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NATIONAL

DCCEEW has launched a new consultation on the Nature Repair Market, which will generate biodiversity certificates that in some circumstances can be used as EPBC environmental offsets.

The new consultation focuses on a proposed method that will focus on the long-term protection and conservation of biodiversity, known as the Protect and Conserve (P&C) method.

Projects will be required to maintain ecosystem condition within permissible values over a 100-year permanence period. 

The method is likely to be legislated in early 2027.

A Senate inquiry into preparing for emerging industries in northern Australia is holding four more hearings over the next few weeks.

Organisations scheduled to give evidence include several Indigenous organisations, the Northern Australian Conservation Alliance, Total Energies H2, Rio Tinto, Tellus Holdings, the Centre of Decommissioning Australia, and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

AEMO has provided an overview of its work to manage the integration of new data centres into the grid.

According to AEMO, at the end of the March 2026 quarter, 11 large scale data centre projects representing 5.4GW of maximum demand, were progressing through the transmission connection process.

Around 60% of capacity is in New South Wales and 40% in Victoria, with most projects in early stages.

Iberdrola, the proponent of the 3GW Aurora Green offshore wind project, has made its EPBC referral for geophysical and geotechnical site investigations.

The wind farm would be located at least 25 kilometres off Victoria's Gippsland coast.

The proposed transport route to deliver wind farm components from Port Adelaide in South Australia to the site of the proposed 1.5GW Lake Victoria wind farm in NSW does not require EPBC assessment, DCCEEW has advised.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has committed $15 million through Bank Australia to back the Nari Nari Tribal Council (NNTC) to restore a key wetland, through the acquisition of Juanbung and Boyong Stations in south-west NSW.

The Great Cumbung wetland project is located at the junction of the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan Rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The project encompasses about 34,000 hectares, and will help restore one of Australia's most significant freshwater wetland systems, delivering carbon sequestration and long-term biodiversity benefits.

Restoration works will focus on removing floodplain barriers and regenerating native wetland and woodland systems, including river red gum, black box and mallee species, alongside some grazing.

International energy expert Michael Liebreich has delivered an address to the National Press Club. His speech was titled 'Whatever the question, clean energy is the answer'.

The Grattan Institute has released a new report on managing the decline of gas use in Australia.

"As Australian households and businesses search for cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient fuels, they are using less gas," the report says.

"Governments have largely ignored this decline, and have failed to plan for it," it says.

"As a result, new problems are emerging: electricity networks are under strain, backup generation for the power system is not being built fast enough, gas bills are rising, and manufacturers are closing."

The report recommends measures including better integrating gas and electricity planning to enable a least-cost transition away from gas.

Motor vehicle dealers and repairers have until August 28 to apply for a grant to install fast EV charging, under the federal Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally (DRIVEN) program.

The program aims to support Australian automotive businesses to sell, service and repair more electric vehicles (EV)s.

In the current funding round of the five-year program, $20 million in co-funding is available.

QUEENSLAND

Clean Energy Fuels Australia Marketing Pty Ltd has applied to the Queensland environment department for an environmental authority to build and operate a facility that will capture waste coal mine gas at Peabody's Centurion coal mine.

The micro-LNG facility would process up to 1.46 petajoules of coal mine waste gas (ICMWG) annually and convert it into LNG. The gas would otherwise be flared.

The Centurion mine is covered by the Safeguard Mechanism.

Statutory development - environmental streamlining Bill. Despite concerns about aspects of a Queensland government Bill to streamline environmental legislation, the Labor Opposition ultimately did not oppose it, and the Bill passed without objection last Tuesday.

The Bill includes provisions that will result in some activities that are deemed low risk to be regulated through generic codes, rather than through project-specific Environmentally Relevant Authorities.

For information on the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill see here.

NSW

Statutory development - plastics waste. The NSW Legislative Assembly has passed a Bill that aims to reduce plastic and container waste, and the proposed law is now before the Legislative Council.

The Coalition voted against the Bill in the Legislative Assembly, calling it a café-killer Bill because of provisions that would prevent major hospitality businesses from refusing to provide beverages in keep-cups.

The Bill also lays the groundwork for the introduction of labelling requirements and recyclability standards for some plastic items - a move that would be an Australian first.

The NSW Legislative Council has agreed to a motion on air pollution and cardiorespiratory hospitalisations, moved by Greens MLC Amanda Cohn.

Dr Cohn's motion noted the publication of a new peer-reviewed article in the Journal Public Health Research and Practice, which found a clear link between higher exposure to NO2 and small particles (PM2.5) and hospitalisation.

"Conservative estimates suggest air pollution accounts for a total national burden of disease comparable to the burden of sun exposure," the motion stated.

The motion supports the exploration of further measures to reduce air pollution in NSW.

VICTORIA

The Victorian Essential Services Commission's final decision on Melbourne Water's pricing for the next five years notes that Melbourne Water's forecast bulk water demand doesn't account for anticipated use by new data centres.

The Commission notes that Melbourne Water advised that there is "considerable uncertainty" about data centre water demand.

"Specifically, there is uncertainty around whether, when and where such connections might occur, which cooling technology they might use, how much water they might use, and which [water] product they might use," the Commission noted.

Resources Victoria has revised how quarry rehabilitation bonds are calculated.

To encourage progressive site rehabilitation, Resources Victoria has also introduced the Quarry Rehabilitation Performance Incentive Scheme.

Under the scheme, quarries that progressively restore their site and have an up-to-date rehabilitation plan are potentially eligible for lower bond amounts.

A webinar on the changes is scheduled for June 16.

TASMANIA

A Cabinet reshuffle has resulted in Deputy Premier Guy Barnett also taking on the Environment and Climate Change portfolio, following the resignation of Madeleine Ogilvie from her ministerial posts.

Minister Barnett held the energy and emissions portfolio from late 2019 to July 2022.

Meanwhile former Minister for Energy Matthew Groom has been appointed a director of Marinus Link Pty Ltd.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Green Industries SA has released updated guidelines on Waste and Recycling at Events and Venues.

It includes templates, checklists and educational materials to help organisers plan and deliver more sustainable events.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The Western Australian government is investing $17.8 million in the 2026-27 State Budget to boost the state's capacity to recycle solar panels and batteries.

A total of $13 million will go towards establishing new collection, transport, and processing pathways for end-of-life solar panels from both households and solar farms.

An additional $3 million will support local governments to collect embedded batteries, such as those found in e-bikes and household devices.

The Western Australian government has gazetted regulations that establish higher waste levies with effect from July 1.

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