Today the Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018 (Vic) commences, which amends the Environment Protection Act 2017 (Vic) (New Act) and ushers in a new approach to environmental protection in Victoria. Read more

Over $1.1 billion committed for hydrogen, CCS/CCUS and international technology partnerships. Read more

The plan identifies 18 key outcomes across 3 focus areas that Victoria will need to achieve in order to develop a thriving renewable hydrogen economy. Read more

Victoria joins New South Wales and Queensland in decentralising the path towards “Net Zero”, setting out a roadmap for development of its renewable energy zones (REZ), including the establishment of VicGrid to oversee planning and development, and allocating a $540 million REZ Fund in the State Budget. Read more

Proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) will strengthen the powers available to local authorities to respond to unlawfully demolished heritage buildings and heritage buildings which have fallen into disrepair. Read more

The Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Bill 2020 has been introduced into the Commonwealth Parliament to create a national register of industrial chemicals and make recommendations as to their risk management. Read more

On 14 December 2020, the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources released the consultation paper, "Enhancing Australia's Decommissioning Framework". The paper is the third step in a reform process and follows a Discussion Paper published in October 2018, a process of consultation and stakeholder formal submissions into early 2019. Implementation of the framework is expected to occur in 2021. We have outlined the key components of the proposed Enhanced Framework. Read more

The settlement this week of Mr McVeigh’s proceeding against REST has underlined management of climate risk and TCFD-aligned disclosure as growing issues for institutional investors. Other recent developments include a further post-approval challenge to a coal mine, asserting that new expert evidence regarding climate change impacts on the Great Barrier Reef should be taken into account to revoke the approval decision and prosecution for import of synthetic greenhouse gas where a single offence attracted an agreed penalty of $500,000. Read more