Law and policy changes in all jurisdictions, and a roundup of jobs, grants, awards and seminars. Includes party election commitments.

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

** Featured vacancies ** Muswellbrook Shire Council in the NSW Hunter Valley is seeking three sustainability officer, specialising in energy, water and waste.

Upcoming events:

• Coastal implications of climate change A July 8 seminar hosted by Engineers Australia, featuring Robert Nicholls, professor of coastal engineering at the University of Southampton.
• Contaminated land forum A July 12 EIANZ conference in Canberra.
• Municipal Association of Victoria environment conference A July 12 to July 13 conference in Melbourne.
• Managing your waste (regulatory changes and funding opportunities) A July 13 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network.
• Large-scale solar A July 19 to July 20 conference in Brisbane.
• Biobanking – history and future A July 21 seminar in Sydney, presented by EIANZ.
• Sustainable population and climate change A July 21 address in Geelong by the Climate Council's Tim Flannery.
• Clean energy summit A July 27 conference in Sydney, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.

For other events, including a sustainability in public works conference, see the extensive Footprint what's on listings.

National:

• Counting continues following the July 2 federal election (see party election policies below).
• The latest GreenPower quarterly report is now available.
• Rules have been gazetted that extend the reach of the federal Commercial Building Disclosure program to office buildings with a floorspace of more than 1,000 square metres (with effect from mid-2017) (related article for subscribers only).
• The Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy has made an EPBC referral for rehabilitation of the Rum Jungle mine site.
• The Department of Environment has issued an updated list of applications it has received for hazardous waste permits.

Queensland:

• Parliament's Agriculture and Environment Committee has issued its report on the Government's Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 (related article for subscribers only).
• The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection has issued a new strategic plan (related article for subscribers only).
• Submissions close on August 5 on the State Government's Advancing climate action discussion paper.
• Award nominations invited: The Queensland Government has invited nominations for the 2016 Premier's sustainability awards, with applications closing on July 15.

NSW:

• The EPA has issued a revised environmental management calculation protocol, which is used to allocate facilities to an environmental management category ranging from A down to E (related article for subscribers only).
• Grant opportunity: Applications close July 13 under round four of the organic waste infrastructure program, with individual grants of up to $5 million on offer.
• Award nominations invited: Applications close on July 11 for the NSW Green Globe awards.

Victoria:

• EPA Victoria has issued its annual plan for 2016-17.
• The State Government has announced a $330,000 grant to the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance for an energy-efficient homes project, the first of 24 grants to be issued through its $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund.
• Changes to VEET product approval procedures took effect on July 1.
• A parliamentary committee inquiry into bushfire preparedness will hold a hearing on Thursday.
• A study of groundwater at the Fishermans Bend urban renewal site has found contamination above recommended drinking water standards.
• EPA Victoria has issued new guidance on perfluorinated chemicals.
• EPA Victoria has issued a revised wastewater treatment code (related article for subscribers only).
• Comment closes July 13 on proposed changes to Victoria's VEET scheme that would allow businesses to subsidise complex energy efficiency projects (related article for subscribers only).
• Grant opportunity: Sustainability Victoria is offering resource assessment grants to cover 50% of the cost of a resource assessment of their operations. Grants are capped at $10,000 for a combined materials and energy assessment, with a $3,000 implementation bonus also available. Applications must be submitted by August 5.

Tasmania:

• Nominations close on August 10 for the EPA Tasmania sustainability award.

South Australia:

• The State Government has gazetted changes to commercial lighting specifications under its Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme.
• The State Government has named 10 finalists for its climate entrepeneurs' prize, which will provide $250,000 in seed funding for "bold ideas" to help Adelaide become the world's first carbon neutral city.

Western Australia:

• A company ordered to pay $21.4 million after losing a waste levy dispute has failed to have the orders suspended until its appeals are resolved (related article for subscribers only).
• The Legislative Assembly has voted through the Biodiversity Conservation Bill after a division in which Labor voted against the legislation (related article for subscribers only).
• The Department of Environment Regulation has announced proposed changes to the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Regulations 2008 to strengthen record-keeping requirements (related article for subscribers only).

Northern Territory:

• The Northern Territory Assembly has passed a Planning Legislation Amendment Bill that deals with leases over Government-owned services infrastructure on Aboriginal land.

Jobs and appointments:

• The AELERT network of environmental regulators is seeking a communications officer, based in the AELERT secretariat in Adelaide.
• The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage is seeking two principal legal officers (litigation).
• Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection is seeking a senior policy officer, climate change.
• EPA Victoria is seeking a regional manager based in Wangaratta.
• The NSW EPA is seeking two senior project officers, one for its environmental liabilities team and the other for its emergency management team.
• The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage is seeking a regional clean energy program coordinator based in Newcastle or Port Macquarie.
• The WA Department of Environment Regulation is seeking a director of strategy and reform.
• EnergyAustralia has a three-month vacancy for an environmental and chemical lead at its Tallawarra combined cycle gas plant in NSW.
• Melbourne's Hume City Council is seeking a sustainability engagement officer for a 12-month contract.
• GHD is seeking a Newcastle-based environmental planner/scientist.
• The Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy is seeking an senior environmental engineer to work in its legacy mines unit.
• The WA Department of Environment Regulation is seeking a policy officer for its waste group.
• WaterNSW is seeking a Sydney-based environmental advisor.
• The Pew Charitable Trusts is seeking a Melbourne-based media and communications officer.
• The Nature Conservancy is seeking a Darwin-based conservation officer.

