Browsing: WA

Shadow minister slams WA government over environment laws * ACCC sets out Trade Practices Act carbon offsets concerns * EPA Victoria to establish internal cap and trade scheme * Wong chairs first meeting of COAG climate and water group * Think tank proposes power industry levy to fund carbon capture and storage * Greenpeace targets Canon

Victoria tweaks mandatory energy and water efficiency scheme * WA orders Wyndham Port to prepare improvement plan * Federal government seeks emissions trading and climate risk experts * New climate department absorbs DFAT climate role * Upstream oil and gas greenhouse emissions up, but intensity down * Office tower owners partner with environment group * Victoria to offer second tranche geothermal permits

WA's Carpenter government is establishing a special inspection and compliance branch in the WA Department of Environment and Conservation and will complete an independent review of the department's inspection and compliance functions by February, says yesterday's government response to a damning parliamentary report on the lead contamination scandal in Esperance.

Despite chronic staff shortages triggered by the state’s resource boom, the WA Department of Environment and Conservation conducted more site inspections in 2006-07 than in the previous two years, new figures show.

Queensland court fines two for obstructing EPA officer; Export of nuclear waste gets EPBC Act clearance; NSW’s 2% ethanol obligation kicks in; Iluka Resources wins appeal against WA EPA ruling; Victorian Water Smart funding on offer; Victoria invites award nominations

A WA parliamentary inquiry into lead contamination in Esperance says that failing to identify or prevent the pollution points to a lack of compliance culture within the state's environment department.