One million electric cars on Aussie roads by 2027

Australian corporate giants have joined forces in an ambitious push to have one million electric cars on the road by 2027 and are calling for major changes to Australia's electric vehicle policies, including a fuel efficiency standard. Meanwhile, the European Union has struck a deal on a law to effectively ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, aiming to speed up the switch to electric vehicles and combat climate change.

On Sunday, treasurer Jim Chalmers signalled a review conducted by the competition regulator, which would likely include mandatory price regulation and a requirement for “meaningful offers” to domestic consumers. The government has also not ruled out using the threat of export limits to guarantee more domestic supply and cash handouts to compensate households.

China is funnelling aid to Kiribati and Solomon Islands, while its overall spending in the Pacific region is in decline, the latest Pacific Aid Map reveals. The Lowy Institute on Monday released its 2022 updated version of the map, an interactive analytical tool that enables users to track aid flow and development funding in the Pacific.

Treasurer says gas review likely to result in mandatory code of conduct as energy costs soar
The Albanese government will toughen gas market regulation and intends to make the industry code of conduct mandatory, with the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, also not ruling out export limits or cash handouts as soaring bills put pressure on household budgets.

Start your engines: bold plan to have one million electric cars on Aussie roads by 2027
Australian corporate giants have united with a bold strategy to increase electric vehicle sales by tenfold from next year. Some of Australia’s biggest companies and organisations have joined forces in an ambitious push to have one million electric cars on the road by 2027. The companies, which include the Woolworths Group, Uber, Microsoft, IKEA, AGL Energy and Linfox, have flagged the goal in response to the federal government’s release of a discussion paper on EVs in September.

European Union bans the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2035 to boost electric vehicle uptake
The European Union has struck a deal on a law to effectively ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, aiming to speed up the switch to electric vehicles and combat climate change.

A key part of Australia's electricity market is in meltdown and it's bad news for your power bill
Australian households battling spiralling living costs are warned to brace for more power price pain as a crisis in a key part of the electricity market threatens to send retailers to the wall. Energy insiders say it is becoming alarmingly difficult for power retailers and generators to access a type of insurance through what is known as the hedging market, which is in virtual meltdown.

Gas exporters in frame as government looks for revenue boost
Higher taxes on gas exporters are on the agenda after Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he would look at an official review of resources taxes while warning of the need for sensible tax reform to make the budget more sustainable.

Australian Energy Regulator tells Albanese Government to ‘act before November’ to curb energy prices from rising 56 per cent
The Albanese Government has been warned to act fast if it plans to cap gas prices amid mounting pressure to ease soaring energy bills.

IEA estimates 30-fold jump in hydrogen demand by 2030
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and national climate policies have boosted momentum for the global hydrogen sector, with demand for the gas set to increase 30-fold by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency’s closely watched World Energy Outlook. Australia and the Middle East are poised to be dominant exporters by 2050.

Cannon-Brookes-backed study lays the case for Asian green power grid
Laying subsea electricity cables for a pan-Asian green power grid could cost up to $US116 billion ($180 billion), boosting the business case for the network that would stretch from Japan to India and Australia, according to a study commissioned by Mike Cannon-Brookes-backed Sun Cable.

NSW koalas could vanish by 2050: advocates
Koalas in NSW could be extinct by 2050 unless the government makes drastic changes to knocking down trees.

Accelerating next generation of electric vehicle chargers
Minister for Environment and Climate Action in Victoria, Lily D’Ambrosio announced $1.55 million in grants for 14 organisations under its program for EV Charging for Business and Not-for-Profits. The program will install 58 charging stations at 24 organisations across the state in 2023, helping drive down their emissions and cut fuel bills.