Senate Inquiryย tableย Final Reportย onย EPBC Billsย 

ย The Senateย Committeeย Inquiry intoย the Bills reforming federal environment laws has released its final report, availableโ€ฏhere.โ€ฏโ€ฏโ€ฏย  The Inquiryย by the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications (Committee) into theย Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and six related billsย (theย Bills)ย reformingย theย Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999โ€ฏ(Cth) (EPBC Act)ย frameworkย commencedย in October 2025,ย upon the Bills being introduced to parliament.ย ย  The Albanese Government rushed […]

Read More… from Senate Inquiryย tableย Final Reportย onย EPBC Billsย 

Information wars: Combatting climate misinformation andย disinformation

A critical emerging area of accountability work concerns the rise of misinformation (false or inaccurate information that is shared without the intent to deceive) and disinformation (false information created or shared to mislead, deceive, or manipulate).โ€ฏ  The production and dissemination of false or misleading information about climate change and the impacts of fossil fuels undermine public trust in climate science, delay policy […]

Read More… from Information wars: Combatting climate misinformation andย disinformation

International Women’s Day 2026: Women leading the frontline of climate justice

Around the world,ย women and girls are disproportionately affectedย by the impacts of climate change.ย Women make upย 80% ofย theย population displaced byย climate change and extreme weather,ย andย existingย gender inequalities amplify the risks women face. It isย alsoย true that women are at the forefront of climate solutions โ€” driving policy, leading community responses, and shaping the legal and scientific strategies that protect our […]

Read More… from International Women’s Day 2026: Women leading the frontline of climate justice

Murray-Darlingย Basinย Planย Review open for comment

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is currently under review, with opportunities for members of the public to participate in consultation. See the review website here and below for more information.   What is theย Murray-Darlingย Basin Plan?ย ย  The Murray-Darling Basin Plan (Basin Plan) is the national framework that attempts to share water in the Murray-Darling Basin and make sure there is enough for rivers and wetlands. It was created in 2012 after […]

Read More… from Murray-Darlingย Basinย Planย Review open for comment

Extraordinary useย ofย โ€œnational interestโ€ exemptionย underminesย the rule of law and public trustย ย 

Federal Environment Minister Murray Wattโ€™s decision to allow Alcoa to continue destroying Western Australiaโ€™s jarrah forest for another 18 months is a concerning extraordinary use of the โ€œnational interestโ€ exemption under our federal environmental laws.   Minister Watt announced on Wednesday he had โ€œgranted a nationalโ€‘interest exemption to Alcoa allowing for limited land clearing to continue its mining operations for a period of 18 […]

Read More… from Extraordinary useย ofย โ€œnational interestโ€ exemptionย underminesย the rule of law and public trustย ย 

Public appeals against Valhalla fracking plan close soon

The WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended approval of the Valhalla Gas Exploration Appraisal Program, a major fracking project that could result in 20 exploration and appraisal wells being drilled in the Canning Basin in the state’s northwest.  The EPAโ€™s report is open for a public appeal period, which closes on 10 February 2026.   This […]

Read More… from Public appeals against Valhalla fracking plan close soon

Greenwashing complaintย lodgedย against Bunnings over timber supply claims

The Wilderness Society (TWS) has asked the national consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), to investigate whether hardware giant Bunnings has made false or misleading environmental claims about the timber it sells.  TWS alleges in a letter to the ACCC prepared by EDO [1] that Bunnings may have madeโ€”and may be continuing to makeโ€”misleading and/or false representations to consumers about its timber […]

Read More… from Greenwashing complaintย lodgedย against Bunnings over timber supply claims

Two National Environmental Standards now open for comment โ€“ Have your say!ย 

Strong National Environmental Standards are the backbone of a reformed EPBC Act, according to the recommendations from the latest independent review of Australiaโ€™s federal environment laws by Professor Graeme Samuel (Samuel Review).   Have Your Say on critical environmental protection requirements  The federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is accepting submissions on two draft Standards now until 5pm 30 January 2025.   […]

Read More… from Two National Environmental Standards now open for comment โ€“ Have your say!ย 

EPBC Act reforms have passed! 10 next steps to ensure stronger federal environment laws

The reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) have now passed, with Royal Assent being given on 1 December 2025. But there is still significant work to do to ensure the new framework is as strong as possible: A suite of National Environmental Standards needs to be drafted, regulatory […]

Read More… from EPBC Act reforms have passed! 10 next steps to ensure stronger federal environment laws