Environment law and policy tracker

Thursday, 28 February 2019 4:38pm

Highlights include new NGER data, new federal regulations, and two Victorian court cases. Jobs listings include sustainability manager with QBE. Events include a national hydrogen summit.

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

Featured Opportunity – Chief Executive Officer

Lead this credible and influential peak body to have impact and influence on climate change mitigation in Australia and beyond The Carbon Market Institute (CMI) is at the centre of climate change policy & business in Australia. The CMI is dedicated to helping business seize opportunities in rapidly evolving carbon markets. Independent and non-partisan, it is the peak industry body for climate change and business. Positioned as a highly respected organisation, the CMI is now at an exciting time in its evolution and is looking for a commercially astute Chief Executive Officer to build on the strong reputation of the organisation and to lead and inspire its growth. You’ll be a driven, highly regarded leader, respected in government and the business community; who can engage and utilise networks to advocate and influence positive change, and provide strategic direction to ensure the achievement of the Carbon Market Institute’s vision. For more information about this opportunity and a copy of the position description visit here. Applications close Sunday 10 March 2019.

^{To promote a 'featured opportunity' or 'featured event' contact Footprint.}

Upcoming events:

• Risk to remediation A March 4 to 8 training program on site contamination and remediation in Newcastle, hosted by CRC CARE.
• Climate update 2019 A March 4 seminar at Adelaide University, with speakers including shadow climate minister Mark Butler.
• Sports environment alliance summit 2019 A March 5 event in Melbourne.
• Energy – where to invest in 2019 Seminars in Sydney (March 5) and Melbourne (March 7) featuring Simon Currie and Simon Corbell from Energy Estate.
• Climate change and the economy: RBA deputy-governor Dr Guy Debelle A March 12 evening seminar in Sydney, hosted by the Centre for Policy Development.
• Climate risk: The need for action A March 13 two-hour seminar hosted by Norton Rose Fulbright, Point Advisory and the Future Business Council.
• Brominated flame retardants in the environment A March 14 lunchtime lecture by RMIT environmental science lecturer, Bradley Clarke.
• Transform: Leading a sustainable built environment A March 19 to 20 conference in Sydney, hosted by the Green Building Council.
• Wind industry forum 2019 A March 21 forum, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
• Inaugural hydrogen energy summit A March 26 to 27 conference in Melbourne, hosted by Informa.
• National acid-sulfate soils guidance – identification and assessment A March 28 and 29 short course at the Gold Coast campus of Southern Cross University.
• Environment management short course An April 3 and 4 short course in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network.
• EUAA national conference 2019 The May 1 and 2 national conference of the Energy Users Association of Australia, held in Melbourne.

National:

• The Clean Energy Regulator today released NGER emissions data for FY18 (see background here).
• The Clean Energy Regulator has released new market data on the Emissions Reduction Fund.
• The federal government has released greenhouse gas emissions data for the quarter ending September 2018.
• Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed a returned Coalition federal government to providing $2 billion over a decade for an extension of the Emissions Reduction Fund, which would be rebadged as the Climate Solutions Fund (see background here).
• The ACCC is seeking comment by March 22 on how best to allow consumers to access their energy data.
• Public comment is invited by March 20 on Equinor's proposed environmental plan by for drilling in the Great Australian Bight.
• The Clean Energy Regulator has released guidance for greenhouse and energy auditors on marketing and promoting practices.
• The federal government has released the interim report of its independent assessment of fish deaths in the Lower Darling.
• The E3 energy efficiency scheme is updating its guide to sustainable housing.
• The ACCC today announced it won't oppose waste company Bingo's proposed acquisition of Dial-a-Dump, on condition that Bingo divest one of its processing facilities (see background here).
• Listed companies will have to more carefully consider their exposure to environmental risks, including those arising from climate change, as a result of new ASX guidance (see background here).
• New federal waste export data shows a huge increase in waste plastic exports to Malaysia and Indonesia, which has largely offset the massive cuts in the amount accepted by China (see background here).
• Statutory change: The federal government has gazetted the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Small-scale Solar Eligibility and Other Measures) Regulations 2019, with explanatory material available here.
• Statutory change: The federal government has gazetted the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 2019.
• Statutory change: The federal government has gazetted an EPBC national recovery plan for the clay pans of the Swan coastal plain.
• Have your say!: Comment closes March 21 on the Australian Energy Market Commission's draft determination on proposed changes to the 'RERT' grid safety-net scheme (see background here).
• Have your say!: Submissions are due by April 8 to a Senate committee inquiry into a bill introduced by Senator Stirling Griff that would ban cotton exports to ensure water security.
• Have your say!: Submissions close March 4 to a Senate committee inquiry into a bill to protect dugongs and turtles, introduced by Senator Derryn Hinch.
• The federal government has awarded a $171,865 grant to Ping Services to help develop acoustic technology that allows continuous monitoring of wind turbine blade damage.
• New submissions to the Senate committee inquiry into 'fair dinkum power' are now available. The committee will report on June 30.
• Applications must be made by April 1 for exemptions from liability for RET-related charges, which are available to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed businesses.

