The committee that advises Environment Minister Sussan Ley on threatened species has recommended stricter controls on the use of biodiversity offsets, and called for major changes to the EPBC Act.
In an EPBC decision that demonstrates impacts on bushfire-affected threatened species will receive close scrutiny, a proposed Epuron wind farm has been declared "clearly unacceptable".
Including a greenhouse gas trigger in the EPBC Act would be unwarranted and inappropriate, according to the department administered by Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor.
In a decision that has broad ramifications, the Federal Court has found logging by VicForests did not satisfy the precautionary principle, and has significantly affected threatened species.
The scientists that assess the water impacts of coal mines have warned governments that revisions to a proposed mine expansion in Sydney's water catchment haven't overcome their concerns about environmental damage.
The proponent of Australia's first offshore wind farm, which could meet 18% of Victoria's power needs, has applied to the state and federal governments for approval.
The government's advisory committee on threatened species listed under the EPBC Act will fast-track work to list species seriously affected by this summer's bushfires.