $90 million rollout of 137 fast chargers in rural and regional Australia.

Ikea adds five hydrogen trucks to growing fleet of electric delivery vehicles
Furniture giant Ikea has revealed plans to use hydrogen trucks to cut its transport emissions, just one week after adding electric vehicle recharging stations at another of its Australian stores.

‘We are vulnerable’: demand for drought aid rises as El Niño takes hold in Queensland
Demand for emergency rural aid is rising as farmers face a dry and unproductive summer ahead as the latest agricultural seasonal outlook forecasts farm incomes will plummet by 41% on average this financial year.

Few Aussies grasp serious, urgent climate threat
Griffith University’s annual climate action survey has revealed that most Australians don't see climate change as an extremely serious problem right now, despite warnings this decade is critical in the fight for a liveable planet.

Climate target overshoot could lead to centuries-long global fish habitat loss: study
Delaying efforts to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius is projected to have dire consequences for the world's marine fisheries.

The best wildlife photos of the year 2023
Selected from 49,957 entries from 95 countries, have a look at the winners of the Natural History Museum's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.