Queensland:

• A parliamentary committee inquiry has recommended that a bill be passed that would empower the Chief Health Officer to order a company to notify the public about a pollution event (see background here).
• Have your say!: Comment closes April 5 on the state's draft waste strategy (see background here).
• Have your say!: The state government has launched a review of its environmental offsets policy (see background here).
• Five south-east Queensland councils (Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, Lockyer Valley and Somerset) have lodged an application with the ACCC for authorisation to collectively tender for waste processing services.
• The Department of Environment and Science has forwarded to Adani the findings of an independent scientific review of the company's black-throated finch management plan. The plan must be approved by the department before Adani's Carmichael coal mine can proceed.
• The state government has pledged a $150,000 grant to establish a Circular Economy Lab in Brisbane.
• The state government has invited applications for support through its Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund.

NSW:

• After conciliation, the EPA has dropped a claim that a licence-holder isn't a fit and proper person (see background here).
• Transport for NSW is inviting expressions of interest to deliver electric vehicle charging programs in regional NSW and commuter carparks in Sydney.
• Grant opportunity: The state government is inviting applications for a share in first-round funding under its new $16 million manufacturing efficiency funding program (see background here).
• The administrator of the NSW Energy Savings Scheme has issued amended minimum requirements of conduct for accredited certificate providers.
• The EPA has awarded $3.6 million to companies and councils for projects that increase recycling (see background here).
• Have your say!: Comment closes March 23 on the EIS for geotechnical works for the Shoalhaven hydro expansion project.

ACT:

• The ACT has released its FY18 greenhouse gas inventory.
• Last chance!: Comment closes tomorrow on proposals to subsidise the installation of ceiling and sub-floor insulation in homes through the ACT Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (see background here).

Victoria:

• The EPA has released its new governance charter.
• Court ruling: A court has penalised Melbourne's Yarra Valley Water $100,000 over a sewage spill caused by wet wipes, and EPA Victoria says company claims that they are flushable shouldn't be trusted (see background here).
• Court ruling: A tribunal has granted a permit for a concrete recycling facility, a year after invalidating a council amendment to a previous permit (see background here).
• Grant opportunity: The state government has invited applications from non-profit groups for grants of up to $50,000 for projects that help protect and preserve the environmental health of Port Phillip Bay. Applications close April 10.
• Grant opportunity: The state government is offering community climate change adaptation grants of between $25,000 and $75,000, with applications closing March 31.

South Australia:

• Have your say!: The state government is seeking views on the revised list of declared pest animals, with comments due by April 18.

Western Australia:

• The state government has approved changes to Tellus Holdings' proposed geological repository for hazardous waste that include installation of a 1.5MW solar PV system.
• Western Power has awarded contracts worth $8.8 million in round 1 of its stand-alone power system rollout, which will install units at 57 sites.
• Award opportunity Applications close April 29 for the state government's Golden Gecko environmental awards for resource companies.
• Grant opportunity: Grants of up to $300,000 are available to non-profit groups for individual projects that help manage the Western Australian coastline.

Jobs and appointments:

• The Queensland government has appointed former Infigen Energy boss Miles George as the interim chief executive of its CleanCo renewable energy generation agency. It has also appointed Geoff Dutaillis as general manager.
• Insurer QBE is hiring a Sydney-based sustainability manager.
• Deloitte is recruiting a Sydney-based senior analyst – sustainability risk.
• Laing O'Rourke is hiring a Brisbane-based sustainability manager.
• Cushman & Wakefield are recruiting a Melbourne-based senior sustainability advisor.
• The Department of Defence is seeking an Adelaide-based environment and sustainability manager ($80,669 - $92,150).
• The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage is seeking a senior project officer, sustainability programs ($137,135 package).
• Glen Eira City Council is recruiting a sustainability project officer ($65,000 to $75,000).