Environment law and policy tracker
Monday, 22 June 2015 3:43pm
A CE Daily weekly snapshot for ISO 14001 system managers and environmental and carbon professionals (open access).
Upcoming events:
- Emissions Reduction Fund workshops
A series of workshops hosted by the Carbon Market Institute in Brisbane (June 25), Townsville (June 26), Sydney (June 29) and Newcastle (June 30).
- Environmental protection licensing seminar and workshop
A June 25 conference in Sydney hosted by ASBG.
- Victoria's energy future: Address by State Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio
A June 26 briefing in Melbourne, hosted by CEDA.
- Bioenergy Australia business breakfast
A June 26 briefing in Brisbane, hosted by Bioenergy Australia.
- National carbon farming conference and expo
A July 7 to 10 event in Albury, hosted by Carbon Farmers of Australia.
- 21st international sustainable development research society conference
A July 10 to 12 conference in Geelong, hosted by the ISDR Society.
- Threatened species summit
A July 16 online summit in Melbourne hosted by Environment Minister Greg Hunt.
"The summit will bring together state and territory ministers, relevant business leaders, scientific and conservation management experts, non-government organisations and others active in threatened species conservation."
- Victorian energy forum
A July 22 conference in Melbourne hosted by the Energy Users Association of Australia.
For other events, including a landfill and transfer stations conference and expo, see the extensive CE Daily what's on listings.
International developments:
- An encyclical on "care for our common home" issued by Pope Francis, calls for "a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet".
"The worldwide ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the establishment of numerous organizations committed to raising awareness of these challenges," the encyclical says.
"Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful opposition but also because of a more general lack of interest," it says.
National:
- The High Court on Friday refused to grant special leave to appeal against NSW court findings that a water sharing plan issued by the NSW Government was valid.
The plan cut total long-term groundwater extraction entitlements from a particular water source by 68% and several farmers affected by the decision had unsuccessfully challenged it in the NSW Land and Environment Court and NSW Court of Appeal.
However, the High Court declined to hear the matter on the basis that there is no issue of principle to be considered.
- A large chunk of the abatement the Government agreed to buy at the first ERF auction won't take Australia any closer to meeting the 5% national emissions reduction target, even if it is delivered by 2020.
A significant portion of the 23.5 million tonnes to be delivered by 2020 had already been factored into official national emissions projections, because it will come from long-established projects.
(See the CE Daily article 'Government allocates $80m just to prevent carbon backsliding').
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: The Federal Government will boost the targets for its e-waste collection scheme in the short term and has proposed moving back by nine years the deadline for achieving the program's long-term goal.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt has announced that the recovery target for 2015-16 would be raised to 50% - a significant increase on the 37% that is currently specified in regulations.
A revised trajectory for subsequent years would result in the scheme's long-term goal of an 80% recovery rate being reached in 2030-31, nine years after the current deadline of 2021-22.
(See the CE Daily article 'Short-term e-waste target raised, long-term goal delayed nine years').
- Debate is continuing in the Senate on a Government bill to wind back the Renewable Energy Target, with Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt proposing to appoint a commissioner as a central contact for complaints about windfarms.
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: The Senate today passed the Excise Tariff Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015, with a Government amendment that deals with biodiesel.
The bill, which increases excise duties on domestic fuel ethanol and biodiesel from mid-2016, will now return to the House of Representatives for its concurrence.
The Senate passed unamended the related Energy Grants and Other Legislation Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015.
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: The Federal Government has introduced bills to Parliament dealing with gene technology and radiation safety.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Amendment Bill 2015 gives the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) new monitoring and compliance powers.
The Gene Technology Amendment Bill 2015 makes technical amendments to licensing and consultation procedures.
- Consultancy Marsden Jacob Associates has released an issues paper as part of a review of the federal Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 instigated by Environment Minister Greg Hunt and due to report by November.
(See source material here and the CE Daily article 'Hunt seeks advice on fuel quality standards').
- Award: Nominations close on September 4 for the Environment Minister's Award for a Cleaner Environment, which forms part of the national Banksia environmental awards scheme.
Other Banksia award categories include the Richard Pratt CEO's award, and awards for large business, sustainable water management, natural capital and smart technology.
- Award: Nominations close on August 14 for the Green Building Council of Australia's future green leader award.
Queensland:
NSW:
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: The NSW Government has gazetted an Energy Savings Scheme (Amendment No. 1) Rule 2015 that changes several dates in the existing scheme rule.
The dates relate to the use of the project impact assessment method.
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: A proclamation issued last week specifies November 30 as the commencement date for amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 that establish an electronic database of instruments and maps related to planning, and provide for a NSW planning portal that will provide access to them.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes has also issued an associated Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (ePlanning) Regulation 2015 that deals with 'ePlanning'.
- Funding opportunity: The EPA and the Environmental Trust are inviting businesses, not-for-profit organisations and local councils to apply for grants to establish Community Recycling Centres for household problem wastes.
The money will be delivered through round 3 of the $11.35 million community recycling centres grants scheme, and applications close on July 2.
Victoria:
- The Victorian Government has announced plans to extend state-wide a statutory financing mechanism for building upgrades.
Under current law, only building owners with properties in the City of Melbourne can negotiate environmental upgrade agreements.
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: EPA Victoria has issued a revised version of its guide to calculating landfill levies and recycling rebates.
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio has given notice that revised regulations on power line clearance will take effect on June 28.
Tasmania:
- EPA emergency response personnel, in conjunction with the Tasmanian Fire Service and TasPorts, earlier this month tested the use of a new compressed air foam system to respond to major fires at sea.
- Award: Nominations close August 15 for the EPA Tasmania sustainability award.
South Australia:
- Environment Minister Ian Hunter has gazetted revised water levies under the Natural Resources Management Act for various water supplies, as well as revised 'recent recharge rates' under several water allocation plans.
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: The Legislative Council has passed the Water Industry (Third Party Access) Amendment Bill.
The third-party access regime will initially apply to SA Water's bulk drinking water pipelines and the Glenelg to Adelaide recycled water pipeline.
The bill is now before the Legislative Assembly.
- Environment Minister Ian Hunter has told the Legislative Council that Zero Waste SA is developing a disaster waste contingency plan, which will be the first of its kind in Australia.
Zero Waste SA is carrying out phase one of the project with the assistance of a $40,000 federal grant.
- The Environment, Resources and Development Court has handed a $9,600 fine to the owner of a demolition company who dumped asbestos-contaminated waste on private property without the owner's permission.
Troy Batters, owner of TDL Demolition, directed an employee to dump 54 tonnes of the contaminated demolition waste on the site.
The EPA had previously ordered TDL to clean up the site, which cost the company $2,000.
- Potential ISO 14001 system significance: The South Australian EPA has announced increases to its civil penalty regime, which provides an alternative to criminal prosecution through the courts.
(See source material here and the CE Daily article 'SA EPA civil penalties to rise').
Western Australia:
- WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob has revealed in Parliament that his agencies haven't prosecuted any organisation for breaching a licence, works approval or ministerial condition in more than two years.
That's despite the Department of Environment Regulation recording more than 130 breaches and exceedances under Part V of the Environment Protection Act 1986, which deals with matters including licensing.
(See the CE Daily article 'Shock enforcement figures revealed in WA Parliament').
- The WA Government has introduced a bill to amend the special agreement that governs Cockburn Cement's operations in the State.
- The Government has gazetted the Conservation and Land Management Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2015 that deletes a requirement for the Swan River Trust to be consulted before a licence is granted under the parent Act that would apply within its management area.
Northern Territory:
Jobs and appointments:
