By signing an agreement with the big three producers, the government has effectively made the east coast gas shortage evaporate. But there’s no guarantee the price pain will go away too.
- Professor of Law, Deakin University
Victoria’s plan to legislate its own renewable energy target of 40% by 2025 shows how states are increasingly taking the energy policy reins away from the federal government.
The board of Indian mining firm Adani has approved its A$16 billion Carmichael coal mine. But has the Queensland government failed in its duty to be responsible with publicly owned resources such as coal?
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s proposed changes to Australia’s national environment act will significantly reduce judicial oversight on environmental decisions. Here’s why that matters.
In the wake of South Australia’s blackout, politicians have blamed renewables for decreasing the state’s energy security.
Victoria will permanently ban unconventional gas, and extend a moratorium on onshore gas until 2020.
The granting of a mining lease to the Carmichael coal project, despite the huge potential greenhouse emissions, shows that ministers need to consider the wider consequences of their approvals.
As a landowner, can you veto a coal seam gas development? And does the environment minister have the power to say no to coal mines?
Experts respond to the reapproval of Adani’s Carmichael mine.
The government plans to change the law so green groups don’t automatically qualify to mount legal challenges against environmental approvals. That would make it much harder for green watchdogs to act.
The Federal Court has overturned federal environmental approval of the A$16.5 billion Adani’s coal mine project in central Queensland.
US President Barack Obama’s new climate plan aims to cut greenhouse emissions from the nation’s coal-dominated power sector by 32% by 2030. Will it get through, and how will it affect this year’s climate talks?
Can the government tell its clean energy finance body what to invest in? Recent news that the Clean Energy Finance Corporation will be banned from investing in wind farms and small-scale solar suggest that the government is trying to do just that.
Experts respond to the recently-approved Shenhua Watermark coal mine.
Wind turbines have got Canberra in a spin this week. But does the industry need more regulation?
Australia’s “looming gas shortage” - the basis for calls to deregulate coal seam gas - may not be real after all. But gas prices are still set to rise, and that’s an area where coal seam gas could help.
The federal government’s keenly awaited Energy White Paper is firmly focused on cutting prices and red tape, and boosting industry competitiveness - and less so on climate change and renewable energy.
Is Christian Democratic Party leader Fred Nile correct when he says that 53% of Australia’s landmass is under current exploration licence for unconventional mining?
A new legal challenge to the proposed Carmichael coal mine – Australia’s largest – will test in the federal court whether climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions should be taken into account…
The Hazelwood coalmine fire, which burned for 45 days earlier this year, was a catastrophe for the town of Morwell in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley. Homes were blanketed in smoke and ash, many residents were…
The fire that burned for more than 40 days at the Hazelwood coal mine in the Latrobe Valley earlier this year is the latest in a spate of mining failures over the past few years. It might seem like plain…
The Hazelwood coal mine fire shows that Victoria’s current mining laws are not strong enough to prevent a similar disaster in the future. While the mine’s owner GDF SUEZ has vehemently rejected claims…
What is the future of Australia’s gas reserves? While it might be good news for the gas industry, increasing international demand could see gas prices in Australia rise, driving up the cost of electricity…
While 50 coal and coal seam gas projects are being pushed through the federal environmental assessment in Queensland, the Australian government has backed away from the process in New South Wales. Recently…
New South Wales has introduced new rules for coal seam gas, meaning the state now has some of the strongest regulation in the country. The rules set aside 2.8 million hectares of important agricultural…
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