The Senate last night passed a bill formally establishing the Government's Independent Expert Scientific Committee on CSG and large coal projects, with an amendment that will extend its mandate to advise on land use as well as water.
A court has granted an injunction preventing Dart Energy from exploring for coal seam gas near Newcastle, and will expedite a hearing on the validity of the project approval.
The WA Government has moved to fix regulatory gaps, gazetting new rules that it says introduce the nation's most stringent public disclosure requirements on the use of chemicals by the upstream oil and gas industry.
A NSW court has upheld the validity of planning approval for a coal-fired power station upgrade, even though falling electricity demand has since scuppered the project.
A community group has failed to stymie an AGL coal seam gas project, with a NSW court rejecting its claims that approval conditions were too uncertain and paid insufficient heed to ESD principles.
Environment groups have released an economic analysis they say undermines the Business Council's claims about the costs of environmental regulation, while simultaneously launching a campaign to prevent the 'gutting' of environment laws.
A wind farm can only proceed if it meets a strict 2010 noise standard, even though its original application for a planning permit should have been assessed on the basis of a weaker noise standard, the Supreme Court has ruled.
The ACT Government is canvassing views on legislative changes that would make it an offence to engage in activity likely to cause harm, allow NSW businesses that pollute the ACT environment to be prosecuted, and overhaul the Territory's licensing regime.