Law and policy changes in all jurisdictions, and a round-up of jobs, grants, awards and seminars.

• Upcoming events
• Federal, state and territory round-up
• Jobs and appointments

Upcoming events:

• National energy efficiency forum - demand and the 21st century energy system A May 21 forum in Melbourne featuring AEMO's Aubrey Zibelman, hosted by the Energy Efficiency Council.
• Australian local government climate review 2018 A May 21 report launch and webinar, hosted by Ironbark Sustainability.
• Digital and energy summit A May 21 to 22 conference in Sydney, hosted by Informa.
• The rise of the circular economy A May 22 evening seminar in Sydney, with speakers including Pablo Berrutti, head of responsible investment, Asia Pacific, Colonial First State.
• Aluminium stewardship initiative AGM and conference A May 22 to 24 event in Perth.
• Environment professionals' management workshop A May 23 and 24 workshop in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group.
• Australian energy storage conference and exhibition A May 23 to 24 conference and exhibition in Adelaide.
• Review of VEET energy efficiency regulations information session A May 24 briefing hosted by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
• The great debate: Demand management will eliminate the need for new power stations? A May 24 evening forum in Sydney.
• Hot issues in the outback: Nuclear waste A May 24 evening seminar in Adelaide, featuring Dr Allison Macfarlane, who was chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Obama Administration.
• Stewardship incentives for the pastoral zone A May 28 briefing on a proposed stewardship incentives scheme for Queensland's pastoral zone, hosted by the Royal Society of Queensland.
• Social licence to operate – the future for business A May 30 CEDA lunch event in Perth, featuring Deloitte principal Dr Leeora Black and Dr Justine Lacey of CSIRO Land & Water.
• Commercial solar power purchase agreements A May 30 to 31 conference in Sydney, hosted by Informa.
• Green microfactories: Products from waste A June 6 breakfast seminar at the NSW Parliament, by professor Veena Sahajwalla.
• The vulnerability of children to environmental exposures A June 7 livestreamed lunchtime seminar, featuring EPA chief scientist Dr Andrea Hinwood.
• Advanced materials to combat climate change: Geopolymer concrete A June 8 seminar in Brisbane, with speakers from Concrete Future and the CRC for Low Carbon Living.
• Australian renewable energy sector update A June 8 morning seminar in Brisbane, hosted by the Australia China Business Council Queensland and GHD.

National:

• Former Department of Environment chief Gordon de Brouwer is leading a new review of the Woomera coexistence framework, which applies to an area larger than England that was used to test atomic weapons, is highly prospective for metals and minerals, and is still used by Defence, Native Title holders and pastoralists under specified conditions. Submissions close June 25.
• A class action against the Department of Defence alleging economic loss as a result of PFAS contamination near Williamtown RAAF Base in NSW is set to go to trial on August 12 next year.
• Comment closed this week on a federal government proposal to allow the clearing of 1,846 hectares of land on Kingvale Station in Cape York.
• The Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development has released updated information guidelines, which detail the information the IESC requires when preparing advice for governments.
• Industry Minister Matt Canavan has announced the 2018 petroleum exploration acreage release and has issued a discussion paper on optimising future acreage releases.
• Bill watch: A Water Amendment Bill that would reinstate previously disallowed changes to Murray-Darling Basin diversion limits is under consideration by the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for report by June 12.
• Bill watch: A bill that would allow the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to help finance geosequestration projects is awaiting debate in the Senate (see background here).
• Bill watch: The Underwater Cultural Heritage Bill is awaiting debate in the House of Representatives.
• Bill watch: The Biosecurity Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill is awaiting debate in the House of Representatives.
• Bill watch: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Amendment (Indigenous Land Corporation) Bill is awaiting debate in the House of Representatives.
• Bill watch: The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, which would give NOPSEMA new powers to regulate CCS projects, is awaiting debate in the House of Representatives (see background here).
• Bill watch: A bill that would streamline reporting requirements under agricultural and veterinary chemicals laws is awaiting debate in the Senate.
• Comment closes June 15 on an issues paper released as part of a review of agriculture and the EPBC Act (see background here).
• The Australian Energy Market Commission has made a new rule to prohibit energy retailers from offering pseudo-discount deals that leave consumers worse off.
• Comments are due tomorrow on an Australian Energy Market Commission directions paper on delivering long-term electricity reliability.
• Comments are also due tomorrow on an AEMC discussion paper on developing renewable energy zones.
• Comment closes May 31 on draft industrial chemical rules and categorisation guidelines that will form part of the replacement of the NICNAS scheme.
• Comments are due by May 31 to an Australian National Audit Office audit of the administration of the Renewable Energy Target (see background here).
• Comment closes June 29 on a discussion paper that forms part of the review of the Product Stewardship Act 2011 (see background here).
• Grant opportunity: Applications close May 31 for grants of up to $12,500 under the solar communities program.
• Award opportunity: Nominations for the inaugural Cities Power Partnership awards close on July 30, with categories including renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and community engagement.