ELECTION COMMITMENTS:

Coalition:

• The Coalition has announced it would impose mandatory restrictions on HFC imports, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 million tonnes between now and 2030 (related article for subscribers only).
• The Coalition's smart cities policy commits it to directing up to $100 million a year from the budget of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to projects that deploy renewables and energy efficiency technologies in cities.
• The Coalition would allocate up to $1 billion from the budget of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation over 10 years for "clean energy projects" that have the co-benefit of improving water quality in the Great Barrier Reef.
• The Coalition would ban the sale of cosmetic products tested on animals either in Australia or overseas.
• The Coalition would establish a $5 million threatened species recovery fund to support community projects to protect endangered species, and has nominated nine initial projects for funding.
• The Coalition would amend the Fisheries Management Act 1991 to ensure the Australian Fisheries Management Authority "takes into account the interests of all fisheries users – commercial, recreational and indigenous fishers".
• The Coalition would amend legislation to increase the size of a number of management advisory committees for specific fisheries to enable the appointment of a recreational fishing sector representative, and move to have recreational fishing sector representatives appointed to Resource Assessment Groups.
• The Coalition would establish a $30 million parks and environment funding package, comprising $24 million for projects to improve local parks, $5 million for a solar communities program and $1 million to provide surf clubs with cleaner outboard motors.
• The Coalition would allocate $6 million for a second crown-of-thorns control vessel on the Great Barrier Reef, as part of its $210 million Reef Trust.
• The Coalition would invest $150 million to fast-track the assessment and construction of water infrastructure across Queensland.
• Existing Coalition Government environment and climate initiatives are outlined in a Plan for a cleaner environment publication issued just before the election was called.

Labor:

• Labor would provide $98.7 million over four years to establish up to 10 community power hubs to kick-start clean energy projects, including more than $16 million annually for grants.
• Labor would provide new funding of $377 million in addition to the Coalition's $123 million, creating a $500 million five-year fund for the Great Barrier Reef that will direct up to $300 million for "direct environmental investment", with the remainder going to research and reef management.
• Labor would invest $4 million to fund a water infrastructure feasibility study for Townsville, examining options including raising the wall of the existing Burdekin Dam.
• Labor released its climate change action plan ahead of the election being called, with commitments on renewable energy, emissions trading and energy efficiency.

Greens:

• The Greens have proposed a $17.5 million package for the first stage of the Wet Tropics Management Authority's proposed yellow crazy ant eradication program.
• The Greens have announced a forests policy that includes commitments to immediately stop logging of all high conservation value forests and implement a "rapid planned transition" out of native forest logging.
• The Greens have released a renewing community housing policy that would retrofit all public and community housing with solar panels and energy-efficient appliances.
• The Greens would containerise nuclear waste at Sydney's Lucas Heights waste facility pending an independent inquiry into radioactive waste production and management and would maintain existing bans on importing and storing international nuclear waste.
• The Greens have issued an environment policy that commits to establishing a national EPA, introducing a new federal Environment Act and creating a national certification scheme for environmental consultants.
• The Greens have issued new solar commitments including a $192 million sustainable schools program and an overhaul of electricity market legislation.
• The Greens have launched a wildlife policy, with commitments that include re-establishing a $2 billion biodiversity fund, with funding allocated over six years.
• The Greens have proposed a public transport fund, involving the allocation of $10 billion over four years to projects in various capital cities.
• The Greens have backed Climate Council calls for a doubling of the number of trained firefighters by 2030, and have proposed a $120 million allocation over four years.
• The Greens' Renew Australia plan makes commitments including the generation of 90% of the nation's electricity from renewables by 2030 (announced before the election was called).
• The Greens have also released a supplementary Renew Queensland plan.
• The Greens have released a plan to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles.
• The Greens have released a battery storage plan.
• The Greens have released a living reefs, dying coal package involving restrictions on coal mining and gas production and a coal export levy.
• The Greens have released a caring for coal workers plan, that would audit the gap between secured rehabilitation bonds provided by coal mining companies and actual rehabilitation costs and the establishment of a Federal Trust Fund to hold money from mining companies to pay for clean-ups.
• The Greens have proposed a ban on political donations by companies.
• The Greens have advocated the establishment of an Australian infrastructure bank.

Nick Xenophon Team:

• The NXT's environmental commitments include: supporting emissions reductions of between 40% and 60% below 2000 levels by 2030, in line with Climate Change Authority recommendations.
• NXT supports a renewable energy target of 50% by 2030.
• NXT has urged state governments to preserve prime agricultural land.
• NXT says Australia should consider adopting California's vehicle emissions standards.
• NXT wants groundwater protected from any adverse impacts of mining and coal seam gas exploration.
• NXT favours "an efficient emissions trading scheme based on the Frontier Economics scheme".
• NXT would maintain the right of environmental and community groups to pursue legal action under environmental legislation.

Independents and micro-parties:

• Andrew Wilkie (returned as MP for Denison) supports aiming for zero net carbon emissions by 2030.
• Cathy McGowan (returned as MP for Indi) supports "market mechanisms" to price and cut emissions.
• Bob Katter (returned as MP for Kennedy) rejects climate science but supports a "clean energy corridor" to connect north-west Queensland to the grid and the development of a biofuels industry.
• Pauline Hanson's One Nation has dismissed climate science as "scare-mongering".
• The Jacqui Lambie Network accepts climate change but rejects strategies that increase energy costs for consumers. It favours an investigation into nuclear energy.
• The Christian Democratic Party doesn't have an official position on climate change. However, party president Fred Nile rejects climate change science.