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.
A new impact statement says Australia's per capita exposure to mercury is double the global average and raises serious questions about the performance of the pesticides regulator.
Federal and state environment ministers have released terms of reference for a review of the National Pollutant Inventory that could slash the number of sites required to report.