Queensland:

• Bill watch: A bill to overhaul financial assurance arrangements in the resource industry is awaiting debate in the Legislative Assembly (see background here).
• Comments are due by May 25 on the findings of the review of the state's Biodiscovery Act and the government's response to the review.
• Comment closes June 1 on the review of the water plans for the Border Rivers, Moonie and Condamine and Balonne regions.
• Comment closes June 19 on the issues paper for the review of the state's energy legislation.

NSW:

• Planning & Environment has issued new draft rules for native timber harvesting in the state's coastal forests, with comment closing on June 29.
• The Independent Planning Commission has issued development consent for the $303 million 255MW Bango wind farm, to be built between Yass and Boorowa.
• Transcript is now available of a May 8 hearing of a Parliamentary committee inquiry into energy, featuring representatives from Origin Energy, Energy Australia and Neoen.
• Award opportunity: Nominations close June 8 for the 2018 Green Globe awards.

Victoria:

• The By-law that empowers Melbourne Water to regulate land and water supply assets is under review, with comments due by June 11.
• Comments are due by June 18 on regulatory impact statement for a review of residential noise regulations.
• Comment closes June 30 on an air quality issues paper (see background here).
• The state government is offering new grants of up to $25,000 to help businesses design and implement customised energy efficiency upgrades (see background here).
• Grant opportunity: Sustainability Victoria is inviting applications from recyclers for a share of $1 million in Transition Support Grants, which form part of the state government's $13 million support package in response to China's restrictions on imports. Grants of between $50,000 and $500,000 are on offer. Closes September 8.
• Award opportunity: Nominations close June 7 for the 2018 Premier's sustainability awards.
• Comment closes June 19 on a draft statutory policy on water that will underpin decision-making about environmental conditions imposed on businesses, water utilities and farmers (see background here).
• Bill watch: The Parks Victoria Bill has passed the Legislative Assembly with amendments and is awaiting debate in the Legislative Council.
• Bill watch: The Water and Catchment Legislation Amendment Bill is awaiting debate in the Legislative Council (see background here).
• Bill watch: The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill is awaiting debate in the Legislative Council.
• Bill watch: The Marine and Coastal Bill is awaiting debate in the Legislative Council.
• Grant opportunity: Sustainability Victoria is offering gas efficiency grants of up to $50,000, energy assessment grants ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, plus an implementation bonus, and materials efficiency of up to $13,000.
• The EPA has issued a new guide for business on assessing and controlling risk.
• The administrator of the VEET energy efficiency scheme have amended mandatory safety training requirements for equipment installers.

Tasmania:

• Bill watch: A bill to strengthen penalties for harming threatened species and another to abolish the state's advisory Natural Resource Management Council have been introduced and are awaiting debate (see background here).
• The state government, in conjunction with Aurora Energy and Westpac, is extending for another year its TEELS energy efficiency loan scheme, which provides three-year interest free loans for equipment such as heat pumps, insulation, efficient wood heaters, solar panels and battery systems.

