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Law and policy changes in all jurisdictions, and a roundup of the latest jobs, grants and seminars. A Footprint weekly snapshot for environmental and carbon professionals.

• Upcoming events
• Jurisdictional round-up (national, states and territories)
• Jobs and appointments

** Featured vacancy ** Sustainability Victoria has a nine-month vacancy for a climate change social researcher to scope and deliver research to establish attitudes to climate change and inform program design.

Upcoming events:

• Wastewater treatment systems workshop A May 12 workshop in Melbourne hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network, in conjunction with GHD.
• Infrastructure sustainability training for professionals A May 17 and 18 training course hosted by the Infrastructure Council of Australia offered in Adelaide and Sydney.
• Safeguard mechanism workshops Half-day seminars hosted by the Clean Energy Regulator in Perth (May 19) and Brisbane (May 26).
• Commercial-scale renewables systems and the RET A May 23 webinar by the Clean Energy Regulator for those interested in commercial-scale solar PV systems detailing how they can best benefit from the Renewable Energy Target scheme.
• Environmental protection licences workshop A May 25 workshop in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group, in conjunction with Henry, Davis, York.
• Environment and carbon conference A June 19 conference in Melbourne hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network, in conjunction with HWL Ebsworth.

For other events, including an energy storage conference in Melbourne, see the extensive Footprint what's on listings.

National:

• Environment Minister Greg Hunt has postponed until after the election the release of Climate Change Authority reports on the best way to decarbonise the electricity sector and the most effective method to cut national emissions (see background).
• The Labor Party has released its climate change policy, proposing a baseline and credit scheme for the electricity sector and a different trading scheme for large emitters (see background).
• The administrators of the GreenPower scheme have issued their latest update to the GreenPower rules.
• Water Minister Barnaby Joyce has issued a new declaration under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 that updates references to state and territory legislation.
• The paint industry has launched a new waste paint collection and recycling scheme, which will be funded through a 15-cents-a-litre levy on new paint sales (see background).
• The final report of a Government-commissioned fuel quality review has recommended putting off a decision on whether to tighten sulfur content standards (see background).
• The Clean Energy Regulator has released results of the third Emissions Reduction Fund auction (see background).
• The majority report of a House of Representatives inquiry has proposed punishing environmental organisations that train people in civil disobedience and denying them tax-deductible donations if they mostly engage in legal work, research or education (see background).
• The Federal Government has released a study that examines the potential contribution that the safeguard mechanism and ERF could make towards meeting its 2030 target (see background).
• A Senate inquiry into contamination caused by firefighting foams containing perfluorinated chemicals (PFOS/PFOA) has issued its second report (see background).
• NOPSEMA, the agency that regulates the offshore oil and gas industry, has issued a new guideline for proponents on consultation requirements.
• The Clean Energy Regulator has issued the Renewable Energy Target 2015 Administrative Report.
• New ARENA chair Martijn Wilder has issued a stakeholder update.
• The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) has released a new version of the Infrastructure Sustainability rating scheme.
• The E3 Energy Rating program has issued a report on energy efficiency trends in whitegoods.
• The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued its latest energy update.
• Environment Minister Greg Hunt has gazetted recovery plans for three listed threatened species.

Queensland:

• The Queensland Government has provided its response to the recommendations of a parliamentary committee inquiry into its Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.
• The parliamentary inquiry into a Government bill reinstating native vegetation protections will hold two regional public hearings next week, ahead of its releasing its report by June 30.

