Environment
Inflated charges: push to make landlords pay gas bills
2 September
Australian renters are being slugged almost $440 million a year to stay connected to gas, analysis has shown, even though landlords control whether their properties remain on the network.Rewiring Australia released the finding on Friday and called...[Read More]
Push on to shake up ‘best before’ and ‘use-by’ dates
19 August
As a kid, Emma Willliams’ favourite dinner was McDonalds.But now a mum-of-two with a backyard full of chickens, she’s desperate for her family to avoid packaged foods and is making it her mission to minimise food waste.“I find it really hard...[Read More]
Energy rollercoaster: Australian bills to fall and rise
16 July
Solar panels, wind farms and cheaper batteries will help to cut Australian electricity bills in the coming years, even as the artificial intelligence boom pushes up the price of gas technology. But energy prices will rise after 2030, a study has...[Read More]
Location set for Australia’s first gas-free steel mill
8 July
Australia’s first new steel mill in three decades will be unlike any before it. Run entirely on electricity, the Greensteel Australia factory to be built in the NSW Hunter region will make steel that’s low emissions and unencumbered by fossil...[Read More]
Businesses MIA on rooftop solar and battery revolution
11 June
Australian households are generating nearly four times as much solar energy as retailers, manufacturers and other non-residential buildings, with most commercial rooftops panel-free. Harvesting the vast, untapped generating and storage potential in...[Read More]
Rent hikes, more homelessness as climate change bites
20 May
Climbing insurance premiums and other economic symptoms of climate change are expected to push rents higher and drive homelessness without well-targeted intervention. Under a high-emissions future, characterised by the ongoing dominance of fossil...[Read More]
Budget lacks energy for big renewable project reforms
13 May
Australia’s growing throng of solar panels, batteries and electric cars will be managed by a new regulator in a multimillion-dollar budget commitment welcomed by investment and climate groups. The change will come in addition to support for...[Read More]
Green groups warn climate courage missing from budget
13 May
Climate wins on bike lanes and batteries have been overshadowed by a failure to capture fossil fuel revenue and rein in off-road diesel credits, environment groups say. The lead up to Tuesday’s federal budget was dominated by a campaign to hike...[Read More]
Rural leaders see budget shortfalls for health, roads
13 May
Australia’s regions will benefit from funding to bolster fuel supplies and public hospitals, but investment in rural health reform, better connectivity and safer country roads continues to fall short, according to industry groups. The federal...[Read More]
Fuel, fertiliser shortages could deliver barren harvest
1 April
Australia’s regional and rural businesses will face a triple threat from fuel, fertiliser and interest rate changes over the coming months, but can fight back with investments in renewable energy and artificial intelligence. NAB issued the advice...[Read More]
Beef over EU deal boils over as security ties touted
25 March
Australia’s red-meat sector has been urged to get behind a contentious trade pact with the European Union as the bloc’s head hails shared security goals. The parties struck an agreement on Tuesday after years of negotiations to expand trade...[Read More]
Aussie drivers divided over petrol vs electric future
18 March
Almost two in five Australians are considering an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next car purchase, but many could change their minds if the government puts the brakes on a tax discount. The Australian Finance Industry Association revealed the...[Read More]
Postcode where more drivers plug into electric car cuts
18 March
Ending a tax exemption for electric vehicles could unfairly punish families outside major metropolitan areas who are dealing with longer commutes and are most likely to maximise the tax cut. The National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging...[Read More]
Rice could be key ingredient to cutting steel emissions
11 March
Leftover rice could be the key ingredient to halving carbon emissions from iron and steel production, according to a trial led by Australian researchers. The CSIRO and Indian Institute of Science revealed the findings on Tuesday from tests in which...[Read More]
No ill winds blowing for renewables spending in budget
11 March
The federal climate minister has hit back at speculation there will be budget cuts to clean energy policies, comparing it to stripping funds from health or education. Chris Bowen dismissed reports of cuts to new clean energy funding in the federal...[Read More]