South Australia:

• Grant opportunity: Green Industries SA is offering a $12.4 million package of grants, loans and subsidies to help the recycling industry respond to China's National Sword restrictions on imported recyclables. The package includes $5.8 million for recycling infrastructure grants, $5 million to provide loans to projects with large capital requirements that can immediately increase local processing of targeted wastes, $500,000 to subsidise the regional transport of recyclables and a $300,000 market developments grants scheme. A further $800,000 will go towards a state-wide Recycle Right education campaign to maintain the community's confidence in the recycling process and help reduce contamination levels.
• Grant opportunity: Green Industries SA is also inviting expressions of interest in business sustainability funding. Up to $10,000 in matched funding is available for resource efficiency assessments, and up to $15,000 to support measures that better manage solid waste.
• Grant opportunity: Green Industries is also offering matched-funding grants of up to $100,000 to recycling businesses for activities that will strengthen local market demand for recycled materials and recycled-content products.

Western Australia:

• The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has launched a new project to capture biodiversity data gathered for individual environmental public assessments and consolidate it into a new publicly-available index.
• The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety is seeking comment by August 1 on a draft guidance note on environmental criteria for petroleum environment plans.
• Residents in the City of Fremantle with solar systems or rainwater tanks are invited to participate in a data analytics and potential peer to peer energy sharing trial.
• Comment closes June 8 on draft guidelines on the use of natural attenuation for groundwater clean-up (see background here).
• Comment also closes June 8 on draft amendments to the state's controlled waste regulations that would impose new obligations on waste generators and tighten controls on the movement of asbestos (see background here).
• Comment is due by July 20 on a draft guide to seeking environmental licences and works approvals.

Jobs and appointments:

• NSW Planning & Environment is hiring a policy director, biodiversity (package up to $261,450).
• SMEC is recruiting a Melbourne-based team leader – environmental approvals.
• Future Super is seeking a Sydney-based ethical investment analyst ($80,000, negotiable).
• Cristal Mining is recruiting an environmental manager, based in Mildura.
• The Clean Energy Regulator is inviting applications by June 23 to join its temporary employment register.
• YBE (2) Pty Ltd, which provides services to clients including Rio Tinto Gove, is hiring an environmental supervisor, based in Katherine.
• Consultancy KBR is recruiting an environmental scientist, based in Brisbane.
• Biogass Renewables is hiring a project manager, based in Adelaide or Perth.
• JLL is seeking a Canberra-based sustainability analyst.
• RMIT University is recruiting a coordinator, sustainability engagement (up to $81,811 plus super).
• Norman Disney & Young are hiring a Melbourne-based senior sustainability consultant.
• IAG is recruiting a Sydney-based senior specialist responsible business and sustainability.
• Banyule City Council is hiring a environmental sustainability officer (up to $88,466 pro rata).
• Frasers Property Australia is seeking a Sydney-based sustainability advisor.
• Consultancy ERM is hiring a Brisbane-based environmental planner.
• Warddeken Land Management Limited is seeking a Darwin-based Indigenous carbon industry network coordinator (part-time).
• South Australia's Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources is seeking a manager, environmental science and reporting ($110,505 - $114,813, contract to mid-2020).
• The City of Melbourne is recruiting a senior sustainability officer ($104,890 plus super).
• Queensland's Department of Environment and Science is hiring a Brisbane-based senior environmental officer, working in the energy and extractive industries team ($78747 - $86000).
• Queensland's DSE is also recruiting a principal policy officer to join the offsets policy implementation team ($103154 - $110613).
• DSE is also seeking a senior program officer to work with its nature refuges program ($92189 - $98635).
• Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment is seeking a senior natural values assessment officer ($89,714 - $101,591).
• EPA Victoria is advertising multiple policy and senior policy officer roles ($93,867 - $103,719).
• NSW Planning and Environment is hiring a clean energy programs project officer (up to $104,252).
• EPA Victoria is also hiring a strategic planning officer to assist with strategic planning applications ($81,354 - $92,304).