The Victorian government says air pollution health costs from last year's fire at an SKM recycling plant could be as high as $85 million, and has warned that insurers are increasingly concerned about risk in the waste industry.
Greens and Labor senators have recommended that ships in Dampier port use low-sulphur diesel, if they are contributing to acid damage of Aboriginal rock art.
A new report on air quality by Victoria's Auditor-General says industrial air emissions data should be independently audited and warns it's not good enough to rely on companies self-reporting.
The owners of Victoria's three coal-fired power stations have jointly commissioned a study examining how they can comply with new noxious air pollution requirements.
The federal government might introduce a sulfur standard for diesel used off-road, and says an oil industry-backed timetable for better quality petrol would be less expensive for refineries but result in much greater health costs.