Government efforts to quickly push through parliament major changes to industrial chemicals laws appear to have backfired, with a Senate committee deciding it needs more time to consider them.
Environment groups have criticised the lack of public progress and the secrecy surrounding two important reviews that were launched months ago by the Federal Government.
The government today introduced a bill to recast Australia's regime for assessing and approving industrial chemicals and ban the use of animal testing for cosmetics.
Tellus Holdings, which is seeking approval to geosequester hazardous waste in the Northern Territory, says it would be open to receiving the huge stockpile of HCB waste held by Orica in Sydney.
Water utilities are likely to expand trade waste testing for PFAS, Qenos is under EPA orders to investigate PFAS contamination, and a government institute will next month brief site managers on testing procedures for the compounds.