Federal, state and territory environment ministers will meet in Canberra next Tuesday to discuss issues including regulatory reform, climate change, air quality and packaging.
The ultimate legacy of the mining industry's resistance to the carbon price might be a much more stringent and heavy-handed regulatory regime, says Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Don Henry.
Labor's election pitch relies on its early trading move, the Greens want a Sustainability Commission, Bob Katter would support and extend the RET and mandate ethanol use and Nick Xenophon says his 2009 proposal is still the best carbon policy.
EPBC offset money for projects near the Reef directed into a new central fund, a $1.1m penalty for carbon surcharges, and an energy policy that doesn't use the word 'renewable' – a CE Daily round-up of the Coalition's election policies.
The Business Council of Australia has largely 'exited the sustainability agenda', says former BP CEO Greg Bourne, while a senior executive with a BCA member company says it might be time to form a new organisation to advance sustainability concerns.
Shadow environment and climate minister Greg Hunt wants better protection for threatened species, as well as air and water quality improvements, but cautions that governments too often resort to regulation to achieve environmental goals.