NSW:

• The NSW Government has released a draft Biodiversity Conservation Bill, with comments due by June 28.
• The NSW Land and Environment Court has begun hearing a community group's challenge to a decision by the Planning and Assessment Commission to approve an extension of Centennial Coal's Springvale mine in the Blue Mountains.
• The NSW Government will introduce a 10-cent refund container deposit scheme (CDS), with Premier Mike Baird describing it as the most significant action ever undertaken by the state to cut litter (see background).
• The NSW Government has gazetted the form to be used by service station operators to report their sales of biofuels.
• The EPA has confirmed it is testing for perfluorinated compound (PFC) contamination at the Armidale Fire and Rescue NSW and Tamworth Regional Airport firefighting training sites.
• The EPA has released the findings of a major study into the sources of particle pollution in the Lower Hunter, which concludes ammonium nitrate emitted by Orica is a significant source of pollution in the Stockton area (see background).
• Grant opportunity: The Environmental Trust has opened round four of the Local Government Organics Collection Systems Grants Program, which will provide grants of up to $1.3 million for councils to introduce new or enhanced kerbside organics bin collection services. Applications close on May 19.
• Grant opportunity: The Environmental Trust has also opened round four of the Love Food, Hate Waste Grants Program, with applications due by June 14.

ACT:

• The ACT Legislative Assembly has passed the Planning, Building and Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, which introduces new, nationally-agreed controls on emissions from wood heaters.
• The ACT Government will aim to source all its electricity from renewables by 2020, up from the previous target of 90%, by boosting the amount of power it will purchase in its current renewables auction (see background). See the determination to give effect to the revised target here.
• The Legislative Assembly has passed a bill that brings forward the Territory's target of achieving net zero emissions from mid-2060 to mid-2050.
• The ACT Government has introduced the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2016, which would align ACT threatened species listing processes with those in other jurisdictions, in line with a 2014 decision by environment ministers.
• People convicted of deliberately lighting fires during total fire bans will face an increased penalty of up to two years in jail and a $30,000 fine under an Emergencies Amendment Bill 2016 introduced to the Legislative Assembly.

Victoria:

• EPA Victoria has issued updated guidance on the types of financial assurance it will accept from companies, ranging from bank guarantees to a mutual fund created by multiple entities, to trust funds and insurance policies (see background).
• Comment is due by May 15 on a draft biodiversity plan.

South Australia:

• Premier Jay Weatherill has released the final report of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission (see background).
• The Department of State Development has invited tenders to join a list of energy service companies that will provide energy performance contracting services for the Government Building Energy Efficiency Investment (GBEEI) program.
• South Australia's environment court has fined a company $28,000 for operating a waste depot without a licence, after at least 2,000 tonnes of contaminated soil from a petrol station redevelopment was dumped on a site at Mount Compass. Nasim Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to the charge in the Environment, Resources and Development Court (see background).

Western Australia:

• The Department of Environment Regulation has released a draft guideline describing how companies should predict and assess noise emissions when seeking a works approval or licence (see background).
• Grant opportunity: Environment Minister Albert Jacob has invited funding applications to subsidise purchasing decisions that boost recycling rates for construction and demolition waste (see background).

Northern Territory:

• Grant opportunity: The EPA has invited applications for its 2016-17 environment grants program.

Jobs and appointments:

• Queensland's Department of Energy and Water Supply is seeking a principal policy and regulatory officer and a policy and regulatory officer to implement the biofuels mandate.
• Victoria's Country Fire Authority is advertising three Melbourne-based positions – a manager of environmental works, an environmental manager and a works manager for the decommissioning of the Fiskville campus.
• Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection is seeking a Toowoomba-based manager of assessments.
• Consultancy Point Advisory is seeking a Melbourne-based climate change and energy consultant.
• Northrop Consulting Engineers is seeking a Sydney-based sustainability consultant.
• John Holland Group is seeking a Mackay-based health, safety and environment manager to work with its Powerlink project team.
• Mining and infrastructure services company Underground Services is seeking a Northam/wheatbelt-based environmental advisor.
• The Green Building Council of Australia is seeking a Sydney-based relationship development manager.
• The ACT Planning and Environment Directorate is seeking a technical officer to support delivery of the ACTSmart Business Energy and Water program to the business sector.
• Western Australia's Mid-West Ports Authority is seeking a health, safety, environment and quality manager (State Government job freeze restrictions apply).